Kellita Smith

Last updated

Kellita Smith
Born (1969-01-15) January 15, 1969 (age 55)
Education Santa Rosa Junior College
OccupationActress
Years active1993–present
Known for Wanda McCullough The Bernie Mac Show

Kellita Smith (born January 15, 1969) [3] is an American actress, model and comedian. She is best known for her role as Wanda McCullough, Bernie Mac's wife on the FOX sitcom The Bernie Mac Show . [4]

Contents

Life and career

Born in Chicago, Illinois, [5] [6] She was raised in Oakland, California. [7] Smith studied at Santa Rosa Junior College, receiving her associate degree in political science.

In early years, Smith worked as a model. She began her acting career on stage in a regional production of Tell It Like It Tiz. [8] Other theatrical credits include the Los Angeles productions of No Place to be Somebody at the K.C. Theatre Company, Feelings (The Hudson Theatre) for which she won an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996, [8] The Thirteenth Thorn (Complex Theatre) for which she was nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Actress, and One Woman Two Lives, which premiered at The Imagined Life Theater in July 2009.

On television, Smith made her debut in an episode of In Living Color and later guest-starred on Living Single , Moesha , 3rd Rock from the Sun , The Parkers and NYPD Blue . She had recurring roles in Martin , Sister, Sister , and Malcolm & Eddie before co-starring on The Jamie Foxx Show from 1997 to 1999. In 2001, she was cast opposite Bernie Mac in the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show . The series aired on Fox for five seasons from 2001 to 2006. She was nominated four times for a NAACP Image Award for her role as Wanda McCullough on The Bernie Mac Show. In film, Smith co-starred alongside Mo'Nique in Hair Show (2004), and later appeared in Fair Game , King's Ransom , Roll Bounce and Three Can Play That Game .

In 2012, Smith returned to television with the role of First Lady Katherine Johnson in the syndicated sitcom, The First Family . [9] In 2014, Smith was cast as Roberta Warren in the Syfy post-apocalyptic series, Z Nation . [10] In this role, she also appeared on Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! in 2015. [11] In the Cut is an American sitcom created by Bentley Kyle Evans that debuted on Bounce TV on August 25, 2015.[1] Seth Kelley. "Bounce TV Orders Original Comedy Series 'In the Cut'". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2016. Kellita Smith as Cheryl (season 2–present), the new owner of the beauty salon Cheryl's, and Jay's wife. On March 19, 2020, it was announced that the sixth season would premiere on April 1, 2020.[8] ""In the Cut" Returns for New Season Starting April 1st on Bounce". The Futon Critic. March 19, 2020.

She is also described as B. Rosenberger Rosenberg's African American girlfriend in Charlie Kaufman's novel Antkind.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 House Party 3 Girl in Yellow & Black Dress
1995 The Crossing Guard Tanya
1999Q: The MovieMo Mo
2000Retiring TatianaCeCe
MasqueradeMonicaTV movie
2001 Kingdom Come Bernice Talbot
2004 Hair Show Angela Whittaker
2005 Fair Game Cheryl
King's Ransom Renee King
Roll Bounce Vivian
2007 Three Can Play That Game Carla
Feel the Noise Tanya
2010From Cape Town with LoveMarshaShort
Conspiracy XJustice Jackie Woods
2011She's Not Our SisterVivianTV movie
2012Gang of Roses 2: Next GenerationMadame L
Sistaah FriendSuper Shero of TruthShort
2013The Love SectionPat Darden
2014 Imperial Dreams Tanya
2015 A Deadly Adoption Officer F. MasonTV movie
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! Sergeant Roberta WarrenTV movie
The Man in 3B Det. Anderson
2017The Preacher's SonAnita Emerson
2018The Choir DirectorAnita Emerson
2020 Influence Carla Hudson

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 In Living Color -Episode: "Dirty Little Dick"
Living Single SusanEpisode: "A Kiss Before Lying"
1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper JaclynEpisode: "Clothes Make the Man"
1994-95 Martin TracyRecurring Cast: Season 3
1995 Sister, Sister TonyaRecurring Cast: Season 3
1996 The Wayans Bros. ClaireEpisode: "Hearts and Flowers"
Dangerous Minds DominiqueEpisode: "Hair Affair"
Moesha MelbaEpisode: "Women Are from Mars, Men Are from Saturn"
1997 High Incident -Episode: "Remote Control"
Malcolm & Eddie DanielleRecurring Cast: Season 1
The Parent 'Hood SheilaEpisode: "Zaria Peterson's Day Off"
1997-99 The Jamie Foxx Show CheriseRecurring Cast: Seasons 2-3
1999 The Steve Harvey Show Ava WhitleyEpisode: "Little Stevie Blunder"
The Parkers Valerie MaxwellEpisode: "And the Band Plays On"
2000 For Your Love SophiaEpisode: "The Special Delivery"
2001 Nash Bridges Regina AdamsEpisode: "Kill Joy"
NYPD Blue Mrs. ChildsEpisode: "Under Covers"
2001-06 The Bernie Mac Show Wanda McCullough Main Cast
2002 Pyramid Herself/Celebrity ContestantEpisode: "October 14 & 22, 2002"
2003 Biography HerselfEpisode: "Bernie Mac: TV's Family Man"
2007 Baisden After Dark HerselfEpisode: "Age Ain't Nothin But a Number"
2012Life AfterHerselfEpisode: "Camille Winbush"
2012-15 The First Family First Lady Katherine JohnsonMain Cast
2013Kimmie's KitchenHerselfEpisode: "Bread Pudding/Kelita Smith"
2014According to Him + HerHerselfEpisode: "Episode #1.12"
2014-18 Z Nation Lieutenant Roberta WarrenMain Cast
2015 Unsung Hollywood HerselfEpisode: "Bernie Mac"
2016Apollo Night LAHerself/Celebrity HostEpisode: "ANLA 161"
2016-19 In the Cut CherylRecurring Cast: Seasons 2-3 & 5, Guest: Season 4
2017 Hell's Kitchen HerselfEpisode: "Fusion/Confusion"
2018-19From the Mouths of BabesHerselfRecurring Guest
2020Two DegreesHerselfEpisode: "U.B.E.R."
2021 This Is Us Elizabeth DuboisEpisode: "Birth Mother"
The CouchMrs. ChildsMain Cast
LaceJudge SearsRecurring Cast
2022 From Scratch LynneMain Cast

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryRecipientOutcome
2003 NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series "The Bernie Mac Show"Nominated
2004Nominated
2005Nominated
2006 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2013"The First Family"Nominated

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References

  1. Viera, Bené (December 13, 2013). "FOUR FACTS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT KELLITA SMITH". Centric TV. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  2. "Roberta Warren (KELLITA SMITH)". SYFY. 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  3. Smith, Kellita. "Birthday Clarification". Twitter. Kellita Smith. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  4. Nathan Southern (2014). "Kellita Smith – Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  5. "Kellita Smith". TV Guide. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  6. "Today's Black Woman". Google Books. January 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  7. Berry, S. Torriano (2009). The A to Z of African American Cinema. ISBN   978-0-8108-7034-5 . Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Kellita Smith". Yahoo. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  9. "Byron Allen Syndicated Comedy 'First Family' Announces Cast". Deadline Hollywood . March 28, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  10. Kaitlin Thomas (June 19, 2014). "Syfy Zombie Drama Z Nation Casts Lost, Supernatural Alums". TV Guide . Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  11. "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! SyFy Cheese with Extra Anchovies". MikesFilmTalk. July 27, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.