By ANTHONY BOND
It was in the classic 1980s film Lean on Me that Jermaine ‘Huggy’ Hopkins told Morgan Freeman: ‘No sir it wasn’t me, sir….I swear it wasn’t!’
But the actor will now need to use similar persuasive skills to get him out of a real-life scrape.
The 38-year-old was arrested recently in Avondale, Arizona, after buying 200lbs of marijuana from an undercover officer.
In trouble: Actor Jermaine ‘Huggy’ Hopkins was arrested recently in Avondale, Arizona, after buying 200lbs of marijuana from an undercover police officer
The actor, who has also starred in television show Law & Order, was later stopped by police officers in the SUV he was driving where they found the drugs and $100,000 in cash.
Authorities then searched an Avondale apartment listed in Hopkins’ name. They say they found another 100lbs of marijuana.
Child star: Jermaine Hopkins as troubled youth Thomas Sams in the 1989 film Lean on Me
According to Pheonix New Times, Hopkins told police officers that he had arranged the weed deal, which took place last Tuesday, so that he could provide a nice Christmas for his family.
Hopkins, who lives in North Carolina, is now being held in custody after being charged with two counts of possessing, transporting and trying to sell marijuana.
Hopkins fell into the acting business at the age of 14 when his mother took him to an audition in New York for the 1989 Warner Brothers film Lean on Me.
After impressing the producers and director he was handed a starring role as the misguided drug-abusing high school student Thomas Sams.
The film is loosely based on the story of Joe Louise Clark, a real life inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose school is at risk of being taken over by authorities unless students improve their test scores.
The school in the film, Eastside High School, is plagued with numerous problems including drugs and gang violence.
Following the hit film, Hopkins had a string of back-to-back successes.
The next film he starred in was ‘Juice’ in which he played Steel alongside Samuel L.Jackson, Queen Latifah and Dr.Dre.
He then went on to star in the HBO worldwide release ‘Strapped’, which was Forest Whitaker’s directorial debut.
Classic: Jermaine ‘Huggy’ Hopkins and Morgan Freeman in a scene from Lean on Me
In 1996 he featured as the star in Phat Beach.
Following this he starred in Murder One, Moesha, and The Wayans Brothers.
He also starred opposite Bill Bellamy and comedian Pierre Edwards in How to Be a Player.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2076021/Jermaine-Huggy-Hopkins-Lean-Me-actor-caught-buying-200-pounds-cannabis.html#ixzz3T6gaNQxq
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
