Michael Michele
Michael Michele | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Michele Williams Evansville, Indiana,U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, fashion designer |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Children | 1 |
Michael Michele Williamsis an American actress and fashion designer.[1]She began her career on stage before appearing oppositeWesley Snipesin the 1991 filmNew Jack City.
In the 1990s, Michele had leading roles in two CBS television series: crime dramaDangerous Curves(1992–93) and prime time soap operaCentral Park West.Michele also had a role as Malik Yoba‘s love interest on the police drama New York Undercover. She later joined the cast of NBC police dramaHomicide: Life on the Street(1998–99) playing Det.Rene Sheppard,and from 1999 to 2002 playedDr. Cleo Finchin the NBC medical dramaER.She also has appeared in the filmsThe 6th Man(1997),Ali(2001),Dark Blue(2002) andHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Days(2003). From 2017 to 2018, Michele starred as Ayanna Floyd in theFoxprime time soap operaStar,and in 2019 she joinedThe CWprime time soap operaDynastyasDominique Deveraux.
Early life[edit]
Michael Michele Williams was born inEvansville,Indiana,the elder of two daughters. Her father, Jerry, is a furniture-rental entrepreneur and her mother, Theresa, was employed byBristol-Myers.[2]She was named for her mother's best friend, Michael Ann. Michele attended Howard Roosa Elementary School (a K-8 school at the time) andBenjamin Bosse High School,where she was active on thebasketballteam.[3]
Career[edit]
Michele has appeared inmusic videosbyR&BsingersFreddie JacksonandEric Gable.In 1989 she sued actorEddie Murphyin a high-profile Hollywood lawsuit alleging she was fired from the movieHarlem Nightsfor rejecting his romantic advances.[2]"She had the role that's now being played byJasmine Guy,fromA Different World,"Murphy toldRolling Stone."The fact of the matter is, I wanted someone with greater marquee value than Michael Michele. She wasn't working out. As for her claim that I was touching her, realistically speaking, if you're gonna be a sleaze and try to sleep with somebody, you try to sleep with 'em before you give 'em the part… In her lawsuit, she says I tried to touch her, like I was a pervert. Inevertried to touch this woman. We had, like, four conversations, each time with up to sixty people around us on asound stage.But the lawsuit itself didn't bother me. Lawsuits for me are anoccupational hazard."[4]Michele's suit was later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.[5]
In 1991, Michele had a starring role oppositeWesley Snipesin the 1991 filmNew Jack Citydirected byMario Van Peebles.[6]Despite the film's success, Michele did not have her next movie role until six years later, starring oppositeMarlon Wayansin the comedy filmThe 6th Man.In 1992, she went on to star on the CBS late-night crime drama seriesDangerous Curves,which ran for two seasons.[7][8]In 1993, she played a leading role in the six-part NBC soap opera miniseriesTrade Winds.[9]The following year, she had a major recurring role in the Fox police drama seriesNew York Undercover.She left the show in early 1995 to play one of the leads in the CBS prime time soap operaCentral Park WestalongsideMädchen Amick,Lauren HuttonandRaquel Welch.[10]The series was not successful and was cancelled after two seasons in 1996.
In 1998, Michele joined the cast of NBC police dramaHomicide: Life on the Streetas Det.Rene Sheppardon the show's final season.[11]She received her firstNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Seriesnomination for this role. Michele reprised her role in aLaw & Orderepisode in 1999 and in the television movieHomicide: The Moviein 2000. She later joined another NBC series, medical dramaERplaying Dr.Cleo Finchfrom 1999 to 2002, for three seasons. She received another NAACP Image Award nomination.
In 2001, Michele playedVeronica Porché Aliin the biographical drama filmAlioppositeWill Smith.[citation needed]She later had two more movie roles: crime dramaDark Blue(2002) and romantic comedyHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Days(2003).[7]She returned to television in 2004, with a starring role in the short-lived UPN legal drama seriesKevin HilloppositeTaye Diggs.In 2007, she guest starred onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitand in two episodes ofHouseas a doctor who had previously worked with theCIA.In 2009, Michele starred in theHallmark ChannelfilmRelative Strangerwith fellowERcast memberEriq La Salle.In 2011, Michele had a recurring role on the CW teen dramaGossip Girl.In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Michele also starred in a number of unsold television pilots.
In 2017, Michele returned to series regular work playing villainous Ayanna Floyd, president of the record label, in the Fox prime time soap operaStar.Her character was described as a modern-day blackAlexis Carrington.[12]She also was cast in a recurring role in theOprah Winfrey Networkdrama seriesQueen Sugar.[13]
On March 22, 2019, it was announced that Michele had been cast asDominique Deverauxfor later in the second season of theDynastyreboot series.[14][15]
Personal life[edit]
She has a son, born in 2004.[1]
In 2005,TV Guideranked Michele No. 36 on its "50 Sexiest Stars of All Time" list.[16]In 2012, she was named one of the "50 Hottest Biracial Women" byComplex Magazine.[17]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Def by Temptation | Lady #6 | |
| 1991 | New Jack City | Selina | |
| 1997 | The 6th Man | R.C. St. John | |
| 1998 | The Substitute 2: School's Out | Kara Lavelle | TV movie |
| 2000 | Homicide: The Movie | Detective Rene Sheppard | TV movie |
| 2001 | Ali | Veronica Porché Ali | |
| 2002 | Dark Blue | Beth Williamson | |
| 2003 | How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days | Judy Spears | |
| 2005 | The Hunt for the BTK Killer | Detective Baines | TV movie |
| 2006 | Company Town | Bridget Wilson | Short |
| 2009 | Relative Stranger | Charlotte | TV movie |
| 2023 | Under His Influence | Casaundra | |
| Drunk, Driving, and 17 | Martha Wright | TV movie |
Television[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1st & Ten | Gillian | Episode: "Saturday, Bloody Saturday" |
| 1992–93 | Dangerous Curves | Holly Williams | Main cast |
| 1993 | Trade Winds | Maxine Phillips | Main cast |
| 1994–95 | New York Undercover | Sandra Gill | Recurring cast, Season 1 |
| 1995 | Soul Train | Herself/Guest Host | Episode: "Naughty by Nature/Brian McKnight/E-40" |
| 1995–96 | Central Park West | Nikki Sheridan | Main cast |
| 1998 | Players | Sylvie | Episode: "Con-tinental" |
| Peter Benchley's Creature | Tauna | Episode: "Night 1 & 2" | |
| 1998–99 | Homicide: Life on the Street | DetectiveRene Sheppard | Main cast:Season 7 |
| 1999 | Law & Order | Detective Rene Sheppard | Episode: "Sideshow" |
| 1999–2002 | ER | Dr.Cleo Finch | Main cast, Seasons 6-8 |
| 2001 | Mad TV | Herself | Episode: "Episode #7.10" |
| 2004–05 | Kevin Hill | Jessie Gray | Main cast |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Valerie Sennet | Episode: "Burned" |
| House | Dr. Samira Terzi | Recurring cast:Season 4 | |
| 2011 | Gossip Girl | Jane Bettinger | Recurring cast:Season 5 |
| 2015 | The Following | Sheila | Episode: "A Hostile Witness" |
| 2016 | Unsung Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "New York Undercover" |
| Blue Bloods | Lois Potter | Episode: "Unbearable Loss" | |
| 2016, 2018 | MacGyver | Diane | Episodes: "Scissors", "Murdoc + Handcuffs" |
| 2017–18 | Star | Ayanna Floyd | Main cast: Season 2 |
| 2017–21 | Queen Sugar | Darlene Sutton | Recurring cast: Seasons 2–3, 5 |
| 2019–22 | Dynasty | Dominique Deveraux | Recurring cast, Season 2; Main cast, Seasons 3–5 |
Music videos[edit]
| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" | Freddie Jackson |
| 1987 | "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" | |
| 1988 | "Nice 'N' Slow" | |
| 1989 | "Remember (The First Time)" | Eric Gable |
| 1991 | "Can't Wait To Get You Home" | |
| 1993 | "Make Love Easy" | Freddie Jackson |
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | NAACP Image Awards | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | "Homicide: Life on the Street" | Nominated |
| 2000 | NAACP Image Awards | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | "ER" | Nominated |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | Nominated | |||
| 2003 | Black Reel Awards | Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress | "Dark Blue" | Nominated |
| 2004 | Teen Choice Awards | Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain | "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" | Nominated |
References[edit]
- ^abReid, Cynthia (December 26, 2011)."Actress Michael Michele Adds Fashion Designer To Her Resume".RetrievedJune 4,2016.
- ^abSusan Schindehette; Sue Carswell; Vicki Sheff (May 29, 1989)."Pink-Slipped by Eddie Murphy, Michael Michele Vows Their Only Date Will Be in Court".People.Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2009.RetrievedApril 30,2014.
- ^Lipton, Michael A. (April 10, 2000)."All the Right Moves".People.RetrievedApril 30,2014.
- ^Zehme, Bill (August 24, 1989)."Eddie Murphy: Call Him Money".Rolling Stone.RetrievedMay 30,2016.
- ^Kinetic Koncepts (April 7, 2017).""New Jack City" ACTRESS Revealed Why She Filed $75M LAWSUIT Against Eddie Murphy ".Old School Music.Kenner, LA.
- ^"New Jack City".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^ab"Michael Michele biography and filmography - Michael Michele movies".Tribute.ca.RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^"Dangerous Curves".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^"Trade Winds".TVGuide.com.RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^Horst, Carole (September 11, 1995)."Central Park West".RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^"Shooting From The Lip".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^Petski, Denise (August 14, 2017)."Star:Michael Michele Cast as Series Regular in Season 2 of Fox Series ".RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^Otterson, Joe (July 26, 2017)."Queen SugarRenewed for Season 3, Ava DuVernay Inks First-Look TV Deal With Harpo Films ".RetrievedNovember 29,2017.
- ^Porter, Rick (March 22, 2019)."DynastyAdds Fan-Favorite Character to Help Offset Departures ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedMarch 22,2019.
- ^Petski, Denise (March 22, 2019)."Michael Michele To Play Dominique Deveraux In CW'sDynasty".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedMarch 22,2019.
- ^TV Guide Book of Lists.Running Press. 2007. pp.202.ISBN978-0-7624-3007-9.
- ^"The 50 Hottest Biracial Women".Complex Magazine.RetrievedApril 30,2014.
External links[edit]
- African-American actresses
- African-American fashion designers
- American fashion designers
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- Actresses from Indiana
- Living people
- Actors from Evansville, Indiana
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- 20th-century African-American women
- 20th-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American people