Karen Malina White
| Karen Malina White | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 7, 1965 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 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 |
Karen Malina White (born July 7, 1965) 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 (1990–92) and the final season of A Different World (1992–93); Nicolette Vandross on Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000) and the voice of Dijonay Jones on the Disney Channel animated comedy The Proud Family (2001–05).
Early life
Karen Malina White was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She studied at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. When she graduated high school, White continued her studies at Howard University, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. In her senior year White won the title "Miss Howard University" and landed her first role as an actress.
Personal life
Contrary to rumors, White is not married to actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Warner states, "I'm not married. People probably started saying that because we were in a relationship for seven and a half years." [1]
Career
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 90's she made many guest appearances in various television shows. She 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 2001-2005, she performed the voice of Dijonay Jones on the animated Disney Channel series The Proud Family. White has also appeared in various stage productions.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | In Our Lives | Jasmine | |||||
| 1989 | Lean On Me | Kaneesha Carter | Young Artist Award (nominated) | ||||
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Lisa | Episode: "Beautiful Are the Stars" | ||||
| 1990–1992 | The Cosby Show | Charmaine Brown | Seasons 7-8 | ||||
| 1992–1993 | A Different World | Charmaine Brown | Season 6 | ||||
| 1993 | Herman's Head | Rene | Episode: "There's a Fly Girl In My Soup" | ||||
| 1993–1994 | Getting By | Yolanda | |||||
| 1993–1994 | Roc | Michelle | Episodes: "The Poker Hand That Rocks the Cradle", "God Bless the Child", & "Citizen Roc" | ||||
| 1993, 1996–1997 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Florence | Episodes: "Father Fairest", "Seoul Shake", "Episode: Will She or Won't She?", "Security", & "The Spa" | ||||
| 1994 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Jewel Robertson | Episodes: "The Ol' Ball and Chain" & "Episode: Mother's Day" | ||||
| 1994, 1995 | My So-Called Life | Abyssinia Churchill | Episodes: "Self-Esteem" & "Betrayal" | ||||
| 1995 | Me and the Boys | Janet | Episodes: "The B Word" & "When Stanley Met Shirley" | ||||
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | Jennifer Koosman | Episode: "Hello Goodbye" | ||||
| 1995 | The Parent 'Hood | Nina | Episode: "Track Dreams" | ||||
| 1995 | Too Something | Episode: "Meter Feeders" | |||||
| 1995 | Statistically Speaking | Short film | |||||
| 1995 | Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored | Mary | |||||
| 1996 | The Home Court | Leslie | Episode: "Laborer of Love" | ||||
| 1996 | Living Single | Shayla | Episode: "Woman to Woman" | ||||
| 1996 | Dave's World | Natalie | Episode: "Do You Want To Know A Secret?" | ||||
| 1996–2000 | Malcolm & Eddie | Nicolette Vandross | Series Regular; 89 episodes | ||||
| 2000 | Seven Days | Tracy Donovan | Episode: "Mr Donovan's Neighborhood" | ||||
| 2001–2005 | The Proud Family | Dijonay Jones (voice) | Series Regular; 54 episodes | ||||
| 2002 | Jeremiah | Rickie | Episode: "City of Roses" | ||||
| 2003 | The Shield | Episode: "Barnstormers" | |||||
| 2004 | Boston Public | Sonia Williamson | Episode: "Chapter Seventy-Eight" | ||||
| 2004 | Fronterz | ||||||
| 2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Dijonay Jones | Disney Channel TV-Movie | ||||
| 2006 | The Ties That Bind | Madison | Short | ||||
| 2012 | Who's Watching the Kids | Susan | 2014 | How to Get Away with Murder | Carla | Episode: "Let's Go Scooping" | |
| 2015 | I Didn't Do It | Betty LeBow | Recurring role (Season 2) |