Essence Atkins
Encyclopedia
Essence Uhura Atkins is an American actress. She is best known for the roles of Dee Dee Thorne on the UPN
sitcom Half & Half
and as Yvette Henderson on the The WB sitcom Smart Guy
. She is currently starring in the TV series Are We There Yet?
as Suzanne Kingston-Persons.
, Deliver Us from Eva
, Family Matters
, Sister Sister
, and The Cosby Show
. One of her television roles was in the Saved by the Bell
spin-off
, the Saved by the Bell: The College Years
. She appeared in the pilot, but when Tiffani-Amber Thiessen
, a regular from the original, opted to return, Atkins' character was written out. She also had a main role in Smart Guy
as the older sister Tasha Yevette Henderson.she was also in a show called half and half sharing the main role.
Atkins is currently starring in the TBS sitcom series Are We There Yet?
, whom she met through the online dating service Match.com
. Her Half and Half co-star Valarie Pettiford
performed during the reception.
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
sitcom Half & Half
Half & Half
Half & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship...
and as Yvette Henderson on the The WB sitcom Smart Guy
Smart Guy
Smart Guy is an American sitcom created by Danny Kallis. The series ran on The WB for three seasons from April 2, 1997 to May 16, 1999.-Premise:The show centers on the misadventures of boy genius T.J...
. She is currently starring in the TV series Are We There Yet?
Are We There Yet? (TV series)
Are We There Yet? is an American television sitcom, which premiered on TBS on June 2, 2010. Based on the 2005 feature film of the same name, it revolves around a family adjusting to the new addition of the matriarch's new husband and trying to deal with normal family situations...
as Suzanne Kingston-Persons.
Career
She has appeared in a variety of films and television series, including How HighHow High
How High is a 2001 stoner comedy starring Method Man and Redman, written by Dustin Lee Abraham, and director Jesse Dylan's debut feature film. Entertainment Weekly rated it third in their "Best Stoner Movie" top ten list...
, Deliver Us from Eva
Deliver Us from Eva
Deliver Us from Eva is a 2003 American feature film starring LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union, revolving around LL's character Ray being paid to date a troublesome young lady named Eva . To some extent, it is a modern, urban update of William Shakespeare's play, The Taming of the Shrew...
, Family Matters
Family Matters (TV series)
Family Matters is an American sitcom about a middle-class African-American family living in Chicago, Illinois, which ran on national television for nine full seasons. The series was a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, but revolves around the Winslow family...
, Sister Sister
Sister, Sister (TV series)
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart....
, and The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
. One of her television roles was in the Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series is a retooled version of the 1988 series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was itself later folded into the history of Saved by the Bell...
spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, the Saved by the Bell: The College Years
Saved by the Bell: The College Years
Saved by the Bell: The College Years is a sequel to the Saved by the Bell series which ran from September 14, 1993 to February 8, 1994, lasting one season...
. She appeared in the pilot, but when Tiffani-Amber Thiessen
Tiffani Thiessen
Tiffani Thiessen is an American actress best known for her roles as Kelly Kapowski in Saved by the Bell and as Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills, 90210. She is also known for her role on Fastlane as Wilhelmina 'Billie' Chambers...
, a regular from the original, opted to return, Atkins' character was written out. She also had a main role in Smart Guy
Smart Guy
Smart Guy is an American sitcom created by Danny Kallis. The series ran on The WB for three seasons from April 2, 1997 to May 16, 1999.-Premise:The show centers on the misadventures of boy genius T.J...
as the older sister Tasha Yevette Henderson.she was also in a show called half and half sharing the main role.
Atkins is currently starring in the TBS sitcom series Are We There Yet?
Are We There Yet? (TV series)
Are We There Yet? is an American television sitcom, which premiered on TBS on June 2, 2010. Based on the 2005 feature film of the same name, it revolves around a family adjusting to the new addition of the matriarch's new husband and trying to deal with normal family situations...
Personal life
In September 2009, Atkins married Jaime MendezJaime Mendez
Jaime Mendez was a collegiate football free safety, who was an all-American at Kansas State University. He is the Wildcats' all-time career leader in interceptions with 15.-Early life:...
, whom she met through the online dating service Match.com
Match.com
Match.com is an online dating company which reportedly has more than 20 million members, made up of a 49/51 male/female ratio, and Web sites serving 25 countries in more than 8 different languages. Its headquarters are in Dallas, Texas and the company also has offices in West Hollywood, Tokyo, Rio,...
. Her Half and Half co-star Valarie Pettiford
Valarie Pettiford
Valarie Pettiford is an American stage and television actress, dancer, and jazz singer. She received a Tony nomination for her role in the broadway production Fosse. She is also known for her role as "Big Dee Dee" Thorne on the UPN sitcom Half & Half.-Stage:Pettiford began her career as a dancer...
performed during the reception.
Filmography
- Nikita's Blues (short film) (1999): Nikita
- Nikita Blues (2000): Nikita
- Love Song (2000): Toni
- XCU: Extreme Close UpXCU: Extreme Close Up-Cast:*Susan Egan as Karen Webber*Sarah Chalke as Jane Bennett*Jay Michael Ferguson as Dylan Dean*Reggie Lee as Nuey Phan*Danica McKellar as Sarah*Ellina McCormick as Cody Ironwood*A. J. Buckley as Terrance "T-Bone" Tucker...
(2001): Tamikah Jones - How HighHow HighHow High is a 2001 stoner comedy starring Method Man and Redman, written by Dustin Lee Abraham, and director Jesse Dylan's debut feature film. Entertainment Weekly rated it third in their "Best Stoner Movie" top ten list...
(2001): Jamie - Looking Through Lillian (2002): Andrea
- Deliver Us from EvaDeliver Us from EvaDeliver Us from Eva is a 2003 American feature film starring LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union, revolving around LL's character Ray being paid to date a troublesome young lady named Eva . To some extent, it is a modern, urban update of William Shakespeare's play, The Taming of the Shrew...
(2003): Kareenah Dandridge - Love...& Other 4 Letter Words (2007): Roxanne
- Love for SaleLove For SaleLove for Sale may refer to:* "Love for Sale" , a song by Cole Porter initially from the 1930 musical The New Yorkers* Love for Sale Love for Sale may refer to:* "Love for Sale" (song), a song by Cole Porter initially from the 1930 musical The New Yorkers* Love for Sale Love for Sale may refer to:*...
(2008): Candace - N-Secure (2009): Robin Joyner
- Dance FlickDance FlickDance Flick is a 2009 American comedy directed by Damien Dante Wayans, written by his uncles, the Wayans Brothers, and starring Damon Wayans, Jr., and Shoshana Bush. The film is a spoof of the popular dance film genre...
(2009): Charity - Preacher's KidPreacher's Kid (film)Preacher's Kid is a 2010 Christian film directed by Stan Foster, loosely based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Original songs and score are composed by recording artist and music producer Tim Miner. The film was written and directed by Stan Foster, and stars LeToya Luckett, Gregory Alan...
(2010): Peaches - Dysfunctional Friends (2011): Alice (in post production)
- The Bachelor Party (2011): Michelle (in post production)
Television Work
- The Cosby ShowThe Cosby ShowThe Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
(1986–1989): Paula - Sunday in Paris (1991): Alison Chase
- Charlie Hoover (1991): Amy
- Family Matters (1992): Becky
- Here and Now (1992): Kahlila / Khalilia
- Saved by the Bell: The College YearsSaved by the Bell: The College YearsSaved by the Bell: The College Years is a sequel to the Saved by the Bell series which ran from September 14, 1993 to February 8, 1994, lasting one season...
(1993): Danielle Marks - Under One RoofUnder One RoofUnder One Roof may refer to:In television:* Under One Roof , an American comedy series previously titled Spencer* Under One Roof , a Japanese series...
(1995): Charlotte "Charlie" Langston - The Wayans Bros (1995): Nina
- The Parent Hood (1996): Chantel
- Malibu ShoresMalibu ShoresMalibu Shores is an American primetime teen drama/soap opera that aired from March to June 1996 for ten episodes on NBC. Created by Aaron Spelling and starring Keri Russell and Tony Lucca, the program followed the exploits of Southern California teens....
(1996): Julie Tate - The John Larroquette ShowThe John Larroquette ShowThe John Larroquette Show is a situation comedy that ran on the NBC network from 1993 to 1996. The show, created by Don Reo, was a vehicle for John Larroquette following his run as Dan Fielding on Night Court. The series took place in a seedy bus terminal in St. Louis, Missouri and focused on the...
(1996): Jocelyn - Promised LandPromised landThe Promised Land is a term used to describe the land promised or given by God, according to the Hebrew Bible, to the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob. The promise is firstly made to Abraham and then renewed to his son Isaac, and to Isaac's son Jacob , Abraham's grandson...
(1998): Rachel - Smart GuySmart GuySmart Guy is an American sitcom created by Danny Kallis. The series ran on The WB for three seasons from April 2, 1997 to May 16, 1999.-Premise:The show centers on the misadventures of boy genius T.J...
(1997–1999): Tasha Yvette Henderson - MoeshaMoeshaMoesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.-Overview:The show...
(1999): Piper Davis - Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2000): Marnie
- Love, Inc (2005): Renee
- Half & HalfHalf & HalfHalf & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship...
(2002–2006): Dee Dee Thorne - Football WivesFootball WivesFootball Wives is a television pilot developed for U.S. television network ABC, which would have aired in the fall 2007 season had it been picked up for a series order...
(2007) - The ClassThe ClassThe Class was a sitcom which originally ran on CBS from September 18, 2006 to March 5, 2007. The series followed the lives of eight very different alumni of the fictional Woodman Elementary School. The show was created by David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik's production company CraneKlarik in...
(2007): Melanie Deacon - HouseHouse (TV series)House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
(2007): Captain Greta Cooper - Nite Tales: The Series (2009): Shandra
- Are We There Yet?Are We There Yet? (TV series)Are We There Yet? is an American television sitcom, which premiered on TBS on June 2, 2010. Based on the 2005 feature film of the same name, it revolves around a family adjusting to the new addition of the matriarch's new husband and trying to deal with normal family situations...
(2010–present): Suzanne Kingston-Persons - Tyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella...
(2011): Monica
Awards and nominations
- Image Awards
- 2005, Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series: Half & HalfHalf & HalfHalf & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship...
(nominated)
- 2005, Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series: Half & Half