Actor and comedian Bill Bellamy first rose to fame in the early 1990s on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. The Newark, New Jersey native later became a VJ on MTV on the shows “MTV Jamz” and “MTV Beach House.” He later went on to star in films like Love Jones, Any Given Sunday, and How to Be a Player. Rolling out spoke exclusively to Bellamy about fellow comedian Katt Williams and starring in and working with the legendary cast of Love Jones.
“That was my breakthrough movie as far as acting is concerned,” Bellamy shared about the ensemble 1997 film in which he co-starred opposite Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Lisa Nicole Carson and Isaiah Washington. “I felt like I was no longer just a comedian. If I’m able to hold my own in Love Jones with these really good actors, young, talented people, I could change the complexity of my career. And at that time, you have to understand, I was on fire doing stand-up.”
Bellamy added that people hated his character, a nod to the acting chops he displayed in the film. “I was excited and I wanted to have a breakthrough moment,” he said.
As for why a sequel to the romantic comedy was never made, Bellamy said the politics of the industry got in the way but he offered a glimmer of hope. “We’ve been talking about it forever,” he shared. “You never know, it might happen.”
Bellamy, who is the cousin of former NBA legend and current “Inside the NBA” co-host Shaquille O’Neal, also discussed the intelligence of Williams, who made headlines last month when he appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s YouTube show “Club Shay Shay.”
“I think Katt Williams is the smartest comedian ever because he knows how to get it going,” Bellamy shared. “He told me a long time ago, he said everybody loves Batman. They don’t want to say they really love the Joker. Every hero needs an anti-hero. It makes all the sense in the world. He gets everyone in a pickle, and they can’t do s— about it.”
