Salli Richardson

Salli Elise Richardson (born November 23, 1967) is an American television and film actress. Richardson is best known for her role as Dr. Allison Blake on the Syfy comedy-drama series Eureka (2006–2012).

She is also known for her voice acting as Elisa Maza on the Disney animated series Gargoyles (1994–1996),^[1] and as Viveca Foster on the CBS series Family Law (1999-2002). Richardson also has appeared in the number of films such as A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), The Great White Hype (1996), Antwone Fisher (2002), Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004) and I Am Legend (2007). She had leading roles in the independent films Pastor Brown (2009) and I Will Follow (2010).She Also starred in Black Dynamite in 2009.

Early life

Richardson-Whitfield was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of an African American-Native American mother and an Irish-Italian father.^[2] She has three brothers: Josh Richardson, Chad Richardson, and Nalin. Richardson played tennis in high school, and launched her acting career in the Kuumba Workshop theater there.^[3] She graduated from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in 1985.

Career

Richardson began her acting career in the theater before roles in television and film.^[3] In film, she played small roles in Prelude to a Kiss, Mo' Money, Posse, and later had major roles in Sioux City and A Low Down Dirty Shame. From 1994 to 1996 she had voice role of Elisa Maza on the animated series Gargoyles.^[1] She had many guest-starring roles in numerous television shows, such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, New York Undercover, The Pretender, Stargate SG-1, NYPD Blue, House, Bones, Criminal Minds, NCIS and Castle.

Richardson in 2008

Richardson starred opposite Dixie Carter and Kathleen Quinlan in the CBS legal drama series, Family Law, from 1999 to 2002. She had recurring roles as Nancy Adams on Rude Awakening, and as Laura on CSI: Miami. She starred opposite Denzel Washington in the 2002 drama film Antwone Fisher. She also appeared in the 2004 horror film Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid and starred opposite Will Smith in 2007's post-apocalyptic film I Am Legend. She later had a leading role in the independent dramas Pastor Brown (2009) and I Will Follow (2010). She also starred in the The Sin Seer with Isaiah Washington, set for 2015 release.^[4]

From 2006 to 2012, Richardson starred as Department of Defense agent (and later head of Global Dynamics) Allison Blake in the Syfy comedy-drama series Eureka. Her second pregnancy was written into the storyline of the series.^[3] After the series' cancellation, she was cast as the lead in the Lifetime drama pilot The Secret Lives of Wives.^[5] In 2014, Richardson was cast in a recurring role on Lifetime's The Lottery as the first lady of the United States,^[6] but she lost it to Shelley Conn;^[7] She also has a role on BET's Being Mary Jane as an old friend of the lead character.^[8][9] In 2015, Richardson was cast in the ABC Family series, Stitchers.^[10]

Personal life

On September 8, 2002, she married long-time boyfriend and fellow actor Dondre Whitfield. She and Whitfield have one daughter, Parker Richardson-Whitfield, and one son, Dondre Terrell Whitfield Jr. (born January 24, 2009).^[11] Whitfield has appeared along with her husband Dondre Whitfield in a late night infomercial as part of an advertising campaign to promote the Time Life Zestify Midnight Soul collection.^[12]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salli Richardson.

• Salli Richardson at the Internet Movie Database
• Salli Richardson at TVGuide.com