Anjelah Johnson

Anjelah Johnson
Born Anjelah Nicole Johnson
(1982-05-14) May 14, 1982
San Jose, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Occupation actress, comedian
Years active 2006–present
Spouse(s) Manwell Reyes (m. 2011)
Website www.anjelah.com

Comedy career

Medium Television, stand-up, film
Genres Observational comedy
Influences Ellen DeGeneres, George Lopez, Brian Regan[1]

Anjelah Nicole Johnson also known as Anjelah Johnson-Reyes (born May 14, 1982) is an American actress, comedian, and former NFL cheerleader. Johnson is most notable as a cast member on the series MADtv during its 13th season. Her characters included a Vietnamese nail salon employee and a rude fast food employee named Bon Qui Qui.[2]

Career

Johnson moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue a career in comedy, after a friend suggested that she join a joke writing class.[3] She took improv classes,[3][4] and quickly began to headline her own shows. Her stand-up routine comprising her impression of a Vietnamese nail salon employee received much attention on YouTube,[3] and in 2007, Johnson joined the cast of sketch comedy show MADtv as a featured performer. Because of the impending writers strike, Johnson was often given only a few lines in the scripts during her tenure, as the writers had to produce more scripts at a faster pace.[3] However, her character Bon Qui Qui, a fast food employee who treats customers rudely, which she wrote herself, was received well, and gained a similarly large YouTube following.[3] In 2008, Johnson was nominated for an ALMA Award for Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series for her work on MADtv.[5]

Johnson was given her own one-hour Comedy Central special, "Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do It", in 2009.[1] She also appeared in the films Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Our Family Wedding, and provided her voice for the live-action adaptation of Marmaduke.[5] She was also featured on the late night talk show Lopez Tonight, hosted by George Lopez.

Johnson became the "TC Girl", a spokesperson for Mexican restaurant Taco Cabana in 2011.[6] In 2012, Johnson became the national campaign spokesperson for the "Don't be an S.O.V." campaign led by vRide,[7] the country's largest van pooling company, which encouraged single commuters (S.O.V.s) to rideshare, carpool, or vanpool.

In 2013, Johnson reprised her role as her MADtv character Bon Qui Qui for a skit released by Alexander Wang.

In 2013, Johnson's second stand-up comedy special entitled Homecoming Show premiered on Netflix. It was filmed in San Jose, California.

In 2015, Johnson's third stand-up special entitled Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy was released on Netflix on October 1, 2015. It was filmed in southern California.

Personal life

Johnson was born and raised in San Jose, California, in a devout Christian family.[4] She is of Mexican and Native American descent.[8] She was a Pop Warner cheerleader from the age of 8 and was active in soccer, softball and track.[9] She also practiced hip hop and break dancing.[9] She began acting as a senior in high school and was especially interested in imitating different accents.[9] She later studied speech communications at De Anza College.[9][10] She subsequently became a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders after being inducted in 2002.[9] As a member of the Oakland Raiderettes she was named Rookie of the Year and performed at Super Bowl XXXVII.

Johnson married Group 1 Crew member Manwell Reyes on June 11, 2011 in Half Moon Bay, California.[11] She says the couple does not want children. They enjoy spending time with their nieces and nephews.[12]

Filmography

Movie appearances

Year Title Role Box office performance Director Other notes
2007 The Box Dianne A.J. Kparr
2009 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Julie Ortega $442,859,798 Betty Thomas
2010 Our Family Wedding Isabel $21,409,028[13] Rick Famuyiwa
2010 Marmaduke Afghan #2 (voice) $83,761,844[14] Tom Dey
2013 Enough Said Cathy $17,497,669 Nicole Holofcener
2014 Moms' Night Out Restaurant Hostess $10,429,707 Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin
2014 The Book of Life Adelita / Nina (voice) $50,151,543 Jorge Gutierrez

Television appearances

Year Title Role Total episodes Other notes
2006 Love, Inc. Female Client 1
2007 On the Up Herself Host of show
20072008 MADtv Various characters 4 Sketch comedy
2008 Untitled Dave Caplan Pilot Maria
2008 The Movie Preview Awards Herself
2009 Comedy Central Herself Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do It
2010 Ugly Betty Wendy BLOB Interviewer/Bettyhead (Season 4 Episode 13, "Chica and the Man")
2010 Lopez Tonight Herself
2016 MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion Bon Qui Qui Sketch comedy

Discography

Studio albums

As Bon Qui Qui:

Title Album details
Gold Plated Dreams

Extended plays

As Bon Qui Qui:

Music videos

As Bon Qui Qui:

Title Year Director
"I'm A Cut You" 2012 DG[17][18]
"No Boyfren feat. Tammy" 2013
"This Is How We Do It (Benefit remix)" 2014 Randal Kirk II [19]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Award category Result
2002 Oakland Raiderettes Rookie of the Year Won
2008 ALMA Award Outstanding Female Performance Nominated

References

External links

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