Aries Spears
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Born: | April 3, 1975 Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Occupation: | Actor, Comedian |
Aries Spears (born April 3, 1975) is an African-American actor and comedian. Spears was one of three black actors in season three of FOX's sketch comedy series MADtv and was also one of the most experienced actors on the show.
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[edit] Biography
Aries Spears (born on April 3, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois) was a child comedic prodigy at the young age of 14. Spears started doing his own comedy routine around his hometown. Spears' first television appearance was cable's Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam, followed by It's Showtime at the Apollo (1987). He moved to Los Angeles in 1992, landed a recurring role on A Different World (1987) and became a regular at The Comedy Store, The Improv and The Laugh Factory. His additional television credits include Crosstown Traffic, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (1993) and Soul Train.
By the age of 17, he landed a part in the movie Malcolm X. Shortly thereafter, Spears was cast in a starring role opposite Glenn Frey in South of Sunset (1993). Spears' other movies included Home of Angels (1994), starring Abe Vigoda, Sherman Hemsley and Joe Frazier. Spears also appeared in The Pest (1997) opposite John Leguizamo, Jerry Maguire (1996), and Out-of-Sync (1995).
[edit] Career
[edit] MADtv
Aries Spears joined the cast of MADtv during the 3rd season, and left at the end of the 10th season. During his stay, he created memorable characters, such as comedienne Belma Buttons (co-host of fictional BET show "Reality Check"), Dollar Bill Montgomery (an host of an urban parody of Politically Incorrect), and James Brown Jr. (co-host of Cabana Chat).
But he became famous for the most imitations of African American celebrities, political figures, athletes, rappers, R&B singers, and reporters. Some of his memorable impressions included Bill Cosby, Bobby Brown, Eddie Murphy (During season 3, Spears often portrayed the entire Klump family from The Nutty Professor), Evander Holyfield, James Brown, Jesse Jackson, Magic Johnson, MC Hammer, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Shaquille O'Neil, Sisqo, and Wayne Brady. His little-known impersonations included 50 Cent, Al Roker, Bryant Gumbel, Colin Powell, Coolio, Denzel Washington, Don King, Isabel Sanford, Kobe Bryant, Little Richard, LL Cool J (which he would perform in his stand-up), Malcolm X, Martin Lawrence, Mase, Mother Love, O.J. Simpson, Oscar de la Hoya, P. Diddy, Ray Charles, Samuel L. Jackson, and Stedman Graham.
[edit] Characters
- Belma Buttons (Reality Check)
- Brightling Greetings Employee (The Brightlings)
- Dolemite Jr. (The Son of Dolemite)
- Dollar Bill Montgomery (Real Mother****ing Talk)
- El Diablo Negro (Mexican Wrestlers Theater)
- Emcee Esher
- Harvey Lachien
- Jameel (Will's Little Sister)
- James Brown Jr. (Cabana Chat)
- Jesus (Bible Dude)
- Mr. Daichai (Talkin' American)
- Mr. New Orleans Man (Loopgarue & Hulahoop)
- Reggie (The Eracists)
- Son of Dolemite
- Walter C. Hemphill (Crackheads)
[edit] Impressions
- 50 Cent
- Al Roker
- Alan Keyes
- Allen Iverson
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Arsenio Hall
- Bernard Shaw
- Bill Cosby
- Billy Blanks
- Billy Dee Williams
- Bobby Brown
- Bryant Gumbel
- Chaka Khan
- Chaz Lamar Shepherd
- Clipse
- Colin Powell
- Coolio
- Cuba Gooding Jr.
- Danny Glover
- Denzel Washington
- Dexter King
- DMX
- Don King
- Ed Jones
- Eddie Murphy
- Eriq La Salle
- Evander Holyfield
- Gary Coleman
- George Foreman
- Ice Cube
- Isabel Sanford
- James Brown
- Jamie Foxx
- Jay-Z
- Jesse Jackson
- Jimmie Walker
- Juvenile
- Kevin Eubanks
- Kobe Bryant
- Little Richard
- LL Cool J
- Louis Farrakhan
- Magic Johnson
- Malcolm X
- Marion "Suge" Knight"
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Martin Lawrence
- Mase
- Master P.
- Maya Angelou
- MC Hammer
- Method Man
- Michael Jackson
- Michael Jordan
- Mike Tyson
- Missy Elliott
- Mother Love
- Mrs. Simmons
- O. J. Simpson
- Oscar de la Hoya
- P. Diddy
- Queen Latifah
- R. Kelly
- Ray Charles
- Redd Foxx
- Ron Artest
- Ruben Studdard
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Sacha Baron Cohen
- Shaquille O'Neal
- Sisqó
- Snoop Dogg
- Stedman Graham
- Ted Lange
- Tiger Woods
- Tito Jackson
- Vaughn Lowery
- Vijay Singh
- Wayne Brady
- Wesley Snipes
- Will Smith
[edit] Catch phrases
"Mmm-hm I know that's right" Belma Buttons
[edit] Post MADtv years
Spears recently had a verbal confrontation with radio personalities Paul and Young Ron on a local South Florida morning show. This encounter made national headlines, and a sound clip from this occurrence can be heard at: http://www.big1059.com/pages/prSoundBytes.html
Spears recently appeared on a season 2 episode of Mind of Mencia, which parodied Jamie Foxx's role in Kanye West's music video for Gold Digger.
[edit] Trivia
- Spears was cast as an extra in Scary Movie 3.
- Dropped out of North Brunswick Township High School in North Brunswick, New Jersey to pursue acting career.
- Performed on HBO's Def Comedy Jam at the age of 15
- Spears also lent his voice to the animated series C-Bear and Jamal (1996).
- In 2005, Spears was involved in an altercation with a morning news show in Miami when he was dismissed after refusing to do any comedy and accused the DJ Paul Castronovo of trying to "bait him" into his act. Spears made violent threats against the hosts of the show, which may have caused some dislike of him in South Florida.
- Has astrological sign Aries.
[edit] Filmography
- Hood of Horror (2006)
- The Pest (1997)
- Jerry Maguire (1996)
