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 an 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 1 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. [12]

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
2021–23LaceJudge 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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reagan Gomez-Preston</span> American actress (b. 1980)

Reagan Amyre Gomez-Preston is an American television, film and voice actress. She is known for her roles as Zaria Peterson on The WB sitcom The Parent 'Hood (1995–1999) and Roberta Tubbs on the FOX animated comedy The Cleveland Show (2009–2013). Gomez-Preston also starred in the short-lived UPN sitcom Love, Inc. in the 2005–2006 season as Francine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivica A. Fox</span> American actress and producer (born 1964)

Vivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress, producer and television host. Fox began her career on Soul Train (1982–1983) and played roles on the daytime television soap operas Days of Our Lives (1988) and Generations (1989–1992). In prime time, she starred opposite Patti LaBelle in the NBC sitcom Out All Night (1992–1993). Fox's breakthrough came in 1996, with roles in two box-office hit films, Roland Emmerich's Independence Day and F. Gary Gray's Set It Off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda Sykes</span> American comedian and actress (born 1964)

Wanda Yvette Sykes is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She was first recognized for her work as a writer on The Chris Rock Show, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999. In 2004, Entertainment Weekly named Sykes as one of the 25 funniest people in America. She is also known for her recurring roles on CBS' The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006–10), and HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2001–2011). She received Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series nominations for her roles in ABC's Black-ish (2015–2022), and Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2020). She currently stars in the Netflix original series The Upshaws (2021–), the HBO Max comedy series The Other Two (2019–2023), and The Good Fight (2021).

<i>The Bernie Mac Show</i> American sitcom broadcast on Fox

The Bernie Mac Show is an American sitcom television series created by Larry Wilmore, that aired on Fox for five seasons from November 14, 2001 to April 14, 2006. The series featured Bernie Mac and his wife Wanda raising his sister's three kids: Jordan, Vanessa, and Bryana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masiela Lusha</span> American actress and author

Masiela Lusha is an Albanian-born American actress and author. She gained recognition for playing Carmen Lopez on the globally syndicated ABC sitcom George Lopez, a role that earned her two consecutive Young Artist Awards for Leading Young Actress in a Comedy or Drama. After transitioning into film, she starred in Sony Pictures’ Blood: The Last Vampire. Lusha also starred alongside David Hasselhoff and Ian Ziering in SyFy's television movie Sharknado: The 4th Awakens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Anderson</span> American actor and comedian (born 1970)

Anthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian, and television host. He is known for his leading roles in television shows such as Andre "Dre" Johnson on the comedy series Black-ish (2014–2022), Marlin Boulet on the drama series K-Ville (2007), and NYPD Detective Kevin Bernard on the NBC crime drama Law & Order. He has also had major roles in feature films such as Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Kangaroo Jack (2003), Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004), Hustle & Flow (2005), The Departed (2006), Transformers (2007), and Scream 4 (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black sitcom</span> Sitcom starring a predominant African American cast

A Black sitcom is a sitcom that principally features Black people in its cast. Prominent Black sitcoms to date typically come from the United States with African American casts, forming a branch of African American comedy. Although sitcoms with primarily Black characters have been present since the earliest days of network television, this genre rose to prominence in the 1990s, mostly then on upstart networks outside the Big Three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niecy Nash</span> American actress, comedian, and television host (born 1970)

Carol Denise Betts, known professionally as Niecy Nash, is an American actress, comedian, and television host. Her acting career began in the late 1990s, with appearances in the films Boys on the Side (1995) and Cookie's Fortune (1999). She garnered recognition for her portrayal of Deputy Raineesha Williams in the comedy series Reno 911!, along with hosting the Style Network show Clean House (2003—2010), for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award.

Camille Simoine Winbush is an American actress and singer, best known for her roles as Emma Aimes on short-lived sitcom Minor Adjustments, Vanessa "Nessa" Thomkins on The Bernie Mac Show and as Lauren Treacy on the popular teen drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Her work in television has earned her three Image Awards and a Young Artist Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Ellis (actor)</span> Welsh actor (born 1978)

Thomas John Ellis is a Welsh actor. He first became known for playing Gary Preston in the BBC One sitcom Miranda (2009–2015) before achieving wider recognition for his role as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox urban fantasy series Lucifer (2016–2021), a role he reprised in the Arrowverse franchise's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover (2019).

Jeremy Steven Suarez is an American actor, best known for his role as Jordan Thomkins on The Bernie Mac Show (2001–2006), and as the voice of Koda in Brother Bear (2003) and Brother Bear 2 (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Whitney (actress)</span> American actress (born 1998)

Ryan Whitney is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Ginger Falcone in Disney XD's Zeke and Luther, Allison in The Thundermans, Cindy Collins in Zoom and Emily Hobbs in See Dad Run.

Tyra Ferrell is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Boyz n the Hood (1991), Jungle Fever (1991), White Men Can't Jump (1992), and Poetic Justice (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamil Walker Smith</span> American actor

Jamil Walker Smith is an American actor, director, producer and writer. His best known role is as the voice of Gerald, a fourth grader and Arnold's best friend in the Nickelodeon animated TV series Hey Arnold!. He also appeared on several shows like Sister, Sister; Girlfriends; Bones; The X-Files; and The Bernie Mac Show. He is an actor by trade and writes, acts and directs his own short film projects. He played Master Sergeant Ronald Greer in both seasons of Stargate Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie McCullough</span> Fictional character

Bernie "Mac" McCullough is a fictional character loosely based on comic actor Bernie Mac from the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001 to 2006.

<i>Sharknado 2: The Second One</i> 2014 film by Anthony C. Ferrante

Sharknado 2: The Second One is a 2014 American made-for-television film and a sequel to the 2013 television film Sharknado and the second installment in the Sharknado film series. It was directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, with Ian Ziering and Tara Reid reprising their roles from the first film. The film premiered on July 30, 2014, and was the highest-premiering film on the Syfy Channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demetria McKinney</span> American actress and singer (born 1979)

Demetria Dyan McKinney is an American actress, model, and singer. From 2006 to 2012, during its original run, she starred in the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and a BET revival of the show was announced in 2020. Her other series regular roles include TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show, Bounce TV prime time soap opera Saints & Sinners and Syfy horror drama Superstition, as well as Motherland: Fort Salem on Freeform.

<i>Z Nation</i> Post-apocalyptic horror series on Syfy

Z Nation is an American horror television series that aired on Syfy, created by Karl Schaefer and Craig Engler, and was produced by The Asylum. The first season of 13 episodes premiered on September 12, 2014. Z Nation was filmed in the Spokane, Washington, area.

<i>Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!</i> 2015 film by Anthony C. Ferrante

Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! is a 2015 American made-for-television science fiction action comedy disaster film and the third installment in the Sharknado film series, following Sharknado and Sharknado 2: The Second One. The film was directed by Anthony C. Ferrante with Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo, and Mark McGrath reprising their roles from the previous installments. Also joining the cast are David Hasselhoff, Bo Derek, Ryan Newman, and Jack Griffo.

<i>Sharknado</i> (film series) American film series

Sharknado is an American six-film made-for-television science fiction action comedy horror disaster film series released by Syfy between 2013 and 2020. It has since been expanded into video games and comics, including a spin-off film, Sharknado: Heart of Sharkness, that was released in 2015. The first two films received mixed to positive reviews from critics, while the others received negative reviews.

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. Scarecrow Press. 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. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. 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.
  12. Kaufman, Charlie (2021). Antkind. New York: Ramdnom House. ISBN   978-0-399-58969-0. p. 338: I can barely picture my former African American girlfriend Kellita Smith.