Paula Jai Parker

Actress

Birthday August 19, 1969

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

Age 54 years old

Nationality United States

Height 158 cm

#25064 Most Popular

1969

Paula Jai Parker (born August 19, 1969) is an American actress.

1990

Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in several short-lived shows, including CBS sitcom The Weird Al Show (1997), and David E. Kelley's ABC comedy-drama, Snoops (1999).

During the 1990s, Parker had supporting roles in a number of films.

1992

From 1992 to 1993, she performed on the FOX comedy program The Apollo Comedy Hour, filmed live at the legendary Apollo Theater, and later was cast member on the short-lived sketch show, Townsend Television.

1995

She is best known for her supporting roles in the films Friday (1995), Sprung (1997), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Phone Booth (2002), Hustle & Flow (2005), and Idlewild (2006), and for her roles on television sitcoms The Wayans Bros. (1995-1996), Family Time (2012-2019), Hollywood Divas (2014-2016), Ray Donovan (2016), Black Jesus (2019), A House Divided (2019-2022), and Queen Sugar (2021).

In 1995, Parker made her film debut in the F. Gary Gray urban comedy Friday.

In the same year, she earned a Cable ACE Award for her role in the HBO anthology presentation, Cosmic Slop.

Later that year, Parker returned to television in the WB sitcom, The Wayans Bros. opposite Shawn and Marlon Wayans.

She has appeared in the 1995 horror anthology Tales from the Hood, Spike Lee's Million Man March drama Get on the Bus (1996), the urban comedy Sprung (1997), the Jada Pinkett Smith starring romantic comedy Woo (1997), and the Frankie Lymon biography, Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998).

2000

In the early 2000s, Parker co-starred in 30 Years to Life, High Crimes, Phone Booth, and My Baby's Daddy.

She also played the iutstanding role of Billie Holiday on the episode of Touched by an Angel in 2000, and later guest-starred on The Shield, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, My Name Is Earl, and The Mentalist.

2001

Parker is also known for her voice of Trudy Proud in the Disney Channel animated comedy series, The Proud Family (2001-2005), and also in the 2005 TV Movie The Proud Family Movie, and its 2022 reboot, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Parker went to Shaker Heights High School but then graduated from Cleveland Heights High School due to racism in Shaker.

For college she moved to Washington, D.C. to study at Howard University.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, she moved to New York City and played a number of clubs.

From 2001 to 2005, Parker voiced the matriarch Trudy Proud in the Disney Channel animated comedy series, The Proud Family and its 2005 film The Proud Family Movie.

2004

In 2004, she played a lesbian in the LGBT comedy-drama, She Hate Me, and appeared as Ruth Brown in biographical film Ray.

Parker married Forrest Martin in 2004.

The couple met on the set of Hustle & Flow, where Forrest, who had just graduated with a Master of Fine Arts, was working as an intern.

She almost passed on shooting the critically acclaimed movie and only took the part at the urging of her manager.

They have one son.

2005

Her breakthrough was in the 2005 independent drama Hustle & Flow starring Terrence Howard.

2006

She later was cast opposite Howard in musical film Idlewild (2006).

2007

She co-starred in the 2007 thriller film Cover starring Aunjanue Ellis, and in later years worked in low-profile independent movies.

2013

From 2013 to 2014, Parker had a recurring role in the HBO series True Blood during the show's seventh and final season.

2014

In 2014, she was cast as one of five leads on the TV One reality series, Hollywood Divas.

2015

In 2015, Parker was cast in the recurring roles on the Amazon drama Hand of God, as well as Freeform series, Recovery Road.

2016

In August 2016, she released an extended play album entitled "Paula Jai & Friends", which featured the single "Going Down".