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Flex Alexander

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Flex Alexander
Born
Mark Alexander Knox

(1970-04-15) April 15, 1970 (age 54)
New York City, U.S.
Other namesFlex, Marc "Flex" Knox
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, dancer
Years active1989–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2000)​
Children2

Mark Alexander Knox (born April 15, 1970), better known as Flex Alexander or Flex, is an American actor, comedian and dancer who is best known for his roles as single father Flex Washington on the UPN sitcom One on One (2001-2006).

Early life

Born in Harlem, Alexander is the son of Alethia Knox and Robert Whitehead. As a teen, he began dancing in New York night clubs earning the nickname "Flex" due to his acrobatic dance skills. After being discovered by DJ Spinderella, he began touring with rap trio Salt-n-Pepa and remained with the dance troupe for three years. In addition to dancing, Alexander also choreographed for Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah. In 1989, he made his stand-up comedy debut and eventually turned to acting, making his film debut in the 1992 film Juice.[1] Alexander also was a regular cast member of the sketch comedy show, Uptown Comedy Club, from 1992 to 1994.

Career

Alexander's first television role was on the short-lived 1993 ABC sitcom Where I Live, starring Doug E. Doug. Despite being critically acclaimed, the series was canceled that same year. Alexander then guest starred on episodes of Sister, Sister and The Cosby Mysteries before moving to Los Angeles in 1995 to concentrate on acting.[2] In 1996, he landed a starring role on another short-lived sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space. The series was critically panned and canceled the following year.[3][4] Later that year, Alexander co-starred in yet another short-lived series, the Steven Bochco-created Total Security. Following Total Security's run, Alexander guest starred on Brooklyn South and The Parkers, and also had roles in several films including the 1998 direct-to-video release Backroom Bodega Boyz and She's All That (1999).[5]

From 2000 to 2001, Alexander appeared as Maya Wilkes' husband Darnell during the first season of the UPN sitcom Girlfriends. He left Girlfriends to star as single father Mark "Flex" Washington on the UPN sitcom One on One, a series he created and produced.[6] For his role on the series, Alexander was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards and two BET Comedy Awards. In 2004, he portrayed Michael Jackson in the VH1 television biopic Man In The Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story,[7] which garnered him another NAACP Image Award nomination. He refused to play Jackson with prosthetics, but did mimique his voice, copied mannerisms and had a makeup job done to lighten his skin tone. He also refused to "cast judgement" over the singer's legal troubles of the time and said "we should pray for him".[8] Alexander returned to One on One for two more seasons, however, during the last season, his character was written out and reduced to a recurring role when the show's premise was rebooted.[9]

Following the end of One On One, Alexander had roles in the 2006 film Snakes on a Plane, opposite Samuel L. Jackson, and the 2007 horror film The Hills Have Eyes 2. He also had a role in Clement Virgo's Poor Boy's Game, with Danny Glover. Alexander's most recent role was in a 2007 episode of CSI: Miami.[5] Flex and his wife, Shanice, will have their own reality show Flex & Shanice premiering November 1, 2014, on OWN.

in 2022, Flex was cast as "Pookie" in the stage adaptation of New Jack City: Live on Stage, written, produced and directed by urban playwright and film producer Je'Caryous Johnson. The production is currently on tour in nine cities.

Personal life

Alexander, a born-again Christian, married R&B singer Shanice Wilson on February 19, 2000.[1] They have two children, daughter Imani Shekinah Alexander-Knox (born August 23, 2001) and son Elijah Alexander-Knox (born March 5, 2004). Alexander is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.[10][11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Juice Contest Auditioner
1995 Money Train Hood
1997 City of Industry A-Roc
The Sixth Man Jerrod Smith
1998 Modern Vampires Trigger TV movie
Ice Kelvin TV movie
Backroom Bodega Boyz - Video
1999 She's All That Kadeem
The Apartment Complex - TV movie
Santa and Pete Pete TV movie
The Force - TV movie
2001 Out Cold Anthony
2004 Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story Michael Jackson TV movie
Gas Damien
2005 Her Minor Thing Marty
Shira: The Vampire Samurai Willie 'Small Change Willie' Video
2006 Snakes On a Plane Clarence "Three G's" Dewey
2007 Love... & Other 4 Letter Words Arnold
Poor Boy's Game Ossie Paris
The Hills Have Eyes 2 SGT Jeff 'Sarge' Millstone
The List Chet
Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office Deef TV movie
2013 My Sister's Wedding Matthew
2015 Soul Ties Jessie
2016 Grandma's House Thomas
2017 Love by the 10th Date Preacher Hill TV movie
2019 Maybe I'm Fine Jeffrey
2020 Crunchers: Mr. Salt's Bestest Warm-Up Commercial Magnetic Cools Dancer Video short
Ballbuster Luther
Trigger Michael Mass

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Uptown Comedy Club Various Characters Main Cast: Season 1
1993 Where I Live Reggie Coltrane Main Cast
1994 Sister, Sister Cold Dog Episode: "The Concert"
New York Undercover Mecca Episode: "The Friendly Neighborhood Dealer"
1995 The Cosby Mysteries Partygoer Episode: "The Medium Is the Message"
1996–97 Homeboys in Outer Space Tyberius Walker Main Cast
1997 Moesha Dread Episode: "Cold Busted"
Brooklyn South Buster Episode: "McMurder One"
Total Security Neville Watson Main Cast
2000 The Parkers Andy Episode: "J.C. Bowl"
2000–01 Girlfriends Darnell Wilkes Main Cast: Season 1
2001–06 One on One Mark 'Flex' Washington Main Cast: Season 1–4, Recurring Cast: Season 5
2005 Cuts Flex Washington Episode: "Keeping It Real"
2007-10 CSI: Miami Martin Wilson / Beau Lendell Episode: "Deep Freeze" & "Miami, We Have a Problem"
2010 Blue Bloods Detective Demarcus King Episode: "Pilot"
2012 Sketchy Kyrone Episode: "Beets by Dre"
Single Ladies James Blackwell Recurring Cast: Season 2
2013 The Client List The Wolf Episode: "Unanswered Prayers"
Masters of Sex Walter Episode: "Love and Marriage"
2014–16 Flex & Shanice Himself Main Cast
2016 Lucifer Simon Hallbrooks Episode: "Homewrecker"
2017 Lawd Have Mercy Host TV Series
2018 In the Cut Mr. Mustard Episode: "The Big Day"
Station 19 Evan Forrester Episode: "Under the Surface"
Grey's Anatomy Evan Forrester Episode: "Momma Knows Best"
2020 Mixed-ish George Recurring Cast: Season 1
2021 Kenan Derek Episode: "Flirting"

Award nominations

Year Award Result Category Film or series
2004 BET Comedy Awards Nom Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series One on One
2005 Nom Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series One on One
2003 NAACP Image Awards Nom Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series One on One
2004 Nom Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series One on One
2005 Nom Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
Nom Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series One on One

References

  1. ^ a b Dougherty, Steve (2003-10-06). "Flex Appeal". People. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  2. ^ "Flex Alexander: Biography". tvguide.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  3. ^ McKissack, Fredrick L. Jr. (February 1997). "Homeboys in Outer Space". The Progressive. Archived from the original on 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
  4. ^ Tucker, Ken (1996-09-13). "Beyond the Big 4". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
  5. ^ a b "Flex Alexander Biography". filmreference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  6. ^ "Yahoo! TV Bio". tv.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  7. ^ Morales, Tatiana (2004-08-06). "Flex Alexander Plays King Of Pop". cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  8. ^ "Jacko's Wacko Movie". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 8, 2004. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Alexander, Flex (2006-08-16). "Snakes on a Plane". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  10. ^ "Celebrities and Their Babies". Ebony. 58 (2). Johnson Publishing Company: 42. December 2002. ISSN 0012-9011.
  11. ^ "Ebony On the Scene". Ebony. 60 (3). Johnson Publishing Company: 18. January 2005. ISSN 0012-9011.
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