Meagan Monique Good[1](born August 8, 1981)[2]is an American actress and model. She first gained critical attention for her role in the filmEve's Bayou(1997) prior to landing the role of Nina in theNickelodeonsitcomCousin Skeeter(1998–2001). Good received further prominence after starring in the filmsDeliver Us from Eva(2003),Roll Bounce(2005) andStomp the Yard(2007).

Meagan Good
Good in 2012
Born
Meagan Monique Good

(1981-08-08)August 8, 1981(age 43)
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active1991–present
Spouse
(m.2012;div.2022)
Partner(s)Jonathan Majors(2023–present; engaged)
RelativesLa'Myia Good(sister)
Dijon Talton(cousin)
Eric Bellinger(brother-in-law)
Websitemeaganmgood.com

In 2012, Good featured in an ensemble cast of the filmThink Like a Man.The following year, she played Joanna Locasto, the lead character on theNBCdrama seriesDeception,and starred in the comedyAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues.Good has also had supporting roles in the filmsOne Missed Call(2008),Saw V(2008),The Unborn(2009), and as the superhero version ofDarla Dudleyin theDCEUfilmsShazam!(2019) andShazam! Fury of the Gods(2023). She co-produced and starred inTyler Perry'sDivorce in the Black(2024) forAmazon Prime Video.

Early life and family

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Good was born on August 8, 1981[2]in thePanorama Cityneighborhood ofLos Angeles.Her mother, Tyra Wardlow-Doyle, worked as Good's manager into her teens, and her father, Leondis "Leon" Good, is anLAPDpolice officer.[3][4][5]Good was raised inCanyon Country(now known asSanta Clarita), California. She has three siblings, including older sister and fellow actressLa'Myia Good.[6]She began her acting career around the age of four.[7]

According to Good, she grew up "super nerdy, super skinny, buckteeth, big ole afro and yet I had a sense of confidence about myself, like, 'they just don't get it yet.'"[8]She has stated that she did not have any role models until early adulthood, when she began admiring actressCharlize Theron.[9]

Career

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Childhood

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In the early stages of her career, Good worked as an extra on television shows such asDoogie Howser, M.D.andAmen.[7]When she was 13, Good was cast in her first film, the 1995 comedyFriday.[3]She first gained critical recognition for her performance as the troubled teen Cisely Batiste inKasi Lemmons' 1997 filmEve's Bayou;she received two award nominations, including her firstNAACP Image Awardnomination.

Adulthood

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From 1998 to 2001, Good appeared as Nina onNickelodeon's TV showCousin Skeeter.During this time, she landed small roles in the films3 StrikesandHouse Party 4: Down to the Last Minute.Good also appeared in many music videos, by artists such as50 Cent,(21 Questions),Imajin,Isyss(of which Good's sisterLa'Myia Goodwas a member), Lil' Johnny,Memphis Bleek,Tyrese,andWill Smith.After taking on small film and television roles for the next few years, Good began to transition into more mature roles in the early 2000s. Good believes she was able to move into adult roles due to playing characters several years younger than her.[9]

In 2003, a major year for Good, she landed roles in the action-dramaBiker Boyzand the romantic-comedyDeliver Us from Eva,which helped her transition from child to adult actress. She also appeared as the character Vanessa for one season ofMy Wife and Kids,before being replaced by another actor.[10]In 2004, Good starred alongsideJordana Brewster,Sara Foster,andJill Ritchiein the action filmD.E.B.S.,and received a Best Actress nomination at the 2005 Black Movie Awards. She also had small roles in the teen dance filmYou Got Served,and Lance "Un" Rivera's directorial debut,The Cookout.

In 2005, Good co-starred in the horror filmVenom,as well as the well-receivedneo noirfilmBrick.She played opposite rapper/actorBow WowinMalcolm D. Lee'sRoll Bounce.In 2006, Good played the role of Coco, which she felt was her first true lead actress role, in the urban action-dramaWaist Deep.[7]Good also voiced a character for the video gameScarface: The World Is Yoursthat same year.[11]The following year, Good landed a role in the dance movieStomp the Yard,starring withNe-Yoand childhood and personal friendColumbus Short.[3]In 2008, Good appeared in the horror filmOne Missed Callas an ill-fated college student, Shelley Baum. She appeared as an angry trophy wife in theMike MyerscomedyThe Love Guru,and in the latter half of the year, she was one of the victims/game players inSaw V.She starred in 2009'sThe UnbornwithGary OldmanandOdette Yustman.

Good in 2019

In 2010, Good started her own production company, Freedom Bridge Entertainment, with Marlon Olivera and fellow actorsTamara BassandTy Hodges.[12][13]She was part of theensemble castin 2012'sThink Like a Man,a movie based onSteve Harvey's 2009 bookAct like a Lady, Think like a Man.In 2013, Good starred inAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues.Good returned to television from January to March 2013, starring inDeceptionafter being contacted by her agents about the series while leaving a hair salon. According to the actress, she sat in her car "and cried for 30-minutes like a nerd, by myself."[14]

Good wore aroyal bluedress designed byMichael Costelloto the June 30,2013 BET Awardsceremony. The dress featured a plunging neckline down to her midriff and a front slit that rose to mid-thigh,[15]It was sometimes compared to theGreen Versace dressworn byJennifer Lopezto the42nd Annual Grammy Awardsin 2000.[16]Fashion & Styleeditors selected Good as "worst dressed" at the ceremony.[17]

The dress was controversial also because Good was presenting theBET Award for Best Gospel Artist.According to Christine Thomasos ofThe Christian Post,Good has a history of defending her stylistic choices of presenting herself as a "sexyChristian".She had said earlier that year:

there is a classy way to do everything and there is nothing wrong with being sexy or having sex appeal and I think that I am definitely going to be someone who is boldly going to go out to the masses and be someone who say, 'Look! Women its okay'...[17][18][19]

Good responded onInstagram,expressing sadness that judgment had been passed on her, her character and her then-husbandDeVon Franklinover what she wore to the ceremony. She said she picked the dress because she liked it and tried to express her individuality in her dress.[18][20]

In 2014, Good reprised her role forThink Like a Man Too,the sequel toThink Like a Man.Good stated she "had a really good time" while filming the sequel in Las Vegas after initially being nervous "because there's so much energy that only Vegas can give."[21]She later co-starred withLarenz TateandLance Grossin the 2017NetflixfilmDeuces,and was star of 2019'sThe Intruder.She also appeared in the moviesMonster Hunter(2020) andDay Shift(2022). In 2024, Good had a lead role inTyler Perry'sDivorce in the Black.She and actorTaye Diggsthen starred in and executive producedTerry McMillanPresents: Forever,aLifetimeoriginal movie.[22]

Personal life

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Although she was not raised in the church, Good is aProtestant,considers herself a spiritual person and has said in numerous interviews that she declines roles that she feels might "disappoint God."[23][24]She explained in an interview thatJesustops her list of heroes, and the last book she read was theBible.[3]

At age 22, Good chose to focus on her career rather than dating, as she explained in a 2004 interview.[9]In 2011, Good began datingDeVon Franklin,an executive for Columbia Pictures and aSeventh-day Adventistpreacher. They became engaged in early April 2012, and were married on June 16, 2012, at Triunfo Creek Winery inMalibu, California.[25][26]The pair stated that they remainedchastein their relationship prior to their marriage.[16]In December 2021, it was announced Good and Franklin were divorcing after nine years of marriage.[27]Their divorce was finalized in June 2022.[28][1]

In May 2023, Good began dating actorJonathan Majors.[29][30]In November 2024, the couple announced their engagement atEbonymagazine's Power 100 event, where they first met in 2022.[31]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Make a Wish, Molly Jenny Short
Friday Kid #2
1997 Eve's Bayou Cisely Batiste
1999 The Secret Life of Girls Kay
2000 3 Strikes Buela Douglas
New Kids on the Planet Nina Jones Cousin SkeeterTV Movie
2001 House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute Tina Video
2003 Biker Boyz Tina
Deliver Us from Eva Jacqui Dandridge
Ride or Die Fake Venus Video
2004 D.E.B.S. Max Brewer
You Got Served Beautifull
The Cookout Brittany
2005 Brick Kara
Venom Cece
Roll Bounce Naomi Phillips
2006 Miles from Home Natasha Freeman
Waist Deep Coco
2007 Stomp the Yard April Palmer
2008 One Missed Call Shelley Baum
The Love Guru Prudence Roanoke
Saw V Luba Gibbs
2009 The Unborn Romy
2011 Jumping the Broom Blythe
Video Girl Lorie Walker
35 and Ticking Falinda
2012 LUV Beverly
Dysfunctional Friends Ms. Stevens
Think Like a Man Mya
Defeat the Label Herself Short
The Obama Effect Tamika Jones
Dick Little Megan
2013 Don Jon Hollywood Actress #2
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Linda Jackson
2014 Think Like a Man Too Mya
2015 A Girl Like Grace Share
Charlie, Trevor and a Girl Savannah Herself
2017 Deuces Janet Foster
Love by the 10th Date Gabrielle Fateful TV movie[32][33][34]
2018 A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. Free
2019 Shazam! Super Hero Darla
The Intruder Annie Russell
If Not Now, When? Tyra Also director and producer
2020 Monster Hunter Dash
2021 Death Saved My Life Jade TV movie
2022 Day Shift Jocelyn Jablonski [35][36]
2023 Shazam! Fury of the Gods Super Hero Darla
Buying Back My Daughter Dana TV movie
2024 Divorce in the Black Ava
2024 ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Forever’ Carlie Also executive producer

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Gabriel's Fire Young Girl Episode: "Birds Gotta Fly"
1994 On Our Own Traycee Episode: "Swiss Family Jerricos"
1996 ABC Afterschool Special Janie Episode: "Me and My Hormones"
1997 Pacific Blue Shalona James Episode: "Blood for Blood"
Touched by an Angel Nikki Episode: "The Pact"
The Gregory Hines Show Pauley Episode: "Three's Not Company"
1997–98 The Parent 'Hood Ariana Recurring Cast: Season 4
1998 Nothing Sacred Carissa Episode: "Signs and Words"
1998–2001 Cousin Skeeter Nina Jones Main Cast
1999–2002 The Jersey Tamika Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 3
2000 Moesha Nicole Episode: "He Doth Protest Too Much"
The Steve Harvey Show Alicia Episode: "Don't Stand Too Close to Me"
2001 The Division Kara Taylor Episode: "The Parent Trap"
The Famous Jett Jackson Tara Essex Episodes: "Awakenings 1 & 2"
2001–02 Raising Dad Katie Recurring Cast
2002 The Jersey Tamika Episode: "The Playbook"
2003 My Wife and Kids Vanessa Scott Recurring Cast: Season 3
2005 Kevin Hill Melanie West Recurring Cast
2007 Punk'd Herself Episode: "Episode #8.5"
106 & Park Top 10 Live Herself/Host Episode: "106 and Park Celebration Week: T.I. and Meagan Good Holding It Down"
House Amy Episode: "Words and Deeds"
All of Us Katie Recurring Cast: Season 4
2009 Cold Case Beatrice Sloan (1970) Episode: "Soul"
2011 The Game Parker Keith Recurring Cast: Season 4
2012 Californication Kali Recurring Cast: Season 5
Harry's Law Cecilia Episode: "And the Band Played On"
2013 Deception Joanna Locasto Main Cast
2014 Unsung Hollywood Herself Episode: "Pam Grier"
The Dead Diaries Alexis Episode: "Massacre"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Paula Bryant Episode: "Spousal Privilege"
2015 Mr. Robinson Victoria Wavers Recurring Cast
Minority Report Detective Lara Vega Main Cast
2016 Unsung Hollywood Herself Episode: "Meagan Good"
Code Black Dr. Grace Adams Recurring Cast: Season 1
2017 The Talk Herself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Guest Co-Hostess Meagan Good/Jenna Dewan-Tatum/Kevin Frazier"
White Famous Kali Recurring Cast
2018 The Hollywood Puppet Show Herself Episode: "Meagan Good and Lil Rel Howery"
Star Natalie Knight Recurring Cast: Season 2
2019–20 Prodigal Son Special Agent Colette Recurring Cast: Season 1
2020 To Tell the Truth Herself/Panelist Episode: "Jeannie Mai, Craig Robinson, Bobby Moynihan, Meagan Good"
2021 Celebrity Game Face Herself Episode: "Bid on Bae and Puppet Charades"
American Masters Herself Episode: "How It Feels To Be Free"
Overserved with Lisa Vanderpump Herself Episode: "A Night in Morocco: Jeannie Mai & Meagan Good"
Entertainment Tonight Herself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Episode #40.101"
2022 Celebrity Family Feud Herself/Contestant Episode: "The Musical: The Series vs. Never Have I Ever and Ron Funches vs. Meagan Good"
The Black Beauty Effect Herself Recurring Guest
2021–present Harlem Camille Main Cast
2023 Uncensored Herself Episode: "Meagan Good"
The Eric Andre Show Herself Episode: "The Cold Episode"

Video Games

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Year Title Voice role
2006 Scarface: The World Is Yours Femme Fatale Stacey

Music Videos

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Year Artist Song Role
1999 Imajin "No Doubt" Herself
2003 50 CentfeaturingNate Dogg "21 Questions" Girlfriend

Documentary

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Year Title
2007 Angels Can't Help But Laugh
2009 Good Hair
2018 3 Years in Pakistan: The Erik Aude Story

Accolades

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1998 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress Eve's Bayou Nominated
1998 YoungStar Awards Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film Eve's Bayou Nominated
2006 Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout (Female) Waist Deep Nominated
2007 Choice Movie Actress: Drama Stomp the Yard Nominated
2006 Black Reel Awards Best Ensemble Roll Bounce(Shared with cast) Nominated
2007 MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss Stomp the Yard(Shared withColumbus Short) Nominated
2008 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Stomp the Yard Nominated
2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress Romance Think Like a Man Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^abRyan Naumann (June 8, 2022).Meagan Good Drops Married Last Name In Divorce Settlement With DeVon Franklin.RadarOnline.Accessed 2023-02-26.
  2. ^abFamous birthdays for Aug. 8.UPI. Accessed 2023-01-25.
  3. ^abcd"Interview: Meagan Good".DallasBlack.com.Archived fromthe originalon January 23, 2009.RetrievedMarch 11,2009.
  4. ^Good, Meagan (2011)."Follow Your Heart".In Vassel, Rachel (ed.).Daughters of Men.New York: Amistad. p. 57.ISBN9780062045775.
  5. ^"Good & Plenty".TheFreeLibrary.com.October 1, 2008.RetrievedMay 8,2013.
  6. ^"Meagan and La'Miya Good: The Greater Good Foundation".Black Enterprise.August 25, 2016.RetrievedOctober 24,2022.
  7. ^abc"Meagan Good Interview".Stumped? Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon July 3, 2008.RetrievedMarch 11,2009– via stumpedmagazine.com.
  8. ^"Meagan Good Talks Being A Sex Symbol, Racism In Hollywood And Playing Aaliyah".Vibe.May 25, 2010.
  9. ^abcBarker, Lynn (January 29, 2004)."Jennifer Freeman and Meagan Good: Sister, Sister".BET.Washington, DC:Viacom.Archived fromthe originalon November 3, 2014.RetrievedMarch 30,2018.
  10. ^"Where Are The Cast Of 'My Wife & Kids' Today?".Showbiz Cheat Sheet.January 6, 2020.
  11. ^"The Girls of Scarface".GameShark.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 3, 2009.RetrievedMarch 11,2009.
  12. ^"Meagan Good Rolling Out Magazine Photos".MWZA.com.RetrievedMarch 11,2009.
  13. ^"5 Things You Need To Know About" Deception "Star Meagan Good".theurbandaily.com.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019.
  14. ^Hunte, Justin (January 30, 2013)."Meagan Good Discusses 'Deception," ' Compares Aaliyah To Princess Diana ".HipHop DX.
  15. ^Wilson, Julee (July 2, 2013)."Meagan Good Cleavage-Baring, Low-Cut Gown Stuns At The 2013 BET Awards".The Huffington Post.RetrievedJuly 14,2013.
  16. ^abTate, Amethyst (July 1, 2013)."Megan Good Dress: Actress Pulls A Jennifer Lopez In Plunging Blue Gown At 2013 BET Awards".International Business Times.RetrievedJuly 14,2013.
  17. ^abDurham, Jessica (July 1, 2013)."Meagan Good BET Awards 2013: [PHOTOS] Twitter Explodes With Hot, Plunging, Cleavage-Baring Style, 'Deception' Star Turns Heads, Celebrates Wedding Anniversary on Instagram".Fashion & Style.Archived fromthe originalon July 6, 2013.RetrievedJuly 14,2013.
  18. ^abThomasos, Christine (July 2, 2013)."Meagan Good Responds to Critics of Revealing BET Awards Dress".The Christian Post.Washington DC: The Christian Post Company.RetrievedJuly 13,2013.
  19. ^Braxton, Greg (July 1, 2013)."Meagan Good presents BET gospel award in a dress cut to her navel".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 13,2013.
  20. ^"Meagan Good Responds To Christian Backlash To Revealing BET Awards Dress".Newsone.News One (Pakistani TV channel). July 3, 2013.RetrievedJuly 13,2013.
  21. ^"Think Like a Man Too's Meagan Good reveals details on filming in Las Vegas".vegasplayermagazine.com.March 2014.
  22. ^Cordero, Rosy (July 22, 2024)."Taye Diggs & Meagan Good To Lead & EP Lifetime's 'Terry McMillan Presents: Forever'".Deadline.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
  23. ^Dowdell, Niki (May 2005). "Meagan Good: Grounded, Funny and Straight Up Cool".Sister 2 Sister.p. 19.
  24. ^Neumer, Chris."Meagan Good Interview".Stumped? Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon July 3, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 28,2012.I'm a Christian, but not a religious Christian. I'm just very spiritual. I have my belief system and anything I feel would be disappointing to God I don't do. But, it has to be my personal feeling not someone else's or my pastor's or my mom's. If I feel that it's going to be disappointing to him, I won't do it.
  25. ^Herndon, Jessica (June 17, 2012)."Meagan Good Weds In Malibu".People.New York City:Meredith Corporation.RetrievedJune 13,2013.
  26. ^Corneau, Allison (June 17, 2012)."Meagan Good Marries DeVon Franklin".US Weekly.New York City:American Media, Inc.RetrievedFebruary 15,2017.
  27. ^Mizoguchi, Karen (December 21, 2021)."Harlem Star Meagan Good and Husband DeVon Franklin to Divorce After 9 Years of Marriage".People.RetrievedDecember 21,2021.
  28. ^Emmanuele, Julia (June 7, 2022)."Meagan Good's Divorce From DeVon Franklin Finalized Ahead of His 'Married at First Sight' Debut".US Weekly.RetrievedJune 8,2022.
  29. ^"Jonathan Majors Attends Start of Domestic Violence Trial With Girlfriend Meagan Good and a Bible in Hand".ET.
  30. ^"Jonathan Majors supported by girlfriend Meagan Good at court as assault trial begins: Live".The Independent.
  31. ^"Ebony Exclusive! Jonathan Majors Sheds Tears Over Fiancée Meagan Good Saying 'Yes' To Engagement".Ebony.
  32. ^"Lifetime continues hot streak with Kelly Rowland, Meagan Good rom-com".September 10, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 15,2017.
  33. ^"EXCLUSIVE: Meagan Good, Kelly Rowland and Keri Hilson to Star in Lifetime Movie 'The 10th Date'".Archived fromthe originalon April 11, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 15,2017.
  34. ^"Love By The 10th Date - Movie Trailer [Starring Meagan Good, Kelly Rowland, & Keri Hilson]".VannDigital.RetrievedDecember 27,2016.
  35. ^Kroll, Justin (April 1, 2021)."Dave Franco, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Steve Howey, More Join Jamie Foxx In Netflix's 'Day Shift'".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedMay 4,2021.
  36. ^Kroll, Justin (April 27, 2022)."Netflix Announces Summer Slate Including Dates For Jamie Foxx's 'Day Shift' And Kevin Hart's 'Me Time'".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedApril 27,2022.
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