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Shari Headley

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Shari Headley
Born (1964-07-15) July 15, 1964 (age 60)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1984–present
Known forLisa McDowell – Coming to America
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1993; div. 1995)​
Children1
Websiteshariheadley.com

Shari Headley (born July 15, 1964)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Lisa McDowell in the 1988 box-office hit romantic comedy film Coming to America and its sequel Coming 2 America (2021). Headley also has appeared in films The Preacher's Wife (1996) and Johnson Family Vacation (2004).

On television, Headley starred as Detective Mimi Reed in the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children on a regular basis from 1991 to 1994. As lead actress, she starred in the Fox short-lived drama series 413 Hope St. (1997–1998), for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nomination. From 2014 to 2016, Headley starred as villainous Jennifer Sallison in the Oprah Winfrey Network primetime soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots.

Early life

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Born in Queens, New York City, Headley is the youngest of four children.[2] She is of part Trinidadian descent.[3] Headley's father worked as a dental technician, and had wanted his daughter to be a doctor.[4] In college, she was a premedical student, minoring in drama and performing in school plays.[4]

In 1984, Headley's modeling career began after her sister submitted a photo of Shari to the Ford Modeling Agency, without Headley's knowledge.[5] She was a finalist in Eileen Ford's Face of the 80s campaign, and joined Ford afterwards.[5] Headley modeled for various magazines, including Glamour and Mademoiselle.[6]

Career

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Headley made her acting debut appearing in an episode of NBC sitcom The Cosby Show in 1985.[4] Headley later appeared on Miami Vice,[4] Quantum Leap,[7] and Matlock.[1] In 1988, she portrayed Lisa McDowell, an heiress to a fast food restaurant, in romantic comedy Coming to America.[8] Eddie Murphy appears as her love interest in the film.[9] Being relatively unknown at the time, the film's director John Landis stated she was chosen in the role for that reason.[10] One reviewer opined she and Murphy "shined" together,[11] though another critic found Headley's performance "bland."[12] The film was a box-office success grossing a worldwide total of $288,752,301.[13]

The following year, Headley had a starring role alongside Louis Gossett Jr. in the short-lived ABC drama series, Gideon Oliver. In the series, she played Zina, the daughter of Gossett's character.[14] Later that year, she co-starred in the Kojak television film series.[15] In 1991, Headley joined the cast of ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children playing police officer Mimi Reed.[16] At the 25th NAACP Image Awards, she received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series nomination, but lost to Victoria Rowell.[17] Headley received a second nomination the following year.[18] She was a regular on All My Children from 1991 to 1994, and returned to the series in 1995 and 2005.

After leaving the soap, she guest-starred on New York Undercover, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Cosby.[1] In 1996, she had a supporting role in the comedy-drama film The Preacher's Wife directed by Penny Marshall.[19] In 1997, Headley landed a leading role as Juanita Barnes in the short-lived FOX drama series, 413 Hope St. alongside Richard Roundtree.[20][21] The series was cancelled after only ten episodes,[22] but Headley received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her performance.[23] Headley portrayed Barbara, a woman looking for a man, in the pilot episode of Love Boat: The Next Wave.[24] She appeared as a counselor on sitcom The Wayans Bros..[25]

In the early 2000s, Headley returned to daytime television playing the recurring roles of Felicia Boudreau on Guiding Light (2001–2002)[26] and Heather Engle in The Bold and the Beautiful (2004–2005).[1] In 2004, she played Mack Johnson's (portrayed by Steve Harvey) wife Jacqueline in the comedy film, Johnson Family Vacation.[27] In 2007, she appeared in the comedy-drama film Towelhead.[28] She also had guest starring roles on Veronica Mars, House,[1] Castle, and Switched at Birth.[29]

In 2014, she joined the cast of Oprah Winfrey Network primetime soap opera, The Haves and the Have Nots created by Tyler Perry, playing District Attorney Jennifer Sallison.[30] She was promoted to series regular as of season four. In 2019, she had a recurring role in On Becoming a God in Central Florida. Headley reprised her role of Queen Lisa Joffer from Coming to America in the sequel Coming 2 America in 2021.[31]

Personal life

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Headley was married to actor/entertainer Christopher Martin, better known as "Play" from the hip-hop duo Kid N' Play, from May 1993 until they divorced in June 1995.[32][33] Martin and Headley have one son together.[34]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Pick-up Artist Girl Painter with Ladder
1988 Coming to America Lisa McDowell
1989 Kojak: Ariana Trish Van Hogan TV movie
1990 Kojak: None So Blind Trish Van Hogan TV movie
1996 The Preacher's Wife Arlene Chattan
1997 A Woman Like That Herself
2004 Johnson Family Vacation Jacqueline Johnson
2007 Towelhead Mrs. Bradley
2008 Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club Alexis Video
2013 Act Like You Love Me Tianna
2014 The Congregation Maple
2015 Ex-Free Wendy
2018 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Mrs. Carter
2019 Three's Complicated Imani TV movie
2021 Coming 2 America Lisa McDowell

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Cosby Show Mrs. Dubois Episode: "Denise's Friend"
1986 Miami Vice Cindy Episode: "French Twist"
1988 The New Hollywood Squares Herself Episode: "Episode #3.6"
1989 Gideon Oliver Zina Oliver Main Cast
1990 Quantum Leap Violet Walters Episode: "Pool Hall Blues"
Matlock Model Carla Royce Episode: "The Cover Girl"
1991–96 All My Children Detective Mimi Reed Regular Cast
1995 New York Undercover Leanne Episode: "Brotherhood"
1996 Walker, Texas Ranger Vanessa St. John Episode: "Behind the Badge"
Cosby Victoria the Nude Model Episode: "No Nudes Is Good Nudes"
1997 Soul Train Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Mint Condition/Erykah Badu/Quad City DJ's"
1997–98 413 Hope St. Juanita Barnes Main Cast
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Barbara Episode: "Smooth Sailing"
Getting Personal Fake Robyn Episode: "Bring in 'Da Milo, Bring in 'Da Robyn"
Malcolm & Eddie Veronica Episode: "Twisted Sisters"
For Your Love Maya Episode: "The Sister Act"
1999 The Wayans Bros. Dawn Episode: "Crazy 4 U" & "Three on a Couch"
2001–02 The Guiding Light Felicia Boudreau Regular Cast
2003 Half & Half Barbara Episode: "The Big Bitter Baby Shower Episode"
2004 One on One Pamela Episode: "Sleepless in Baltimore"
2004–05 The Bold and the Beautiful Heather Engle Regular Cast
2005 All My Children Detective Mimi Reed Regular Cast
Veronica Mars Vanessa Hamilton Episode: "Lord of the Bling"
House Dr. Arlene Marks Episode: "Kids"
2009 Castle Nicole Cameron Episode: "Love Me Dead"
2010 10 Things I Hate About You Marcheline Episode: "The Winner Takes It All"
2012 L.A. Hair Herself Episode: "First Cut Is the Deepest"
Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Tyler Blackburn/Lainie Kazan/Shari Headley"
2014 Love That Girl Maxine Episode: "Gullible Is as Gullible Does"
2014–16 The Haves and the Have Nots Jennifer Sallison Recurring Cast: Season 2-3, Main Cast: Season 4
2015 Switched at Birth Gwendolyn Berdick Recurring Cast: Season 4
2019 Star Houston Connelly Recurring Cast: Season 3
On Becoming a God in Central Florida Harmony Recurring Cast

Documentary

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Year Title
1990 Paris Is Burning

Music videos

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Year Title Artist
1985 "Half Crazy" Johnny Gill
1988 "Sarah Sarah" Jonathan Butler
1994 "Before I Let You Go" Blackstreet
1999 "Wild Wild West" Will Smith

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland & Company. p. 154. ISBN 9781476691404.
  2. ^ Haywood, Ritchette (August 22, 1988). "Shari Headley: Eddie Murphy's Movie Bride Talks About Love, Men And Money". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. pp. 36−38.
  3. ^ "Shari Headley Stars At Home And In The Community". fierceblackwoman.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Cook, Bruce (July 20, 1988). "Detour led her to film career". The Day. p. E4.
  5. ^ a b "Channel chatter". The Daily Gazette. April 21, 1991. p. 15.
  6. ^ "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. March 3, 1989 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Burlingame, Jon (March 14, 1990). "'Andre's Mother' deals with death, denial, AIDS". Spokane Chronicle. p. B3.
  8. ^ Knapp, Larry (July 7, 1988). "Eddie Murphy makes a comic detour with 'America'". The Cavalier Daily. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Coming to America". Rotten Tomatoes. June 29, 1988. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  10. ^ "Which of the characters below is played by... Eddie Murphy?". New Straits Times. November 20, 1988. p. 10.
  11. ^ Dorsey, Kristina (July 3, 1988). "Murphy drops wiseguy role in 'America' and returns to 'Saturday Night' innocence". The Day. p. C4.
  12. ^ Steelman, Ben (July 2, 1988). "Eddie Murphy's finally maturing". Star-News. p. 3D.
  13. ^ "Coming to America (1988) – Box Office Mojo". Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  14. ^ O'Connor, John J. (February 20, 1989). "'Gideon Oliver' a bit too formidable". The Free-Lance Star. p. 32.
  15. ^ "'20/20' scares up ratings". Star-News. April 10, 1991. p. 3D.
  16. ^ "AMC Actress Happy to Be a Commuter". Calhoun Times. November 6, 1991. p. 7C.
  17. ^ "The Crisis". Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  18. ^ "26th NAACP Image Award Announces Nominee". Indianapolis Recorder. January 1, 1994. p. B5.
  19. ^ Willis, John (1998). Screen World 1997. Applause Books. p. 153. ISBN 9781557833204.
  20. ^ "Wayans Takes a Detour to the Gritty Side With '413 Hope St.'". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 1997. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  21. ^ Bark, Ed (September 11, 1997). "New Fox show offers 'Hope' for future episodes". Star-News. p. 3D.
  22. ^ "Fox cancels 413 Hope Street". Baltimore Afro-American. November 1, 1997. p. A9.
  23. ^ "Image Award". IMDb. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  24. ^ "Tonight's Highlights". The Item. April 13, 1998. p. 7A.
  25. ^ "Thursday Best Bets". Lakeland Ledger. May 9, 1999. p. 35.
  26. ^ Goldstein, Toby (September 15, 2001). "Great news for Nikki fans". Times Daily. p. 4D.
  27. ^ "Johnson Family Vacation". Rotten Tomatoes. April 7, 2004. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  28. ^ "Towelhead". Rotten Tomatoes. September 8, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  29. ^ Haylock, Zoe (June 29, 2018). "The Stars of 'Coming to America': Where Are They Now?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "Shari Headley Stars at Home and in Community". Fierce for Black Women. June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  31. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (August 12, 2019). "'Coming 2 America' Sequel: Shari Headley Officially Returning".
  32. ^ "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. February 3, 1993 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. March 29, 1993 – via Google Books.
  34. ^ "Kid 'N Play rapper needs to pay for his kid". Sunday Free Lance-Star. July 31, 2001. p. D4.
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