The Friday cast includes a hip-hop veteran and a comedy stalwart at the forefront along with many more talented character actors. The first entry in the Friday franchise, the 1995 buddy comedy deals with a day in the life of South Central L.A. locals Craig Jones and Smokey as they struggle to come up with the $200 that they owe a drug supplier. Marking the feature directorial debut of F. Gary Gray, Friday has been immortalized in a plethora of Internet memes and pop-culture references. Its quotable dialogues stem from rapper Ice Cube and record producer DJ Pooh’s screenplay, which is largely based on their personal experiences.

One of the interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the making of Friday is that Cube and Pooh sought to reinterpret the “hood” as a place of fun instead of just being violent and menacing. This balance of slacker comedy and socio-political commentary is brought to life by a cast that included stars like Chris Tucker, Regina King, and Bernie Mac when they were just starting out. For Cube, Friday served as an opportunity to showcase his comedic chops after having boasted his dramatic prowess in Boyz n the Hood. All in all, Friday proved to be a successful launching pad for many of its actors.

Ice Cube As Craig Jones

O’Shea Jackson, a.k.a. Ice Cube, leads the Friday cast as Craig Jones, a slacker who recently got fired from his job. He lives with his parents while bearing the brunt of his father’s taunts. This financial and residential situation often puts Craig in a sour mood, and he generally has a defensive attitude toward the residents of his neighborhood. While Ice Cube was primarily known for his music career, including his work with the rap group N.W.A. and his solo discography, he successfully rebranded himself as an actor. He made an acclaimed film debut in 1991’s Boyz n the Hood in which he played the vengeful gangster Darrin “Doughboy” Baker.

Apart from reprising his role in the Friday sequels and animated series, the rapper-turned-actor established himself in the action genre as a “tough guy” archetype. Calvin Palmer in the Barbershop movies.

Chris Tucker As Smokey

When it comes to the most chill movie stoners, Chris Tucker’s Smokey from Friday is an easy pick. An unemployed slacker like his friend Craig, Smokey is calmer and friendlier in of his personality. However, the marijuana-smoking character’s decisions can often be unwise and land him in trouble. While Friday made him a star, Tucker didn’t reprise his role in the sequels. According to Ice Cube, Tucker turned down $10-12 million to appear in Next Friday for “religious reasons” as he didn’t wish to swear or smoke pot on camera anymore. Still, Tucker is fondly ed for his contribution to the Friday cast.

the cast of Air as the talkative and optimistic Nike executive Howard White.

Nia Long As Debbie

Debbie is one of Craig’s neighbors and eventually his love interest. She is also very brave as an individual given how she is one of the few Friday characters who stand up against the neighborhood bully Deebo. Debbie is played by Nia Long, who gained popularity as Will Smith’s girlfriend and fiancée Beulah “Lisa” Wilkes in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Before Friday, Long also collaborated with Ice Cube in Boyz n the Hood, in which she played Cuba Gooding Jr.’s on-screen love interest, Brandi. She also starred in the Big Momma’s House series as the titular figure’s granddaughter Sherry Pierce.

Bernie Mac As Pastor Clever

The Friday cast also includes the late comedian Bernie Mac in one of his earliest roles: the local Baptist church’s pastor. However, Pastor Clever is far from religious as he indulges in extramarital affairs and drugs, being mocked by Craig and Smokey for his hypocrisy. Mac found further fame as an aging yet overconfident baseball player in Mr. 3000 and the witty croupier-con artist Frank Catton in the Ocean’s franchise. He also starred in The Bernie Mac Show, which emerged as one of the top Black sitcoms in the 2000s. Mac also had major roles in the comedies Bad Santa, Guess Who, and Head of State.

Tommy "Zeus" Lister Jr. As Deebo

Deebo is the neighborhood bully who uses his physical power and intimidating personality to scare off people in the neighborhood for his own personal gain. He serves as one of the antagonists in Friday. Character actor Tommy “Zeus” Lister played the part, which he reprised in Next Friday. The former pro-wrestler was also known for playing the corrupt President Lindberg in The Fifth Element. Under his wrestling alter ego Zeus, Lister went on to act alongside Hulk Hogan in the action film No Holds Barred where the two played out a feud in the ring. He also voiced the con artist fennec fox Finnick in Zootopia.

John Witherspoon As Willie Jones

John Witherspoon has a crucial role in the Friday cast as he plays Craig’s father, an animal control officer called Willie Jones. Even though Willie has a very strict and unlikeable nature, he is ultimately a concerned and protective father to Craig and Dana. Willie’s stern personality is reminiscent of Witherspoon’s role in Hollywood Shuffle, in which he played the protagonist’s boss, Mr. Jones. He also had ing roles in the Eddie Murphy movies Boomerang and Vampire in Brooklyn. Witherspoon’s TV credits include a guest role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in which he played Augustus Adams, the father of the character played by his Friday co-star Nia Long.

Regina King As Dana Jones

Craig’s sister Dana doesn’t get along with her irritable brother, as is evident from her many fights and arguments with him. However, she respects her friends such as Debbie, with whom she shares a cordial relationship. Dana actress Regina King is one of the many Friday cast who were in Boyz n the Hood, appearing briefly as the judgmental Shalika. Prior to that, she played Brenda on the sitcom 227. Among her later roles, If Beale Street Could Talk is a career highlight with her portrayal of the kind mother Sharon Rivers earning her a Best ing Actress Oscar. King also had ing roles in Jerry Maguire and Ray.

Sister Night in HBO’s Watchmen. As a lead actress, she starred in The Harder They Fall as the gun-wielding outlaw Trudy Smith. She is equally accomplished as a director having helmed the drama One Night in Miami… and several episodes of Scandal and This Is Us.

Anna Maria Horsford As Betty Jones

Betty Jones is Craig’s mother, who much like her husband Willie wishes for her son to find a stable career. While she is not that stern as a parent, she refuses to loan money to Craig until he finds a job for himself. Handling an unspecified job with odd timings, Betty is a hardworking woman who loves her family. Betty actress Anna Maria Horsford is a TV veteran having played the law-abiding Assistant District Attorney Beth Encardi in The Shield and the protective mother of two and homemaker Vivienne Avant in the long-running soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful​​​​​​, for which she earned two Emmy nominations.

Paula Jai Parker As Joi

Joi is Craig’s abusive and manipulative girlfriend who spares no occasion to belittle him. Her paranoid nature is also evident from how she regularly suspects Craig of being unfaithful to her. The character is played by Paula Jai Parker who is popularly known for voicing the wise veterinarian Trudy Proud in The Proud Family. Friday marked Parker’s film debut following which the actress played ing characters in the underrated Spike Lee dramas She Hate Me and Get on the Bus. She also earned acclaim for her performance as the outspoken and self-confident sex worker Lexus in Hustle & Flow and the real-life singer Ruth Brown in Ray.

Faizon Love As Big Worm

One of the antagonists in Friday is the drug supplier Big Worm. He is a man with connections and clout as he is ready to send men to kill Craig and Smokey when they owe him a debt of $200. Actor Faizon Love is no stranger to playing crooked characters, he's the voice actor behind Sean "Sweet" Johnson, the leader of the GTA gang Grove Street Families, in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Love is also known for the animated comedy Bébé's Kids, in which he voiced the lead role of the charismatic real-life comedian Robin Harris.

Friday ing Cast & Characters

DJ Pooh as Red - Ice Cube’s writing partner and music producer DJ Pooh is also part of the Friday cast as Red, Craig’s neighbor whose bicycle is stolen by Deebo. He has also acted in, written, and directed the comedy The Wash, which featured his musical collaborators Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre in lead roles. Pooh also served as writer and co-producer of the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Anthony Johnson as Ezal - The petty thief Ezal is played by actor-comedian Anthony Johnson, who has made brief appearances in Lethal Weapon 3, Menace II Society, and O​​​​​​, along with single-episode roles in The Jamie Foxx Show and South Central.

Tony Cox as Mr. Parker - Mr. Parker is one of Craig’s neighbors and is played by Tony Cox. The actor previously appeared as the Preacher in Beetlejuice, an Ewok in Return of the Jedi, and professional thief Marcus Skidmore in Bad Santa where he was reunited with fellow Friday cast member Bernie Mac.

Kathleen Bradley as Mrs. Parker - Mr. Parker’s adulterous wife is played by Kathleen Bradley, who served as a model on the daytime game show The Price Is Right and appeared as an O.R. Nurse in two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.

Yvette Wilson as Rita - One of Debbie’s friends who she tries to set up with Smokey. Rita is played by comedian-actress Yvette Wilson, who is known for her appearances in the sitcoms Moesha and The Parkers along with the films House Party 3 and Poetic Justice.

Angela Means as Felicia - One of Friday’s most iconic quotes is Craig’s “Bye, Felicia." In this context, Felicia is the drug-addicted sister of Debbie who lives off others, often bearing their critical remarks. Friday cast member Angela Means, who plays Felicia, has had brief roles on the TV shows In Living Color and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.

Vickilyn Reynolds as Joann - Smokey’s mother is played by Vickilyn Reynolds, who had brief ing roles in Addams Family Values, Felicity, and Vampire in Brooklyn.

Demetrius Navarro as Hector - Smokey’s smoking partner Hector is played by Demetrius Navarro. Apart from being in the cast of Friday, Navarro has appeared in the action film Soldier Boyz and guest-starred on The O.C., CSI Miami, and NYPD Blue.

Reynaldo Rey as Red's Father - The father of DJ Pooh's character. Reynaldo Rey had ing roles in Harlem Nights, White Men Can't Jump, and Bébé's Kids.

F. Gary Gray as Man in Store - Friday director F. Gary Gray appears in a brief cameo as a store customer. Previously known as a music video director, Gray went on to helm big-budget projects like The Italian Job remake and The Fate of the Furious. He also directed Straight Outta Compton, which chronicles the rise of Ice Cube's rap group N.W.A.

Michael Clarke Duncan as Craps Player - In an uncredited appearance, Michael Clarke Duncan made his film debut in Friday as a craps player. Duncan would go on to achieve stardom following his Oscar-nominated performance as the good-natured inmate John Coffey in The Green Mile. He later appeared in several mainstream productions like Daredevil, Sin City, Armageddon, and Green Lantern.