# Karlous Miller
**Karlous Miller** is an American comedian, actor, and rapper born in 1983 in [Oxford, Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/oxford-mississippi), best known as a longtime cast member of the improv comedy show *Wild 'N Out* and as co-creator and co-host of the podcast *The 85 South Show* with DC Young Fly and Chico Bean.[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) • [2](https://www.fandango.com/people/karlous-miller-856291/biography)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Oxford, Mississippi; comedian, actor, and rapper[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/karlous-miller-856291/biography) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/karlous_miller) |
| Before comedy | Worked as a firefighter in Oxford, Mississippi, before leaving for comedy[4](https://karlousm.com/bio) |
| Move to Atlanta | Moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2005 to pursue stand-up comedy[4](https://karlousm.com/bio) |
| *Wild 'N Out* | Recurring cast member from Season 5 (2013) on MTV, VH1 and MTV2; Team Captain in Seasons 12, 13, and 20[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) |
| *The 85 South Show* | Co-created with DC Young Fly and Chico Bean, running as a podcast since 2015; led to the streaming platform Channel Eighty Five[5](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/sucdb.html?p=karlous-miller) • [1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) |
| Netflix special | *85 South: Ghetto Legends*, a Stan Lathan-directed "freestyle special" filmed at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, premiered in June 2023[6](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/karlous-miller-performs-at-cullen-performance-hall-16174580/) |
| Awards hosting | Co-host of the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2020 and 2021; the 85 South Show was nominated for the iHeartRadio Best Comedy Podcast award[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) • [7](https://www.innovativecomedy.com/karlous-miller/) |
| Film | Lead co-starring role in the horror-comedy *Haunted Heist* (2025) with Lil Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish[8](https://improv.com/raleigh/comic/karlous%20miller/) |
## Mississippi roots and early career
Miller grew up in Oxford, Mississippi, in a large blended family. Most sources describe eight siblings, which he credits as a formative influence on his edgy, boisterous comedy style; one biographical site instead reports five siblings.[8](https://improv.com/raleigh/comic/karlous%20miller/) • [9](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/karlous-miller-40681.php) His first job was firefighting in his hometown, a job he later joked was "the best job I ever had....til we had a REAL fire."
In 2005 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue stand-up comedy full time, working small clubs and open mics while building his material.[4](https://karlousm.com/bio) A 2010 profile in *Creative Loafing* described his strengths as improvised rants and unplanned crowd participation, noting that he was known for rarely doing the same set twice.[10](https://creativeloafing.com/content-204892-atl-comic-profile-karlous-miller) His first television appearance was on "Robert Townsend's Partners in Crime - The New Generation" in 2005, followed by early credits including MTV's *Yo Momma*, *The Mo'Nique Show*, a semifinalist run on Bill Bellamy's *Who's Got Jokes*, and the second season of BET's prank-dating series *Hell Date* in 2008.[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822390/)
## Wild 'N Out
Miller became a recurring cast member of [Nick Cannon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-cannon)'s improv comedy show *Wild 'N Out* beginning with Season 5, which premiered in 2013; according to one biography, the Season 5 premiere drew the highest viewership in MTV2's history.[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) • [9](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/karlous-miller-40681.php) He served as a Team Captain in Seasons 12, 13, and 20 and is known on the show for his "Sucka MC Battles" with castmate Chico Bean.[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller)
**The 2018 firing and return.** In 2018, Miller announced in an interview with *The Breakfast Club* that he had been fired from the show. BET reported the firing followed a falling out with Nick Cannon, which Miller attributed to a joke about going on a date with Cannon's ex, [Mariah Carey](https://www.edgepedia.org/mariah-carey). Fans demanded his return, and he came back as a recurring cast member during production of Season 13.[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) • [12](https://www.bet.com/article/godt8s/who-is-karlous-one-third-of-the-85-south-show)
## The 85 South Show
Since 2015, Miller, DC Young Fly, and Chico Bean have hosted *The 85 South Show*, a podcast and live show blending stand-up, freestyle rap, improv, and music. BET described the trio as reinventing the stand-up comedy model by incorporating hip hop and performing on stage in threes.[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) • [12](https://www.bet.com/article/godt8s/who-is-karlous-one-third-of-the-85-south-show) The podcast was nominated for the iHeartRadio Best Comedy Podcast award, and by 2023 the show had 2.4 million YouTube subscribers and 3 million Instagram followers.[7](https://www.innovativecomedy.com/karlous-miller/) • [6](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/karlous-miller-performs-at-cullen-performance-hall-16174580/)
The live shows sell out arenas, and the trio built a media ecosystem around the brand: Channel Eighty Five as their streaming home, a merchandise shop, and a direct booking platform.[4](https://karlousm.com/bio) In 2024 they curated and hosted their own lineup of comedians at the Netflix Is A Joke comedy festival.[8](https://improv.com/raleigh/comic/karlous%20miller/)
**Ghetto Legends.** In June 2023, the trio premiered *85 South: Ghetto Legends* on Netflix, a "freestyle special" directed by [Stan Lathan](https://www.edgepedia.org/stan-lathan) and filmed at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, featuring musical guests [Rich Homie Quan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rich-homie-quan) and [Goodie Mob](https://www.edgepedia.org/goodie-mob). The Improv booking agency states the special debuted at number 1.[6](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/karlous-miller-performs-at-cullen-performance-hall-16174580/) • [8](https://improv.com/raleigh/comic/karlous%20miller/)
## Television, film, and music work
Miller's screen credits include competing on Season 8 of NBC's *Last Comic Standing* (2014), stand-up on BET's *Comic View* and HBO's *All Def Comedy* (2017), MTV's *Joking Off* (2016), *Uncommon Sense*, a guest role as De'Andre on [Bounce TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/bounce-tv)'s sitcom *Family Time* (2017), and the film *How High 2*.[5](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/sucdb.html?p=karlous-miller) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822390/) • [1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) He co-hosted *What's My Secret?* on MTV, joined the third-season cast of *College Hill: Celebrity Edition* on BET in June 2024, and appeared in the 2025 horror-comedy film *Haunted Heist* alongside [Lil Rel Howery](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-rel-howery) and [Tiffany Haddish](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiffany-haddish).[8](https://improv.com/raleigh/comic/karlous%20miller/) • [1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller)
He and his 85 South castmates twice hosted the BET Hip Hop Awards, in 2020 and 2021.[1](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller) A devoted hip-hop fan, he has worked with musicians and producers including [Jermaine Dupri](https://www.edgepedia.org/jermaine-dupri), Case, Gucci Mane, Dem Franchize Boyz, Grandaddy Souf, Big Oomp, and T.I.'s Grand Hustle Comedy.[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822390/) • [8](https://improv.com/raleigh/comic/karlous%20miller/)
In 2019, the phrase "Black men don't cheat" became a viral movement with hashtags, TikToks, and even a studio single by comedian [Lil Duval](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-duval) and commentator [Charlamagne tha God](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlamagne-tha-god); Miller credited the phrase itself to comedic writer and producer Clint Coley but popularized it on social media until it went viral several times.[12](https://www.bet.com/article/godt8s/who-is-karlous-one-third-of-the-85-south-show)
## Stand-up and touring
Miller headlines comedy clubs, theaters, and arenas across the United States, both with 85 South and on his own. He toured his solo show, *Karlous Miller: At The End Of The Day*, on a multi-city run that included a 2023 stop at the Cullen Performance Hall at the [University of Houston](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-houston), and has performed internationally in St. Thomas, Germany, London, and Kuwait.[6](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/karlous-miller-performs-at-cullen-performance-hall-16174580/) • [4](https://karlousm.com/bio) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822390/) [Ticketmaster](https://www.edgepedia.org/ticketmaster) lists a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 176 reviews for his touring shows, and his 2026 itinerary includes the FUNNY AH! Comedy Tour with Lil Duval and a Toyota Arena date with [Martin Lawrence](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-lawrence) and Nate Jackson.[13](https://www.ticketmaster.com/Karlous-Miller-tickets/artist/1776528?tt_scene=anchor_view)
## Personal life
Miller has a son with his former girlfriend, comedian Ashima Franklin.[14](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/karlous-miller.html) His cited comedy influences include Redd Foxx, Bernie Mac, Mo'Nique, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Cedric the Entertainer, and Steve Harvey.[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822390/)
## References
1. [Karlous Miller, Wild 'N Out Wiki (Fandom)](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Karlous_Miller)
2. [Karlous Miller Biography, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/karlous-miller-856291/biography)
3. [Karlous Miller, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/karlous_miller)
4. [Karlous Miller Bio, karlousm.com](https://karlousm.com/bio)
5. [SUCDb: The Stand-Up Comedy Database, Karlous Miller, Disciples of Comedy](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/sucdb.html?p=karlous-miller)
6. [Karlous Miller Brings His Solo Show, At The End Of The Day, to UH's Cullen Center, Houston Press](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/karlous-miller-performs-at-cullen-performance-hall-16174580/)
7. [Karlous Miller, Innovative Comedy](https://www.innovativecomedy.com/karlous-miller/)
8. [Karlous Miller's Bio, Raleigh Improv](https://improv.com/raleigh/comic/karlous%20miller/)
9. [Karlous Miller Biography, The Famous People](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/karlous-miller-40681.php)
10. [ATL Comic Profile: Karlous Miller, Creative Loafing](https://creativeloafing.com/content-204892-atl-comic-profile-karlous-miller)
11. [Karlous Miller, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822390/)
12. [Who is Karlous, One-Third Of The 85 South Show?, BET](https://www.bet.com/article/godt8s/who-is-karlous-one-third-of-the-85-south-show)
13. [Karlous Miller Tickets, Ticketmaster](https://www.ticketmaster.com/Karlous-Miller-tickets/artist/1776528?tt_scene=anchor_view)
14. [Karlous Miller, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/karlous-miller.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stand-up comedy and comedians › American stand-up comedians, contemporary › Stand-up comedians born 1980 onward › Surnames A to M*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license