Imani Hakim

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Imani Hakim
Imani Hakim 2018.png
Hakim in 2018
Born (1993-08-12) August 12, 1993 (age 31)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present
Known for Everybody Hates Chris , Mythic Quest
Children1 [1]

Imani Hakim (born August 12, 1993) [2] is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Tonya Rock on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris as well as portraying Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas in the 2014 Lifetime original movie The Gabby Douglas Story. Hakim acted in the films Chocolate City and Burning Sands , and had a supporting role on the Apple TV+ television series Mythic Quest . [3]

Contents

Career

Hakim was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. [2] She has two older brothers and three younger brothers. [3] When she was seven, she studied acting at Karamu House Theater in Cleveland. [4] She convinced her parents to allow her to pursue a professional acting career when she was 11 and moved to Los Angeles with her father to find work. [3] They experienced homelessness during that time and frequently slept in their car. [3] However, within a few months, she booked her first role as Chris's little sister Tonya on Everybody Hates Chris . [5] The series was on-air for four seasons, from 2005 to 2009. [6] During that time, she was homeschooled. [3] In California, Hakim continued to study acting at Alexander's Workshop School in Lakewood and at The Young Actor's Space in Burbank.[ citation needed ]

Hakim later starred as Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas in the Lifetime biopic The Gabby Douglas Story (2014). [6] [7] The next year she acted in a supporting role in the film Chocolate City starring Robert Ri'chard. [5]

As of 2020, she portrays Dana, a video game tester, on the Apple TV+ comedy series Mythic Quest . [8] The series was renewed for a third and fourth season in 2021. [3] She also co-starred in the film Dinner Party in 2020. [9] [10]

Personal life

Hakim follows a vegan diet. [11] She enjoys painting in her free time. [3] Hakim is engaged to fellow Mythic Quest actor Chris Naoki Lee, with whom she gave birth to their first child, Kazuo-Marley Hakim Lee, on February 2, 2025. [12]

Filmography

Television and film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2005–2009 Everybody Hates Chris Tonya RockMain role
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation DarcyEpisode: "The Unusual Suspect"
2007 Reign Over Me Jocelyn JohnsonFilm
2008 The Replacements TiffanyVoice role; 2 episodes
2009 ER Anastasia Johnson3 episodes
2009 Wizards of Waverly Place Jump Rope GirlEpisode: "Marathoner Helper"
2014The Gabby Douglas StoryGabby DouglasTelevision film
2015 Chocolate City CarmenFilm
2016 Sharknado: The 4th Awakens GabrielleTelevision film
2017 Chocolate City: Vegas Strip CarmenDirect-to-video film
2017 Sollers Point CadanceFilm
2017 Burning Sands RochonFilm
2018Down for WhateverSonyaTelevision film
2018 Cam Hannah Darin / BabyFilm
2020–2025 Mythic Quest DanaMain role; Director: "The Room Where It Happens"
2023 Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Beth2 episodes
2023 Pokémon Concierge Alisa
2023A Southern HuntingLuLaMain role
2025 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia N/ADirector: "Frank Is in a Coma"

References

  1. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/DFx1fnVPvD1/
  2. 1 2 Bona, Marc (January 30, 2012). "Imani Hakim: Your 2 p.m. Buckeye Bits A&E trivia". Cleveland.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pener, Degen (June 2, 2021). ""These Types of Women Need More Representation": Imani Hakim on her 'Mythic Quest' Video Game Tester Character". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  4. ↑ Crump, Sarah (May 23, 2009). "Terrence Spivey of Karamu House shares his favorite Cleveland places: My Cleveland". cleveland. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Staff, Shadow and Act. "Interview: Robert Ri'chard and Imani Hakim on Child Stardom to "Chocolate City"". Shadow and Act. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Duckett, Michaela A. (January 31, 2014). "On the record with actress Imani Hakim". www.thecharlottepost.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ Hall, Jermaine (January 17, 2014). "Vixen Chat: Imani Hakim on Playing Gold Medalist, Gabby Douglas". VIBE.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  8. ↑ Madden Toby, Mekeisha (May 5, 2021). "Mythic Quest's Imani Hakim Previews a Season 2 That Answers the Dana and Rachel LGBTQ 'Will They/Won't They'". TVLine. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  9. ↑ Yvonne, Stacey (July 8, 2021). "Imani Hakim Opens the Gates for All Gamer Girls in 'Mythic Quest'". Black Girl Nerds. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ Imani Hakim cast bio on The CW, archived at The Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Vo, Thao (April 6, 2018). "Everybody Hates Chris Star, Imani Hakim Opens Up About Suffering Depression & Anxiety and Her Mission to Help Young Girls Around the World". Sheen Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  12. ↑ Fann, Kate (February 7, 2025). "Actress Imani Hakim Gives Birth to 1st Baby with Partner Chris Naoki Lee, Newborn's Name Revealed". BabyNames.com. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
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