Tia Mowry
Tia Dashon Mowry-Hardrict[1][2] (née Mowry; born July 6, 1978) is an American actress. She first gained recognition for her starring role as Tia Landry in the sitcom Sister, Sister (1994–1999), opposite her twin sister Tamera Mowry. The sisters then starred together in the Disney Channel Original Movie Twitches (2005) and its sequel, Twitches Too (2007). The two also starred in the fantasy comedy film Seventeen Again (2000), and voiced the LaBelle sisters in the animated series Detention (1999–2000). They were featured in the reality series Tia & Tamera from 2011 to 2013.
Tia Mowry | |
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 Mowry in 2017 | |
| Born | Tia Dashon Mowry July 6, 1978 |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Tia Mowry-Hardrict |
| Alma mater | Pepperdine University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Tamera Mowry (twin sister) Tahj Mowry (brother) |
Mowry voiced Sasha in the animated series Bratz (2005–2006). She starred as Melanie Barnett in the comedy-drama series The Game (2006–2015), Stephanie Phillips in the sitcom Instant Mom (2013–2015), and Cocoa McKellan in the sitcom Family Reunion (2019–present).
Mowry had starring roles in the teen comedy film The Hot Chick (2002), the musical comedy film The Mistle-Tones (2012), the romantic comedy film Baggage Claim (2013), and the drama film Indivisible (2018).
Mowry and her sister, Tamera, formed a singing group in the early 1990s called Voices. The group debuted their first single, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!", in 1992 and it charted at No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Early life
Mowry was born in Gelnhausen, West Germany. Her mother, Darlene Renée Mowry (née Flowers), managed her children's careers when they were in the group Voices, and also worked as a security guard. Her father, Timothy John Mowry, was in the U.S. Army at the time of her birth, and later became a custody officer/jailer with the City of Glendale Police Department, when the family moved to California.[3][4][1]
Her father is of English and Irish ancestry, and her mother is of Afro-Bahamian descent.[5] Her parents met in high school, in Miami, Florida. Both joined the U.S. Army, and both would eventually reach the rank of Sergeant.[6] Her family is "close-knit" and "very spiritual",[4] as the sisters became born-again Christians when they were eight.[7]
Tia is two minutes younger than her twin sister, Tamera.[8] Tamera was born first, at 4:30pm, followed by Tia at 4:32pm. She also has two younger brothers, actor Tahj Mowry and Tavior Mowry, who played college football for University of California, Davis.
Career
Mowry and her sister began entering pageants and talent shows while their family was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. At age 12, they convinced their mother to move to California with them so they could pursue acting. She agreed, on the condition that they land an acting job within the first month of their stay. In 1990, their family moved to California permanently, settling in Los Angeles, and she and her sister began appearing in commercials and small roles.
She is well known for playing Tia Landry, a twin separated at birth and reunited with her sister as a teenager in the show Sister, Sister. The series was developed for them after a producer spotted them on the set of Full House, a show on which their brother made regular appearances. Sister, Sister was initially on ABC but was cancelled by the network after two years and picked up by The WB, where it ran for another four years. During its run, they appeared on an episode of their brother Tahj Mowry's sitcom Smart Guy, and did voice-over work for the Kids' WB series Detention.
After the show ended, both Mowry and her sister studied psychology at Pepperdine University. She also went to Europe to study humanities and Italian for a period.[9] Both she and her sister appeared in the Rob Schneider comedy film The Hot Chick, playing cheerleaders. Mowry also did voice-overs for the 4KidsTV cartoon Bratz as the voice of Sasha. In 2005, Mowry and her sister both starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Twitches and reprised their roles in its sequel, Twitches Too and before co-starred in the 2000 movie Seventeen Again. Tia also appeared on an episode of her sister's television show, Strong Medicine, in January 2006, playing the role of Keisha, the twin sister of Tamera Mowry's character, Dr. Kayla Thornton. Mowry has a starring role in the BET television series The Game as Melanie Barnett. Mowry has been nominated for a Teen Choice Award and a NAACP Image Awards for best actress in a comedy.
In the Blue's Clues episode "Blue's Birthday", Mowry and her sister make a cameo appearance as two of the celebrities wishing Blue a happy birthday. Their only line is said in unison: "Happy Birthday, Blue!" Beginning in July 2011, the Style Network began airing Tia & Tamera, a reality show which follows the day-to-day lives of the twins; Tia being pregnant and Tamera planning her wedding. Mowry and her sister are both singers. They have showcased their vocal abilities on episodes of Sister Sister, including covers of "You Can't Hurry Love", "Amazing Grace" and "I'm Going Down", which Tamera performed. They also sang the theme song during season five and six.
In May 2012, Mowry published her first book, Oh, Baby: Pregnancy Tales and Advice from One Hot Mama to Another, about her pregnancy and being a working mother.[10] In May 2012, Mowry revealed on Twitter that she would not be returning to The Game, for a sixth season. From 2013 to 2015 she starred in the NickMom/Nick at Nite series Instant Mom.[11]
From 2015 to 2017, Mowry starred in her Cooking Channel series Tia Mowry at Home,[12] where she made everything from macaroni and cheese, cake, pie, curry chicken, collard greens, shakshuka, potato, galette and various types of cocktails. Some of her guest stars included her The Game co-stars Pooch Hall, Hosea Sanchez, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Brittany Daniel, Lilly Singh from YouTube and Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child.
In 2016, Mowry started a podcast on PodcastOne called Mostly Mom with Tia Mowry.[13] On April 29, 2016, she appeared with her twin sister on the daytime talk show The Real, where she promoted her new book Twintution. Since 2019, she had played the starring role of Cocoa McKellan in the Netflix comedy series Family Reunion.
Personal life
Mowry met actor Cory Hardrict on the set of their film, Hollywood Horror.[14] They dated for six years, then became engaged on Christmas Day, 2006,[15] and married in California on April 20, 2008.[16] On January 11, 2011, People announced that Mowry and Hardrict were expecting their first child; Mowry made the announcement herself on 106 & Park. The pregnancy was documented on the show Tia & Tamera featuring her sister, Tamera Mowry, on the Style Network.[17] She gave birth to a son on June 28, 2011.[18][19][20] On November 8, 2017, Mowry announced that she was pregnant with her second child,[21] a girl.[22] Their daughter was born on May 5, 2018.[2][23]
Mowry is the head coach of the Entertainment Basketball League celebrity team. She coaches the Atlanta team, whose players include her husband, Cory Hardrict, and ex co-star, Pooch Hall.[24] She recently coached at the "Battle of the Sexes" game in Chicago against the Sky of the WNBA.[25]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Hot Chick | Venetia | |
| 2004 | Bratz: Rock Angelz | Sasha (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2005 | Hollywood Horror | Kendra | |
| 2006 | Bratz: Genie Magic | Sasha (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2006 | Bratz: Forever Diamondz | Sasha (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2008 | The American Standards | Kate | |
| 2013 | Bratz Go to Paris: The Movie | Sasha (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2013 | Baggage Claim | Janine | |
| 2018 | Indivisible | Tonya Lewis |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Rosie | Tia Tanner | Episode: "Adventures in Blondiesitting" |
| 1991 | Dangerous Women | Judith Ann Webb | Unknown episodes |
| 1992 | True Colors | Rene | Episode: "In a Flash" |
| 1992 | Full House | Denise | Episode: "The Devil Made Me Do It" |
| 1994–1999 | Sister, Sister | Tia Landry | main role |
| 1995 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | Janice Robinson | Episode: "The Tale of the Chameleons" |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Hyperman | The Bad Emma (voice) | Episode: "The Good, the Bad and the Emmas" |
| 1997 | Smart Guy | Rachelle | Episode: "Brother, Brother" |
| 1999–2000 | Detention | Lemonjella LaBelle (voice) | 13 episodes |
| 2000 | Seventeen Again | Sydney Donovan | Television film |
| 2001–2005 | Express Yourself | Herself | Interstitial series |
| 2005–2006 | Bratz | Sasha (voice) | 17 episodes |
| 2005 | Twitches | Alex Fielding / Artemis DuBaer | Television film |
| 2005 | Love, Inc. | Kim | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Strong Medicine | Keisha | Episode: "My Sister, My Doctor, Myself" |
| 2006–2007 | Girlfriends | Melanie Barnett | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2012, 2015 | The Game | Dr. Melanie Barnett-Davis | 97 episodes |
| 2007 | Twitches Too | Alex Fielding / Artemis DuBaer | Television film |
| 2010 | Double Wedding | Deanna Warren | Television film |
| 2011–2013 | Tia & Tamera | Herself | 40 episodes |
| 2012 | The Mistle-Tones | Holly | Television film |
| 2013–2015 | Instant Mom | Stephanie Phillips | Main role |
| 2015–2016 | Fresh Beat Band of Spies | Sindy Sauernotes (voice) | 19 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | Tia Mowry at Home | Herself / Host | 28 episodes |
| 2016 | Rosewood | Cassie | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Mistresses | Barbara | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Man with a Plan | Brenda | Episode: "Un-Dressed" |
| 2017 | Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn | Ericka Knightly | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Me, Myself, & I | Wendy | 4 episodes |
| 2018 | My Christmas Inn | Jen Taylor | Television film |
| 2018 | A Gingerbread Romance | Taylor Scott | Television film |
| 2019 | Prince of Peoria | Meghan | Episode: "Game Night" |
| 2019–present | Family Reunion | Cocoa McKellan | 20 episodes |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Imani | Episode: "Where Are My Background Singers" |
| 2019 | A Very Vintage Christmas | Dodie Brite | Television film |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sway's Universe: Sway In the Morning[26] | Herself | "Our Sister, Sister Tia Mowry Goes From The Game to Reality T.V. + New Chef Speaks On Keke Issue" |
| 2019 | The Breakfast Club[27] | Herself | "Tia Mowry On Growing Up A Twin, Non-Traditional Parenting, New Series Family Reunion + More" |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Bratz: Rock Angelz | Sasha (voice) |
| 2006 | Bratz Forever Diamondz | Sasha (voice) |
| 2007 | Bratz: The Movie | Sasha (voice) |
Awards and nominations
Honors
- 1998: Inducted into the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Hall of Fame with her sister Tamera Mowry
Accolades
References
- Tia Mowry Biography (1978–). Filmreference.com. Retrieved on February 5, 2011.
- "Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Cory Hardrict Welcome Daughter: 'We Are in Heaven'". People. May 6, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- "Interviews". Archived from the original on August 1, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
- Tia, Tamera And Tahj Mowry Keep Laughter In The Family With Hit TV Shows 'Sister, Sister' And 'Smart Guy'. Findarticles.com (March 1, 1999). Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
- During an appearance on The Wendy Williams Show in 2010, it was stated that for years, the Mowrys believed that they had Italian ancestry on their father's side; however, after researching their family tree on Ancestry.com, they discovered that their father has English ancestry.
- Double Devotion – Today's Christian. Web.archive.org (January 9, 2008). Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
- TV's tantalizing twins: Tia and Tamara Mowry shared 'Sister Sister' sitcom, schoolwork and singing. Findarticles.com. Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
- "Is It True What They Say About Twins?". Jet magazine. April 30, 2001. p. 28.
- "Shows – The Game – Cast – Tia Mowry" Archived November 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- Oh, Baby!: Pregnancy Tales and Advice from One Hot Mama to Another. Avery. 2013. ISBN 978-1583335284.
- "Instant Mom". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- Terrero, Nina (April 29, 2015). "Tia Mowry talks new cooking show, which will include some Beyonce". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- Mowry, Tia. "Mostly Mom with Tia Mowry". www.podcastone.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- OWN (August 2, 2017). "An Extended First Look at Black Love - Black Love - Oprah Winfrey Network" – via YouTube.
- Tan, Michelle (January 21, 2007). "Sister, Sister Star Tia Mowry Is Engaged". People. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- Wihlborg, Ulrica (April 20, 2008). "Tia Mowry Gets Married". People. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- Hammel, Sara (January 11, 2011). "Sister, Sister Star Tia Mowry Is Pregnant". People. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
- Sister, Sister's Tia Mowry Is Pregnant!. Usmagazine.com. Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
- Actress Tia Mowry Reveals Her Baby's Gender. UsMagazine.com (August 25, 2009). Retrieved on February 5, 2011.
- Blog Archive » Cory Hardict & Tia Mowry Decided On A Name For Their Little Boy. Media Outrage (June 30, 2011). Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
- Petit, Stephanie (November 8, 2017). "Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict Expecting Second Child". People. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- "Boy or Girl? See the (Literally) Sweet Reveal for Tia Mowry's Second Child on the Way".
- "Tia Mowry-Hardrict Officially Introduces Newborn Daughter – and Finally Reveals Her Baby Girl's Unique Name!".
- E-League Atlanta Roster Archived February 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Eleague.ning.com. Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
- Tia Coaches E-League Archived June 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Wnba.com. Retrieved on July 5, 2011.
- Sway’s Universe (April 29, 2015). "Our "Sister Sister" Tia Mowry Goes From "The Game" to Reality T.V. + New Chef Speaks On Keke Issue". YouTube. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVFbj6r1DxI&t=31s
External links
- Tia Mowry at IMDb
- Tia Mowry
- Interview with TheStarScoop, January 2007
- Tia Mowry cast bio on The CW
- Christianity Today interview
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