Starz’s BMF series has become the highlight of everyone’s Sunday night—and so has its most-talked-about TV villain, Lamar, portrayed by rising actor Eric Kofi Abrefa.
The acclaimed crime drama follows the story of kingpins Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (channeled by his son, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory, Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (channeled by All American‘s Da’Vinchi) and the growth of their notorious Black Mafia Family enterprise. Having commenced in the late ’80s, the Detroit-bred organization was infamous for its widespread cocaine distribution, money laundering practices, and eventual hand in the entertainment business.
Along with Eric Kofi Abrefa’s role as Lamar, the star-studded cast includes co-stars Russell Hornsby (Lincoln Heights) as Charles Flenory, Michole Briana White (Muscle) as Lucille Flenory, Ajiona Alexus (Acrimony) as Kato, Myles Truitt (The New Edition Story) as B-Mickie, and Steve Harris (Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman) as Detective Bryant.
If you’ve been watching the show since it premiered on September 24th, you’ve probably grown a love-hate relationship with Abrefa’s chaotic character. He’s the bad guy with some good qualities, pulling at the viewers’ heartstrings with his complicatedness. Underneath his hardcore, street-gangsta exterior is a man who’s fighting for respect as he battles mental illness and the love of his family.
Not to be confused, though; Lamar is still the archenemy, especially for the series’ leading dynamic duo, Big Meech and Southwest T.
Since day one, Abrefa’s take on Lamar has left the fans in a frenzy… each and every week. Episode after episode, he passionately takes it up a notch. If you thought you’d seen the worst of Lamar, you thought wrong.
However, who is the man behind the on-screen moniker? Although Abrefa seems to keep a relatively low profile, here are a few fun facts we thought you’d be interested in knowing about the BMF phenomenon.
Meet Eric Kofi Abrefa
He’s originally from the United Kingdom
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Though Abrefa’s American accent is nearly flawless on the BMF series, he’s actually British. Abrefa attended the BRIT School in Croydon, London to study Drama and then went on to take up acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, located in Cardiff, Wales.
He’s the definition of a football fanatic
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According to his Twitter bio and slew of tweets about the sport, overseas football is his kryptonite. When Abrefa isn’t rehearsing lines or performing on set, we’re pretty sure that he’s home, pointing at the TV and yelling at his favorite teams! Future coach, maybe?
Voice acting is his specialty
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Abrefa’s skills haven’t only been seen on the big screen but also in the booth. Prior to his BMF success, he did voiceovers for characters in Battlefield 1 and The Crew 2 video games. We love a multi-talented king!
He has the high notes on deck
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Abrefa’s creative well seems to be overflowing. Aside from bringing characters to life in Hollywood, he also sings and plays the guitar. He previously shared an older clip (that has since been removed) of himself showing off his glorious pipes and flexing his way with the instruments!
Storytelling is something he’s loved since childhood
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He loves stories—another thing his Twitter bio tells us. In fact, reports claim his love for it seemingly dates back to his school days. He took a strong liking to English literature, and he was a study buff. Clearly, Abrefa has been perfecting his craft for quite a while now, and we aren’t mad at it!
The world is full of Virgos, and he’s one of them
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Research tells us that he was born on September 7th, 1986, which would make him a Virgo. His Virgo trait would explain his level of loyalty to his art. From how well he portrays Lamar, it’s safe to say, that’s obvious!
How he landed his role on BMF
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During an interview with SHEEN Magazine, Abrefa stated that he knew about the Black Mafia Family prior to the show and decided to audition for the role of Lamar when it presented itself. “I auditioned. It was a self-tape. I sent it off, and then [I did a] recall with Tasha Smith and Randy Huggins—all of them,” he told the publication. “And, then, yeah, they told me I got the role, which was dope.”
Which of these fun facts were most interesting to you?
Let us know in the comments!
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