5 Questions with "House's" Omar Epps

LKL Blog: “House” is back! How has it been working on this highly acclaimed show? Are there any medical conditions you know way too much about now?

Epps: Working on "House" continues to be a great experience for me. I'm surrounded by a myriad of wonderfully talented people who strive for nothing less than excellence. Every day at work brings a new challenge and professionally speaking, I love nothing more than rising to the occasion. Being on a medical show has given me a profound respect for those who work in the field of medicine. It's also made me a tad paranoid about my own health (I'm joking... Seriously).

LKL Blog: How did you get your start in acting? What was your first big “break”?

Epps: For the most part I've always wanted to be an actor... OK, first I wanted to be the starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys, but that's Tony Dorsett's fault. My 'big break' was the first feature film I ever booked, "Juice." The film went on to become an urban classic and it launched the careers of myself and the late Tupac Shakur.

LKL Blog: You grew up in New York City & are doing a lot to help children there now. Tell us about that.

Epps: I've partnered up with Rev. Dr. Vernon C. Mason and his Uth Turn Program to help troubled youths in New York City. The Uth Turn Program deals with young people who are on the brink of their lives going down the wrong path. Uth Turn helps to support, educate and nurture our youth so they learn how and why to make the right decisions with themselves regardless of their circumstances.

I believe art (in all forms) is one of the primary things that fuels the human experience. That in mind, I approached Dr. Mason and Uth Turn and developed a curriculum called WPI (writing program initiative). I believe the power of writing is priceless. And a lot of our youth don't have proper ways to express themselves productively. WPI seeks to be another component (along with Uth Turn's outstanding methods) to help troubled youth express and identify themselves through writing.

WPI stands on 3 pillars of principle:

-Imagination
-Expression
-Accountability

LKL Blog: What do kids in New York City need the most right now?

Epps: Kids in New York City need positive and productive options! Gov. Paterson has recently cut the funding for Uth Turn and many other programs like it while ramping up the funding for youth detention centers and things of that nature. This is a travesty! Fiscally, it basically costs $210,000 annually to house a youth in a detention facility AND there's a 75% recidivism rate. Whereas with Uth Turn it only cost $1,000 annually to provide for a youth and the recidivism rate is only an astounding 7%!!

Think about that for a second... Why spend millions of dollars for a system that doesn't work when you can spend much less for a system that's proven to work effectively?

It boggles my mind, but none the less I am fighting along with Dr. Mason to have the funding for his program put back in place.

LKL Blog: It was quite awhile ago, but you once said “I'm going to be the first black President of the United States.” Was there anything to this? Do you see yourself getting involved in politics one day?

Epps: I was in elementary school when I wrote an essay entitled "I'm The First Black President of America". The essay spoke of the obvious but when I look back on that moment it was less about actually becoming the first black president and more about letting my imagination fuel it self and dreaming as big as I could.

I try to inspire kids to truly believe in themselves and to live as freely and as fearlessly as they can... Now, I can say 'Obama did and look what he achieved'.

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