Jermaine Hopkins

Jermaine R. “Huggy” Hopkins (born August 23, 1973) is an American television and film actor. Hopkins is best known for his roles as Dupree on The WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. from 1996 to 1998, and as Thomas Sams in the 1989 film, Lean on Me, Eric "Steel" Thurman in the 1992 crime drama thriller Juice, Benny King in the 1996 film Phat Beach and Kilo in the 1997 comedy film Def Jam's How to Be a Player.[1][2][3]

Jermaine Hopkins
Born
Jermaine R. Hopkins

(1973-08-23) August 23, 1973
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Other namesHuggy
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present
Known forThomas Sams – Lean on Me
Steel – Juice
Benny King – Phat Beach
SpouseRenee Williams
Children3

Career

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Hopkins began his acting career as a teenager. At age 15, Hopkins fell into the acting business when his mother brought him to a casting-call audition in New York for the Warner Bros. feature Lean on Me, in which he got a starring role opposite Morgan Freeman as Thomas Sams, a misguided drug-abusing high school student. His next project Juice, directed by Ernest R. Dickerson, had him starring as Steel alongside Khalil Kain, Omar Epps, and Tupac Shakur.

Hopkins subsequently starred in the HBO worldwide release Strapped, that would be Forest Whitaker's directorial debut. Over the next two years, Hopkins appeared in episodes of Murder One and Moesha, and six episodes as Dupree on The WB's The Wayans Bros. series, before finishing production on his next film Def Jam's How to Be a Player, starring opposite Bill Bellamy and comedian Pierre Edwards.[4]

Hopkins was arrested on December 15, 2011, for attempting to purchase 200 pounds (91 kg) of marijuana from an undercover police officer. He faced up to five years in prison, but was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years' probation. Hopkins was arrested again on October 13, 2017, in Apex, North Carolina with 5.7 pounds (2.6 kg) of marijuana in the trunk of his car. TMZ reports Hopkins pled guilty to felony possession. However, the judge suspended his four-month sentence, instead giving Hopkins 24 months of supervised probation.[5]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Lean on Me Thomas "Sams" Sams
1992 Juice Eric "Steel" Thurman
1993 Strapped Lay Lay TV movie
1996 Bullet Pudgy
Phat Beach Benny King
1997 Riot Young Black Man TV movie
Def Jam's How to Be a Player Kilo
2002 Urban Massacre Chronic
2007 I Wish I Had a House Like This Drama
2008 Cash Rules Himself Video
2012 Zoo The Bearded Clam
2020 Equal Standard Jermaine
2021 Asbury Park Officer Gaston

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1991-92 The Royal Family Buddy Recurring cast
1995 Murder One Gangsta #2 Episode: "Chapter Seven"
The Parent 'Hood No Good Episode: "Not with My Daughter"
1996 Moesha The Kid Episode: "Reunion"
1996-98 The Wayans Bros. Dupree Recurring cast: season 3-5
2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Store Clerk Episode: "Rooftop"

References
  1. Rebels and Chicks: A History of the Hollywood Teen Movie - By Stephen Tropiano.Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  2. Reefer Movie Madness: The Ultimate Stoner Film Guide - By Shirley Halperin, Steve Bloom.Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  3. Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema - By S. Torriano Berry, Venise T. Berry.Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  4. "How to Be a Player (1997): Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. "'Lean On Me' Star Jermaine Hopkins Pleads Guilty in Weed Case". TMZ. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
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