Fans of the hit series "Empire" know Antoine McKay as Bunkie Williams. The versatile actor has also just completed work on "Keeping Up With the Joneses," which has been filming in Atlanta.
"It's hilarious," he said of the buddy comedy starring Jon Hamm and Zach Galifianakis. "We laughed all day long. It's been a great time."
The movie is about suburbanites who turn out to be undercover agents. McKay wasn't parting with too many details.
"My character is a neighbor, and that's the best I can do!" he said during an interview with the AJC.
McKay and his wife, Rebecca, live in Chicago with their six children. He began his professional acting career at the Second City's Main Stages in Detroit and Chicago, where he wrote and performed in over 20 critically acclaimed shows. His TV credits include roles in "Detroit 187, "ER," "Prison Break" and "Sports Action Team."
McKay has appeared in on the big screen in movies including “The Weatherman,” “Someone to Eat Cheese With,” “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” and “Osso Bucco.” His recent work includes Comedy Central’s "Review" and the runaway hit "Empire."
"I knew it was going to do something but it kind of made everybody go, 'oh, wow,'" he said of the Fox series. "It's a rocket ship. The music is incredible. It keeps you on your A game. You've got to bring it."
Here's a quick video clip to bring you up to speed if you haven't watched it yet:
He drew on memories of the past to relate to his character.
"I grew up with a lot of guys like Bunkie," he said. "This guy is like maybe one or two of my family members, but also people in the neighborhood."
Speaking of neighborhoods, he enjoyed Atlanta's while he was here filming "Joneses," which takes place in numerous area communities.
"I have traveled around the world and I have never been to a place where people are so nice and polite," he said. "It's been a great time!"
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