Eddie Griffin stars as outlandish yet good-natured Eddie Sherman, who is constantly dragging his roommate and business partner Malcolm into his latest scheme, in UPN's half-hour comedy "Malcolm & Eddie."
It was just over seven years ago, after finishing a night's work as the halftime show choreographer for a soccer team in Kansas City, Missouri, that Eddie Griffin unexpectedly unleashed his unique brand of comedy on his hometown. While barhopping, Griffin wound up at a comedy club, where his cousin bet him $50 that he wouldn't go on stage. The cutup, who was thrice voted class clown at Lincoln High School, seized the moment -- and won the bet. Since then, the road from accidental stand-up comic in the Midwest to film and television actor in Hollywood has been a fascinating one for Griffin.
Having found stand-up a remarkably comfortable niche, Griffin boarded a Greyhound bus to Los Angeles where, one month later, he brought the house down at the famed Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard. His unforgettable impression of Andrew Dice Clay got Griffin a gig as the opening act on the Diceman's national tour.
His performances at the Comedy Store and on tour with the Diceman led to a featured appearance on HBO's "Russell Simmon's Def Comedy Jam" and two HBO specials, one of which was nominated for a CableAce Award. Eventually he was named the "king of hip-hop stand-ups" on the comedy circuit.
Griffin has a small role in the summer release "Armageddon" to add to his movie repertoire which includes the dramatic Vietnam-era film "The Walking Dead," "Meteor Man," "The Five Heartbeats" with Robert Townsend; and "The Last Boy Scout" with Bruce Willis. He gained exceptional notoriety for his portrayal of the character Rat in "Jason's Lyric." Griffin has also recently released his second comedy album, "Live from Hut 3," on Warner Bros. Records.
Griffin is accomplished in the martial arts and as a dancer. The father of a 12-year-old son, Griffin makes his home in Los Angeles.
7/98
This page downloaded on Friday, 20-Jun-2025 19:43:07 GMT
Last modified on Sunday, 12-Sep-2010 23:22:14 CDT.