Paula Patton

Actress

Birthday December 5, 1975

Birth Sign Sagittarius

Birthplace Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Age 48 years old

Nationality United States

Height 1.71 m

#3076 Most Popular

1975

Paula Maxine Patton (born December 5, 1975) is an American actress and producer.

1991

In 1991, at age 15, Patton met recording artist Robin Thicke, who was then 14, at an under-21 hip-hop club called Balistyx (co-founded and co-hosted by David Faustino) on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, when Thicke asked her to dance.

According to Thicke, he sang Stevie Wonder's "Jungle Fever" to her as they danced.

2004

Patton provided additional vocals for Usher on his 2004 album Confessions.

She provided the female vocal counterpart on the song "Can U Handle It?"

which was co-written by Robin Thicke, whom she would later marry.

Patton has song-writing credits on multiple Robin Thicke albums under the name "Max", derived from her middle name (Maxine).

2005

Patton made her feature film debut in the 2005 comedy Hitch, and has had starring roles in the films Déjà Vu (2007), Precious (2009), Jumping the Broom (2011), Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), 2 Guns (2013), Warcraft (2016), and Sacrifice (2019)''.

Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (née Vanraden), a school teacher, and Charles Patton, a lawyer.

Her mother is of German and Dutch descent, and her father is African-American.

She graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School, and then started college at University of California, Berkeley, transferring to University of Southern California's Film School after her first year.

Shortly after completing her studies, she won a three-month assignment making documentaries for PBS.

Patton made her film debut with a small part in the 2005 romantic comedy film Hitch, alongside Will Smith.

In the same year, she followed that with a small part in the drama film London.

The couple did not begin dating until 1993 and married on June 11, 2005.

2006

In 2006, she appeared alongside OutKast members Andre Benjamin and Big Boi in the musical film Idlewild written and directed by Bryan Barber.

Patton's big break came in 2006 when she landed the pivotal female lead role of Claire Kuchever in the science fiction thriller Déjà Vu alongside Denzel Washington.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office hit, grossing over US$180 million worldwide.

She also appeared in her then-husband Robin Thicke's "Lost Without You" video in 2006.

In an interview with Hot 97 Paula revealed on Ebro in the Morning that she ghostwrote with her ex-husband Robin Thicke under the name Max Haddington.

2008

In 2008, Patton played television reporter Kate Madison in the comedy-drama Swing Vote alongside Kevin Costner and Amy Carson, the wife of Ben (Kiefer Sutherland) in the supernatural horror film Mirrors.

2009

In Lee Daniels's critically acclaimed drama film Precious (2009), she played Ms. Blu Rain, a teacher at the alternative high school in Harlem, New York, who teaches and mentors disadvantaged students, including the titular character, Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey Sidibe).

2010

She later co-starred as Queen Latifah's character's god-sister in the romantic comedy Just Wright (2010).

In late 2010, it was announced that Patton would succeed Sharon Stone as the new full time assistant district attorney on the NBC crime drama series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

When Patton was cast in the lead female role in action film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, however, her role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was reduced to one episode.

She was replaced by Melissa Sagemiller.

Patton gave birth to their son, Julian Fuego, on April 6, 2010.

2011

Mission: Impossible was released on December 16, 2011, and was a critical and commercial success, grossing almost US$700 million worldwide.

Also in 2011, Patton played the leading role in the comedy film Jumping the Broom.

2013

In 2013, Patton co-starred alongside Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in the action comedy film 2 Guns, and starred in the leading role in the romantic comedy film Baggage Claim.

The latter film received negative reviews from numerous critics.

2014

They announced their separation on February 24, 2014, after 21 years together and almost nine years of marriage.

On October 8, 2014, Patton officially filed for divorce and joint custody of their son.

2015

On February 24, 2015, it was announced that Patton was cast as lead character in the ABC crime drama pilot Runner.

It was not picked up to series.

The divorce was finalized on March 20, 2015.

2016

In 2016, Patton starred in the romantic comedy film The Perfect Match, alongside Terrence Jenkins and Cassie Ventura, appeared alongside Adam Sandler and David Spade in direct-to-Netflix comedy film The Do-Over, and starred as Garona Halforcen in the Warcraft film adaptation, released in June.

2017

In January 2017, Patton was cast in the lead role of the ABC drama series Somewhere Between, which premiered as a mid-season replacement on July 24, 2017, and was cancelled after one season.

In January 2017, a judge denied Patton's request to limit Thicke's custody after she accused him of child abuse.

2019

In 2019, she starred in the BET+ first original film, Sacrifice.