Kellita Smith

Kellita Smith Headshot

Actress • Model • Comedian

Birth Date: July 11, 1969

Age: 55 years old

Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois

As the no-nonsense, career-oriented wife and mother on "The Bernie Mac Show" (Fox, 2001-06), actress Kellita Smith has more than held her own with the unconventional sitcom's star. Previously a supporting player in movies and recurring guest star on television, Smith landed her role on Bernie Mac's show at the last minute, prompting the comedian to say that she 'stole' the role. Born in Chicago and raised in Oakland, CA, Smith became an actress later in life after realizing the regular nine-to-five grind was not for her. She began her acting career on stage, getting her first break in "Tell It Like It Tiz," which toured the country for two years.

She also starred in productions of "No Place to be Somebody" for the KC Theatre Company and "Feelings" for the Hudson Theatre, for which she won a NAACP Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996. That same year, the NAACP nominated her for Best Actress for her role in "The Thirteenth Thorn."

Smith began acting on television as early as 1993, when she appeared in an episode of "Living Single" (Fox, 1993-1998). She soon landed several recurring roles: as Tracy on "Martin" (Fox, 1992-1997); Tonya on "Sister, Sister" (ABC, WB, 1993-1999) and Danielle, Tim's short-lived girlfriend, on "Malcolm and Eddie" (UPN, 1996-2000).

Meanwhile, Smith segued into film, starting with a small role in psychological drama, "The Crossing Guard" (1995), starring a grief-stricken Jack Nicholson out to avenge the drunk driving death of his daughter. She had another small part in "Kingdom Come" (2001), an amusing ensemble drama about a disparate family who gathers for the funeral of one of their own.

In between film projects, Smith continued appearing in small screen roles, most notably on "The Jamie Foxx Show" (WB, 1996-2001), on which she played Foxx's love interest, Cherise. After showing up on episodes of "The Steve Harvey Show" (WB, 1996-2002), "Nash Bridges" (CBS, 1995-2001) and "NYPD Blue" (ABC, 1993-2005), she landed her regular role on "The Bernie Mac Show."

Despite the relentless shooting schedule, Smith continued to make movies. In the low-budget indie comedy, "Hair Show" (2004), she starred as the successful owner of an upscale hair salon in Beverly Hills whose estranged sister (Mo'Nique) appears unexpectedly while on the lam from the IRS. Smith next appeared in "King's Ransom" (2005), playing the scheming wife of a millionaire (Anthony Anderson) whose plan to take everything in the divorce is thwarted by his own plot to kidnap himself.

Credits

From ScratchStream

Actor
Lynn Wheeler
Miniseries
2022
86%

Inside the Black BoxStream

Self
Talk
2022

The Couch

Actor
Dr. Nya Brown
Show
2020

Carl Weber's InfluenceStream

Actor
Carla Hudson
Movie
2020

The DL Hughley Show

Guest
Show
2019

The Preacher's Son

Actor
Anita Emerson
Movie
2017

This Is UsStream

Guest Star
Elizabeth
Series
2016
94%

The Secret She Kept

Actor
Virginia
Movie
2016

In the Cut

Actor
Cheryl
Show
2015

The Man in 3B

Actor
Det. Anderson
Movie
2015

Z NationStream

Actor
Roberta Warren
Series
2014

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

The Love Section

Actor
Pat Darden
Movie
2013

Mr. Box OfficeStream

Guest Star
Series
2012

The First FamilyStream

Actor
Series
2012

Gang of Roses II: Next Generation

Actor
Madame L
Movie
2012

She's Not Our Sister

Actor
Vivian
Show
2011

Feel the NoiseStream

Actor
Tanya
Movie
2007
11%

Three Can Play That GameStream

Actor
Carla
Movie
2007

Hell's KitchenStream

Guest
Reality
2005

King's RansomStream

Actor
Renee
Movie
2005
2%

Roll BounceStream

Actor
Vivian
Movie
2005
66%

Fair Game

Actor
Cheryl
Movie
2005

Hair Show

Actor
Angela
Movie
2004

The Bernie Mac ShowStream

Actor
Wanda Mac
Series
2001

Kingdom ComeStream

Actor
Bernice
Movie
2001
27%

Retiring Tatiana

Actor
CeCe
Movie
2000

Masquerade

Actor
Monica
Movie
2000

The ParkersStream

Guest Star
Series
1999

Dangerous Minds

Guest Star
Series
1996

The Jamie Foxx ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

Malcolm & EddieStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

The Steve Harvey ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

Nash BridgesStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

High Incident

Guest Star
Show
1996

MoeshaStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

The Parent 'HoodStream

Guest Star
Series
1995

The Wayans Bros.Stream

Guest Star
Series
1995

Sister, SisterStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
Mrs. Childs
Series
1993
83%

Hangin' with Mr. CooperStream

Guest Star
Series
1992

MartinStream

Guest Star
Series
1992