Aries Spears
Encyclopedia
Aries Spears is an American
actor
and comedian
. Spears is best known as one of the actors on Fox's
sketch comedy
series MADtv
, in which he was in 198 episodes, making him the second longest-serving original cast member on the show.
, Illinois
. His mother Doris Spears is a jazz
singer. Spears moved to New Jersey
at age 11 and attended Arthur M. Judd Elementary School. He became a comedian at the age of 14, performing stand up in various comedy club
s in New York City
. He was expelled for fighting during his sophomore year in North Brunswick Township High School
in North Brunswick Township
, at age 17. Spears started doing his own comedy routine around his hometown. He is a self-professed Michael Jordan
fan.
' 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 (1993) 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 include Home of Angels
(1994), The Pest (1997), Jerry Maguire
where he played Teepee, brother of Rod Tidwell (1996), Out-of-Sync
(1995), and The Proud Family
(2003).
show "Reality Check"), Dollar Bill Montgomery (a host of an urban parody of Politically Incorrect
called "Real **********ing Talk with Dollar Bill Montgomery"), James Brown
Jr. (co-host of Cabana Chat), and controversial rapper Emcee Esher. He is well known for his impressions of African American
celebrities, including rappers Jay-Z
, LL Cool J
, DMX
, and Snoop Dogg
.
, which parodied Jamie Foxx
's role in Kanye West
's music video for "Gold Digger
." He also appeared in the 2006 movie Hood of Horror
. Spears performed in the TV series The Underground
and voiced the character Wizard Kelly in the animated television series The Proud Family
.
Spears appeared on the Covino and Rich
radio talk show and criticized rapper
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
. He challenged Soulja Boy Tell 'Em to a rap battle, claiming he would win easily. Spears appeared in two episodes of Frank Caliendo
's sketch comedy show Frank TV
as Shaquille O'Neal
.
Spears has signed with Fabb Vision Network, starring as host of his new show called 'The Underground', being shot in Columbus
, Ohio
. The show was due to start broadcasting in September 2010.
He appeared alongside comedians such as Cedric the Entertainer
in the All Star Comedy Jam in 2009.
His 2011 stand-up comedy special, Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling was shown on Showtime.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. Spears is best known as one of the actors on Fox's
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
series MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
, in which he was in 198 episodes, making him the second longest-serving original cast member on the show.
Early life
Aries Spears was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. His mother Doris Spears is a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer. Spears moved to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
at age 11 and attended Arthur M. Judd Elementary School. He became a comedian at the age of 14, performing stand up in various comedy club
Comedy club
A comedy club is a venue, typically a nightclub, bar, or restaurant where people watch or listen to performances, including stand-up comedians, improvisational comedians, impersonators, magicians, ventriloquists and other comedy acts...
s in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was expelled for fighting during his sophomore year in North Brunswick Township High School
North Brunswick Township High School
North Brunswick Township High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in North Brunswick Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the North Brunswick Township Public Schools....
in North Brunswick Township
North Brunswick Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:At the 2010 census, there were 40,742 people, 13,635 households and 9,367 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,018.3 per square mile . There were 13,932 housing units at an average density of 1,158.8 per square mile...
, at age 17. Spears started doing his own comedy routine around his hometown. He is a self-professed Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
fan.
Early film and TV roles
Spears' first television appearance was on Russell SimmonsRussell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
' Def Comedy Jam
Def Comedy Jam
Def Comedy Jam is a HBO television series produced by Russell Simmons. The series had its original run from July 1, 1992 to January 1, 1997. The show returned on HBO's fall lineup in 2006. Def Comedy Jam helped to launch the careers of several African-American stand-up comedians...
, followed by It's Showtime at the Apollo (1987). He moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1992, landed a recurring role on A Different World (1993) and became a regular at The Comedy Store
The Comedy Store
The Comedy Store is a comedy club located in West Hollywood, California, at 8433 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip. It has a sister comedy club in La Jolla, San Diego, California.-History:...
, The Improv
The Improv
The Improv is a comedy club franchise. Originally, it was a single venue founded in 1963 by Budd Friedman and located in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City on West 44th near the SE corner of 9th Ave. A second location was opened in 1974 at 8162 Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District...
and The Laugh Factory
The Laugh Factory
The Laugh Factory is a world famous comedy club located at 8001 on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California.-History:In 1979, after a dispute over club owners refusing to pay comedians, a then 16 year old Jamie Masada recognized the need for a new venue for comedians to perform...
. His additional television credits include Crosstown Traffic, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (1993) and Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
.
By the age of 17, he landed a part in the movie Malcolm X
Malcolm X (film)
Malcolm X is a 1992 biographical motion picture about the Muslim-American figure Malcolm X . It was co-written, co-produced, and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as the titular character. It co-stars Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman, Jr., and Delroy Lindo...
. Shortly thereafter, Spears was cast in a starring role opposite Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
in South of Sunset
South of Sunset
South of Sunset is an American TV detective series, starring musician/actor Glenn Frey, that only aired one episode on CBS in 1993.Frey played Cody McMahon, a private eye whose offices were located just south of Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. As a result, he calls his business the Beverly Hills...
(1993). Spears' other movies include Home of Angels
Home of Angels
Home of Angels is a 1994 feature film written by James Oliva and Nicolas L. DePace and directed by Nick Stagliano.-Plot:Billy defies his mother and father and makes a secret trip from Long Island to Philadelphia to sneak his grandfather out of a nursing home and bring him home for the holidays...
(1994), The Pest (1997), Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding, Jr. It was written, co-produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe...
where he played Teepee, brother of Rod Tidwell (1996), Out-of-Sync
Out-of-Sync
Out-of-Sync is a 1995 crime drama film featuring LL Cool J in his first starring role. The film was directed by Debbie Allen and co-starred Victoria Dillard, Tim Reid and Howard Hesseman.-Plot:...
(1995), and The Proud Family
The Proud Family
The Proud Family is an American animated television series that premiered on Disney Channel from September 15, 2001 to August 19, 2005.-Production:...
(2003).
MADtv
Aries Spears joined the cast of MADtv during its 3rd season in 1997, and left at the end of its 10th season in 2005, for a total of 8 seasons. During his stay, he created characters such as comedienne Belma Buttons (co-host of fictional BETBlack Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
show "Reality Check"), Dollar Bill Montgomery (a host of an urban parody of Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect is a late-night, half-hour political talk show hosted by Bill Maher that ran from 1993 to 2002. It premiered on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1997, and later on ABC in 1997, which cancelled it in 2002....
called "Real **********ing Talk with Dollar Bill Montgomery"), James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
Jr. (co-host of Cabana Chat), and controversial rapper Emcee Esher. He is well known for his impressions of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
celebrities, including rappers Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
, and Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
.
After MADtv
Spears appeared on a Season 2 episode of Mind of MenciaMind of Mencia
Mind of Mencia is an American television comedy series on the cable channel Comedy Central. Hosted by Carlos Mencia, it aired from 2005 to 2008.- History :...
, which parodied Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
's role in Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's music video for "Gold Digger
Gold Digger
"Gold Digger" is a song recorded by American rapper Kanye West featuring guest vocals by Jamie Foxx. Released as the second single from West's second album, Late Registration, "Gold Digger" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 2005, becoming West's and Foxx's second...
." He also appeared in the 2006 movie Hood of Horror
Hood of Horror
Hood of Horror is a horror film adaptation of a fictional comic book, which is an anthology of three short tales set in an urban milieu in a style reminiscent of Tales From The Crypt and Tales from the Hood. The movie debuted at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival...
. Spears performed in the TV series The Underground
The Underground (TV series)
The Underground was a sketch comedy series produced by and starring Damon Wayans. It aired on Showtime. Wayans describes the show as "In Living Color on steroids." In fact the show features raunchy, sexist, and racist behavior, and as Wayans states in his opening monologue, "We decided to test the...
and voiced the character Wizard Kelly in the animated television series The Proud Family
The Proud Family
The Proud Family is an American animated television series that premiered on Disney Channel from September 15, 2001 to August 19, 2005.-Production:...
.
Spears appeared on the Covino and Rich
Covino and Rich
Covino & Rich are radio personalities and the hosts of The Covino & Rich Show. The talk radio show currently airs on subscription-based SIRIUS XM Radio from 12:00PM–3:00PM EST on Sirius XM channel 104...
radio talk show and criticized rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
DeAndre Cortez Way , better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, or simply Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, and internet personality....
. He challenged Soulja Boy Tell 'Em to a rap battle, claiming he would win easily. Spears appeared in two episodes of Frank Caliendo
Frank Caliendo
Frank Caliendo is an American comedian and impressionist, best known for his work on the Fox Network television series MADtv, and as the in-house prognosticator for Fox NFL Sunday. In 2007 and 2008, he performed his impersonations on his own show, Frank TV, which aired on TBS...
's sketch comedy show Frank TV
Frank TV
Frank TV was a sketch comedy show starring Frank Caliendo, Mike MacRae, and Freddy Lockhart. Frank was the host of the show and performed in sketches in full makeup as characters he impersonated. Frank joked he "wanted the show to be called The Chappelle Show, but the lawyers wouldn't allow it"...
as Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
.
Spears has signed with Fabb Vision Network, starring as host of his new show called 'The Underground', being shot in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The show was due to start broadcasting in September 2010.
He appeared alongside comedians such as Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
in the All Star Comedy Jam in 2009.
His 2011 stand-up comedy special, Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling was shown on Showtime.
Filmography
- Hood of HorrorHood of HorrorHood of Horror is a horror film adaptation of a fictional comic book, which is an anthology of three short tales set in an urban milieu in a style reminiscent of Tales From The Crypt and Tales from the Hood. The movie debuted at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival...
(2006) as Quon - Jiminy Glick in LalawoodJiminy Glick in LalawoodJiminy Glick in Lalawood is a 2004 comedy film. It stars Martin Short as Jiminy Glick, a movie critic who is involved in a murder case at the Toronto International Film Festival.-Storyline:...
(2004) as Gunnar “MC GUN” Jorge - Love ChroniclesLove Chronicles (film)Love Chronicles is a 2003 romantic comedy, written and directed by Tyler Maddox-Simms. The film stars Clifton Powell, LisaRaye McCoy, Robin Givens, and Terrence Howard.-Plot:...
(2003) as Playa - Josie and the PussycatsJosie and the Pussycats (film)Josie and the Pussycats is a 2001 comedy film released by Universal Studios and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Directed and co-written by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, the film is loosely based upon the Archie comic of the same name...
(2001) as The Other Carson Daly - Why Do Fools Fall in LoveWhy Do Fools Fall in Love (film)Why Do Fools Fall in Love is an American romantic drama, directed by Gregory Nava and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is a biographical film of the brief but intense life of R&B/Rock & Roll singer Frankie Lymon, lead singer of the pioneering rock and roll group Frankie Lymon & the...
(1998) as Redd FoxxRedd FoxxJohn Elroy Sanford , better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best known for his starring role on the sitcom Sanford and Son.-Early life:... - The Pest (1997)
- Jerry MaguireJerry MaguireJerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding, Jr. It was written, co-produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe...
(1996) as Tee Pee - Out-of-SyncOut-of-SyncOut-of-Sync is a 1995 crime drama film featuring LL Cool J in his first starring role. The film was directed by Debbie Allen and co-starred Victoria Dillard, Tim Reid and Howard Hesseman.-Plot:...
(1995) as Frank - Home of AngelsHome of AngelsHome of Angels is a 1994 feature film written by James Oliva and Nicolas L. DePace and directed by Nick Stagliano.-Plot:Billy defies his mother and father and makes a secret trip from Long Island to Philadelphia to sneak his grandfather out of a nursing home and bring him home for the holidays...
(1994) as Gang Leader - Malcolm XMalcolm X (film)Malcolm X is a 1992 biographical motion picture about the Muslim-American figure Malcolm X . It was co-written, co-produced, and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as the titular character. It co-stars Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman, Jr., and Delroy Lindo...
(1992)
TV
- The BoondocksThe Boondocks (TV series)The Boondocks is an American animated series created by Aaron McGruder on Cartoon Network's late night programing block, Adult Swim, based on McGruder's comic strip of the same name...
Episode: "Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy" (2010) as Lord Rufus Crabmiser - CSI: MiamiCSI: MiamiCSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
(2007) as Oscar Monahan (2 episodes) - Lilo & Stitch: The SeriesLilo & Stitch: The SeriesLilo & Stitch: The Series is the animated television spinoff of the feature film, Lilo & Stitch and the follow-up to Stitch! The Movie.-Plot:...
(2005, 2007) as Wizard Kelly (2 episodes) - The UndergroundThe Underground (TV series)The Underground was a sketch comedy series produced by and starring Damon Wayans. It aired on Showtime. Wayans describes the show as "In Living Color on steroids." In fact the show features raunchy, sexist, and racist behavior, and as Wayans states in his opening monologue, "We decided to test the...
(2006) - MADtvMADtvMADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
(1997–2005) as Various - The Proud FamilyThe Proud FamilyThe Proud Family is an American animated television series that premiered on Disney Channel from September 15, 2001 to August 19, 2005.-Production:...
(2001–2004) as Wizard Kelly / Sir-Paid-A-Lot / Li'l Wiz Jr. - The Night B4 Christmas (2003, TV movie) as Elvin
- Crosstown Traffic (1995, TV movie) as Eddie
- The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. Episode: "Stagecoach" (1994) as Bobby Swan
- South of SunsetSouth of SunsetSouth of Sunset is an American TV detective series, starring musician/actor Glenn Frey, that only aired one episode on CBS in 1993.Frey played Cody McMahon, a private eye whose offices were located just south of Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. As a result, he calls his business the Beverly Hills...
(1993) as Ziggy Duane - A Different WorldA Different WorldA Different World is an American television sitcom which aired for six seasons on NBC . It was a spin-off series from The Cosby Show originally centered on Denise Huxtable and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional historically black college in the state of Virginia...
(1993) as Ty (2 episodes)