Kimberly Elise Trammel(born April 17, 1967) is an American actress. She made her feature-film debut inSet It Off(1996), and later received critical acclaim for her performance inBeloved(1998).
Kimberly Elise | |
|---|---|
 Elise in 2012 | |
| Born | Kimberly Elise Trammel April 17, 1967 Minneapolis,Minnesota,U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouses | Maurice Oldham
(m.1989;div.2005)George McCrary (m.2023) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | www |
During her career, Elise has appeared in films such asJohn Q.,The Manchurian Candidate,andThe Great Debaters,all alongsideDenzel Washington;Diary of a Mad Black WomanandFor Colored Girls,both directed byTyler Perry;as well asDope,Almost Christmas,Death Wish,andAd Astra.
She received a nomination forIndependent Spirit Award for Best Female Leadfor her performance in the 2004 drama film,Woman Thou Art Loosed,and played the leading roles in a number of made-for-television movies. Elise also starred in theCBScrime drama seriesClose to Home(2005–07) and theVH1comedy-drama seriesHit the Floor(2013-2016). She is a four-timeNAACP Image Awardswinner.
Early life
editElise was born as Kimberly Elise Trammel inMinneapolis, Minnesota,the daughter of Erma Jean (néeJohnson), an elementary school teacher, and Marvin Trammel, who owns an executive search firm.[1][2]She has three siblings. She attended The American Film Institute as a Directing Fellow and at theUniversity of Minnesotaearned aBAinMass Communications.[3]
Career
edit1990s
editElise made her big screen debut in the 1996 crime action filmSet It Off(1996) directed byF. Gary Gray,in which she played one of four women who resort to robbing a bank for money.Jada Pinkett Smith,Queen LatifahandVivica A. Foxco-star in film which became a critical and box office success, grossing over $41 million.[4]In 1997 she was cast in the Family Channel original television movieThe Ditchdigger's Daughters,based on the Pulitzer-prize nominated and critically acclaimed 1995 memoirThe Ditchdigger's Daughters: A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story,written byYvonne S. Thorntonand Jo Coudert. She received critical acclaim for her role in this film,[5]and in 1997, she was recognized as Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries at the 19th annualCableACE Awards.Her performance helped her land a role the next year inBelovedalongsideOprah WinfreyandDanny Glover,a horror-drama film based onToni Morrison's 1987novel of the same name,directed byJonathan Demme.Despite being abox office bomb,Elise received praise for her performance, and well asChicago Film Critics AssociationAward for Most Promising Actress andSatellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.She also received her firstNAACP Image Awardnomination.[6]
2000s
editIn 2000, Elise starred inThe Loretta Claiborne StoryplayingLoretta Claiborne.The movie was aired as a part ofThe Wonderful World of Disneyat ABC in early 2000. She received good reviews for performance as Claiborne.[7]Later that year, she was female lead inJamie Foxx's movieBait,the film was a huge financial failure,[8]and received mostly negative reviews from critics.[9]The following year, she starred oppositeGregory Hinesin the biographical dramaBojangles.In 2002–2003, she made guest appearances on the UPN comedy seriesGirlfriendsin which she played anHIV-positivewoman, and in the Showtime dramaSoul Food.
In 2002, Elise starred alongsideDenzel Washingtonin the crime filmJohn Q.It became a box office success, grossing over $100 million.[10]She next had a leading role in the independent dramaWoman Thou Art Loosedportraying Michelle, an abused young woman who finally got the help she needed behind bars. This role won her a Black Reel award for Best Actress and well as receivedIndependent Spirit Award for Best Female Leadnomination. She later starred in the political thrillerThe Manchurian Candidate,co-starring with Denzel Washington a second time.
In 2005, Elise went to star in the comedy drama filmDiary of a Mad Black Womanwritten byTyler Perryand directed byDarren Grant.she received positive reviews for her performance, while film received mostly negative reviews.[11][12]The film still was huge box office success, grossing over $50 million against a budget of $5 million.[13]She won her firstNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picturefor this movie. From 2005 to 2007, Elise starred in theCBScrime drama seriesClose to Home,playing theMarion County, Indiana(Indianapolis) prosecutor Maureen Scofield. Her character was killed off in the last episode of the series. The series was cancelled in May 2007. She receivedNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Seriesin 2006 for this series. She later guest starred in twoShonda Rhimes' dramas;Private Practicein 2007, andGrey's Anatomyin 2009.
In 2007, Elise has appeared in two biographical drama films. First wasPrideoppositeTerrence Howardbased upon the true story of Philadelphia swim coachJim Ellis.[14]Later, she appeared again opposite Denzel Washington inThe Great Debaters,based on an article written about theWiley Collegedebateteam by Tony Scherman for the spring 1997 issue ofAmerican Legacy.[15]in 2009, she starred oppositeCuba Gooding Jr.in the television filmGifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story,winningNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.
2010s
editIn 2010, Elise starred in the drama filmFor Colored Girlsas the battered wife Crystal. The film is based onNtozake Shange's 1975 originalchoreopoemfor colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf,and was written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry. While the film itself received mixed to negative reviews,[16]her performance was praised by many critics. One journalist described her as "the great lostBest Supporting Actresscontender of the 2010 season ".[17]Lisa Schwarzbaum ofEntertainment Weeklycomments: "The female cast is great, with especially fierce performances fromLoretta Devine,Kimberly Elise,Phylicia Rashad,andAnika Noni Rose.But stuck in a flailing production that might just as well invite Perry's signature drag creation Madea to the block party, the actors' earnest work isn't enuf. "[18]She wonNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picturefor her performance.
Elise has had starring roles in a number of independent films in 2000s, include a leading role inTies That Bind(2011). She co-starred alongsideWhoopi Goldbergin the Lifetime television filmA Day Late and a Dollar Shortin 2014. In 2013, she began starring in theVH1comedy-drama seriesHit The Floor.[19][20]In 2015, she has appeared in the well-received comedy-drama filmDope,and the following year co-starred oppositeKerry Washingtonin the HBO filmConfirmation.[21]Later in 2016, Elise starred in the Christmas comedy-drama filmAlmost ChristmasoppositeDanny Glover,Gabrielle UnionandMo'Nique.[22]She next starred inDeath WishoppositeBruce Willis,a remake of the1974 film of the same name.[23]In 2019, she appeared in the science fiction filmAd Astra.
2020s
editIn 2020, Elise was cast oppositeJustin Therouxin theApple TV+drama seriesThe Mosquito Coastbased on the1981 novelbyPaul Theroux.[24]
Personal life
editElise was married to Maurice Oldham from 1989 to 2005.[citation needed]The couple had two daughters, born in 1990 and 1998. Not long after their divorce, in 2007, Oldham died from a "massive blood clot".[citation needed]Elise married George McCrary in August 2023.[citation needed]
Elise isveganand has worked withPETAto promote the lifestyle.[25]
In 2022, soon after the overturning ofRoe v. Wadeby theSupreme Court of the United States,Elise took toInstagramto praise the justices for their ruling when she wrote:
“Millions of babies will be saved from death by abortion due to the overturning of Roe V. Wade. Hallelujah! #allglorybetoGod”[26]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Set It Off | Tisean 'T.T.' Williams | |
| 1997 | The Ditchdigger's Daughters | Jeanette | TV movie |
| 1998 | Beloved | Denver | |
| 2000 | Bait | Lisa Hill | |
| 2001 | Bojangles | Fannie | TV movie |
| 2002 | John Q. | Denise Archibald | |
| 2004 | Woman Thou Art Loosed | Michelle Jordan | |
| The Manchurian Candidate | Eugenie Rose | ||
| 2005 | Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Helen Simmons-McCarter | |
| 2007 | Pride | Sue Carter | |
| The Great Debaters | Pearl Farmer | ||
| 2009 | Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story | Sonya Carson | TV movie |
| 2010 | For Colored Girls | Crystal Wallace / Lady in Brown | |
| 2011 | Ties That Bind | Theresa Harper | |
| 2012 | Hannah's Law | Stagecoach Mary | TV movie |
| 2013 | Highland Park | Toni | |
| Event 15 | Blau | ||
| 2014 | A Day Late and a Dollar Short | Janelle | TV movie |
| Apple Mortgage Cake | Angela | TV movie | |
| 2015 | Dope | Lisa Hayes | |
| Back to School Mom | Mary Thomas | ||
| 2016 | Confirmation | Sonia Jarvis | TV movie |
| Almost Christmas | Cheryl Meyers | ||
| 2018 | Death Wish | Detective Leonore Jackson | |
| Hellbent | Karina McCallum | ||
| 2019 | Ad Astra | Lorraine Deavers | |
| Carole's Christmas | Carole Jordan | TV movie | |
| 2020 | Environmental Racism PSA | Narrator (voice) | Short |
| 2023 | A Snowy Day in Oakland | Theona |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Newton's Apple | Bile Duct Supervisor | Episode: "Jungle Survival/Liver/Emus" |
| In the House | Roulette | Episode: "Nanna Don't Play" | |
| 1996 | The Sentinel | Candace Blake | Episode: "Black or White" |
| 2000 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Loretta Claiborne | Episode: "The Loretta Claiborne Story" |
| 2002 | The Twilight Zone | Jasmine Gardens/Police Detective | Episode: "Another Life" |
| 2002–03 | Soul Food | Estella | Guest Cast: Season 3-4 |
| 2003 | Girlfriends | Reesie Jackson | Episode: "The Pact" & "The Fast Track & the Furious" |
| 2005–07 | Close to Home | Maureen Scofield | Main Cast |
| 2007 | Private Practice | Angie Paget | Episode: "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole" |
| Masters of Science Fiction | Tilly Vee | Episode: "Little Brother" | |
| 2009 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Swender | Recurring Cast:Season 5 |
| 2011 | Hawthorne | - | Episode "A Shot in the Dark" |
| 2013–16 | Hit the Floor | Sloane Hayes | Main Cast: Season 1-3 |
| 2019 | Star | Dianne Brooks | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2021 | The Mosquito Coast | Estelle Jones | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| Love Life | Suzanné Hayward | Episode: "Suzanné Hayward & Leon Hines" |
Awards and nominations
edit- 1999: Nominated – Best Actress forBeloved(1998)
African-American Film Critics Association
- 2010: Won – Best Supporting Actress forFor Colored Girls
- 2002: Won – Best Supporting Actress forBojangles(2001)
- 2003: Nominated – Best Actress forJohn Q(2002)
- 2005: Nominated – Best Supporting Actress forThe Manchurian Candidate(2004)
- 2005: Won – Best Actress, Independent Film forWoman Thou Art Loosed(2004)
- 2006: Won – Best Actress forDiary of a Mad Black Woman
- 2011: Nominated – Best Actress forFor Colored Girls
- 2011: Won – Outstanding Ensemble forFor Colored Girls
- 1997: Won – Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries forThe Ditchdigger's Daughters(1997)
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
- 1999: Won – Most Promising Actress forBeloved(1998)
- 1999: Nominated – Best Supporting Actress forBeloved(1998)
Golden Satellite Awards
- 1999: Won – Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture – Drama forBeloved(1998)
- 1999: Nominated – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture forBeloved(1998)
- 2002: Nominated – Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special forBojangles(2001)
- 2003: Nominated –Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureforJohn Q(2002)
- 2003: Nominated –Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Seriesfor"Soul Food"(2000)
- 2005: Nominated –Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion PictureforWoman Thou Art Loosed(2004)
- 2006: Winner –Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion PictureforDiary of a Mad Black Woman
- 2006: Nominated – Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series forClose to Home
- 2007: Winner – Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series forClose to Home
- 2010: Winner –NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialforGifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
- 2011: Winner –Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion PictureforFor Colored Girls
- 2005: Nominated – Best Female Lead forWoman Thou Art Loosed(2004)
References
edit- ^"Kimberly Elise Biography (1971–)".Retrieved13 June2015.
- ^"Kimberly Elise of 'Beloved' has good run around town; wily FOX 9 snags 2 shows".Star Tribune.Retrieved13 June2015.
- ^"TV Guide".TVGuide.com.Retrieved13 June2015.
- ^"Set It Off".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedOctober 9,2014.
- ^"Sisters, United in Success, Are Divided on the Details".The New York Times.20 February 1997.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^BRAXTON, GREG (11 December 1998)."'Beloved,' 'Homicide' Top NAACP Image Award Nominations ".Retrieved18 March2018– via LA Times.
- ^Fries, Laura (13 January 2000)."The Loretta Claiborne Story".Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^"Bait (2000) - Box Office Mojo".www.boxofficemojo.com.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^"Bait".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^"John Q. (2002) - Box Office Mojo".www.boxofficemojo.com.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^"Diary of a Mad Black Woman".Entertainment Weekly.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^"Diary of a Mad Black Woman".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^"Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) - Box Office Mojo".www.boxofficemojo.com.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^"Pride".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^BlackNews.com – American Legacy Magazine's Story The Great Debaters Turns from Pages to the Big Screen Directed By and Starring Denzel Washington and Produced By Oprah WinfreyArchivedJune 30, 2008, at theWayback Machine
- ^Rotten Tomatoes."For Colored Girls (2010)".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved2011-01-14.
- ^Guy Lodge."The lost contenders of 'For Colored Girls'".Retrieved2011-01-14.
- ^Lisa Schwarzbaum (2010-11-03),"For Colored Girls",Entertainment Weekly,archived fromthe originalon 2010-11-05,retrieved2010-11-03
- ^Black, Elizabeth."A Celebration Of Hit The Floor Star Kimberly Elise's Illustrious Career".VH1.com.VH1. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-08-21.Retrieved21 August2014.
- ^"Hit The Floor' Premiere: Dean Cain And Kimberly Elise Have History In VH1 Dance Drama".huffingtonpost.com.Huffington Post. 28 May 2013.Retrieved21 August2014.
- ^Denise Petski (16 June 2015)."Kimberly Elise, Kristen Ariza & Malcolm Gets Cast In 'Confirmation'".Deadline.
- ^Pedersen, Erik (26 October 2015)."Kimberly Elise Is Wished 'A Meyers Christmas'".Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^N'Duka, Amanda (7 October 2016)."Eli Roth's 'Death Wish' Adds Kimberly Elise and Camilla Morrone".Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^‘Mosquito Coast’: Kimberly Elise Joins Apple Series
- ^Pirani, Fiza (3 January 2019)."PETA, Kimberly Elise target African-American communities in 'Go Vegan' PSA".Atlanta Journal Constitution.
- ^McDuffie, Candace (June 29, 2022).""Kimberly Elise Gets Dragged On Social Media For Pro-Life Stance"".The Root.G/O Media.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
External links
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