Cocoa Brown

Last updated
Cocoa Brown
Born
Farah Brown

(1974-10-09) October 9, 1974 (age 49)
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present
Children1

Farah "Cocoa" Brown (born October 9, 1974) is an American actress, writer and comedian. She is best known for playing Jennifer in For Better or Worse and Lytia in The Single Moms Club .

Contents

Early life, education

Brown was born as Farah Brown in Newport News, Virginia. [1] [2] She attended and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also has a Master of Science degree from The University of Phoenix in Secondary Education. [3]

Career

Brown has performed in many different comedy stage shows including BET's ComicView and One Mic Stand and Showtime at the Apollo. [2] She later began appearing on television, playing guest starring roles on ER and Breaking Bad .

In 2011, Brown was cast in the Oprah Winfrey Network comedy series Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse playing the role of Jennifer, Tasha Smith's character best friend. [2] The series ran for six seasons. In 2014, she played the leading role alongside Nia Long, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Zulay Henao and Amy Smart in the comedy-drama film The Single Moms Club . She received positive reviews for her performance. [4] [5] The following year, she appeared in an supporting role in a comedy film Ted 2 . [6] [7]

In 2016, Brown played juror Jeanette "Queen B" Harris in the FX drama series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story produced by Ryan Murphy. [8] In 2018, she worked again with Ryan Murphy, playing the recurring role of Carla Price opposite Connie Britton and Mariette Hartley in the Fox drama series 9-1-1 .

Personal life

Brown has a son, Phoenix Zion, who was born in 2012.

On February 18, 2024, Brown's house in Fayetteville, Georgia burned down. Tyler Perry gave her $400,000 to help buy a new home. [9]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2003Blue MoonM.C.Short film
2006Mahoghany BluesLawanzaShort film
2008Attitude for DestructionSexy ReporterDirect-to-video
2008 Lakeview Terrace Bartender
2008 An American Carol Airport Security Guard 1
2009Robbin' in da HoodMae MaeDirect-to-video
2009Dukes and the DutchessRaven Dukes
2010Friendship!Polizistin
2010Dad's HomeCrossing GuardTelevision film
2010I Want CandyChantelleShort film
2014 The Single Moms Club Lytia
2015 Ted 2 Joy
2017Chi Nu LegacyProfessor Stewart
2018The Other SideWedding Planner
2019His, Hers & the TruthMrs. Smith
2019Happy ThanksgivingClaudia
2020Lethal ProceduresBeverly Smith
2020Brother's Grim Grace
2020Fruits of the HeartMs. Woods
2023 Praise This Cora

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004 The Young and the Restless Woman #41 episode
2004Las VegasLady Behind The CounterEpisode: "Tainted Love"
2007 America's Got Talent Herself (Contestant)2 episodes
2007 ER JudyEpisode: "From Here to Paternity Esinam"
2009Breaking BadMail LadyEpisode: "Peekaboo"
2009Secret GirlfriendJamillaEpisode: "You Try to Make Some Internet Cash"
2011 Victorious NurseEpisode: "Tori Gets Stuck"
2011 2 Broke Girls WomanEpisode: "Pilot"
2012 Austin & Ally Security GuardEpisode: "Rockers & Writers"
2011–2017 Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse JenniferSeries regular, 162 episodes
2012 GCB ChardonnayEpisode: "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
2012 The Soul Man Sister WilliamsEpisode: "Lost in the Move"
2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Female NeighborEpisode: "The Scarlet Neighbor..."
2013 Mr. Box Office MidgeEpisode: "The Golden Apple"
2013 Psych Big WendyEpisode: "Deez Nups
2015 K.C. Undercover Big AngeEpisode: "Operation Other Side Part 1"
2016 American Crime Story Jeanette "Queen B" HarrisRecurring role, 5 episodes
2017 Marlon Nurse PatriceEpisode: "Hospital Party"
2018–present 9-1-1 Carla PriceRecurring role, 11 episodes
2019 The Neighborhood ReginaEpisode: "Welcome to Bowling"
2020–2023 Never Have I Ever Principal GrubbsRecurring role; 14 episodes
2023-present The Big Door Prize Principal PatRecurring role
2024Miss Cleo: Her Rise and FallCall Center ManagerTV movie

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References

  1. "Biography — Cocoa Brown". cocoabrown4life.com. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "OWN Profile". oprah.com.
  3. "DP List: Top comedians with roots in Hampton Roads". dailypress.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  4. Nicholson, Amy (14 March 2014). "Tyler Perry's Single Moms Club Isn't Bad if you Bring a Bullshit Detector" . Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  5. Rapold, Nicolas (14 March 2014). "Motley Group Vents in 'Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club'". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 February 2018 via NYTimes.com.
  6. "Cocoa Brown Drops Off Laughs In 'Ted 2' - ComedyHype.Com - Social Comedy Network". 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. The Real Daytime (12 December 2014). "Cocoa Brown Talks 'Ted 2' & Working with Seth MacFarlane" . Retrieved 11 February 2018 via YouTube.
  8. Holtzclaw, Mike (23 February 2016). "Comedian from Newport News takes dramatic turn on 'The People vs. O.J. Simpson'" . Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. "Tyler Perry reportedly offers $400K to Cocoa Brown after she lost home to fire". FOX 5 Atlanta. 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-04-05.