The actor who will portray late comic legend Richard Pryor in the latter’s upcoming biopic is pumped up for his second Bermuda appearance in five years.

Mike Epps, the American comedian, actor, film producer, writer and rapper, will perform a stand-up show at Fairmont Southampton Hotel this Sunday, where he intends to leave the audience bursting at the seams with laughter.

“I am what you are looking for,” Mr Epps told The Royal Gazette. “I am a big spend and ready to give the people what they are looking for.”

Mr Epps’s name has become synonymous with a particular style of humour, which crosses a host of genres, including observational comedy and satire.

During his previous performance in Bermuda at the same venue in the summer of 2011, Mr Epps drew an audience of 1,250 people, the largest for a local comedy show to date.

The man who regards stand-up comedians/actors Pryor and Eddie Murphy as “comedic geniuses” reckons that his next appearance in Bermuda will be funnier than his first.

“I am a big ticket!” Mr Epps declared. “I am more explosive, more impulsive and even better at improvising. That’s why I believe it important to write your own material as a comedian.”

Mr Epps, who was born in Indiana, began his professional career in 1995 when he joined Def Comedy Jam tour and starred in two of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam shows.

Two years later he made his first on-screen appearance as an actor in Vin Diesel’s Strays.

In 1999, Mr Epps co-starred with rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube in Next Friday, a sequel to the hugely popular Friday. His role as Day-Day Jones proved a major breakthrough for the fledging actor, who grasped his opportunity with both hands and has never looked back. The year 1999 proved to be a busy one for Mr Epps as he played a supporting role to Jamie Foxx in Bait and made a cameo in 3 Strikes.

In 2001, he had a voice role in the movie Dr Dolittle 2 as Sonny the Bear and also featured as the comical pimp Baby Powder in How High, starring rappers Method Man and Redman.

Mr Epps was reunited with Ice Cube the next year as the thief to the former’s bounty hunter in the movie All About the Benjamins as well as in Friday After Next, the third film in the Friday trilogy.

In 2008, Mr Epps landed another voice role in the film Open Season 2 as Boog the bear and two years later released a stand-up comedy special titled Under Rated & Never Faded and hosted the BET Hip Hop Awards.

The multi-talented American starred alongside Jordin Sparks and late R&B star singer Whitney Houston in the 2012 remake of Sparkle in his first non-comedic role.

In the Pryor biopic, Mr Epps will star alongside Oprah Winfrey.

“I am currently preparing and researching for my role in Richard Pryor’s biopic where I will star as Richard Pryor,” Mr Epps said. “His widow described me as having ‘a dangerous edge, a Richard-esque quality about me’.”

Mr Epps is also working on a baseball-themed movie entitled Bad Behaviour as well as a stand-up comedy special on Netflix called Don’t Take It Personal.

Also performing at Sunday’s show at Fairmont Southampton, dubbed Mike Epps Live, are local comedian Eddie G and vocalist Jesse Seymour.

The show will be hosted by local comedian Jah, with music to be provided by top local DJ, Jugglin Jason.

• Showtime is at 8pm. General Admission is $75 and $125 for VIP, which includes preferred seating and two drink tickets. Tickets are available at People’s Pharmacy, Choices and bdatix.bm.