Terri Juanita Vaughn (born October 16, 1969) is an American actress, director and producer. She is best known for her role as high school secretary Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson in The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show (1997–2002), for which she received three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She later co-starred in the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us (2003–2005), and TBS sitcom Meet the Browns (2009–2011).

Terri J. Vaughn
Vaughn in 2019
Born
Terri Juanita Vaughn[1]

(1969-10-16) October 16, 1969 (age 55)
OccupationActress
Years active1993–present
Spouses
Derrick Carolina
(m. 1999; div. 2005)
(m. 2008)
Children3
Websiteterrijvaughn.com

Career

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In her early career, Vaughn appeared in the films Friday and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. She co-starred opposite Joan Severance in the comedy-action film Black Scorpion (1995) and its sequel, Black Scorpion II: Aftershock (1997). Later in 1997, Vaughn was cast as high school secretary Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson for the second season of The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show. She received three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on show. The series ended in 2002, and Vaughn later that year joined the cast of Showtime drama series Soul Food as Eva Holly. She received another NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination.[citation needed]

From 2003 to 2005, Vaughn was regular cast member on the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us. In 2007, she had supporting role in the Tyler Perry's comedy-drama film Daddy's Little Girls opposite Gabrielle Union, and later had a regular role on another of Perry's productions, Meet the Browns (2009-2011). She owns a production company alongside her business partner, Cas Sigers, called Nina Holiday Entertainment, that produced films such as Sugar Mommas, A Cross to Bear and Girlfriends' Getaway. In 2016, Vaughn made her directing debut with the comedy film #DigitalLivesMatter.[2]

In 2016, Vaughn was cast in the recurring role as housekeeper in Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf opposite Keith David and Lynn Whitfield.[3] In 2020 Vaughn had a recurring role as Robin in Shona Ferguson's South African TV series, Kings Of Jo'Burg shown on Netflix.

Personal life

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Vaughn grew up in San Francisco, California. She was married to Derrick Carolina and had a son, Daylen Ali (2001). She is currently married to former football player Karon Riley, and the couple have both a son and a daughter.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Student
1995 Friday China
Black Scorpion Tender Lovin'
Excessive Force II: Force on Force Grace
1996 Don't Be a Menace Keisha
Carnosaur 3: Primal Species B.T. Coolidge
1997 Black Scorpion II: Aftershock Tender Lovin'
8 Heads in a Duffel Bag Flight Attendant
2000 The Smoker - Short
2003 Detonator Sharona Brown
2005 Fair Game Wanda
Exposure Woman #1 Short
2006 Stick It Susie Mack
2007 Dirty Laundry Jackie
Daddy's Little Girls Brenda
Redrum Amber
Angels Can't Help But Laugh Herself
Three Can Play That Game Linda
2010 Baby Mama's Club Mrs. Lagos
Love Me or Leave Me Sheila Edwards TV movie
This Time Janet Short
2012 Sugar Mommas Sheila TV movie
The Marriage Chronicles Kamel Jackson
Probable Cause Tamika
Life, Love, Soul Tiffany
2013 Who Did I Marry? Jennifer
Between Sisters Benita TV movie
In the Meantime Nina TV movie
Not 4 Sale Juanita Poitier Short
2014 Where's the Love? Kai TV movie
Hamlet & Hutch Kendall Video
Girlfriends' Getaway Sophie TV movie
Breeze Brenda
2015 72 Hours Kia
Touched Laura
Girlfriends' Getaway 2 Sophie TV movie
Soul Ties Ruth
2016 Beat Street Mayor Cummings Video
2017 Love by Chance Herself
2018 Melinda Stacia LeBeau
One Crazy Christmas Felecia
2019 Cultural Clash Mrs. Jefferson
His, Hers & the Truth Craigs Mom
2020 Heaven On Seven Sister Lisa
The Millennial Mrs. Sterling
A Christmas Surprise Aisha TV movie
2022 The Millennial Mrs. Sterling
2023 Here Comes the Sun Ruth

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Living Single Woman #1 Episode: "Great Expectations"
The Sinbad Show Woman #1 Episode: "Strictly Business"
1994 Married... with Children Connie Episode: "Business Sucks: Part 1"
Family Matters Girl #1 at Party Episode: "Beta Chi Guy"
1995 Sherman Oaks Denise Cook Episode: "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"
Family Matters Eddie's Date Episode: "They Shoot Urkels, Don't They?"
1997–2002 The Steve Harvey Show Lovita Alizay Jenkins Robinson Main Cast: Seasons 2–6
1999 ER Mrs. Gleason Episode: "Point of Origin"
2001 The Test Herself/Panelist Episode: "The PDA Test" & "The Optimist Test"
2002–03 Soul Food Eva Holly Guest: Season 3, Recurring Cast: Season 4
2003 Girlfriends Tasha Episode: "Single Mama, Drama"
2003-05 All of Us Jonelle Abrahams Main Cast: Seasons 1–2, Guest: Season 3
2004 The Drop Herself Episode: "Episode #1.35"
2008 Baisden After Dark Herself Episode: "Are Women Too Picky?"
2009–11 Meet the Browns Renee Recurring Cast: Season 3, Main Cast: Seasons 4–5
2011 The Real Housewives of Atlanta Herself Episode: "The Bride and the Doom"
2013 JD Lawrence's Community Service Lydia Main Cast
2016 Being Herself Episode: "Terri J. Vaughn"
Unsung Hollywood Herself Episode: "Jasmine Guy"
Greenleaf Melisse Recurring Cast: Season 1
2017 Mann & Wife Lieutenant Tate Recurring Cast: Season 3
2018 Rel Tia Episode: "Windy City Politics"
2020 Insecure Rose Cranberry Recurring Cast: Season 4
Terror Lake Drive Dr. Chisholm Episode: "Something About AJ"
Kings of Jo'burg Robin Recurring Cast
2020–21 We Stay Looking Rose Cranberry Main Cast
2021–22 First Wives Club Cousin Pam Guest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3
2022 The Neighborhood Claire Episode: "Welcome to the Man Code"
Johnson Wanda Brooks Recurring Cast: Season 2
Cherish the Day Anastasia Main Cast: Season 2

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Work Result
2000 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The Steve Harvey Show Nominated
2001 Won
2002 Won
2003 Won
2004 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Soul Food Nominated
2004 BET Awards BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series All of Us Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Terri J. Vaughn - TVSA". Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Terri J. Vaughn busts down doors for Black actors, directs new comedy - Rolling Out". 5 May 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  3. ^ Denise Petski (24 November 2015). "Terri J. Vaughn Joins 'Greenleaf'; Ellia English In 'Code Black' - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Terri J. Vaughn welcomes second son, Kal'El Joseph". People. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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  NODES
Association 1
COMMUNITY 1
Note 3