Since making his movie debut in the biographical Out The Gate 13 years ago, Everton “E-Dee” Dennis has appeared in several films, the latest being Mother In Law, a comedy starring Vivica A Fox. No matter how small the role, it is all part of building your stocks in a competitive industry.

Directed by Prince Joshua Nana Morrison Budukuma of Ghana, Mother In Law also stars Miguel Nunez Jr, and Nigerian Patience Ozokwor, one of the leading actresses in Nollywood, the West African version of India’s Bollywood.

Dennis, who is from Clarendon, attended the premiere in Los Angeles on July 13. He spoke to Observer Online about making a name in La La Land.

“Staying active and visible in Hollywood as an actor is crucial for maintaining and advancing your career. Hollywood is a competitive industry where visibility can lead to more opportunities for roles, collaborations, and networking,” he said. “Being active involves consistently auditioning, taking on roles, attending industry events, and staying engaged with the media and your audience. This helps in building a recognisable brand and staying relevant in the ever-changing landscape of entertainment.”

In Mother In Law, he plays a thug who is hired by Ozokwor’s character to intimidate Fox’s family. She is against her African son marrying Fox’s daughter, an African-American.

Dennis has co-starred in the movies, Temperature Rising and Gangland: The Musical. Temperature Rising is written and directed by Oba Aswad; it stars Omar Gooding and Paula Jai Parker.

The lanky Dennis is also a recording artiste who has released three albums, the previous being Elevate, which came out in 2022. His latest single, One More Chance, is scheduled for release in August

– Howard Campbell