Paula Jai Parker(born August 19, 1969)[1]is an American actress. She is best known for her supporting roles in the filmsFriday(1995),Sprung(1997),Why Do Fools Fall in Love(1998),Phone Booth(2002),Hustle & Flow(2005), andIdlewild(2006). Parker is also known for her voice of Trudy Proud in theDisney Channelanimated comedy series,The Proud Family(2001-2005), which she reprised in the 2005 TV MovieThe Proud Family Movie,and its 2022 reboot,The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
Paula Jai Parker | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 19, 1969 Cleveland, Ohio,U.S. |
| Education | Howard University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse |
Forrest Martin (m.2004) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editBorn and raised inCleveland, Ohio,[1]Parker went to Shaker Heights High School but then graduated from Cleveland Heights High School due to racism in Shaker. For college she moved toWashington, D.C.to study atHoward University.[2]After graduating with a Bachelor ofFine Artsdegree, she moved toNew York Cityand played a number of clubs. From 1992 to 1993, she performed on theFOXcomedy programThe Apollo Comedy Hour,filmed live at the legendaryApollo Theater,and later was cast member on the short-lived sketch show,Townsend Television.[3]
Career
editIn 1995, Parker made her film debut in theF. Gary Grayurban comedyFriday.In the same year, she earned aCable ACE Awardfor her role in theHBOanthology presentation,Cosmic Slop.[4]Later that year, Parker returned to television in theWBsitcom,The Wayans Bros.oppositeShawnandMarlon Wayans.Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in several short-lived shows, includingCBSsitcomThe Weird Al Show(1997), andDavid E. Kelley's ABC comedy-drama,Snoops(1999).[2]
During the 1990s, Parker had supporting roles in a number of films. She has appeared in the 1995 horror anthologyTales from the Hood,Spike Lee'sMillion Man MarchdramaGet on the Bus(1996), the urban comedySprung(1997), theJada Pinkett Smithstarring romantic comedyWoo(1997), and theFrankie Lymonbiography,Why Do Fools Fall in Love(1998). In the early 2000s, Parker co-starred in30 Years to Life,High Crimes,Phone Booth,andMy Baby's Daddy.[2]In 2004, she played a role in the comedy-drama,She Hate Me,and appeared asRuth Brownin biographical filmRay.Her breakthrough was in the 2005 independent dramaHustle & FlowstarringTerrence Howard.She later was cast opposite Howard in musical filmIdlewild(2006).[5]
From 2001 to 2005, Parker voiced the matriarch Trudy Proud in theDisney Channelanimated comedy series,The Proud Family[6]and its 2005 filmThe Proud Family Movie.She also played the iutstanding role ofBillie Holidayon the episode ofTouched by an Angelin 2000, and later guest-starred onThe Shield,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,My Name Is Earl,andThe Mentalist.She co-starred in the 2007 thriller filmCoverstarringAunjanue Ellis,and in later years worked in low-profile independent movies.[5]
From 2013 to 2014, Parker had a recurring role in theHBOseriesTrue Bloodduring the show's seventh and final season. In 2014, she was cast as one of five leads on theTV Onereality series,Hollywood Divas.[7]In 2015, Parker was cast in the recurring roles on theAmazondramaHand of God,as well asFreeformseries,Recovery Road.[8]In August 2016, she released anextended playalbum entitled "Paula Jai & Friends", which featured the single "Going Down".
Personal life
editParker married Forrest Martin in 2004. The couple met on the set ofHustle & Flow,where Forrest, who had just graduated with a Master of Fine Arts, was working as an intern.[9]She almost passed on shooting the critically acclaimed movie and only took the part at the urging of her manager.[10]They have one son.[11]
Discography
edit- Paula Jai & Friends(2016)
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Cosmic Slop | Tang | TV movie |
| 1995 | Friday | Joi | |
| Tales from the Hood | Sissy Johnson | ||
| 1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Central | Drunk Party Girl | |
| Get on the Bus | Jamilia | ||
| 1997 | Sprung | Adina | |
| 1998 | Always Outnumbered | Melodie | TV movie |
| Woo | Claudette | ||
| Why Do Fools Fall in Love | Paula King | ||
| 1999 | The Breaks | Ann | |
| 2001 | 30 Years to Life | Stephanie | |
| 2002 | High Crimes | Gracie | |
| Phone Booth | Felicia | ||
| 2003 | Love Chronicles | Sara | |
| 2004 | My Baby's Daddy | Rolonda | |
| She Hate Me | Evelyn | ||
| Ray | Ruth Brown | ||
| Konsequenz | Baby | Short | |
| 2005 | Hustle & Flow | Lexus | |
| The Proud Family Movie | Trudy Parker-Proud (voice) | TV movie | |
| Animal | Reecy | Video | |
| 2006 | Idlewild | Rose | |
| The Genius Club | Tatiana | ||
| 2007 | Cover | Monica Wilson | |
| 2010 | Confessions of A Lonely Wife | - | |
| 2011 | King of the Underground | Elizabeth Gayle | |
| 2013 | When a Woman's Fed Up | Laticious | |
| Life of a King | Gina Sanders | ||
| Pastor Shirley | Pastor Shirley | ||
| 2014 | 4Play | Linda | |
| Patterns of Attraction | Desiree Stewart | ||
| Act of Faith | Shartruce | ||
| Assistant Motives | Joyce Miller | ||
| You Me & Her | Karen | Short | |
| 2015 | The Summoning | Angela | |
| 2016 | Last Call at Murray's | Danice | |
| She's Got a Plan | Rhonda | ||
| Echo Park Blues | CeCe McCoy | Short | |
| 2017 | The White Sistas | Jordan White | |
| 2018 | Taco Shop | Eve | |
| Hey, Mr. Postman! | Ms. Kelly | ||
| 2020 | Blinders | Evelyn | |
| 2022 | A Miracle Before Christmas | Martha | |
| 2023 | Kings of L.A. | Mason | |
| Sasha Lanes | Ashanti | ||
| The Furry Fortune | June |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | The Apollo Comedy Hour | Herself | Main Cast |
| 1993 | Townsend Television | Herself | Main Cast |
| 1994 | Soul Train | Herself/Guest Host | Episode: "CeCe Peniston/Outkast/Tashan" |
| Roc | Jill | Episode: "No Place Like Home" | |
| 1995 | Pointman | Udia | Episode: "Silent Auction" |
| 1995-96 | The Wayans Bros. | Mia | Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 1997 | Riot | Lisa | Episode: "Homecoming Day" |
| The Parent 'Hood | Sabrina | Episode: "Wendell and I Spy" | |
| The Weird Al Show | Val Brentwood-Gal Spy | Main Cast | |
| Cosby | Tanya | Episode: "The Two Hilton Lucases" | |
| 1998 | NYPD Blue | Cara Wilson | Episode: "Speak for Yourself, Bruce Clayton" |
| 1999 | Snoops | Roberta Young | Main Cast |
| 2000 | Touched by an Angel | Billie Holiday | Episode: "God Bless the Child" |
| 2001-05 | The Proud Family | Trudy Parker-Proud (voice) | Main Cast |
| 2003 | Gadget & the Gadgetinis | Jeanette Sir (voice) | Episode: "The General's Daughter" |
| 2004 | The Shield | Desirae | Episode: "Cracking Ice" |
| 2005 | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Trudy Parker-Proud (voice) | Episode: "Spats: Experiment #397" |
| CSI: Miami | Deana Walters/D-Nasty | Episode: "Shattered" | |
| 2006 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Julia Beltran | Episode: "Toe Tags" |
| 2007 | Side Order of Life | Stargell Grant | Recurring Cast |
| 2008 | My Name Is Earl | Sylvia | Episode: "Orphan Earl" |
| 2009 | Fear Itself | Patty Orwell | Episode: "Something with Bite" |
| 2010 | The Mentalist | Astrid | Episode: "Red Sky at Night" |
| Fish Hooks | Yolanda (voice) | Episode: "Hooray for Hamsterwood" | |
| 2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Paula | Episode: "Episode #2.6" |
| 2012 | Let's Stay Together | Sherry Steele | Episode: "Inspect Me, Inspect Me Not" |
| The Exes | Amelia | Episode: "How Holly Got Her Groove Back" | |
| 2012-19 | Family Time | Lori | Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2-7 |
| 2013 | The Soul Man | Drew | Episode: "Bride and Prejudice" |
| 2013-14 | True Blood | Karen | Guest: Season 6, Recurring Cast: Season 7 |
| 2014 | Front Seat Chronicles | Rachel | Episode: "See You in Court" |
| 2014-16 | Hollywood Divas | Herself | Main Cast |
| 2015 | Hand of God | Ida Congdon | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2016 | Recovery Road | Margarita Jean-Baptiste | Recurring Cast |
| Ray Donovan | Sylvie Starr | Recurring Cast: Season 4 | |
| How To Get Away with Murder | Yvonne | Episode: "It's About Frank" | |
| 2017 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Ellie | Episode: "Forasteira" |
| 2019 | 9-1-1 | Judith Spivey | Episode: "Triggers" |
| Black Jesus | Teresa | Recurring Cast: Season 3 | |
| 2019-22 | Crown Lake | Headmistress Catherine Merriweather | Recurring Cast: Season 1-2, Main Cast: Season 3 |
| 2019-23 | A House Divided | Stephanie Sanders | Main Cast |
| 2020 | Criminal Minds | Captain Vivian Paige | Episode: "Under the Skin" |
| Insecure | Sheryl | Episode: "Lowkey Feelin' Myself" | |
| Etheria | Karen | Episode: "You Me & Her" | |
| 2021 | Them | Hazel Emory | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| Queen Sugar | Celine | Recurring Cast: Season 6 | |
| Colin in Black & White | Aunt Zora | Episode: "Crystal" | |
| 2022 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Episode #9.2" |
| All Rise | Charlene Addison | Episode: "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" | |
| American Gigolo | Diamond | Episode: "The Escape Wheel" | |
| 2022- | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Trudy Parker-Proud (voice) | Main Cast |
Music Video
edit| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Girls, Girls, Girls" | Jay-Z |
Documentary
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Angels Can't Help But Laugh |
| 2008 | So You Want Michael Madsen? |
| 2011 | Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie |
| Mama & Me |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CableACE Award | CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Drama | "Cosmic Slop" | Won |
| 2006 | Women Film Critics Circle | Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Comedic Performance | "Hustle & Flow" | Won |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | Indie Series Awards | Indie Series Award for Best Lead Actress — Drama | "A House Divided" | Nominated |
References
edit- ^abWilliams, Kam (August 6, 2005). "Exchanging pleasantries with Paula Jai Parker: The Hustle & Flow Interview with Kam Williams".The Baltimore Afro-American.p. B2.ProQuest2669754977.
Paula Jai Parker was born in Cleveland on Aug. 19, 1969. The pretty, butter-pecan performer has been working in Hollywood practically since the day she graduated from Howard University, embarking on a career that has already spanned more than 20 films and 10 TV series.
See also:- McCann, Bob (2010).Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television.Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 260.ISBN978-0-7864-3790-0.See also:
- Krefting, Rebecca (1978).All Joking Aside: American Humor and Its Discontents.Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 319.ISBN978-1-4214-1429-4.
- "'Black Achievement Night' recognizes Ohio-born talent ".Cleveland Call & Post.January 30, 2008. p. 3C.ProQuest238479747.
A Cleveland native, Paula Jai Parker has starred on the big screen in movies including 'Get On the Bus,' 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love,' 'Phone Booth' and 'Hustle and Flow.'
- ^abcPaula Jai Parker Biography.AllMovie.Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present.Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1223.ISBN0-345-45542-8.
- ^Moon, Spencer.Reel Black talk: a sourcebook of 50 American filmmakers,p. 169 (1997)
- ^ab"Paula Jai Parker Homeless, 'Blackballed' By Hollywood - Essence".Essence.Retrieved9 July2015.
- ^Everything the Hottest Cartoon Voices Can't Live Without,VIBE(August 2003)
- ^Tambay A. Obenson (16 May 2014)."TV One Expands 'Diva' Franchise w/ Launch of 'Hollywood D - Shadow and Act".Shadow and Act.Archived fromthe originalon 10 July 2015.Retrieved9 July2015.
- ^[iaemagazine /featured/paula-jai-parker-stars-in-tvone-film-the-summoning/ Award-winning Actress, Paula Jai Parker, Discusses Her Lead In The New TV One Film – The Summoning]
- ^(8 August 2005).Happy & In Love,Jet
- ^"Paula Jai Parker Bio, Age, Net Worth, Career, Personal Life Facts".TheCelebritysBio.Retrieved29 June2020.
- ^"PAULA JAI PARKER'S ONEDERFUL SON".Black Celeb Kids.October 2, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2016.RetrievedAugust 2,2016.