Shari Headley (born July 15, 1964)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Lisa McDowell in the 1988 box-office hit romantic comedy film Coming to America and its sequel Coming 2 America (2021). 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 (age 60)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1984–present
Known forLisa McDowell – Coming to America
Spouse
(m. 1993; div. 1995)
Children1
Websiteshariheadley.com

On television, Headley starred as Detective 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

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Born in Queens, New York City, Headley is the youngest of four children.[2] She is of part Trinidadian descent.[3] Headley's father worked as a dental technician, and had wanted his daughter to be a doctor.[4] In college, she was a premedical student, minoring in drama and performing in school plays.[4]

In 1984, Headley's modeling career began after her sister submitted a photo of Shari to the Ford Modeling Agency, without Headley's knowledge.[5] She was a finalist in Eileen Ford's Face of the 80s campaign, and joined Ford afterwards.[5] Headley modeled for various magazines, including Glamour and Mademoiselle.[6]

Career

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Headley made her acting debut appearing in an episode of NBC sitcom The Cosby Show in 1985.[4] Headley later appeared on Miami Vice,[4] Quantum Leap,[7] and Matlock.[1] In 1988, she portrayed Lisa McDowell, an heiress to a fast food restaurant, in romantic comedy Coming to America.[8] Eddie Murphy appears as her love interest in the film.[9] Being relatively unknown at the time, the film's director John Landis stated she was chosen in the role for that reason.[10] One reviewer opined she and Murphy "shined" together,[11] though another critic found Headley's performance "bland."[12] The film was a box-office success grossing a worldwide total of $288,752,301.[13]

The following year, Headley had a starring role alongside Louis Gossett Jr. in the short-lived ABC drama series, Gideon Oliver. In the series, she played Zina, the daughter of Gossett's character.[14] Later that year, she co-starred in the Kojak television film series.[15] In 1991, Headley joined the cast of ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children playing police officer Mimi Reed.[16] At the 25th NAACP Image Awards, she received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series nomination, but lost to Victoria Rowell.[17] Headley received a second nomination the following year.[18] She was a 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.[1] In 1996, she had a supporting role in the comedy-drama film The Preacher's Wife directed by Penny Marshall.[19] In 1997, Headley landed a leading role as Juanita Barnes in the short-lived FOX drama series, 413 Hope St. alongside Richard Roundtree.[20][21] The series was cancelled after only ten episodes,[22] but Headley received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her performance.[23] Headley portrayed Barbara, a woman looking for a man, in the pilot episode of Love Boat: The Next Wave.[24] She appeared as a counselor on sitcom The Wayans Bros..[25]

In the early 2000s, Headley returned to daytime television playing the recurring roles of Felicia Boudreau on Guiding Light (2001–2002)[26] and Heather Engle in The Bold and the Beautiful (2004–2005).[1] In 2004, she played Mack Johnson's (portrayed by Steve Harvey) wife Jacqueline in the comedy film, Johnson Family Vacation.[27] In 2007, she appeared in the comedy-drama film Towelhead.[28] She also had guest starring roles on Veronica Mars, House,[1] Castle, and Switched at Birth.[29]

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.[30] She was promoted to series regular as of season four. In 2019, she had a recurring role in On Becoming a God in Central Florida. Headley reprised her role of Queen Lisa Joffer from Coming to America in the sequel Coming 2 America in 2021.[31]

Personal life

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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.[32][33] Martin and Headley have one son together.[34]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Pick-up Artist Girl Painter with Ladder
1988 Coming to America Lisa McDowell
1989 Kojak: Ariana Trish Van Hogan TV movie
1990 Kojak: None So Blind Trish Van Hogan TV movie
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 Video
2013 Act Like You Love Me Tianna
2014 The Congregation Maple
2015 Ex-Free Wendy
2018 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Mrs. Carter
2019 Three's Complicated Imani TV movie
2021 Coming 2 America Lisa McDowell

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Cosby Show Mrs. Dubois Episode: "Denise's Friend"
1986 Miami Vice Cindy Episode: "French Twist"
1988 The New Hollywood Squares Herself Episode: "Episode #3.6"
1989 Gideon Oliver Zina Oliver Main Cast
1990 Quantum Leap Violet Walters Episode: "Pool Hall Blues"
Matlock Model Carla Royce Episode: "The Cover Girl"
1991–96 All My Children Detective Mimi Reed Regular Cast
1995 New York Undercover Leanne Episode: "Brotherhood"
1996 Walker, Texas Ranger Vanessa St. John Episode: "Behind the Badge"
Cosby Victoria the Nude Model Episode: "No Nudes Is Good Nudes"
1997 Soul Train Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Mint Condition/Erykah Badu/Quad City DJ's"
1997–98 413 Hope St. Juanita Barnes Main Cast
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Barbara Episode: "Smooth Sailing"
Getting Personal Fake Robyn Episode: "Bring in 'Da Milo, Bring in 'Da Robyn"
Malcolm & Eddie Veronica Episode: "Twisted Sisters"
For Your Love Maya Episode: "The Sister Act"
1999 The Wayans Bros. Dawn Episode: "Crazy 4 U" & "Three on a Couch"
2001–02 The Guiding Light Felicia Boudreau Regular Cast
2003 Half & Half Barbara Episode: "The Big Bitter Baby Shower Episode"
2004 One on One Pamela Episode: "Sleepless in Baltimore"
2004–05 The Bold and the Beautiful Heather Engle Regular Cast
2005 All My Children Detective Mimi Reed Regular Cast
Veronica Mars Vanessa Hamilton Episode: "Lord of the Bling"
House 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"
2012 L.A. Hair Herself Episode: "First Cut Is the Deepest"
Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Tyler Blackburn/Lainie Kazan/Shari Headley"
2014 Love That Girl Maxine Episode: "Gullible Is as Gullible Does"
2014–16 The Haves and the Have Nots Jennifer Sallison Recurring Cast: Season 2-3, Main Cast: Season 4
2015 Switched at Birth Gwendolyn Berdick Recurring Cast: Season 4
2019 Star Houston Connelly Recurring Cast: Season 3
On Becoming a God in Central Florida Harmony Recurring Cast

Documentary

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Year Title
1990 Paris Is Burning

Music videos

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Year Title Artist
1985 "Half Crazy" Johnny Gill
1988 "Sarah Sarah" Jonathan Butler
1994 "Before I Let You Go" Blackstreet
1999 "Wild Wild West" Will Smith

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland & Company. p. 154. ISBN 9781476691404.
  2. ^ Haywood, Ritchette (August 22, 1988). "Shari Headley: Eddie Murphy's Movie Bride Talks About Love, Men And Money". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. pp. 36−38.
  3. ^ "Shari Headley Stars At Home And In The Community". fierceblackwoman.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Cook, Bruce (July 20, 1988). "Detour led her to film career". The Day. p. E4.
  5. ^ a b "Channel chatter". The Daily Gazette. April 21, 1991. p. 15.
  6. ^ "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. March 3, 1989 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Burlingame, Jon (March 14, 1990). "'Andre's Mother' deals with death, denial, AIDS". Spokane Chronicle. p. B3.
  8. ^ Knapp, Larry (July 7, 1988). "Eddie Murphy makes a comic detour with 'America'". The Cavalier Daily. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Coming to America". Rotten Tomatoes. June 29, 1988. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  10. ^ "Which of the characters below is played by... Eddie Murphy?". New Straits Times. November 20, 1988. p. 10.
  11. ^ Dorsey, Kristina (July 3, 1988). "Murphy drops wiseguy role in 'America' and returns to 'Saturday Night' innocence". The Day. p. C4.
  12. ^ Steelman, Ben (July 2, 1988). "Eddie Murphy's finally maturing". Star-News. p. 3D.
  13. ^ "Coming to America (1988) – Box Office Mojo". Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  14. ^ O'Connor, John J. (February 20, 1989). "'Gideon Oliver' a bit too formidable". The Free-Lance Star. p. 32.
  15. ^ "'20/20' scares up ratings". Star-News. April 10, 1991. p. 3D.
  16. ^ "AMC Actress Happy to Be a Commuter". Calhoun Times. November 6, 1991. p. 7C.
  17. ^ "The Crisis". Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  18. ^ "26th NAACP Image Award Announces Nominee". Indianapolis Recorder. January 1, 1994. p. B5.
  19. ^ Willis, John (1998). Screen World 1997. Applause Books. p. 153. ISBN 9781557833204.
  20. ^ "Wayans Takes a Detour to the Gritty Side With '413 Hope St.'". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 1997. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  21. ^ Bark, Ed (September 11, 1997). "New Fox show offers 'Hope' for future episodes". Star-News. p. 3D.
  22. ^ "Fox cancels 413 Hope Street". Baltimore Afro-American. November 1, 1997. p. A9.
  23. ^ "Image Award". IMDb. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  24. ^ "Tonight's Highlights". The Item. April 13, 1998. p. 7A.
  25. ^ "Thursday Best Bets". Lakeland Ledger. May 9, 1999. p. 35.
  26. ^ Goldstein, Toby (September 15, 2001). "Great news for Nikki fans". Times Daily. p. 4D.
  27. ^ "Johnson Family Vacation". Rotten Tomatoes. April 7, 2004. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  28. ^ "Towelhead". Rotten Tomatoes. September 8, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  29. ^ Haylock, Zoe (June 29, 2018). "The Stars of 'Coming to America': Where Are They Now?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "Shari Headley Stars at Home and in Community". Fierce for Black Women. June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  31. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (August 12, 2019). "'Coming 2 America' Sequel: Shari Headley Officially Returning".
  32. ^ "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. February 3, 1993 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. March 29, 1993 – via Google Books.
  34. ^ "Kid 'N Play rapper needs to pay for his kid". Sunday Free Lance-Star. July 31, 2001. p. D4.
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