Keesha Sharp
| Keesha Sharp | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Keesha Ulricka Sharp June 9, 1973 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse(s) | Brad Sharp |
| Children | 1 |
Keesha Sharp (born June 9, 1973)[1] is an American actress and director. She began her career appearing on television dramas, before her regular role as Monica Charles Brooks in the UPN/The CW comedy series, Girlfriends (2002-08), for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination.
Sharp has appeared in films include American Adobo (2002), Why Did I Get Married? (2007), and from 2010 to 2013 co-starred in the TBS sitcom, Are We There Yet?. In 2016, she played Dale Cochran, the wife of Johnnie Cochran, in the FX anthology drama series, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Later that year, Sharp began starring as Trish Murtaugh in the Fox police comedy-drama series, Lethal Weapon.
Life and career
Sharp was born in Rochester, New York. After graduating from The Boston Conservatory, Sharp set her sights on the stage.[2] She performed in the Broadway National Tour of Carousel, debuted Off-Broadway in Michael Bradford's Living in the Wind and played eight different roles in the interactive comedy Eat the Runt. Other theatre performances include Abyssinia, Aida, Thunder Knockin, Jitney, The Producers, Big Street, Suburb and Joe Turner's Come and Gone. On television, she guest starred on Welcome to New York, Third Watch, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, before moving to Los Angeles.
In 2002, Sharp was cast on the CW comedy series Girlfriends, which she played William Dent's (Reggie Hayes) girlfriend, and later wife, Monica. Her role garnered a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.[3] The series ended in 2008. From 2005 to 2006, she also had the recurring role on Everybody Hates Chris as Sheila Ridenhour. Sharp also had roles in films Malibu's Most Wanted, Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood, Never Die Alone and Why Did I Get Married?.
After Girlfriends, Sharp had guest starring roles on The Game, Cold Case, Melissa & Joey, Elementary and The Exes. From 2010 to 2012, she was regular cast member on the TBS sitcom, Are We There Yet?.[4]
In 2015, Sharp was cast as Dale Cochran, the wife of Johnnie Cochran (played by Courtney B. Vance), in the FX anthology drama series, American Crime Story.[5][6] In 2016, she was cast in a series regular role opposite Damon Wayans Sr. in the Fox series Lethal Weapon playing Trish Murtaugh (played by Darlene Love in the Lethal Weapon film series). Golden Brooks, her Girlfriends co-star originally was cast in the role, but was replaced by Sharp during filming of pilot episode.[7] Later that year, she was cast as Thurgood Marshall's wife in the biographical film Marshall starring Chadwick Boseman.[8]
Personal life
Sharp is married to actor and singer-songwriter Brad Sharp. The couple together for more than 20 years overall, have a son, named Solomon.[9]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Pootie Tang | Party Girl | |
| 2001 | American Adobo | Debbie | |
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted | Sister | |
| 2003 | Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood | Chanel | |
| 2004 | Never Die Alone | Edna | |
| 2005 | What If in This Life | Rape Victim | Short film |
| 2007 | Why Did I Get Married? | Pam | |
| 2008 | Shattered! | Angela | |
| 2014 | The 636 | Hope Rigby | Short film |
| 2014 | Half-Off | Director and writer | |
| 2015 | Christian | Robyn | Short film |
| 2016 | Born Guilty | Leslie | |
| 2016 | Frozen Peas | Daisy | |
| 2016 | You Have a Nice Flight | Kristen | |
| 2016 | Marshall | Vivien "Buster" Burey |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Welcome to New York | Lauren | Episode: "The Crier" |
| 2001 | Third Watch | Grace | Episode: "Walking Wounded" |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Charlene | Episode: "Pique" |
| 2004 | The Tracy Morgan Show | Lindy Berry | Episodes: "Church" and "Weird Science" |
| 2004 | Still Standing | Lexi | Episode: "Still Flirting" |
| 2005–2006 | Everybody Hates Chris | Sheila Ridenhour | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
| 2002–2008 | Girlfriends | Monica Charles Brooks | Series regular, 41 episodes Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2008) |
| 2009 | The Game | Movie Star | Episode: "Hill Street Blues" |
| 2010 | Cold Case | Chantel Jones | Episode: "Bombers" |
| 2010 | Detroit 1-8-7 | Keri Rader | Episode: "Royal Bubbles/Needle Drop" |
| 2010–2012 | Are We There Yet? | Gigi | Series regular, 77 episodes |
| 2013 | Melissa & Joey | Maggie | Episode: "Teach Your Children" |
| 2013 | Elementary | Mistress Felicia | Episode: "Poison Pen" |
| 2013 | Instant Mom | Lynn Lawson | Episode: "Dances with She-Wolves" |
| 2014 | Bad Teacher | Denise | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| 2014 | The Exes | Dee Dee | Episode: "Catch It 'Cause You Can" |
| 2015 | The Player | Maya | Episodes: "Downtown Odds" and "A House Is Not a Home" |
| 2016 | American Crime Story | Dale Cochran | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2016–present | Lethal Weapon | Trish Murtaugh | Series regular |
References
- ↑ "Keesha Sharp". MovieWeb. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ "Keesha Sharp". Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ↑ National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "List of NAACP Image Awards Winners" (Press Release). March 2, 2007. Retrieved on June 1, 2013.
- ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "It's Official: TBS Picks Up 90 Additional Episodes of Sitcom 'Are We There Yet?'". Deadline. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ Denise Petski. "'Code Black', 'American Crime Story' & 'You Me Her' Add To Cast - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ↑ "American Crime Story: Keesha Sharp on Key Role Johnnie Cochran's Wife Played : People.com". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Lethal Weapon' Fox Pilot: Keesha Sharp Replaces Golden Brooks In Recasting - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ↑ "Keesha Sharp to Play Chadwick Boseman's Wife in Thurgood Marshall Biopic". 17 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "14 Things to Know About Lethal Weapon Star Keesha Sharp". Retrieved 23 October 2016.