Elijah Everett is a person of many skills. The previous Philadelphia basketball participant stands 6-foot-6, resulting in work as a physique double for Shaquille O’Neal and Tyler Perry. He’s an actor with roles in “Child Driver,” “Uncle Drew,” “The Hate You Give” and “Greenleaf.” He additionally sings – he’s associated to David Ruffin – and raps like his mentor O’Neal. He’s additionally identified for his comedy impressions.
How did rising up in Philadelphia have an effect on you?
I feel rising up in Philly made me humble. I feel rising up in Philly made me humble, and it made me perceive the essence of alternative. And, you understand, it made me a fighter. It made me resilient to lots. And since I got here from North Philadelphia, which is like, virtually as little as you will get.
The place do you see your self taking appearing?
Take it to the best degree. It’s humorous you requested that, as a result of once I prayed or once I pray, I say what I really need. However while you. When any person asks you, it’s such as you all the time, like, you don’t know if you wish to say it. However actually, I wish to be the best. Biggest actor on this planet. I wish to be up there with Denzel on Mount Rushmore.
What’s E Sq. Cares?
I developed E Sq. Cares after my grandmother handed away in 2021. Shaq was the primary donor to provide a donation to E Sq. Cares, and that first yr we had over 500 households come to the primary occasion or what I name symposiums. The rationale I began this nonprofit was as a result of I used to be giving to the faculties, however the neighborhood wasn’t getting any higher. At considered one of our symposiums, a younger lady shared on the mic that she was about to take her personal life earlier than attending. She broke down crying, and that second confirmed me how very important it was to proceed this occasion yearly. We began small, stretching each greenback, and it labored out. Donations helped us present 400-500 wholesome meals packs and host a buffet-style lunch to convey neighbors collectively. Constructing these connections is essential—as soon as individuals cease being strangers, they begin serving to one another. We additionally supply life coaches, monetary advisors, and mentors to assist attendees uncover their goal. When individuals discover their goal, they start to look after themselves and their neighborhood, which is how you alter a neighborhood—beginning with the thoughts. That’s my focus.
What’s your relationship with Shaq?
So my relationship with Shaq is nice. I thank God that he’s an actual one. As a result of he taught me find out how to be a person, and he’s identical to anyone else. He going to maintain it actual with you. Some issues he likes, some issues he don’t like. And you bought to know find out how to stability that with the man. And I’m simply grateful to have a relationship for therefore lengthy with him that has lasted this lengthy and that I’ve discovered a lot from him. You understand, I don’t take it as a right in the future, and it’s been a job, however on the identical time, it’s been a friendship.
What do you respect essentially the most about Shaq?
He taught me there may be energy in no. And there’s energy in sure, however there’s energy in who you might be. He made me notice that. There was a time the place I used to be uncertain of myself and to have a person that you simply look as much as and that you simply each of us admire Superman, like as your superheroes. For him to return at me and say, I feel you’re a implausible actor. I feel you’re this, I feel you’re that. That boosted me to a complete nother degree. So while you get it from any person you admire as a person who’s a spot that you simply wish to be, is every little thing. And it got here on the good time, and I wanted it and he knew it and he advised me, and I went operating, gunning, and I did my factor. I used to be grateful that he was there. Like I can’t put it in phrases how blessed that my life has been up thus far.