Elise Neal

Last updated

Elise Neal
Elise Neal at Slim-Fast Fashion Show 4.jpg
Neal at the Slim Fast fashion show in 2008
Born
Elise Demetria Neal

(1966-03-14) March 14, 1966 (age 58)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Education University of the Arts
OccupationActress
Years active1991–present

Elise Demetria Neal (born March 14, 1966) [1] [2] is an American actress. In 1997, she made her big break appearing in three films, Rosewood , Money Talks and Scream 2 .

Contents

From 1998 to 2002, Neal starred as Yvonne Hughley in the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys . Other film appearances include Mission to Mars (2000), Hustle & Flow (2005) and Logan (2017). On television, Neal also starred as Tia Jewel in the first two seasons of the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us from 2003 to 2005. She is a three-time NAACP Image Award nominee.

Early life

Neal was born on March 14, 1966, in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of a nurse and a construction worker. [1] She attended Lakeview Elementary. She was a ballet dancer and a cheerleader. She broke her left wrist in a high toss cheerleading stunt; after the bones healed, her wrist never straightened back out completely. She graduated from Overton High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. [3]

From 1984 to 1988, she attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. [1] Elise left college after two years and moved to New York City where she landed roles in musical theater and found herself traveling the world with various touring companies. Her experience in musical theater allowed her to easily transition into commercials, eventually bringing her to Los Angeles. Neal was a member of the Tennessee Ballet Company. [4]

Career

Neal was an accomplished dancer and appeared in several hip hop and R&B music videos in the early 1990s. One of her earliest jobs was as a background dancer in Chubb Rock's music video for "Just the Two of Us." Other music videos Neal has appeared in include Black Sheep's 1992 video for Strobelite Honey, Father MC's 1991 video for "Lisa Baby", Aretha Franklin's 1998 video for "A Rose Is Still a Rose", Trick Daddy's 2001 video "I'm a Thug", and Vanessa Williams' video "Work to Do". Neal was featured in the November 2007 edition of King Magazine . Neal also appeared as a backing dancer in the music video for Dannii Minogue's 1993 single "This Is It".

Neal made her film debut in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992). [4] She landed the role of Janice Sinclair on the soap opera Loving . [4] She then played fighter pilot J.J. Fredericks on the series seaQuest 2032 . [5] Neal was cast in the high-profile role of Hallie in Scream 2 . [6] Her character was originally written to be one of the killers of the movie, but due to a script leak her role was changed. [7] She portrayed school teacher Scrappie in Rosewood . [8]

Her breakout role was being cast as Yvonne Hughley, the wife of D.L. Hughley in the television sitcom The Hughleys (1998−2002). [9] She received two NAACP Image Award nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in the series. Following The Hughleys, Neal portrayed Kindergarten teacher Tia Jewel in All of Us . [10] [11] She left the series in 2005. [12]

She has made guest appearances on Law & Order , Hangin' with Mr. Cooper , [4] and Method & Red . [13] Other film credits include: Paid in Full , [14] Money Talks , [15] and Mission to Mars . In Restaurant , she played Jeanine, [16] a waitress who aspires to be a singer. [17] Neal acted in a 2001 remake of Brian's Song as the wife of Gale Sayers. [18]

Neal received her third NAACP Image Award nomination in 2006, in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for the film Hustle & Flow as Yevette, [19] the wife of Anthony Anderson's character. [20] Her role in the 2007 film 4 Life also marked her first soundtrack single, "I'm Down Baby". She also appeared in the series K-Ville as Ayana Boulet. [21]

Expanding her role as producer, Neal is creating and developing several multimedia projects: a reality show based on her R&B group, "Assorted Flavors", a fitness and lifestyle brand, and several feature projects through her development deal with Mandalay Bay Entertainment. She appeared on reality show Hollywood Divas . [22]

She played Alana in Love Ranch (2010). [23] Neal guest starred on an episode of The Soul Man . [24] She portrayed singer Gladys Knight in biopic Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014). [25] In a negative review of the film, Jon Caramanica opined Neal was the best actor in the production. [26] Neal played Kathryn Munson in the 2017 superhero film Logan and appeared on television series Into the Dark . [27] [28] [29] [30]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992 Malcolm X Hooker
1993 Tales of the City Young WomanTV movie
1995 Let It Be Me Carlita
1997 Rosewood Beulah (Scrappie)
Def Jam's How to Be a Player Nadine
Money Talks Paula
Scream 2 Hallie
1998Chance of a LifetimeAmyTV movie
Restaurant Jeanine
2000 Mission to Mars Debra Graham
2001 The Rising Place Wilma Watson
Sacred Is the FleshGabi Paige
Brian's Song Linda SayersTV movie
2002 Paid in Full Aunt June
2003 Playas Ball Summer Twitty
2005 Hustle & Flow Yevette
20074 LifeJareVideo
2008Who's Deal?Passion
2009Preaching to the PastorMonica
2010Let God Be the JudgeRachel
Love Ranch Alana
Love Chronicles: Secrets RevealedMoniqueVideo
Gun Rich's Mom
N-Secure Leslie
Love Me or Leave MeJosephine WyattTV movie
2011The SlapGloriaShort
Lord, All Men Can't Be DogsDiane
The Perfect ManTrisha
Poolboy: Drowning Out the FuryFlorence
BreatheKristy Burgin
2012 The Undershepherd Sister Roberts
Who's Watching the KidsDelia
2013School of Hard KnocksKimVideo
1982 Stacy
2014The Fright Night FilesCoffee BlackTV movie
Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B Gladys Knight TV movie
2016Ladies Book ClubRonaTV movie
36 Hour LayoverRebecca
What Are the Chances?Gina
ANYWHERE, U.S.A.KimShort
2017 Logan Kathryn Munson
Tragedy Girls Mrs. Hooper
The White SistasErin White
Our Dream ChristmasCookie
2018Don't Get CaughtGinaVideo
We Belong TogetherMegan
Her Only ChoiceSherry
First ImpressionKym PineTV movie
2019All InGina
Nineteen SummersPorsha
I Left My Girlfriend for Regina JonesRegina Jones
2020 The Grudge TV Contestant
The Sin ChoiceAngela Smith
The App That Stole ChristmasCarly
2021Ransum GamesDenise
A State of MindKeisha Thomas
2022 Breaking Juanita
Lola 2Sasha
2023SurvivalTally Fruge
Phels HighTina Lloyd
Christmas AngelNatalie

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991 Another World DancerEpisode: "Episode #1.6923"
1992 Law & Order Charlayne WardEpisode: "Cradle to Grave"
1993 Getting By DebbieEpisode: "Back to Nature"
Tales of the City Spa InstructorEpisode: "Episode #1.3"
California Dreams Miss JackieEpisode: "High Plains Dreamer"
Family Matters HeatherEpisode: "Car Wars"
1993-95 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper LisaGuest Cast: Season 1 & 3
1994 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Wendy RobertsonEpisode: "M Is for the Many Things She Gave Me"
Loving Janey SinclairRegular Cast
Red Shoe Diaries DancerEpisode: "Emily's Dance"
1995 Chicago Hope Tamara ParnettEpisode: "Cutting Edges"
Pointman MillieEpisode: "Take the Points"
1995-96 seaQuest DSV Lieutenant J.J. Fredericks Main Cast: Season 3
1996 ABC Afterschool Special AliciaEpisode: "Daddy's Girl"
Living Single SharonEpisode: "School's Out Forever"
High Incident ArialEpisode: "Bullet the Blue Sky"
The Steve Harvey Show Juanita Du'SheaEpisode: "Pool Sharks Git Bit"
1998 The Wayans Bros Tanya CooperEpisode: "The Rich Girl"
Fantasy Island CatherineEpisode: "Wishboned"
1998-2002 The Hughleys Yvonne Williams-HughleyMain Cast
2001 E! True Hollywood Story HerselfEpisode: "Scream"
2002 Hollywood Squares Herself/PanelistRecurring Guest
Pyramid Herself/Celebrity ContestantEpisode: "Nov 8, 2002"
2003 A.U.S.A. Jill DavisEpisode: "Pilot"
2004The 100 Scariest Movie MomentsHerselfEpisode: "Part I: 100-81"
Method & Red BrendaEpisode: "Something About Brenda"
2003-05 All of Us Tia JewelMain Cast: Season 1-2
2005Black in the 80sHerselfEpisode: "Def Jams" & "Color TV"
Weekends at the D.L. HerselfEpisode: "Episode #1.13"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation GiselleEpisode: "Bodies in Motion"
2007 K-Ville Ayana BouletRecurring Cast
2009My MannyJenniferMain Cast
Private Practice JanineEpisode: "What You Do for Love"
2010Life AfterHerselfEpisode: "Elise Neal"
2011 Funny or Die Presents PeachesEpisode: "The Burn Unit"
The Cape Susan VoytRecurring Cast
2011-12 A.N.T. Farm Roxanne ParksRecurring Cast: Season 1
2012 Scandal Anna GordonEpisode: "The Other Woman"
2013 Real Husbands of Hollywood HerselfEpisode: "Karma's a Mitch" & "Hart vs. Mosley"
Basketball Wives HerselfEpisode: "Episode #5.8"
Belle's Jill CooperMain Cast
The Soul Man JessicaEpisode: "Revelations"
2014According to Him + HerHerselfEpisode: "Episode #1.3"
2014-15 Hollywood Divas HerselfMain Cast: Season 1-2
2017 Tales BeatrizEpisode: "A Story to Tell"
2019-20 25 Words or Less Herself/ContestantRecurring Guest
2020 Into the Dark Dr. Linda JohnsonEpisode: "Good Boy"
2021 A Black Lady Sketch Show GigiEpisode: "If I'm Paying These Chili's Prices, You Cannot Taste My Steak!"
2022- The Black Hamptons Sydney BrittonMain Cast
2023See It Loud: The History of Black TelevisionHerselfEpisode: "Laughing Out Loud"
Angel TeresaMain Cast

Music Videos

YearArtistSong
1990 Kwamé "Ownleeeue"
1991 Father MC "Lisa Baby"
Chubb Rock "Just the Two of Us"
Black Sheep "Strobelite Honey"
1992 Vanessa Williams featuring Dres "Work to Do"
1993 Dannii Minogue "This Is It"
1998 Aretha Franklin "A Rose Is Still a Rose"
2001 Trick Daddy "I'm a Thug"
2002 Aaliyah "Miss You"
2011 Rick Ross "Ashes to Ashes"

Documentary

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008 My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage Herself
2011Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie RetrospectiveHerself

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2000 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series The Hughleys Nominated
2001Nominated
2006 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Hustle & Flow Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
Black Reel Awards Outstanding Ensemble Nominated

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Jason Buchanan (2008). "Elise Neal – Biography". movies.msn. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  2. ↑ "On This Day In Comedy… In 1966 Actress Elise Neal Was Born!". The Humor Mill. March 28, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  3. ↑ Davis, Corey (October 1, 2019). "Memphis actress forms partnership to help creative entrepreneurs". Memphis Business Journal . Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Winfrey autobiography is in the works". Star-News . November 2, 1994. p. 5D.
  5. ↑ Garcia, Frank; Phillips, Mark (March 28, 2012). Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004. McFarland & Company. p. 209. ISBN   9780786469178.
  6. ↑ West, Alexandra (June 5, 2018). The 1990s Teen Horror Cycle: Final Girls and a New Hollywood Formula. McFarland & Company. p. 77. ISBN   9781476631288.
  7. ↑ "Scream 2 rewritten after script leak". April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  8. ↑ Barclay, Dolores (February 22, 1997). "Singleton misses 'Rosewood' chance". Spartanburg Herald-Journal . p. C7.
  9. ↑ McDonough, Kevin (September 22, 1998). "'Encore, Encore' is terrible, terrible". Ocala Star-Banner . p. 10C.
  10. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2007: A-E. McFarland & Company. p. 47.
  11. ↑ Owen, Rob (May 16, 2003). "UPN's plans". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 41.
  12. ↑ Muir, John Kenneth (2007). TV Year: The Prime Time 2005-2006 Season. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 158. ISBN   9781557836847.
  13. ↑ "Daily Highlights". Calhoun Times and Gordon County News. July 17, 2004.
  14. ↑ Ebert, Roger (2004). Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2005. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 505. ISBN   9780740747427.
  15. ↑ Fhaner, Beth A. (1998). Magill's Cinema Annual: A Retrospective of the Films of 1997. Visible Ink Press. p. 380. ISBN   9781578590568.
  16. ↑ Monush, Barry; Willis, John (March 25, 2002). Screen World 2001. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 13. ISBN   9781557834782.
  17. ↑ "Actress Elise Neal on Neve Campbell, stereotypes and staying young". Boca Raton News . February 6, 2000.
  18. ↑ Tate, Marsha Ann (2007). Canadian Television Programming Made for the United States Market. McFarland & Company. p. 142. ISBN   9780786427451.
  19. ↑ "The 37th NAACP Image Awards". The Crisis . National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 2006.
  20. ↑ Donalson, Melvin (2007). Hip hop in American cinema. Peter Lang. p. 84. ISBN   9780820463452.
  21. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2007: F-L. McFarland & Company. p. 808.
  22. ↑ Ogbogu, Stephanie (October 9, 2014). "[REALITY RECAP] 'Hollywood Divas' Made in the Shade". Ebony . Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  23. ↑ Holden, Stephen (June 29, 2010). "Attraction and Possibility When Sex Is Just Business". The New York Times . Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  24. ↑ Ng, Philiana (June 27, 2013). "'The Hughleys' Star Books TV Land Comedy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  25. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (April 23, 2021). Television Movies of the 21st Century. McFarland & Company. p. 3. ISBN   9781476684123.
  26. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (November 14, 2014). "Resinging the Song of a Life Cut Short". The New York Times . Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  27. ↑ Turchiano, Danielle (April 29, 2020). "Judy Greer, Steve Guttenberg Among Cast for Blumhouse Television's 'Into the Dark: Good Boy' (EXCLUSIVE)". Yahoo! . Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  28. ↑ Lentz, Harris M. (2001). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Television shows. McFarland & Company. p. 1829.
  29. ↑ "Tales Episode 2 – 'I Got a Story to Tell' Cast". BET.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  30. ↑ Marill, Alvin H. (2005). Movies Made for Television, 1964-2004: 1990-1999. Scarecrow Press. p. 73.
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