Actor/comedian Craig Robinson is on the verge of becoming a very big star!

Robinson is currently starring on the final season of the hit NBC series The Office, and has not one, not two, but three major movies opening this summer. The actor, who is best known for his role in films like Pineapple Express, and Hot Tub Time Machine, will soon be seen in two different movies about the apocalypse that both open in June. First he’ll appear in Rapture-Palooza opposite Oscar-nominee Anna Kendrick (End of Watch), followed by This Is The End, which also stars James Franco (Oz the Great and Powerful) and is co-directed by Seth Rogen (The Guilt Trip). Not to mention that he’s about to begin filming Hot Tub Time Machine 2 with his good friend Rob Corddry. But before that, Robinson can be seen in his first starring role opposite Kerry Washington (Django Unchained) and David Alan Grier (Boomerang) in the new comedy Peeples, which opens in theaters on May 10th.

Peeples was written and directed by longtime screenwriter Tina Gordon Chism (Drumline), and is produced by multimedia mogul Tyler Perry (Tyler Perry’s Temptation). In the film, Robinson stars as Wade Walker, a kind but underachieving musical children’s therapist who unexpectedly meets the overbearing father (Grier) of his beautiful girlfriend, Grace (Washington), at their picturesque Hampton home. In addition to Robinson, Washington, and Greir the film also stars S. Epatha Merkerson (Lincoln), Kali Hawk (Bridesmaids), Ana Gasteyer (Mean Girls), and living legends Melvin Van Peebles (We the Party) and Diahann Carroll (Eve’s Bayou).  

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Craig Robinson to discuss his work on Peeples, as well the status of Hot Tub Time Machine 2. The actor/comedian discussed his new film, how it felt to be number one on the call sheet, improvising with David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington’s comedic abilities, the art of comedy, Hollywood legends Diahann Carroll and Marvin Van Peebles, working with first time director Tina Gordon Chism, Hot Tub Time Machine 2, when it starts filming, and if actor John Cusack will return for the upcoming sequel. 

Actor and comedian David Alan Grier has been making audiences laugh on stage, film, and television for the better part of the last 30 years … and he’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Grier began his career in the early ‘80s on Broadway earning a Tony Award-nomination before making his film debut in legendary director Robert Altman’s Streamers. He would eventually go on to appear opposite Denzel Washington in A Soldier’s Story, as well as the comedy I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, but his big break came as an original cast member of the groundbreaking variety show In Living Color. The actor appeared on all five seasons of the hit series before starring in such films as Boomerang, Blankman, Jumanji, Baadasssss!, and Bewitched, as well as TV’s Life with Bonnie, and his own show entitled DAG. But now the multitalented actor/comedian returns to the big screen in a different type of role than audiences are used to seeing him in with his new film Peeples, which also stars Craig Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine) and Kerry Washington (Django Unchained), and opens in theaters on May 10th. 

Peeples was written and directed by longtime screenwriter Tina Gordon Chism (Drumline), and is produced by multimedia mogul Tyler Perry (Tyler Perry’s Temptation). In the film, Grier stars as respected Judge Virgil Peeples who is the patriarch of an impressive upper class family. But his perfect world is threatened when his favorite daughter, Grace (Washington), unexpectedly brings home her new boyfriend, underachiever Wade Walker (Robinson), to meet the family for a weekend at their Hampton home. In addition to Grier, Robinson, and Washington, the film also stars S. Epatha Merkerson (Lincoln), Kali Hawk (Bridesmaids), Ana Gasteyer (Mean Girls), and living legends Melvin Van Peebles (We the Party) and Diahann Carroll (Eve’s Bayou).  

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with David Alan Grier to talk about his work on Peeples, as well as the rumors of a new version of In Living Color. The talented actor/comedian discussed his new movie, similarities between his character and The Cosby Show’s Cliff Huxtable, playing the elder statesman, being Craig Robinson’s straight man, improvisation, working with Kerry Washington, Diahann Carroll’s stories, the great Melvin Van Peebles, his advice to young comedians, the sudden shift in his career, and possibly returning for a new In Living Color series.