Life in Film: Heavy D

The rap icon in his many roles

Roc - In the early ‘90s, rappers like Will Smith, Queen Latifah and LL Cool J were parlaying their rap stardom into TV stardom… And so was Heavy. In 1993, he landed his first major role, playing garbage man Calvin on the hit TV series Roc.(Photo: FOX)

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Roc - In the early ‘90s, rappers like Will Smith, Queen Latifah and LL Cool J were parlaying their rap stardom into TV stardom… And so was Heavy. In 1993, he landed his first major role, playing garbage man Calvin on the hit TV series Roc.(Photo: FOX)

Living Single - On this hip hopped pre-cursor to Friends, the overweight lover joined the cast in 1994 as Darryl, lover-then-friend of the character Regine (Kim Fields).(Photo: FOX)

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Living Single - On this hip hopped pre-cursor to Friends, the overweight lover joined the cast in 1994 as Darryl, lover-then-friend of the character Regine (Kim Fields).(Photo: FOX)

New Jersey Drive  - In this 1995 hood flick about Newark, NJ’s car theft epidemic, Heavy’s stars as drug dealer Bo-Kane who doesn’t want the joy riding car thieves to bring heat (i.e. the law) to his corners.(Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks)

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New Jersey Drive  - In this 1995 hood flick about Newark, NJ’s car theft epidemic, Heavy’s stars as drug dealer Bo-Kane who doesn’t want the joy riding car thieves to bring heat (i.e. the law) to his corners.(Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks)

Life - In 1999, Heavy D had a role in Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy's hit Life.  He had the honor of burying what we thought were Lawrence and Murphy's characters.  It was also the rapper's first-time debutng a slimmer Heavy D.(Photo: Universal Pictures)

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Life - In 1999, Heavy D had a role in Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy's hit Life.  He had the honor of burying what we thought were Lawrence and Murphy's characters.  It was also the rapper's first-time debutng a slimmer Heavy D.(Photo: Universal Pictures)

Boston Public - From 2000 through 2003, Heavy had a recurring role on Fox's high school drama Boston Public as Bob "Big Boy" Lick, the school's compassionate guidance counselor.(Photo: FOX)

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Boston Public - From 2000 through 2003, Heavy had a recurring role on Fox's high school drama Boston Public as Bob "Big Boy" Lick, the school's compassionate guidance counselor.(Photo: FOX)

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Big Trouble  - In this 2002 comedy, where the lives of Miami denizens—from ad agents to gunrunners to street thugs to law enforcement to school children—intersect, the Hev-ster played FBI agent Pat Greer.(Photo: Touchstone Pictures)

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Big Trouble  - In this 2002 comedy, where the lives of Miami denizens—from ad agents to gunrunners to street thugs to law enforcement to school children—intersect, the Hev-ster played FBI agent Pat Greer.(Photo: Touchstone Pictures)

The Tracy Morgan Show - When the controversial comedian got his short-lived sitcom in 2003, the hip hop icon joined his cast as fellow mechanic Bernard. He also composed the show’s music and theme song.(Photo: NBC)

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The Tracy Morgan Show - When the controversial comedian got his short-lived sitcom in 2003, the hip hop icon joined his cast as fellow mechanic Bernard. He also composed the show’s music and theme song.(Photo: NBC)

Bones  - On season one of this Fox series Heavy played Sid Shapiro, the owner of the restaurant where Bones hung out.(Photo: FOX)

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Bones  - On season one of this Fox series Heavy played Sid Shapiro, the owner of the restaurant where Bones hung out.(Photo: FOX)

Step Up  - The hip hop icon took on the role of Omar in this 2006 hit dance film.(Photo: Touchstone Pictures)

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Step Up  - The hip hop icon took on the role of Omar in this 2006 hit dance film.(Photo: Touchstone Pictures)

Tower Heist  - In his last appearance on the big screen, the rapper made a small cameo in this big heist comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller.(Photo: Universal Pictures)

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Tower Heist  - In his last appearance on the big screen, the rapper made a small cameo in this big heist comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller.(Photo: Universal Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Universal Pictures