Paula Jai Parker Biography

Share |

<A class="APCAnchor" HREF="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?AID=246987&PSTID=5&LTID=16&lang=1">Buy Posters at AllPosters.com </A>

More Movie Posters

Birth Date: August 19, 1969

Birth Place: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

A spirited comedic performer with a powerful and uncompromising presence on both the big and small screen, Paula Jai Parker has continually worked in Hollywood since the day she graduated college. With butter pecan brown skin and a smile that could light up any room, this stunningly beautiful multi-talented entertainer has been captivating audiences since the day she first hit the screen.

First described by New York magazine's John Leonard as “exquisite,” Parker's varied career already spans more than 20 movies and 10 television series. She has continually tested her skills in various compelling roles that would make most veteran actresses envious. Even with her impressive resume, including everything from feature films to television series, Parker has remained both humble and confident at the same time.

Parker, known as America's favorite “home girl” from the 1997 hit urban comedy “Sprung,” has since diversified her talents by starring in a host of Hollywood blockbuster films, including Joel Schumacher's action-thriller “Phone Booth” with Colin Farrell and “High Crimes” with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.

With numerous projects on the horizon, Paula Jai is quite possibly one of the hardest working women in Hollywood. Last summer she returned to the big screen in Spike Lee's critically acclaimed “She Hate Me” and just wrapped the highly anticipated film, “My Life in Idlewild,” written by Grammy Award-winners OutKast and directed by renowned video producer-turned-filmmaker Bryan Barber. “My Life in Idlewild,” a musical set during the prohibition-era in the American South, stars Big Boi as a speakeasy performer, Andre 3000 as his piano player, and Paula Jai Parker as their leading lady, Rose. The film is set to make its debut in 2005.

In addition to her work on the OutKast film, Parker is in production of the feature film version of Disney's internationally popular animated series “The Proud Family.” Paula is the voice of Trudy Proud, mother of the main character, Penny. Fellow cast members include Cedric the Entertainer, Tommy Davidson, Kyla Pratt and Soleil Moon Frye, and, as a contributing writer for the series, Paula is proving that her talent knows no limits.

Parker first proved her comedic skills as a regular on the syndicated show the “Apollo Comedy Hour” before landing a starring role on Robert Townsend's short-lived variety series “Townsend Television” (Fox, 1993). The versatile actress compellingly took on a more dramatic role in “Tang,” an installment of the 1994 HBO anthology special “Cosmic Slop,” for which she earned a CableACE Award as Best Actress in a Dramatic Special or Series.

Parker made her feature film debut as Ice Cube's girlfriend Joi in F. Gary Gray's “Friday,” followed by Rusty Cundieff's horror anthology “Tales from the Hood” in 1995 and Spike Lee's “Get on the Bus” in 1996. She moved back to television with a recurring role on The WB comedy series “The Wayans Bros.” from 1995 to 1996. Parker reunited with director Cundieff in her most celebrated role as the flamboyant gold-digger, Adina, in the movie “Sprung.” Parker's appropriately over-the-top performance makes her stand out as one of the funniest characters ever in black film. With her oddly likable and zany portrayal of the loud-mouthed and hard-edged character Adina, Parker stole almost every scene she was in with her unforgettable, and often quoted, one-liners.

She hit the big screen again with a supporting role in “Woo” (1998), giving another colorful comedic turn as the cousin of Jada Pinkett's trying title character, who pawns her off on a blind date so that she may spend time alone with her boyfriend. Parker appeared that same year in the Frankie Lymon biopic “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” and the HBO original film “Always Outnumbered.” Most recently, Parker can also be seen in “Thirty Years to Life” with Tracy Morgan and the new urban domestic comedy “My Baby's Daddy” with Eddie Griffin and Anthony Anderson.

In 1999 she took on the role of brazen private investigator Roberta Young in David E. Kelley's detective series “Snoops” (ABC, 1999-2000), a part that revisited her earlier work as super sleuth Val Brentwood on the children's series “The Weird Al Show” (CBS, 1997-98). “Snoops” had an instant audience due to the popularity of both creator David E. Kelley and her co-star Gina Gershon, and this more mainstream exposure helped her further the already prolific career of this talented actress.

After “Snoops” ended, Paula provided the voice of Trudy Proud in the Disney animated series “The Proud Family.” Parker's other television credits include playing legendary singer Billie Holiday on “Touched by an Angel” and stints on the Emmy Award-winning series “NYPD Blue” and FX Television's “The Shield.”

Paula Jai Parker's longevity and varied career choices has certainly poised her to continue to grow as an entertainer in Hollywood and has carved out a place for herself as one of today's hardest working actresses.

Paula Jai Parker Filmography

The Genius Club (2007) Tatiana

Idlewild (2006) Rose

Animal (2005) Reecy

Hustle & Flow (2005) Lexus

Love Chronicles (2005)

My Baby's Daddy (2004) Rolanda

She Hate Me (2004) Evelyn

Phone Booth (2003) Felicia

30 Years to Life (2002) Stephanie

The Breaks (2000)

Why Do Fools Fall in Love? (1998) Paula King