Karen Charnele Brown (née Dozier; born October 30, 1960) is an American actress, producer, writer, fashion designer and singer. She is known for her roles as Paula in the 1992 film How Ya Like Me Now and as Kimberly Reese on NBC comedy sitcom A Different World from 1988 until 1993.[1]
Charnele Brown | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karen Charnele Dozier October 30, 1960 East Hampton, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | East Hampton High School State University of New York at New Paltz |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Kimberly Reese – A Different World |
Biography edit
Born in East Hampton, Brown is a graduate of East Hampton High School.[2] Brown later attended the State University of New York at New Paltz Where she studied acting with other notables, including Aida Turturro.
Brown made her Broadway debut in 1989 as the first American member of the South African musical "Sarafina!" Other stage performances have included the roles of Polly and Delores in "The Trials and Tribulations of Stagger Lee Brown," Ruby in "The Lord's Will," Marty in "Sisters" and Mable in "My Diary." After A Different World ended, Brown guest starred on sitcoms such as Living Single, Martin, and Girlfriends. She made a brief appearance in a movie titled How Ya Like Me Now? that starred Darnell Williams and Salli Richardson.
In 2000, Brown founded The Charnele Brown Acting Academy at Yates High School in Houston, Texas.[3][4]
Filmography edit
- The Cosby Show (1 episode, 1987)
- How U Like Me Now (1992) as Paula
- A Different World (122 episodes, 1988–1993) as Kimberly Reese
- Martin (1 episode, 1993) as Florence
- Living Single (1 episode, 1994) as Jackie
- Drop Squad (1994) as Kyra
- Tendrils (1996)
- Oliver Beene (1 episode, 2004)
- Girlfriends (1 episode, 2004) as Beverly
- My Wife and Kids (1 episode, 2004) as Nurse
- Bathsheba (2005) as Saul's Daughter
- City Girls (2007) as Bernice Jackson
- 5th Ward (1 episode, 2020) as Judge Hunter
- BKS, Best Kept Secret (2020) as Toni Benwah, also screenwriter
- Changes (2021) writer and producer
- Dilemma (2022) as Ms. Jones
- The Reading (2023) as Oda Brown
- Where Loyalty Lies (2024) as Capt. Wright
References edit
- ^ "A Different World's' Brown Speaks Out On Interracial Couples". Chicago Tribune. July 27, 1991. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "East Hampton's Charnele Brown Reunites With 'A Different World' Cast". The Southampton Press. August 6, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ "CBA Academy". triwenproductions.
- ^ Onyeneho, Laura (January 20, 2023). "'A Different World' actress Charnele Brown talks entertainment". DefenderNetwork.com.
External links edit
- Charnele Brown at IMDb
- Charnele Brown at Hollywood.com
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