Karen Malina White
Karen Malina White is an American film and television actress. White is best known for her roles as Kaneesha Carter, in the 1989 drama film Lean on Me, as Charmaine Brown during the two final seasons on The Cosby Show (1990–1992) and its spin-off A Different World (1992–1993); Nicolette Vandross on Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000)[1] and the voice of Dijonay Jones on the Disney Channel animated comedy The Proud Family (2001–2005).
Karen Malina White | |
---|---|
![]() Karen Malina White in 2006 | |
Born | |
Nationality | American |
Education | Howard University |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1980–present |
Known for | Kaneesha Carter – Lean on Me Charmaine Brown – The Cosby Show, A Different World |
Partner(s) | Malcolm-Jamal Warner (2000–2007) |
Biography
White was born July 7, 1964 and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. White studied at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. After graduating high school, White continued her studies at Howard University, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.[2] During her senior year, White won the title of "Miss Howard University" and landed her first role as an actress.
In 1989, White starred in Lean on Me alongside actor Morgan Freeman. She was nominated for the 1990 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for her performance in the film. During the 1990s, White made many guest appearances in various television shows. White portrayed Charmaine Brown during Seasons 7 and 8 of The Cosby Show (1990-1992), and Season 6 of A Different World (1992-1993). White also guest starred as Jewel, Jazz's wife in two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. From 2001 to 2005, she performed the voice of Dijonay Jones on the animated Disney Channel series The Proud Family.
Personal life
White has never married and has no children. From 2000 until 2007, White dated actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Contrary to rumors, White was never married nor engaged to Warner. Warner stated in 2009, "I'm not married. People probably started saying that because we were in a relationship for seven and a half years."[3]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Lean On Me | Kaneesha Carter | |
1995 | Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored | Mary | |
Statistically Speaking | - | Short | |
2004 | Fronterz | - | |
2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Dijonay Jones | TV Movie |
2006 | The Ties That Bind | Madison | Short |
2007 | I Gotta Be Better Than Keanu | Acting Teacher | |
2011 | Aurora Borealis | Head Nurse | Short |
Kissed by the Devil | June Henderson | Short | |
Cheaper to Keep Her | Koren | Video | |
2012 | Who's Watching the Kids | Susan | |
A Bitter Pill | Nurse Kathy | Short | |
Love Overboard | Tina | Video | |
Where Do We Go from Here | Florence Theresa Ford | Short | |
2013 | Jump In: The Movie | Camryn Davis | |
2014 | Unspeakable Indiscretions | Paulette | |
Freeloader | Aretha | Short | |
2016 | Caged | Karen Stevens | Short |
Silent Cry Aloud | Dina | ||
Mule | Nurse Vasquez | Short | |
2017 | a.m. Sunday | Julia | Short |
2019 | The Crack'd Nutz Experiment | Karen | TV Movie |
2021 | Love, for Real | Marie | TV Movie |
'Tis the Season to be Merry | Sonia Hendricks | TV Movie |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | In Our Lives | Jasmine | TV Series |
1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Lisa | Episode: "The Divided Child" & "Beautiful Are the Stars" |
1990-92 | The Cosby Show | Charmaine Brown | Recurring Cast: Season 7-8 |
1992-93 | A Different World | Charmaine Brown | Guest: Season 5, Main Cast: Season 6 |
1993 | Herman's Head | Rene | Episode: "There's a Fly Girl In My Soup" |
1993-97 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Florence | Recurring Cast: Season 2 & 5, Guest: Season 4 |
1993-94 | Roc | Michelle | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
Getting By | Yolanda | Recurring Cast: Season 2 | |
1994 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Jewel Robertson | Episode: "The Ol' Ball and Chain" & "Mother's Day" |
1994-95 | My So-Called Life | Abyssinia Churchill | Episode: "Self-Esteem" & "Betrayal" |
1995 | Me and the Boys | Janet | Recurring Cast |
Chicago Hope | Jennifer Koosman | Episode: "Hello Goodbye" | |
The Parent 'Hood | Nina | Episode: "Track Dreams" | |
Too Something | - | Episode: "Meter Feeders" | |
1996 | The Home Court | Leslie | Episode: "Laborer of Love" |
Living Single | Shayla | Episode: "Woman to Woman" | |
Dave's World | Natalie | Episode: "Do You Want To Know A Secret?" | |
1996-00 | Malcolm & Eddie | Nicolette Vandross | Main Cast |
2000 | Seven Days | Tracy Donovan | Episode: "Mr Donovan's Neighborhood" |
2001 | Strong Medicine | Constance 'Connie' MacRane | Episode: "Relief" |
2001-05 | The Proud Family | Dijonay Jones (voice) | Main Cast |
2002 | Jeremiah | Rickie | Episode: "City of Roses" |
2003 | The Shield | Dez' Girlfriend | Episode: "Barnstormers" |
2004 | Boston Public | Sonia Williamson | Episode: "Chapter Seventy-Eight" |
2005 | The Bernie Mac Show | Denise | Episode: "The Big Payback" |
2007 | Random! Cartoons | Mindy 500 (voice) | Episode: "Hero Heights" |
2012 | Suits | Doris Miller | Episode: "The Choice" |
2013 | Golden Boy | Lydia Lent | Episode: "Vicious Cycle" |
Southland | Irene | Episode: "Heroes" | |
2014 | The Mentalist | Elsie Graham | Episode: "Black Helicopters" |
How to Get Away with Murder | Carla | Episode: "Let's Go Scooping" | |
2015 | I Didn't Do It | Betty LeBow | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
2016 | Mike & Molly | Paula | Episode: "The Adoption Option" |
Veep | Kimberly | Episode: "C**tgate" | |
Shameless | Sylvie Prum | Episode: "Home Sweet Homeless Shelter" | |
The Middle | Mrs. Roberts | Episode: "Look Who's Not Talking" | |
2016-18 | Animal Kingdom | Dina | 3 Episodes |
2017 | Snowfall | Doris Perkins | Episode: "Make Them Birds Fly" |
2018 | Kidding | Latrice | Episode: "Philliam" |
Raven's Home | Loretta | Episode: "Keepin' It Real" | |
2019 | Lodge 49 | Trish | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
2019-20 | Better Things | Debra | Episode: "Chicago" & "New Orleans" |
2020 | Cherish the Day | Samantha | Episode: "Genesis" |
Mom | Natalie | 2 Episodes | |
2021 | 9-1-1 | Avery Webber | Episode: "First Responders" |
The Zip Code Plays: Los Angeles | LaShae Fair | Episode: "91331: Pacoima - Gold & Shine" | |
2022 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Dijonay Jones (voice) | Main Cast |
References
- The A to Z of African-American Television - White, Karen Malina - By Kathleen Fearn-Banks
- Hbcu Experience - the Book: A Collection of Essays Celebrating the Black ... edited by Tia C. M. Tyree
- http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/entertainment/articles/flashback_fridays_malcolm_jamal_warner/ Archived April 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine