Paula Jai Parker

Last updated
Paula Jai Parker
Born (1969-08-19) August 19, 1969 (age 55)
Education Howard University
OccupationActress
Years active1992present
Spouse
Forrest Martin
(m. 2004)
Children1

Paula Jai Parker (born August 19, 1969) [1] is an American actress. She is best known for her supporting roles in the films Friday (1995), Sprung (1997), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Phone Booth (2002), Hustle & Flow (2005), and Idlewild (2006). Parker is also known for her voice role as Trudy Proud in the Disney Channel animated comedy series, The Proud Family (2001–2005), which she reprised in the 2005 television film The Proud Family Movie , and its 2022 reboot, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder .

Contents

Early life

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, [1] Parker went to Shaker Heights High School but then graduated from Cleveland Heights High School due to racism in Shaker. For college she moved to Washington, D.C. to study at Howard University. [2] After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, she moved to New York City and played a number of clubs. From 1992 to 1993, she performed on the FOX comedy program The Apollo Comedy Hour , filmed live at the legendary Apollo Theater, and later was cast member on the short-lived sketch show, Townsend Television . [3]

Career

In 1995, Parker made her film debut in the F. Gary Gray urban comedy Friday . In the same year, she earned a Cable ACE Award for her role in the HBO anthology presentation, Cosmic Slop. [4] Later that year, Parker returned to television in the WB sitcom, The Wayans Bros. opposite Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in several short-lived shows, including CBS sitcom The Weird Al Show (1997), and David E. Kelley's ABC comedy-drama, Snoops (1999). [2]

During the 1990s, Parker had supporting roles in a number of films. She has appeared in the 1995 horror anthology Tales from the Hood , Spike Lee's Million Man March drama Get on the Bus (1996), the urban comedy Sprung (1997), the Jada Pinkett Smith starring romantic comedy Woo (1997), and the Frankie Lymon biography, Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998). In the early 2000s, Parker co-starred in 30 Years to Life , High Crimes , Phone Booth , and My Baby's Daddy . [2] In 2004, she played a role in the comedy-drama, She Hate Me , and appeared as Ruth Brown in biographical film Ray . Her breakthrough was in the 2005 independent drama Hustle & Flow starring Terrence Howard. She later was cast opposite Howard in musical film Idlewild (2006). [5]

From 2001 to 2005, Parker voiced the matriarch Trudy Proud in the Disney Channel animated comedy series, The Proud Family [6] and its 2005 film The Proud Family Movie . She also played the iutstanding role of Billie Holiday on the episode of Touched by an Angel in 2000, and later guest-starred on The Shield , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , My Name Is Earl , and The Mentalist . She co-starred in the 2007 thriller film Cover starring Aunjanue Ellis, and in later years worked in low-profile independent movies. [5]

From 2013 to 2014, Parker had a recurring role in the HBO series True Blood during the show's seventh and final season. In 2014, she was cast as one of five leads on the TV One reality series, Hollywood Divas . [7] In 2015, Parker was cast in the recurring roles on the Amazon drama Hand of God , as well as Freeform series, Recovery Road . [8] In August 2016, she released an extended play album entitled "Paula Jai & Friends", which featured the single "Going Down".

Personal life

Parker married Forrest Martin in 2004. The couple met on the set of Hustle & Flow, where Forrest, who had just graduated with a Master of Fine Arts, was working as an intern. [9] She almost passed on shooting the critically acclaimed movie and only took the part at the urging of her manager. [10] They have one son. [11]

Discography

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Cosmic Slop TangTV movie
1995 Friday Joi
Tales from the Hood Sissy Johnson
1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central Drunk Party Girl
Get on the Bus Jamilia
1997 Sprung Adina
1998 Always Outnumbered MelodieTV movie
Woo Claudette
Why Do Fools Fall in Love Paula King
1999 The Breaks Ann
2001 30 Years to Life Stephanie
2002 High Crimes Gracie
Phone Booth Felicia
2003 Love Chronicles Sara
2004 My Baby's Daddy Rolonda
She Hate Me Evelyn
Ray Ruth Brown
KonsequenzBabyShort
2005 Hustle & Flow Lexus
The Proud Family Movie Trudy Parker-Proud (voice)TV movie
Animal ReecyVideo
2006 Idlewild Rose
The Genius Club Tatiana
2007 Cover Monica Wilson
2010Confessions of A Lonely Wife-
2011King of the UndergroundElizabeth Gayle
2013When a Woman's Fed UpLaticious
Life of a King Gina Sanders
Pastor ShirleyPastor Shirley
20144PlayLinda
Patterns of AttractionDesiree Stewart
Act of FaithShartruce
Assistant MotivesJoyce Miller
You Me & HerKarenShort
2015The SummoningAngela
2016Last Call at Murray'sDanice
She's Got a PlanRhonda
Echo Park BluesCeCe McCoyShort
2017The White SistasJordan White
2018Taco ShopEve
Hey, Mr. Postman!Ms. Kelly
2020BlindersEvelyn
2022A Miracle Before ChristmasMartha
2023Kings of L.A.Mason
Sasha LanesAshanti
The Furry FortuneJune
2025Soul of a SisterHead Therapist
Don't Hang UpElizabeth HolidayShort

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992-93The Apollo Comedy HourHerselfMain cast
1993 Townsend Television HerselfMain cast
1994 Soul Train Herself/Guest HostEpisode: "CeCe Peniston/Outkast/Tashan"
Roc JillEpisode: "No Place Like Home"
1995 Pointman UdiaEpisode: "Silent Auction"
1995-96 The Wayans Bros. MiaGuest: Season 1, Recurring cast: Season 2
1997 Riot LisaEpisode: "Homecoming Day"
The Parent 'Hood SabrinaEpisode: "Wendell and I Spy"
The Weird Al Show Val Brentwood-Gal SpyMain cast
Cosby TanyaEpisode: "The Two Hilton Lucases"
1998 NYPD Blue Cara WilsonEpisode: "Speak for Yourself, Bruce Clayton"
1999 Snoops Roberta YoungMain cast
2000 Touched by an Angel Billie Holiday Episode: "God Bless the Child"
2001-05 The Proud Family Trudy Parker-Proud (voice)Main cast
2003 Gadget & the Gadgetinis Jeanette Sir (voice)Episode: "The General's Daughter"
2004 The Shield DesiraeEpisode: "Cracking Ice"
2005 Lilo & Stitch: The Series Trudy Parker-Proud (voice)Episode: "Spats: Experiment #397"
CSI: Miami Deana Walters/D-NastyEpisode: "Shattered"
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Julia BeltranEpisode: "Toe Tags"
2007 Side Order of Life Stargell GrantRecurring cast
2008 My Name Is Earl SylviaEpisode: "Orphan Earl"
2009 Fear Itself Patty OrwellEpisode: "Something with Bite"
2010 The Mentalist AstridEpisode: "Red Sky at Night"
Fish Hooks Yolanda (voice)Episode: "Hooray for Hamsterwood"
2011 Funny or Die Presents PaulaEpisode: "Episode #2.6"
2012 Let's Stay Together Sherry SteeleEpisode: "Inspect Me, Inspect Me Not"
The Exes AmeliaEpisode: "How Holly Got Her Groove Back"
2012-19 Family Time LoriGuest: Season 1, Recurring cast: Season 2-7
2013 The Soul Man DrewEpisode: "Bride and Prejudice"
2013-14 True Blood KarenGuest: Season 6, Recurring cast: Season 7
2014Front Seat ChroniclesRachelEpisode: "See You in Court"
2014-16 Hollywood Divas HerselfMain cast
2015 Hand of God Ida CongdonRecurring cast: Season 1
2016 Recovery Road Margarita Jean-BaptisteRecurring cast
Ray Donovan Sylvie StarrRecurring cast: Season 4
How To Get Away with Murder YvonneEpisode: "It's About Frank"
2017 NCIS: Los Angeles EllieEpisode: "Forasteira"
2019 9-1-1 Judith SpiveyEpisode: "Triggers"
Black Jesus TeresaRecurring cast: Season 3
2019-22 Crown Lake Headmistress Catherine MerriweatherRecurring cast: Season 1-2, Main Cast: Season 3
2019-23 A House Divided Stephanie SandersMain cast
2020 Criminal Minds Captain Vivian PaigeEpisode: "Under the Skin"
Insecure SherylEpisode: "Lowkey Feelin' Myself"
EtheriaKarenEpisode: "You Me & Her"
2021 Them Hazel EmoryRecurring cast: Season 1
Queen Sugar CelineRecurring cast: Season 6
Colin in Black & White Aunt ZoraEpisode: "Crystal"
2022 Celebrity Family Feud Herself/ContestantEpisode: "Episode #9.2"
All Rise Charlene AddisonEpisode: "It Ain't Over Till It's Over"
American Gigolo DiamondEpisode: "The Escape Wheel"
2022-present The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Trudy Parker-Proud (voice)Main cast
2024The Block TrilogiesThe HostRecurring cast

Music video

YearSongArtist
2001"Girls, Girls, Girls" Jay-Z

Documentary

YearTitle
2007Angels Can't Help But Laugh
2008So You Want Michael Madsen?
2011Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie
Mama & Me

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryRecipientOutcome
1995 CableACE Award CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Drama "Cosmic Slop"Won
2006 Women Film Critics Circle Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Comedic Performance "Hustle & Flow"Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2020 Indie Series Awards Indie Series Award for Best Lead Actress — Drama "A House Divided"Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Williams, Kam (August 6, 2005). "Exchanging pleasantries with Paula Jai Parker: The Hustle & Flow Interview with Kam Williams". The Baltimore Afro-American. p. B2. ProQuest   2669754977. Paula Jai Parker was born in Cleveland on Aug. 19, 1969. The pretty, butter-pecan performer has been working in Hollywood practically since the day she graduated from Howard University, embarking on a career that has already spanned more than 20 films and 10 TV series. See also:
  2. 1 2 3 Paula Jai Parker Biography. AllMovie. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  3. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present . Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1223. ISBN   0-345-45542-8.
  4. Moon, Spencer. Reel Black talk: a sourcebook of 50 American filmmakers, p. 169 (1997)
  5. 1 2 "Paula Jai Parker Homeless, 'Blackballed' By Hollywood - Essence.com". Essence.com. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  6. Everything the Hottest Cartoon Voices Can't Live Without, VIBE (August 2003)
  7. Tambay A. Obenson (16 May 2014). "TV One Expands 'Diva' Franchise w/ Launch of 'Hollywood D - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  8. [iaemagazine.com/featured/paula-jai-parker-stars-in-tvone-film-the-summoning/ Award-winning Actress, Paula Jai Parker, Discusses Her Lead In The New TV One Film – The Summoning]
  9. (8 August 2005). Happy & In Love, Jet
  10. "Paula Jai Parker Bio, Age, Net Worth, Career, Personal Life Facts". TheCelebritysBio. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  11. "PAULA JAI PARKER'S ONEDERFUL SON". Black Celeb Kids. October 2, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.