Kym Whitley

Kym Elizabeth Whitley (born July 21, 1961) is an American comedian and actress. She is best known for her roles on television sitcoms, such as Animal Practice, The Boondocks, Young & Hungry and The Parkers. Whitley was nominated for a 2004 BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie for her role as Ormandy in the 2003 comedy film Deliver Us From Eva.[1]

Kym Whitley
Whitley at the Comic Con in San Diego, 2011
Born
Kym Elizabeth Whitley

(1961-07-21) July 21, 1961
Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materFisk University
OccupationComedian, actress
Years active1992–present
TelevisionRaising Whitley
Children1
Websitehttp://www.kymwhitley.org

Early life and education

Whitley was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio to Kaysonia and William Whitley.[2] Her father was a founding partner of the black architectural firm of Whitley and Whitley. Whitley and Whitley was involved with work on Tower City Center, the Cleveland State University Convocation Center, Lincoln Junior High School, the Lee-Harvard Branch of Cleveland Public Library, the Central Area Multi-Service Center, and the Cleveland Clinic Guesthouse development.[3] They were also involved in a joint venture to design and build Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field), home to the Cleveland Indians.[4] She attended Shaker Heights High School (graduating in 1979)[5] and Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.[6] She was initiated into the Alpha Beta chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.[7]

Career

In 1989, Whitley got her big break starring in Shelly Garrett's popular play Beauty Shop, which started in Los Angeles then later traveled across the U.S. Whitley's major acting roles include the short-lived sitcoms My Brother and Me and Sparks. She made guest appearances on several television sitcoms, including The Parent 'Hood, Married... with Children, Moesha, That's So Raven, The Parkers, My Wife and Kids and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She also hosted the short-lived BET show Oh Drama (2000). Whitley also had a small role in Next Friday as Craig's aunt Suga. She was one of the group called "The Adults", who were adult cast members in the earlier seasons of All That. In the early spring of 2010, Whitley was a co-host with R&B musician Brian McKnight on the short-lived talk show The Brian McKnight Show. From 2012 to 2013, Whitley had a recurring role on the BET comedy Let's Stay Together as Charmaine Wax.

Kym's reality docu-series entitled Raising Whitley on the Oprah Winfrey Network premiered on April 20, 2013 with a total of 1.2 million viewers, making it the fifth most-widely viewed premiere in the history of the network.[8] OWN ordered a second season, which premiered on January 4, 2014.

Whitley joined the cast of the television sitcom Young & Hungry which premiered on ABC Family (now Freeform) in 2014, where she plays Josh's housekeeper Yolanda.[9] The show ran for five seasons, ending in 2018.[10]

In 2017, she guest starred in the web series The Bay where she played Big Candi. She received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series.[11]

In 2018, she guest starred in the "Thanksgiving" episode of Master of None as Denise's aunt Joyce, and sister to Angela Bassett's character.[12] The episode won an Emmy for Best Writing for Master of None's actors Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe[13]

Causes

In 2013, Whitley and her friend Rodney Van Johnson launched a line of t-shirts titled "Don't Feed Me." The shirts alert caregivers about children who have specific food allergies.[14][8]

Personal life

Whitley has two older brothers, Kyle and Scott.[3]

In January 2011, Whitley adopted a son, Joshua (born January 9, 2011).[2][14][15]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Beverly Hood Nola Washington
2000 Next Friday Auntie Suga
2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Party Guest
2001 House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute Judy Harris – Jon Jon's Mom
2001 Baby Boy Host
2003 Deliver Us from Eva Ormandy
2003 Love Chronicles Renee
2003 Malibooty! Donna
2004 Up Against the 8 Ball Mrs. Thompson
2004 Along Came Polly Gladys
2005 The Perfect Man Dolores
2005 L.A. Dicks Madame Opal
2005 Fun with Dick and Jane KostMart Training Leader
2005 The Salon Lashaunna
2005 The Golden Blaze Mother Johnson voice
2008 Cuttin' da Mustard
2008 College Road Trip Michelle Porter
2008 The Hustle Miss Tanya
2009 Black Dynamite Honeybee
2009 I Love You, Man Female Co-Worker #1
2009 Donation Cashier Keisha
2010 Something Like a Business Sasha
2010 Sebastian Roxanne
2010 Group Sex Tiffany
2011 35 and Ticking[16] Shavelle
2011 The Life & Times of Tim Tanya
2011 Rango[17] Melonee voice
2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon Jessica Morgan
2011 We Bought a Zoo Store Clerk
2013 Ticket to Vegas Monik
2013 Anything is Possible Ms. Kim
2014 A Haunted House 2 Church Lady
2017 Fist Fight 911 Operator
2018 The Weekend Karen Barber
2020 Hubie Halloween Farmer Louise

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Vinnie & Bobby Glodine Episode: "Spring Is in the Air"
1994 My Brother and Me Mrs. Pinckney 5 episodes
1995 The Parent Hood Muriel Episode: "Wendell and Muriel's Wedding"
1995 Martin Louisa Episode: "Uptown Friday Night"
1996 Married... with Children Danielle Episode: "The Hood, the Bud & the Kelly: Part 2"
1996–98 Sparks Darice Mayberry Main role, 40 episodes
1998 The Wayans Bros. Phyllis Episode: "Misery"
1999 Arli$ Susan Caldwell Episode: "Our Past, Our Present, Our Future"
1999 Silk Hope Grace TV movie
2000 Grown Ups Kim Episode: "Valentine J"
2000 A Private Affair Cheryl TV movie
2000 Moesha Gertrude Episode: "The Candidate"
2001–04 The Parkers Gertie Recurring role
2002 My Wife and Kids Wanda 3 episodes
2002 What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway Ms. Wells TV movie
2003 The Proud Family Caramel Jones Episode: "Adventures in BeBe-Sitting"
2004, 2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm Monena Episodes: "The Car Pool Lane" and "Never Wait for Seconds!"
2004 1-800-Missing DEA Agent Dominique Shaw Episode: "Domestic Bliss"
2004 One on One Liza Episode: "Who Brought the Jive Turkey?"
2004 Significant Others Nurse Episode: "Intercourse, an Official Gathering & a Big Fat Lie"
2005 The Catch Honey Commons TV movie
2005 That's So Raven Cousin Vicky Episodes: "Country Cousins: Part 1" and "Country Cousins: Part 2"
2005 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Norlisa Episodes: "Booty Noir" and "Harvey's Civvy"
2005 Grey's Anatomy Yvonne Episode: "Into You Like a Train"
2006 Love, Inc Arsenetta Episode: "Arrested Development"
2006 Reno 911! Kay Kay Episode: "The Junior Brothers"
2006 Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness Ms. Attitude TV movie
2006 Standoff Angela Worthington Episode: "Accidental Negotiator"
2006 Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street Ms. Attitude TV movie
2007 Making It Legal Theresa TV movie
2008 Crusin' for Love with Kym Whitley Herself TV movie
2009,
2011–13		 The Cleveland Show Auntie Momma 4 episodes
2008–09 'Til Death Tina 4 episodes
2005–08,
2010		 The Boondocks Various characters 8 episodes
2010 Jonas Officer Evie Episode: "And... Action!"
2010–2011 Meet the Browns Yvonne Episodes: "Meet the Neighbor" and "Meet the Knock-Off"
2010 School Pride Host
2011 Nick Swardson's Pretend Time Baneequwa Episode: "Show Me on the Doll"
2011 Hot in Cleveland Jada Episode: "Elka's Choice"
2011 Childrens Hospital Black Administrator Episode: "The Black Doctor"
2011–12 The Life & Times of Tim Tanya Miller 2 episodes
2011–12,
2014–15		 Black Dynamite Honeybee 20 episodes
2011–12,
2014		 Let's Stay Together Charmaine Wax 5 episodes
2012–13 Animal Practice Juanita Main role, 9 episodes
2013 2 Broke Girls Shirley Episodes: "And the Big Hole" and "And the Worst Selfie Ever"
2013–16 Raising Whitley Herself Reality Series
2013–14 Baby Daddy Margaret Jenson Episodes: "Whatever Lola Wants" & "An Affair Not To Remember"
2014–18 Young & Hungry Yolanda Main role, 71 episodes
2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Aunt Cudi Episode: "Judy Greer Wears a Navy Blouse and Strappy Sandals"
2016 Kocktails with Khloé Herself 1 episode
2017 Master of None Joyce Episode: "Thanksgiving"
2018 Marlon Lovey Episode: "Sisters"
2018 K.C. Undercover Craig's future mother-in-law/Her twin sister 1 episode
2018 Braxton Family Values Herself 1 episode
2018–19 Pinky Malinky Mrs. Malinky (voice) Recurring role, 5 episodes
2019 Worst Cooks In America: Celebrity Edition Herself Reality series
2019 The Neighborhood LaTonya Episode: "Welcome to Bowling"
2019 Forever Sharon Episodes: "Together Forever" and "June"
2019 Fuller House Mayor Boone Episodes: "The Mayor's Bird"
2020 Twenties Esther 3 episodes
2020 Make It Work! Herself Television special
Daily pop herself recurring guest host

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2004 BET Comedy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office movie Deliver Us From Eva Nominated [1][18]
2016 7th Indie Series Awards Best Guest Actress – Drama The Bay Won [19]
2017 44th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series The Bay Nominated [20]

References
  1. "BET Honors Urban Comedy During Network's First-Ever Comedy Awards Telecast Hosted by Steve Harvey". BET Press Room. September 3, 2004. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  2. Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (June 8, 2019). "Actress-comedienne Kym Whitley pictures family in her den". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  3. "William Whitley: Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  4. Attanasio, Ed; Gouldsberry, Eric. "Progressive Field". This Great Game. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. Okura, Lynn (January 31, 2014). "Kym Whitley Visits Her Old High School Teacher In Cleveland (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  6. Chumney, Richard (May 6, 2018). "Graduates counseled to pursue passions". The News & Advance. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  7. "Wildin' Out Wednesday With Actress/Comedian Kym Whitley". NewsOne Now. February 10, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  8. "Don't Feed Me T-Shirts Calm Parents of Allergic Kids". ABC News. March 19, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  9. Swift, Andy (June 25, 2014). "Young & Hungry Stars Preview 'Sexy,' 'Inspiring' New ABC Family Comedy". TVLine. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  10. Fishman, Scott (July 25, 2018). "Emily Osment Says Goodbye to 'Young & Hungry' With the Series Finale". TV Insider. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  11. "Kym Whitley Lands Daytime Emmy Nomination For 'The Bay'". Houston Style Magazine. March 24, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  12. Jacobs, Matthew (May 17, 2017). "Kym Whitley On Her Breakout 'Master Of None' Episode And Kanye West's Failed HBO Pilot". HuffPost. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  13. Kimble, Lindsay (September 17, 2017). "Lena Waithe's Emmy-Winning Master of None Episode Was Inspired by Her Real-Life Story". People. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  14. Murray, Rheana (March 21, 2013). "Actress launches line of 'Don't Feed Me' T-shirts for kids with allergies". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  15. "Kym Whitley is a New Mom". Black Celebrity Kids. February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  16. "Stars Sign On For Romantic Comedy, '35 and Ticking'". MadameNoire. June 2, 2010.
  17. "APA Signs 'Raising Whitley's Kym Whitley". Deadline Hollywood. August 13, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  18. Holder, Frank; Littleton, Darryl (November 4, 2019). This Day In Comedy: The Ethnic Encyclopedia of Laughter. TrineDay. ISBN 9781634242639. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  19. Newcomb, Roger (April 7, 2016). "WINNERS: 7th Annual Indie Series Awards". We Love Soaps. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  20. "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Nominations For the 44th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
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