Lela Rochon

Last updated
Lela Rochon
Lela Rochon 1998.jpg
Rochon at the New York City Essence Awards, 1998.
Born
Lela Rochon Staples

(1964-04-17) April 17, 1964 (age 59)
Torrance, California, U.S.
Education
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1982;div. 1987)​
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2

Lela Rochon Fuqua (born Lela Rochon Staples on April 17, 1964), [2] is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as Robin Stokes in the 1995 romantic drama film Waiting to Exhale . [3] Rochon also had roles in the films Harlem Nights (1989), Boomerang (1992), The Chamber (1996), Gang Related (1997), Knock Off (1998), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), and Any Given Sunday (1999).

Contents

Early life

Rochon was born in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, the daughter of Zelma, a nurse practitioner, and Samuel Staples, a business owner and graphic artist. She is a 1982 graduate of Cerritos High School in Cerritos, California. In 1986, she graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), where she earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism, with minors in sociology and theatre. [4] In 2016, Rochon returned to CSUDH as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremonies for the College of Arts and Humanities. [5]

Career

Early works

In 1984, Rochon appeared as an extra in the movie Breakin’, where she met the man who would later become her husband. From 1986 to 1988, while attending college, Rochon was one of the "Spudettes" featured in over 30 national spots for the Spuds MacKenzie Budweiser/Bud Light TV commercials. She also appeared in the 1985 made-for-television film A Bunny's Tale starring Kirstie Alley and Delta Burke, based on Gloria Steinem's experiences as a Playboy Bunny. She appeared as the love interest of Gerald Levert in the video for "My Forever Love" by Levert, [6] and in Luther Vandross' "It's Over Now" video. She also appeared in the music video for Lionel Richie's single "All Night Long (All Night)", in Al B. Sure's video for the song "Natalie", [7] and in Tupac Shakur's video "I Get Around" as one of the female dancers. She had many guest starring roles in a number of sitcoms, include The Cosby Show , Amen , 227 , The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper . Rochon made her film debut in 1985, when she starred opposite Fred Williamson in Fox Trap. In 1987, she played the role of Debby in the film The Wild Pair, starring Beau Bridges and Bubba Smith. In 1989, Rochon acted opposite Eddie Murphy in 1989's Harlem Nights , as the memorable "Sunshine" character. She again worked with Murphy in the successful 1992 romantic comedy, Boomerang . In 1995, she was regular cast member during the first season of The WB sitcom, The Wayans Bros. [8]

Breakthrough

Rochon in 2010 Antoine Fuqua Lela Rochon crop (cropped).jpg
Rochon in 2010

In 1995, Rochon landed one of the lead roles opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine in the adaptation of the Terry McMillan novel and highly successful drama film Waiting to Exhale . She played the character Robin Stokes, for which she was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. In 1996, Rochon starred opposite Timothy Hutton in the Showtime cable network film Mr. and Mrs. Loving, receiving a Cable Ace Award nomination for Best Actress. Later that year, she played the female lead in the crime thriller film The Chamber . The following year, she starred alongside Jim Belushi and Tupac Shakur in the crime thriller Gang Related . In 1998, Rochon had the leading role alongside Halle Berry and Vivica A. Fox in the romantic drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love , and well starred in Knock Off with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and The Big Hit , as love interest to Mark Wahlberg's leading character. In 1999, she appeared in Any Given Sunday directed by Oliver Stone. In 2001, Rochon made her return to television with one of leading roles alongside Bonnie Bedelia, Nancy McKeon, Tracey Needham, and Lisa Vidal in the Lifetime crime drama series, The Division . She left the series after a single season. [9]

2000s-present

In 2004, Rochon co-starred opposite Katie Holmes in the romantic comedy film First Daughter . [9] In 2009, she had cameo in crime drama Brooklyn's Finest directed by her husband, Antoine Fuqua. [9] In 2013, she played one of leading roles in Regina King's directorial debut Let The Church Say Amen, the film adaptation of ReShonda Tate Billingsley's 2005 novel for BET. [10] She later had roles in films Supremacy (2014) with Danny Glover and Derek Luke, and Reversion (2015), playing Aja Naomi King's character's mother. [11] [12] [13] In 2017, she had a recurring role in the CBS crime drama series Training Day , and in 2019 on the Oprah Winfrey Network drama David Makes Man . [14]

In 2024, Rochon was cast in the leading role in the BET+ crime family drama series, The Family Business: New Orleans as Big Shirley Duncan. [15]

Personal life

Rochon has been married twice and has two children. Her first marriage was to dancer and actor Adolfo Quiñones, better known as Shabba Doo, from 1982 until divorcing in 1987. In 1999, she married film director Antoine Fuqua. Together, they have a daughter, Asia Rochon Fuqua, [16] and a son named Brando Fuqua. [17] Rochon suffered a miscarriage in 2001. [16]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 Breakin' Extra in First Scene
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Dancer
1985 A Bunny's Tale CharlotteTV movie
1986FoxtrapLindy
Stewardess School School Instructor
1987 The Wild Pair Debby
Into the Homeland Exquisite WomanTV movie
1989 Harlem Nights Sunshine
1992 Boomerang Christie
1993 The Meteor Man Vanessa
1995 Waiting to Exhale Robin Stokes
1996 Mr. and Mrs. Loving Mildred 'Bean' JeterTV movie
The Chamber Nora Stark
1997 Gang Related Cynthia Webb
Legal DeceitSydney Banks
1998 Ruby Bridges Lucielle 'Lucy' BridgesTV movie
The Big Hit Chantel
Knock Off Karen Lee
Why Do Fools Fall in Love Emira Eagle
1999 Any Given Sunday Vanessa Struthers
The Charlotte Austin StoryCharlotte AustinTV movie
2000Labor PainsLulu Brown
2004 First Daughter Liz Pappas
2006Running Out of Time in Hollywood-
2009Balancing the BooksSharlene
Brooklyn's Finest Investigator #1
2010 Blood Done Sign My Name Roseanna Allen
2013Let the Church Say AmenLoretta JacksonTV movie
2014 Supremacy Odessa
2015 Reversion Maya

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 The Facts of Life DianaEpisode: "The Greek Connection"
The Cosby Show VeronicaEpisode: "The Shower"
What's Happening Now!! SharonaEpisode: "The Hat Comes Back"
1988 Amen Young BrideEpisode: "Wedding Bell Blues"
1990 21 Jump Street Denise PriceEpisode: "Change of Heart"
227 LeslieEpisode: "Gone Fishing"
1st & Ten Joy BrockEpisode: "Don't Powerburst My Bubble"
1991 Generations Brandy AlexanderRecurring cast: season 3
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air CindyEpisode: "Will Gets a Job"
Extralarge WendyEpisode: "Black & White"
1992 Homefront Mary LouiseEpisode: "At Your Age"
Roc CarolEpisode: "Roc Throws Joey Out"
Tales from the Crypt MercedesEpisode: "Werewolf Concerto"
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper PaulaEpisode: "On the Rebound"
1993 Out All Night VictoriaEpisode: "Mall in the Family"
The Sinbad Show DeniseEpisode: "Pilot"
1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper DeniseEpisode: "The Courtship of Mark Cooper"
1995 The Wayans Bros. LisaMain cast: season 1
1997 The Outer Limits Beth CarterEpisode: "The Awakening"
2001 The Division Inspector Angela ReidMain cast: season 1
2011 Reed Between the Lines SherriEpisode: "Let's Talk About Affairs"
2017 Training Day Mrs. CraigRecurring cast
2018 Alone Together RoseEpisode: "Dinner Party"
2019 David Makes Man AlmaRecurring cast: season 1
2021 Insecure JackieEpisode: "Pressure, Okay?!"
2022 Family Reunion Dr. TurnerEpisode: "Remember Stompin' the Yard?"
2024 The Family Business: New Orleans Big Shirley DuncanLead role, also producer

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryMovie/SerieOutcome
1996 MTV Movie Award MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance "Waiting to Exhale"Nominated
NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
1997 CableACE Award CableACE Award for Outstanding Actress in a Movie or Miniseries "Mr. and Mrs. Loving"Nominated

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References

  1. ↑ Company, Johnson Publishing (April 9, 1990). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ McCann, Bob (December 21, 2009). "Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television". McFarland – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ "Angela Bassett Reaches a Stellar Groove at Last". The Los Angeles Times. 1996-03-30. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  4. ↑ "Lela Rochon Fuqua". Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  5. ↑ "2016 Graduates Relish in the 'Words' and Draw from the 'Wisdom' Shared by Keynote Speakers During 5 Commencement Ceremonies" (Press release). California State University, Dominguez Hills. May 25, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ Levert. "My Forever Love". music video. mtv.com. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  7. ↑ Sure!, Al B. "Natalie". music video. mtv.com. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  8. ↑ Tony Scott (16 January 1995). "The Wayans Bros". Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 "Lela Rochon". Hollywood.com. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  10. ↑ Tambay A. Obenson (14 September 2012). "Steve Harris, Naturi Naughton, Lela Rochon Headline Regin - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Tambay A. Obenson (26 June 2014). "Deon Taylor's Racially-Charged Thriller 'Supremacy' Picke - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Dave McNary (26 June 2014). "Danny Glover Supremacy U.S. Distribution - Variety". Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Tambay A. Obenson (18 September 2015). "EXCLUSIVE Trailer & Poster: Aja Naomi King Headlines Sci- - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  14. ↑ Petski, Denise (25 October 2018). "OWN's 'David Makes Man' Adds Ten To Cast" . Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  15. ↑ Petski, Denise (March 6, 2024). "Lela Rochon, Yvette Nicole Brown, Orlando Jones, Pooch Hall Among 16 Cast In Carl Weber's 'The Family Business' New Orleans-Set Spinoff".
  16. 1 2 Company, Johnson Publishing (March 17, 2003). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company – via Google Books.
  17. ↑ "LELA ROCHON AND ANTOINE FUQUA SEND SON OFF TO HOMECOMING" . Retrieved February 27, 2022.
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