Shari Headley

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

Shari Headley
Born (1964-07-15) July 15, 1964
Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1977–present
Known forLisa McDowell – Coming to America
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1993; div. 1995)​
Children1
Websiteshariheadley.com

On television, Headley starred as Det. 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

Born in Queens, New York, Headley is the youngest of four children. She is of part-Afro-Trinidadian descent.[1] Headley began her career as a model, appearing in magazines such as Glamour and Mademoiselle.[2]

Career

Headley made her acting debut appearing in an episode of NBC sitcom The Cosby Show in 1985. Headley later appeared on Miami Vice, Quantum Leap, and Matlock. In 1988, she was cast in a leading role opposite Eddie Murphy in the romantic comedy film, Coming to America.[3] The film was a box-office success grossing a worldwide total of $288,752,301.[4] The following year, Headley had starring role alongside Louis Gossett, Jr. in the short-lived ABC drama series, Gideon Oliver. Later that year, she co-starred in the Kojak television film series. In 1991, Headley joined the cast of ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children playing police officer Mimi Reed. At the 25th NAACP Image Awards, she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series nomination, but lost to Victoria Rowell.[5] She was 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. In 1996, she had supporting role in the comedy-drama film The Preacher's Wife directed by Penny Marshall. In 1997, Headley has landed a leading role in the short-lived FOX drama series, 413 Hope St. alongside Richard Roundtree.[6] The series was cancelled after only ten episodes, but Headley received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her performance.[7]

In early 2000s, Headley returned to daytime television playing the recurring roles on Guiding Light (2001-2002) and The Bold and the Beautiful (2004-2005). In 2004, she played Mack Johnson's (portrayed by Steve Harvey) wife Jacqueline in the comedy film, Johnson Family Vacation.[8] In 2007, she appeared in the comedy-drama film Towelhead.[9] She also had guest starring roles on Veronica Mars, House, Castle, and Switched at Birth. 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.[10] She was promoted to series regular as of season four. In 2019, she had a recurring role in the On Becoming a God in Central Florida. Headley set to appear in the Coming 2 America in 2021.[11]

Personal life

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.[12][13] In April 1994, Headley gave birth to their son, Skyler Martin.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Coming to America Lisa McDowell
1989 Kojak: Ariana Trish Van Hogan Television film
1990 Kojak: None So Blind Trish Van Hogan Television film
1991 Paris Is Burning Herself Uncredited
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 Direct-to-video
2013 Act Like You Love Me Tianna
2014 The Congregation Maple
2015 I Really Hate My Ex Wendy
2018 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Mrs. Carter
2021 Coming 2 America Lisa McDowell Post-production

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Cosby Show Expectant Mother Two episodes
1986 Miami Vice Cindy Episode: "French Twist"
1989 Gideon Oliver Zina Oliver Three episodes
1990 Quantum Leap Violet Walters Episode: "Pool Hall Blues"
1990 Matlock Carla Royce Episode: "The Cover Girl"
1991–1994; 1995; 2005 All My Children Det. Mimi Reed Main Role
1995 New York Undercover Leanne Episode: "Brotherhood"
1996 Walker, Texas Ranger Vanessa St. John Episode: "Behind the Badge"
1996 Cosby Victoria the Nude Model Episode: "No Nudes Is Good Nudes"
1997–1998 413 Hope St. Juanita Barnes Ten episodes
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Barbara Episode: "Smooth Sailing"
1998 Getting Personal Fake Robyn Episode: "Bring in 'Da Milo, Bring in 'Da Robyn"
1998 Malcolm & Eddie Veronica Episode: "Twisted Sisters"
1998 For Your Love Maya Episode: "The Sister Act"
1999 The Wayans Bros. Dawn Two episodes
2001–2002 The Guiding Light Felicia Boudreau Recurring Role
2003 Half & Half Barbara Episode: "The Big Bitter Baby Shower Episode"
2004 One on One Pamela Episode: "Sleepless in Baltimore"
2004–2005 The Bold and the Beautiful Heather Engle Seven episodes
2005 Veronica Mars Vanessa Hamilton Episode: "Lord of the Bling"
2005 House M.D. 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"
2014 Love That Girl Maxine Episode: "Gullible Is as Gullible Does"
2014–2016 The Haves and the Have Nots Jennifer Sallison Series regular
2019 Star Houston Connelly 2 episodes
2019 On Becoming a God in Central Florida Harmony 4 episodes

Music videos

References
  1. "Shari Headley Stars At Home And In The Community". fierceblackwoman.com. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  2. "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. March 3, 1989 – via Google Books.
  3. "Coming to America". 29 June 1988. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. "Coming to America (1988) - Box Office Mojo". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  5. "The Crisis". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  6. "Wayans Takes a Detour to the Gritty Side With '413 Hope St.'". latimes. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  7. "Image Award". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  8. "Johnson Family Vacation". 7 April 2004. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  9. "Towelhead". 8 September 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. "Shari Headley Stars at Home and in Community". Fierce for Black Women. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  11. N'Duka, Amanda (August 12, 2019). "'Coming 2 America' Sequel: Shari Headley Officially Returning".
  12. "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. February 3, 1993 – via Google Books.
  13. "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. March 29, 1993 – via Google Books.
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