Brenda Sykes (born June 25, 1949) is a former American actress who made a number of films and appeared in television series in the 1970s. She was discovered on The Dating Game."Cocoa Lounge Legends #001: Brenda Sykes", The Cocoa Lounge (January 18, 2007). Retrieved May 28, 2011.
Life and career Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised in Los Angeles, Sykes is the daughter of a postal worker. She attended Susan Miller Dorsey High School, graduating in 1967, following which she spent two years at UCLA, with a major in political science and minor in French. On the recommendation of producer Aaron Spelling, she attended the Professional Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles for six months. Aaron Spelling, the producer, told me to go to the workshop. I auditioned for a part and he said I wasn't ready for it. So I went and was taught how to kiss, take punches, and burst into tears at a moment's notice.Brachman, James (May 5, 1974). "Television – "Brenda as Coed: Disney and Drama Together". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 23. "She was graduated from high school in 1967 [...] In between all this she managed to squeeze two years at U.C.L.A., where she majored in political science and minored in French, and six months at the Professional Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles." Retrieved January 28, 2024.
Sykes later continued her studies with actor Jeff Corey.
Sykes played Jim Brown's love interest in Black Gunn. According to Brown, he was responsible for her being cast in the role, an effort he made because he was attracted to her in real life. From 1973 to 1974, she co-starred on Ozzie's Girls as a college student boarding with Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.
She played the character Mandy, one of Jimmie Walker's girlfriends on the 1970s sitcom Good Times, made a starring role appearance on the first season of The Streets of San Francisco, and as Summer Johnson on the CBS series Executive Suite.
Personal life Sykes was married to musician Gil Scott-Heron"Secret Opened for Xmas: Sykes, Scott-Heron Married" Jet (December 28, 1978). Retrieved May 28, 2011. from 1978 to 1987 and is the mother of poet Gia Scott-Heron. "She was exquisitely beautiful, soft and refined. He was so full of fire, and she was the opposite. She was the water in his life," said the filmmaker Esther Anderson.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1970 The Liberation of L.B. Jones Jelly 1970 Getting Straight Luan 1970 The Baby Maker Francis Uncredited1971 Pretty Maids All in a Row Pamela 1971 The Sheriff Janet Wilder ABC Movie of the Week1971 Skin Game Naomi 1971 Honky Sheila Smith 1972 Black Gunn Judith 1973 Cleopatra Jones Tiffany 1975 Mandingo Ellen 1976 Drum Calinda
Television Year Title Role Notes1968 One Life to Live Judy Tate 1969 Mayberry R.F.D. Dorothy June episode "Driver Education"1969 The New People Barbara episode #1.01969 Room 222 Elaine Harris episode "Triple Date"1969 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Janet episode "Crisis" (uncredited)1971 The Doris Day Show Dulcie episode "Young Love" (unsold TV pilot)1972 Love, American Style Sally Wilson episode "Love and the Perfect Wedding"1973 The Streets of San Francisco Jenaea Dancy episode "A Trout in the Milk"1973 Ozzie's Girls Brenda MacKenzie 24 episodes1974 Police Woman Linda Daniels episode "Smack"1975 Harry O Ruthie Daniels episode "Sound of Trumpets"1975 Mobile One Wilma episode "Roadblock"1976–1977 Executive Suite Summer Johnson 18 episodes1977 The Love Boat Ginny O'Brien episode "Captain & the Lady"1978 Good Times Mandy episode "Where There's Smoke"
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