Flex Alexander
Encyclopedia
Mark Alexander Knox better known as Flex Alexander or Flex, is an American actor
, comedian
and dancer.
in Harlem
, Alexander is the son of Alethia Knox and Robert Whitehead.
As a teen, he began dancing in New York clubs earning the nickname "Flex" due to his acrobatic dance skills. After being discovered by DJ Spinderella
, he began touring with rap trio Salt-n-Pepa
's dance troupe for three years. In addition to dancing, Alexander also choreographed for Mary J. Blige
and Queen Latifah
. In 1989, he made his stand-up comedy debut and eventually turned to acting, making his film debut in a bit part in the 1992 film Juice
.
sitcom Where I Live
, starring Doug E. Doug
. Despite being critically acclaimed, the series was canceled that same year. Alexander then guest starred on episodes of Sister, Sister
and The Cosby Mysteries
before moving to Los Angeles in 1995 to concentrate on acting. In 1996, he landed a starring role on another short-lived sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space
. The series was critically panned and canceled the following year. Later that year, Alexander co-starred in yet another short-lived series, the Steven Bochco
-created Total Security. Following Total Securitys run, Alexander guest starred on Brooklyn South
and The Parkers
, and also had roles in several films including the 1998 direct-to-video
release Backroom Bodega Boyz and She's All That
(1999).
From 2000 to 2001, Alexander appeared as Maya Wilkes' husband Darnell during the first season of the UPN sitcom Girlfriends
. He left Girlfriends to star as single father Flexter "Flex" Washington on the UPN sitcom One on One
, a series he created and produced. For his role on the series, Alexander was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards and two BET Comedy Awards. In 2004, he portrayed Michael Jackson
in the VH1
television
biopic
Man In The Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
, which garnered him another NAACP Image Award nomination. Alexander returned to One on One for two more seasons, however, during the last season, his character was phased out when the show was retooled.
Following the end of One on One, Alexander had roles in the 2006 film Snakes on a Plane
, opposite Samuel L. Jackson
, and the 2007 horror film The Hills Have Eyes 2
. He also had a role in Clement Virgo
's Poor Boy's Game
, with Danny Glover
. Alexander's most recent role was in a 2007 episode CSI: Miami
.
on Valentine's Day
2000. They have two children, daughter Imani Shekinah Alexander and son Elijah Alexander.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, 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...
and dancer.
Early life
Born in New York CityNew 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...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, Alexander is the son of Alethia Knox and Robert Whitehead.
As a teen, he began dancing in New York clubs earning the nickname "Flex" due to his acrobatic dance skills. After being discovered by DJ Spinderella
DJ Spinderella
Deidra Muriel Roper , known as DJ Spinderella, is an American DJ and rapper who was a member of the hip-hop group, Salt-N-Pepa. Her name is a reference to the classic fairy tale Cinderella.- Career :...
, he began touring with rap trio Salt-n-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
's dance troupe for three years. In addition to dancing, Alexander also choreographed for Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
and Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
. In 1989, he made his stand-up comedy debut and eventually turned to acting, making his film debut in a bit part in the 1992 film Juice
Juice (film)
Juice is a 1992 American crime drama film that stars rapper Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps. Additional cast members include Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins, Khalil Kain, Samuel L. Jackson, and features cameo appearances by Queen Latifah, EPMD, Special Ed, Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, Flex Alexander, Fab Five...
.
Career
Alexander's first television role was on the short-lived 1993 ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sitcom Where I Live
Where I Live
Where I Live is an American sitcom that premiered in 1993 as part of ABC's TGIF lineup. The series was created and executive produced by Michael Jacobs and Ehrich Van Lowe.-Synopsis:...
, starring Doug E. Doug
Doug E. Doug
Douglas Bourne, better known as Doug E. Doug is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and film director. He started his career at age 17 as a stand-up comedian...
. Despite being critically acclaimed, the series was canceled that same year. Alexander then guest starred on episodes of Sister, Sister
Sister, Sister (TV series)
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart....
and The Cosby Mysteries
The Cosby Mysteries
The Cosby Mysteries is a American television mystery series that starred Bill Cosby. It was the first television series to star Cosby since The Cosby Show and lasted only one season...
before moving to Los Angeles in 1995 to concentrate on acting. In 1996, he landed a starring role on another short-lived sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space
Homeboys in Outer Space
Homeboys in Outer Space is an American science fiction/fantasy sitcom that aired on UPN from 1996 to 1997. The series stars comedian Flex and Darryl Bell.-Synopsis:...
. The series was critically panned and canceled the following year. Later that year, Alexander co-starred in yet another short-lived series, the Steven Bochco
Steven Bochco
Steven Ronald Bochco is a US television producer and writer. He has developed a number of popular television hits including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue, as well as some notable flops such as Cop Rock....
-created Total Security. Following Total Securitys run, Alexander guest starred on Brooklyn South
Brooklyn South
Brooklyn South is an American ensemble police drama series that aired on CBS for only one season during the 1997-98 television season. The series was co-created by Steven Bochco, Bill Clark, David Milch and William M. Finkelstein. Bochco is the creator of many well-known police dramas such as Hill...
and The Parkers
The Parkers
The Parkers is an American sitcom . A spin-off of UPN's Moesha, The Parkers featured the mother-daughter team of Nikki and Kim Parker . The Parkers' signature "Heeyyy" greeting made its way into popular vernacular in the early 2000s.-Premise:The series centered around a mother and daughter who...
, and also had roles in several films including the 1998 direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
release Backroom Bodega Boyz and She's All That
She's All That
She's All That is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Iscove, and is a modern adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion...
(1999).
From 2000 to 2001, Alexander appeared as Maya Wilkes' husband Darnell during the first season of the UPN sitcom Girlfriends
Girlfriends
Girlfriends is an American comedy-drama sitcom that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being cancelled in 2008...
. He left Girlfriends to star as single father Flexter "Flex" Washington on the UPN sitcom One on One
One on One (TV series)
One on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter...
, a series he created and produced. For his role on the series, Alexander was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards and two BET Comedy Awards. In 2004, he portrayed Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
in the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
television
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
biopic
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
Man In The Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
Man In The Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story is a 2004 biographical telefilm produced for VH1. The biopic stars Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson, and follows his rise to fame and subsequent controversial events. The film takes its title from one of Jackson's songs, "Man in the Mirror".The film...
, which garnered him another NAACP Image Award nomination. Alexander returned to One on One for two more seasons, however, during the last season, his character was phased out when the show was retooled.
Following the end of One on One, Alexander had roles in the 2006 film Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
, opposite Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
, and the 2007 horror film The Hills Have Eyes 2
The Hills Have Eyes 2
The Hills Have Eyes 2 is the 2007 American horror film sequel to the 2006 film The Hills Have Eyes which was a remake of the 1977 horror film The Hills Have Eyes. The film follows several heroic, but troubled, U.S. National Guardsmen as they fight for survival against the mutant people living in a...
. He also had a role in Clement Virgo
Clement Virgo
Clément Virgo is a Canadian filmmaker of international acclaim. His latest feature, the boxing drama Poor Boy's Game, stars Danny Glover and Rossif Sutherland...
's Poor Boy's Game
Poor Boy's Game
Poor Boy's Game is a Canadian feature film directed by Clement Virgo. Co-written with Nova Scotian writer/director Chaz Thorne , it is the story of class struggle, racial tensions and boxing, set in the Canadian east coast port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The film premiered on February 11, 2007,...
, with Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
. Alexander's most recent role was in a 2007 episode CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: 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....
.
Personal life
Alexander, a born-again Christian, married singer Shanice WilsonShanice
Shanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox , better known as Shanice, is a Grammy-nominated American R&B/soul singer-songwriter. She scored two Top 5 Billboard hit single's "I Love Your Smile" in 1991, and "Saving Forever for You" in 1993. In 1999, Shanice scored another top hit song, "When I Close My Eyes"...
on Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
2000. They have two children, daughter Imani Shekinah Alexander and son Elijah Alexander.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Juice Juice (film) Juice is a 1992 American crime drama film that stars rapper Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps. Additional cast members include Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins, Khalil Kain, Samuel L. Jackson, and features cameo appearances by Queen Latifah, EPMD, Special Ed, Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, Flex Alexander, Fab Five... |
Flex the Contest Auditioner | Credited as Mark "Flex" Knox |
| 1995 | Money Train Money Train Money Train is a 1995 American comedy thriller film starring Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lopez as New York City transit cops... |
Hood | Credited as Flex |
| 1997 | The Sixth Man The Sixth Man The 6th Man is a supernatural sports comedy starring Marlon Wayans and Kadeem Hardison. The film was directed by Randall Miller. The film features real NCAA schools, although the rosters are fictitious... |
Jerrod Smith | Credited as Flex |
| City of Industry City of Industry (film) City of Industry is a 1997 crime film starring Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff and Timothy Hutton. It is directed by John Irvin, produced by Evzen Kolar and Ken Solarz and written by Ken Solarz... |
A Roc | Credited as Flex | |
| 1998 | Backroom Bodega Boyz | Credited as Flex Direct-to-video release |
|
| 1999 | She's All That She's All That She's All That is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Iscove, and is a modern adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion... |
Kadeem | |
| 2001 | Out Cold Out Cold (2001 film) Out Cold is a 2001 American comedy film about a group of snowboarders in Alaska. It is the first feature film by the music video directing team The Malloys. The movie presents itself as something of a parody of 1980's "ski school" movies and makes a number of references to the film Casablanca... |
Anthony | |
| 2004 | Gas Gas (film) Gas is a 2004 comedy/drama film, directed by Henry Chan. The film stars Flex Alexander and Khalil Kain .-Plot:... |
Damien | |
| Shira: The Vampire Samurai | Small Change Willie | Credited as Flex Direct-to-video release |
|
| 2005 | Her Minor Thing Her Minor Thing Her Minor Thing is a 2005 motion picture. The romantic comedy is directed by Charles Matthau, written by Jim Meyers and Debra Meyers, and stars Estella Warren, Christian Kane, and Michael Weatherly.The script's working title was "Men Are Jerks".... |
Marty | |
| 2006 | Snakes On a Plane Snakes on a Plane Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America... |
Three G's | |
| 2007 | Love... & Other 4 Letter Words | Arnold | |
| Poor Boy's Game Poor Boy's Game Poor Boy's Game is a Canadian feature film directed by Clement Virgo. Co-written with Nova Scotian writer/director Chaz Thorne , it is the story of class struggle, racial tensions and boxing, set in the Canadian east coast port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The film premiered on February 11, 2007,... |
Ossie Paris | ||
| The Hills Have Eyes 2 The Hills Have Eyes 2 The Hills Have Eyes 2 is the 2007 American horror film sequel to the 2006 film The Hills Have Eyes which was a remake of the 1977 horror film The Hills Have Eyes. The film follows several heroic, but troubled, U.S. National Guardsmen as they fight for survival against the mutant people living in a... |
Sarge | ||
| The List | Chet | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Where I Live Where I Live Where I Live is an American sitcom that premiered in 1993 as part of ABC's TGIF lineup. The series was created and executive produced by Michael Jacobs and Ehrich Van Lowe.-Synopsis:... |
Reggie Coltrane | Unknown episodes |
| 1994 | Sister, Sister Sister, Sister (TV series) Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart.... |
Cold Dog | 1 episode |
| New York Undercover New York Undercover New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to... |
Mecca | 1 episode | |
| 1995 | The Cosby Mysteries The Cosby Mysteries The Cosby Mysteries is a American television mystery series that starred Bill Cosby. It was the first television series to star Cosby since The Cosby Show and lasted only one season... |
Partygoer | 1 episode |
| 1996–1997 | Homeboys in Outer Space Homeboys in Outer Space Homeboys in Outer Space is an American science fiction/fantasy sitcom that aired on UPN from 1996 to 1997. The series stars comedian Flex and Darryl Bell.-Synopsis:... |
Tyberius Walker | 21 episodes |
| 1997 | Moesha Moesha Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.-Overview:The show... |
Dread | 1 episode |
| Total Security | Neville Watson | 13 episodes | |
| Brooklyn South Brooklyn South Brooklyn South is an American ensemble police drama series that aired on CBS for only one season during the 1997-98 television season. The series was co-created by Steven Bochco, Bill Clark, David Milch and William M. Finkelstein. Bochco is the creator of many well-known police dramas such as Hill... |
Buster | 1 episode | |
| 1998 | Modern Vampires Modern Vampires Modern Vampires is a 1998 black horror/comedy film that was released Oct 19, 1999 straight to video, written by Matthew Bright and directed by Richard Elfman.... |
Trigger | Credited as Flex Television movie |
| Ice | Kelvin | Credited as Flex Television movie |
|
| 1999 | The Force | Television movie | |
| The Apartment Complex The Apartment Complex The Apartment Complex is a 1999 television film directed by Tobe Hooper. In this movie, a man named Stan becomes the manager of an apartment complex with strange tenants after the previous manager disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Things go downhill after he discovers a corpse in the... |
Television movie | ||
| Santa and Pete | Pete | Television movie | |
| 2000 | The Parkers The Parkers The Parkers is an American sitcom . A spin-off of UPN's Moesha, The Parkers featured the mother-daughter team of Nikki and Kim Parker . The Parkers' signature "Heeyyy" greeting made its way into popular vernacular in the early 2000s.-Premise:The series centered around a mother and daughter who... |
Andy | 1 episode |
| 2000–2001 | Girlfriends Girlfriends Girlfriends is an American comedy-drama sitcom that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being cancelled in 2008... |
Darnell Wilkes | 4 episodes |
| 2001–2006 | One on One One on One (TV series) One on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter... |
Mark "Flex" Washington | 97 episodes |
| 2004 | Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story Man In The Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story is a 2004 biographical telefilm produced for VH1. The biopic stars Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson, and follows his rise to fame and subsequent controversial events. The film takes its title from one of Jackson's songs, "Man in the Mirror".The film... |
Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... |
Television movie |
| 2005 | Cuts Cuts Cuts is an American sitcom that aired on the UPN network from February 14, 2005, to May 11, 2006, and is a spin-off of another UPN series, One on One... |
Flex Washington | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office | Deef | Television movie |
| CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: 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.... |
Martin Wilson | 1 episode | |
| 2010 | Blue Bloods Blue Bloods (TV series) Blue Bloods is an American police procedural/drama series on CBS, filmed on location in New York City. The show premiered on September 24, 2010, with episodes airing on Fridays at 10:00 pm Eastern and Pacific/9:00 PM Central and Mountain.... |
Det. Demarcus King | 1 episode (Pilot) |
| 2011 | It Takes Two | Mark "Flex" Wolf | 1 episode |
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | BET Comedy Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | One on One |
| 2005 | Nominated | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | One on One | |
| 2003 | NAACP Image Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series:-Stats:*Most Wins**Bernie Mac & Steve Harvey- 4 wins*Most Nominations**1. Bernie Mac- 6 nominations... |
One on One |
| 2004 | Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | One on One | |
| 2005 | Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special:... |
Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story | |
| Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | One on One |