Paula Jai Parker (born August 19, 1969) 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.
Early life Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, See also: McCann, Bob (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 260. . See also: Krefting, Rebecca (1978). All Joking Aside: American Humor and Its Discontents. Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 319. . 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.Paula Jai Parker Biography. AllMovie. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 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.
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.Moon, Spencer. Reel Black talk: a sourcebook of 50 American filmmakers, p. 169 (1997) 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).
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. 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).
From 2001 to 2005, Parker voiced the matriarch Trudy Proud in the Disney Channel animated comedy series, The Proud FamilyEverything the Hottest Cartoon Voices Can't Live Without, VIBE (August 2003) 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.
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. In 2015, Parker was cast in the recurring roles on the Amazon drama Hand of God, as well as Freeform series, Recovery Road.[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] 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.(8 August 2005). Happy & In Love, Jet She almost passed on shooting the critically acclaimed movie and only took the part at the urging of her manager. They have one son.
Discography Paula Jai & Friends (2016)
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Cosmic Slop Tang TV 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 Melodie TV 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 Konsequenz Baby Short 2005 Hustle & Flow Lexus The Proud Family Movie Trudy Parker-Proud (voice) TV movie Animal Reecy Video 2006 Idlewild Rose The Genius Club Tatiana 2007 Cover Monica Wilson 2010 Confessions of A Lonely Wife - 2011 King of the Underground Elizabeth Gayle 2013 When a Woman's Fed Up Laticious Life of a King Gina Sanders Pastor Shirley Pastor Shirley 2014 4Play Linda Patterns of Attraction Desiree Stewart Act of Faith Shartruce Assistant Motives Joyce Miller You Me & Her Karen Short 2015 The Summoning Angela 2016 Last Call at Murray's Danice She's Got a Plan Rhonda Echo Park Blues CeCe McCoy Short 2017 The White Sistas Jordan White 2018 Taco Shop Eve Hey, Mr. Postman! Ms. Kelly 2020 Blinders Evelyn 2022 A Miracle Before Christmas Martha 2023 Kings of L.A. Mason Sasha Lanes Ashanti The Furry Fortune June 2025 Soul of a Sister Head Therapist Don't Hang Up Elizabeth Holiday Short
Television Year Title Role Notes The Apollo Comedy Hour Herself Main cast 1993 Townsend Television Herself Main cast 1994 Soul Train Herself/Guest Host Episode: "CeCe Peniston/Outkast/Tashan" Roc Jill Episode: "No Place Like Home" 1995 Pointman Udia Episode: "Silent Auction" 1995–96 The Wayans Bros. Mia Guest: Season 1, Recurring cast: Season 2 1997 Riot Lisa Episode: "Homecoming Day" The Parent 'Hood Sabrina Episode: "Wendell and I Spy" The Weird Al Show Val Brentwood-Gal Spy Main cast Cosby Tanya Episode: "The Two Hilton Lucases" 1998 NYPD Blue Cara Wilson Episode: "Speak for Yourself, Bruce Clayton" 1999 Snoops Roberta Young Main 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 Desirae Episode: "Cracking Ice" 2005 Lilo & Stitch: The Series Trudy Parker-Proud (voice) Episode: "Spats: Experiment #397" CSI: Miami Deana Walters/D-Nasty Episode: "Shattered" 2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Julia Beltran Episode: "Toe Tags" 2007 Side Order of Life Stargell Grant Recurring cast 2008 My Name Is Earl Sylvia Episode: "Orphan Earl" 2009 Fear Itself Patty Orwell Episode: "Something with Bite" 2010 The Mentalist Astrid Episode: "Red Sky at Night" Fish Hooks Yolanda (voice) Episode: "Hooray for Hamsterwood" 2011 Funny or Die Presents Paula Episode: "Episode #2.6" 2012 Let's Stay Together Sherry Steele Episode: "Inspect Me, Inspect Me Not" The Exes Amelia Episode: "How Holly Got Her Groove Back" 2012–19 Family Time Lori Guest: Season 1, Recurring cast: Season 2–7 2013 The Soul Man Drew Episode: "Bride and Prejudice" 2013–14 True Blood Karen Guest: Season 6, Recurring cast: Season 7 2014 Front Seat Chronicles Rachel Episode: "See You in Court" 2014–16 Hollywood Divas Herself Main cast 2015 Hand of God Ida Congdon Recurring cast: Season 1 2016 Recovery Road Margarita Jean-Baptiste Recurring cast Ray Donovan Sylvie Starr Recurring cast: Season 4 How to Get Away with Murder Yvonne Episode: "It's About Frank" 2017 NCIS: Los Angeles Ellie Episode: "Forasteira" 2019 9-1-1 Judith Spivey Episode: "Triggers" Black Jesus Teresa Recurring cast: Season 3 2019–22 Crown Lake Headmistress Catherine Merriweather Recurring cast: Season 1–2, Main Cast: Season 3 2019–23 A House Divided Stephanie Sanders Main cast 2020 Criminal Minds Captain Vivian Paige Episode: "Under the Skin" Insecure Sheryl Episode: "Lowkey Feelin' Myself" Etheria Karen Episode: "You Me & Her" 2021 Them Hazel Emory Recurring cast: Season 1 Queen Sugar Celine Recurring cast: Season 6 Colin in Black & White Aunt Zora Episode: "Crystal" 2022 Celebrity Family Feud Herself/Contestant Episode: "Episode #9.2" All Rise Charlene Addison Episode: "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" American Gigolo Diamond Episode: "The Escape Wheel" 2022–26 Trudy Parker-Proud (voice) Main cast 2024 The Block Trilogies The Host Recurring cast
Music video Year Song Artist 2001 "Girls, Girls, Girls" Jay-Z
Documentary Year Title 2007 Angels Can't Help But Laugh 2008 So You Want Michael Madsen? 2011 Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie Mama & Me
Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome 1995 CableACE Award CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Drama "Cosmic Slop" 2006 Women Film Critics Circle Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Comedic Performance "Hustle & Flow" Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2020 Indie Series Awards Indie Series Award for Best Lead Actress — Drama "A House Divided"
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