- Michael Jai White, Spawn, 1996. All the obvious heavyweights – Cuba Gooding Jr, Will Smith, Wesley Snipes, Tony Todd (Candyman), Denzel Washington and Tarantino favourites Samuel L Jackson, Ving Rhames – were seen for the movies’ first black superhero. (The later filmed Black Pantherwas born first, in a 1966 comic – 26 yearsbefore Spawn). Plus the usual rappers LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur. And the inevitable unknown: Allen Payne, from New Jack City (with Snipes). Not easy, said White, to win audience sympathy for “the most tragic character I’ve encountered,” a government assassin back from hell. Hence, Spawn 2and Spawn 3: The Ultimate Battlenever battled.White was good; John Leguizamo (unrecognisable as Clown) had better lines.“I say destroy the cosmos: ask questions later.”“I’ve got more tricks than a hooker!”“Every time someone farts, a demon gets his wings.”
- Mike Epps, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, 2004. The rapper-cum-actor changed his mind – said scenarist Paul WS Anderson.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Cordozar Calvin BroadusCasting Calls: 2