Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1957 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney (born October 1, 1957) is an American actress and comedian. Stickney is known for her main role on the sitcom New Attitude (1990). She also has appeared in films including New Jack City (1991), Jungle Fever (1991), Malcolm X (1992), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998).[1]
Early life and education
Stickney was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and is one of five siblings.[2][3] She left home when she was 16 years old, moving to Los Angeles. She obtained a job with a management company by saying that she was 23. After two years there she moved to New York, where she attended video school and film school.[4]
She initially worked at the University of Delaware as an associate in the theater department, and later studied at the Institute of New Cinema Artists.[5]
Career
Early in Stickney's career, she became involved with the New Heritage Theatre in Harlem, where she met Roger Furman, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. At one point, Dave Chapelle was her opener at the comedy venue Caroline's.[6]
Stickney's performance in Tartuffe won an AUDELCO award in 1983.[4]
Acting credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Frederick Douglass: An American Life | Anna Douglass | Short |
| 1991 | New Jack City | Prosecuting Attorney Hawkins | |
| Jungle Fever | Nilda | ||
| Talkin' Dirty After Dark | Aretha | ||
| 1992 | Malcolm X | Honey | |
| 1993 | What's Love Got to Do with It | Alline Bullock | |
| 1994 | The Inkwell | Dr. Wade | |
| 1995 | My Teacher's Wife | Harvard Officer | |
| Die Hard with a Vengeance | Wanda Shepard | ||
| 1996 | Tendrils | - | Short |
| 1998 | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Mrs. Shakespeare | |
| 2002 | Big Ain't Bad | Lauren Jordan | |
| 2009 | See Dick Run | Dr. LaCroix | |
| 2010 | Trapped: Haitian Nights | Ms. Edna | |
| 2013 | Haitian Nights | Ms. Edna | |
| 2014 | Gun Hill | Marva Stevens | TV movie |
| Pound of Flesh | Mrs. Emeka | ||
| 2016 | The Tale of Four | - | Short |
| 2017 | Dana's Story | Grandma Ladoux | Short |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Cosby Show | Phyllis | Episode: "Hillman" |
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | Cora Lee | Episode: "Part I & II" |
| 1990 | New Attitude | Yvonne St. James | Main Cast |
| 1991 | Great Performances | Topsy Washington | Episode: "The Colored Museum" |
| 1993 | Law & Order | Miss Lee | Episode: "Mother Love" |
| 1994 | New York Undercover | Baptise | Episode: "After Shakespeare" |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Esther Rashad | Episode: "The Reckoning" |
| ABC Afterschool Specials | Aunt Zed | Episode: "Daddy's Girl" | |
| 1999–2000 | Linc's | Y'vetta | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2008 | Sex Chronicles | Tracy | Episode: "Room 69" |
| 2009 | Glenn Martin, DDS | - (voice) | Episode: "From Here to Fraternity" |
| 2021 | Shameless | Bev | Episode: "DNR" |
| 2022 | The Ms. Pat Show | Aunt Gwen | Episode: "Ding-Dong, The Bitch is Dead" |
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | A Raisin in the Sun | Mama Lena | Production directed by Rajendra Maharaj[2] |
| 2022 | School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play | Headmistress | |
| 2022 | Laughter & Lyrics | Herself |
References
- ^ "Phyllis Yvonne Stickney". Encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ a b "Phyllis Yvonne Stickney on bringing her life experiences to the stage". Radio Milwaukee. 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Sister Circle TV (2020-01-16). Sister Circle | Actress And Comedian Phyllis Yvonne Stickney Talks Movies, Stand Up & More | TVONE. Retrieved 2024-11-18 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Wertz, Langston Jr. (February 19, 1996). "Comedian pulls wisdom from journey within". The Charlotte Observer. p. 3 E. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Phyllis Yvonne Stickney - The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc". necinc.org. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ DeYoung, Bill (2022-02-18). "American Stage: Phyllis Yvonne Stickney is in the house". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved 2024-11-18.