Essence Atkins
| Essence Atkins | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Essence Uhura Atkins February 7, 1972 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Essence Uhurra Atkins |
| Occupation | Actress, Model |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse(s) | Jaime Mendez (2009–present) |
| Children | Varro Blair Mendez (born December 25, 2011) |
Essence Uhura Atkins (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress and model. She is best known for the roles of Dee Dee Thorne on the UPN sitcom Half & Half and as Yvette Henderson on the The WB sitcom Smart Guy. She has also starred in the TV series Are We There Yet? as Suzanne Kingston-Persons. In 2013 and 2014, Atkins appeared as "Kisha Davis" in the films A Haunted House and A Haunted House 2.
Career
Atkins has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, including How High, Deliver Us from Eva, Family Matters, Moesha, and The Cosby Show. One of her television roles was in the Saved by the Bell spin-off, Saved by the Bell: The College Years. She appeared in the pilot, but when Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, a regular from the original, opted to return, Atkins's character was written out. She also had a main role in Smart Guy as the older sister Tasha Yvette Henderson, as well as the starring role of Dee Dee Thorne in the series Half & Half, playing half-sister to Rachel True's character. Atkins has also appeared in "A Haunted House" and it's sequel.
She was starring in the TBS sitcom series Are We There Yet? before cancelation in 2003 and has a recurring role on Mr. Box Office, starring Bill Bellamy.[1]
Personal life
In September 2009, Atkins married collegiate football free safety Jaime Mendez, whom she met through the online dating service Match.com. Her Half and Half co-star Valarie Pettiford performed during the reception.[2]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nikita's Blues | Nikita | Short film |
| 2001 | Nikita Blues | Nikita | |
| 2001 | XCU: Extreme Close Up | Tamikah Jones | |
| 2001 | How High | Jamie | |
| 2002 | Looking Through Lillian | Andrea | |
| 2003 | Deliver Us from Eva | Kareenah Dandridge | |
| 2007 | Love... & Other 4 Letter Words | Roxanne | |
| 2008 | Love for Sale | Candace | |
| 2009 | Dance Flick | Charity | |
| 2010 | Preacher's Kid | Peaches | |
| 2010 | N-Secure | Robin Joyner | |
| 2011 | Bachelor Party, TheThe Bachelor Party | Michelle | Video |
| 2012 | Dysfunctional Friends | Alice | |
| 2013 | Haunted House, AA Haunted House | Kisha Davis | |
| 2013 | Act Like You Love Me | Kelly | Post-production |
| 2013 | Another Stateside | Elsie Ramirez | Post-production |
| 2013 | My Sisters Wedding | Tandy | Post-production |
| 2014 | A Haunted House 2 | Kisha Davis |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Cosby Show, TheThe Cosby Show | Paula Young | Episode: "Vanessa's Rich" |
| 1989 | Cosby Show, TheThe Cosby Show | Paula Young | Episode: "I'm "In" with the "In" Crowd" |
| 1991 | Sunday in Paris | Allison Chase | TV short |
| 1991 | Charlie Hoover | Amy | Episode: "Out of the Frying Pan" |
| 1992 | Family Matters | Becky | Episode: "Brown Bombshell" |
| 1992 | Here and Now | Khalila | Episodes: "Love Handles", "A.J.'s Big Leap" |
| 1993 | Saved by the Bell: The College Years | Danielle Marks | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1995 | Under One Roof | Charlotte "Charlie" Langston | Main role (6 episodes) |
| 1995 | Wayans Bros., TheThe Wayans Bros. | Nina | Episode: "Farmer's Daughter" |
| 1996 | Parent 'Hood, TheThe Parent 'Hood | Chantel | Episode: "One Man and a Baby" |
| 1996 | Malibu Shores | Julie Tate | Main role (10 episodes) |
| 1996 | John Larroquette Show, TheThe John Larroquette Show | Jocelyn | Episodes: "The Blues Traveller", "Cheeses H. Taste" |
| 1997–1999 | Smart Guy | Yvette Henderson | (51 episodes) |
| 1998 | Promised Land | Rachel | Episode: "Mirror Image" |
| 1999 | Moesha | Piper Davis | Episodes: "Party's Over (Here)", "Unappreciated Interest" |
| 2000 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Marnie | Episodes: "Love in Bloom", "Salem's Daughter" |
| 2000 | Love Song | Toni | TV film |
| 2002–2006 | Half & Half | Dee Dee Thorne | (91 episodes) |
| 2005 | Love, Inc. | Renee | Episode: "Mad About You" |
| 2007 | Football Wives | TV pilot | |
| 2007 | Class, TheThe Class | Melanie Deacon | Episode: "The Class Has to Go to a Stupid Museum" |
| 2007 | House | Capt. Greta Cooper | Episode: "The Right Stuff" |
| 2009 | Nita Tales: The Series | Shandra | Episode: "Dark Heart" |
| 2010–2012 | Are We There Yet? | Suzanne Kingston-Persons | Main role (68 episodes) |
| 2011 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Monica | (5 episodes) |
| 2012 | From This Day Forward | Patrice | TV film |
| 2012 | Mr. Box Office | Samantha Owens | Main role (21 episodes) |
|2014 |Girlfriends' Getaway |Lauren |Main role
Awards and nominations
- Image Awards
- 2005, Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series: Half & Half (nominated)
References
- ↑ LexiB (2009-10-26). "Essence Atkins Returns To Television In TBS Comedy, Are WCategory:People_from_New_York_Citye There Yet". LexiB.net.
- ↑ Elaine Aradillas (2009-10-15). "Half and Half's Essence Atkins Says I Do". People Magazine. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
External links
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