Aries Spears


Aries Spears is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer from New Jersey. Spears was a regular on Fox's sketch comedy series MADtv, appearing in 198 episodes, making him the second longest-serving cast member on the show behind Michael McDonald. In 2011, he released a special called Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling. He is also a two-time co-host for the AVN Awards, in 2018 and 2020.

Early life

Spears was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to New York when he was a year or two old. His mother, Doris Spears, is a jazz singer. Spears moved to New Jersey at age 11 and attended Arthur M. Judd Elementary School. He became a comedian at 14, performing stand-up comedy in various comedy clubs in New York City. He was expelled for fighting during his sophomore year in North Brunswick Township High School in North Brunswick Township, at age 17. Spears started doing his own comedy routine around his hometown.
Spears said that his first stand up comedy was doing impressions at the Uptown Comedy Club in Harlem, and Spears said that he recalls himself doing impressions of James Brown and Jack Nicholson during his first stand up comedy.

Career

Early film and TV roles

Spears' first television appearance was on Russell Simmons's Def Comedy Jam, followed by It's Showtime at the Apollo. He moved to Los Angeles in 1992, landed a recurring role on A Different World and became a regular at The Comedy Store, The Improv and The Laugh Factory. Other television credits include Crosstown Traffic, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. and Soul Train.
At 16, Spears landed a part in the movie Malcolm X. Shortly thereafter, he was cast in a starring role opposite Glenn Frey in South of Sunset. Spears's other movie appearances include Home of Angels, The Pest, Jerry Maguire in which he played Teepee, brother of Rod Tidwell, Out-of-Sync, and The Proud Family.

''MADtv''

He joined the cast of MADtv during its 3rd season in 1997, and he left at the end of its 10th season in 2005. During his stay, he created characters such as comedian Belma Buttons, Dollar Bill Montgomery, James Brown Jr., and controversial rapper Emcee Esher. He is well known for his impressions of celebrities, including rappers Jay-Z, Kanye West, LL Cool J, DMX, and Snoop Dogg actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as fellow comedians Eddie Murphy and Paul Mooney.

Celebrity impressions on ''MADtv''

Spears appeared in a 2nd-season episode of Mind of Mencia, which parodied Jamie Foxx's role in Kanye West's music video for "Gold Digger." He also appeared in the 2006 movie Hood of Horror. Spears performed in the TV series The Underground and voiced the character Wizard Kelly in the animated television series The Proud Family.
Spears appeared in two episodes of Frank Caliendo's sketch comedy show Frank TV as Shaquille O'Neal.
He appeared alongside Cedric the Entertainer and other comedians in the All Star Comedy Jam in 2009.
His 2011 stand-up comedy special was shown on Showtime. According to Deadline Hollywood, Spears is expected to appear in the dark comedy feature film directed by Vladislav Kozlov The Immortalist in 2020, along with Franco Nero, Sherilyn Fenn, Paul Rodriguez, and Jeff DuJardin.

Discography