Born and raised in New York, Phifer’s acting career began when he auditioned at an open casting call for director Spike Lee’s Clockers (1995) and was selected for the leading role. Working alongside Harvey Keitel, ‘John Tuturro’ and Delroy Lindo, he garnered critical acclaim for his compelling performance as Strike, a young New Jersey drug dealer involved in a murder cover- up. Following his impressive screen debut, he appeared in the comedy spoof High School High (1996). In the Columbia/Tristar thriller I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), he co-starred with Jennifer Love Hewitt, ‘Brandy’ and Freddie Prinze Jr. He also starred in 20th Century Fox’s successful family drama Soul Food (1997), opposite ‘Vanessa Williams’ , Vivica A. Fox and Nia Long.
In 2002, Phifer starred as Future, opposite Eminem, Brittany Murphy and Kim Basinger in Curtis Hanson’s critically acclaimed film, 8 Mile (2002), as well as in the Miramax feature Paid in Full (2002), directed by Charles Stone. In June he was honored by the American Black Film Festival, receiving the organization’s “Rising Star” Award.
Phifer also recently appeared in the feature film O (2001), where he starred opposite Julia Stiles and Josh Hartnett. Based on Shakespeare’s Othello, he portrayed Odin, the captain of a champion high school basketball team whose best friend becomes jealous of his relationship with his girlfriend.