Honestly, if you watched HBO in the late nineties or early 2000s, you saw him. You might not have known his full name—Craig O’Neil Grant—but the second he opened his mouth, you knew the voice. He went by "muMs" or "muMs da Schemer." He wasn't just another character actor; he was a Bronx-born poet who basically dragged the raw energy of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe right into the middle of Peak TV.
Most people looking for tv shows with craig mums grant are usually trying to remember that one guy from Oz who could make a prison cafeteria feel like a Broadway stage. That was Arnold "Poet" Jackson. It’s kinda wild to think about now, but muMs didn't just play a poet on screen; he was actually writing the poems his character recited. When he stood up in Emerald City to drop lines about the "confident cockroach," that wasn't some Hollywood writer trying to sound "street." That was muMs.
The Definitive Run of TV Shows With Craig Mums Grant
You can't talk about his career without starting at Oswald State Correctional Facility. Oz was his home from 1997 to 2003. He played a heroin addict who found his voice through verse, and in a show famous for its brutal violence, muMs provided this weird, rhythmic heartbeat that kept things grounded.
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But he didn't stop at the prison gates. He was everywhere. You’ve probably seen him in:
- Chappelle’s Show: Remember the "Mad Real World" sketch? He played Lysol. It’s one of the most quoted bits in comedy history. "I'm the only one that's real!"
- The Sopranos: In the episode "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh," he played a character named Mop. It was a brief guest spot, but in that universe, even a small role is a badge of honor.
- Boston Legal: He had a recurring gig as Joseph Washington during the fourth season. Seeing him trade energy with James Spader was a total 180 from the grittiness of Oz.
- Luke Cage: He played Reggie "Squabbles," the guy who helped Luke survive his time in Seagate prison.
- She's Gotta Have It: Spike Lee loved the guy. He brought him onto the Netflix series as Cash Jackson.
He was a staple in the Law & Order universe too. He showed up in the original, SVU, and Criminal Intent. He played different characters in almost every appearance—sometimes a witness, sometimes a suspect, but always someone who felt like a real person you'd actually meet on a New York City subway platform at 2 AM.
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Why His Style Worked So Well
There is this specific thing muMs did. He had a way of delivering dialogue that felt like it was hovering just above a beat. Even when he wasn't rhyming, his cadence was musical. He was a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company, working alongside heavy hitters like Philip Seymour Hoffman. That’s where the "human-quality" of his acting came from. He wasn't polished in a fake way. He was lived-in.
Take his role in Horace and Pete. Louis C.K.’s experimental show was basically a filmed play. muMs played Ricardo, one of the bar regulars. In a show that felt like a funeral for the American dream, his presence added a layer of authentic New York melancholy that few other actors could pull off.
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A Tragic Departure
It’s actually pretty sad to look back on his later work. He died in March 2021 at the age of 52. At the time, he was actually in the middle of filming the Starz series Hightown in North Carolina. He was also supposed to head to Atlanta right after to wrap up work on Tyler Perry’s All the Queen's Men.
He died of complications from diabetes. It was a massive shock to the indie film and theater community. Spike Lee, Steven Soderbergh (who cast him in No Sudden Move), and his Oz co-stars all came out with these incredible tributes. They didn't just talk about his acting; they talked about his soul.
Finding His Best Work Today
If you’re looking to binge tv shows with craig mums grant, start with the early seasons of Oz. It’s where he really defined what a "slam poet actor" could be. After that, track down his appearances on Def Poetry Jam. It's not a scripted drama, but seeing him as "muMs da Schemer" on that stage gives you the context for everything else he did.
You’ll see a man who was deeply proud of the Bronx, deeply invested in the power of words, and someone who never felt the need to "act" like a tough guy because he already knew who he was.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Watch the "Mad Real World" sketch on YouTube: If you want to see his comedic timing, it’s a masterclass in playing the "straight man" to the absurdity of the situation.
- Stream Oz on Max: Pay attention to the poems. He wrote them. They are essentially a soundtrack to the character's internal life.
- Look for "SlamNation": This is a 1998 documentary. It follows the Nuyorican Poetry Slam Team. You’ll see a young muMs before the TV fame, just raw and hungry for the mic.
- Check out "No Sudden Move": It was one of his final film roles. Even in a cast with Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro, he holds his own.