Kym Elizabeth Whitley (born July 21, 1962) is an American comedian and actress. She is best known for her roles on television sitcoms, such as Animal Practice, The Boondocks, Young & Hungry, The Parkers, and Black Dynamite. 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 | |
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![]() Whitley at the Comic Con in San Diego, 2011 | |
Born | Kym Elizabeth Whitley (1962-07-21) July 21, 1962 (age 60) Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S. |
Alma mater | Fisk University |
Occupation | Comedian, actress |
Years active | 1989–present |
Television | Raising Whitley |
Children | 1 |
Website | http://www.kymwhitley.org |
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]
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] she's been a recurring guest host on E! Daily Pop & Nightly pop since December 2020
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]
Whitley has two older brothers, Kyle and Scott.[3]
In January 2011, Whitley adopted her son, Joshua.[2][14][15]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Seven Thirty-Five | Whitley | Short |
1999 | Silk Hope | Grace | TV Movie |
Beverly Hood | Nola Washington | ||
2000 | Next Friday | Auntie Suga | |
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps | Party Guest | ||
A Private Affair | Cheryl | TV Movie | |
2001 | Baby Boy | Host | |
House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute | Judy Harris/Jon Jon's Mom | Video | |
2002 | What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway | Ms. Wells | TV Movie |
2003 | Deliver Us from Eva | Ormandy | |
Love Chronicles | Renee | ||
Malibooty! | Donna | Video | |
2004 | Along Came Polly | Gladys | |
Up Against the 8 Ball | Mrs. Thompson | ||
2005 | The Salon | Lashaunna | |
The Golden Blaze | Mother Johnson (voice) | Video | |
The Perfect Man | Dolores | ||
L.A. Dicks | Madame Opal | ||
Fun with Dick and Jane | Kostmart Training Leader | ||
The Catch | Honey Commons | TV Movie | |
2006 | Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness | Ms. Attitude (voice) | TV Movie |
Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street | Ms. Attitude (voice) | TV Movie | |
Robin Harris: Live from the Comedy Act Theater | Herself | Video | |
2007 | Making It Legal | Theresa | TV Movie |
Angels Can't Help But Laugh | Herself | Documentary | |
2008 | College Road Trip | Michelle Porter | |
The Hustle | Miss Tanya | ||
Crusin' for Love with Kym Whitley | Kym Whitley | ||
Untitled Kanye West HBO Project | Kanye's Mother | ||
Cuttin' da Mustard | - | ||
2009 | Black Dynamite | Honeybee | |
I Love You, Man | Female Co-Worker | ||
Donation | Cashier Keisha | Short | |
Straight from the Horses Mouth | Herself | Video | |
Standing-n-Truth: Breaking the Silence | Herself | Documentary | |
Secrets of Life | Herself | Documentary | |
2010 | Heaven Ain't Hard to Find | Sis. Hattie May | |
Group Sex | Tiffany | Video | |
The Woman in the Red Dress | The Detective's Wife | Short | |
Something Like a Business | Sasha | ||
2011 | Rango | Melonee (voice) | [16] |
Taking Liberties (?) | Sarah | Short | |
35 and Ticking | Shavelle | [17] | |
Sebastian | Roxanne | ||
We Bought a Zoo | Cashier | ||
Saggin' in the A-T-L... | Herself | Documentary | |
2012 | Boosters | Tina | |
Sistaah Friend | Publicist | Video short | |
Silent No More | Ms. Carolyn | ||
C'mon Man | Herself | ||
2013 | Ticket to Vegas | Monik | |
Anything is Possible | Ms. Kim | ||
Why We Laugh: Funny Women | Herself | Documentary | |
Kym Whitley Harlem Shake | Herself | Short | |
2014 | A Haunted House 2 | Church Lady | |
2015 | The Biz | Casting Director | TV Short |
2017 | Fist Fight | 911 Operator | |
2018 | She Get it from Her Mama | Lena | Short |
The Weekend | Karen Barber | ||
2019 | Love Dot Com: The Social Experiment | Aunty Kathy | |
2020 | Pandemically Single | Rose Carter | |
Hubie Halloween | Farmer Louise | ||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Vinnie & Bobby | Glodine | Episode: "Spring Is in the Air" |
1994 | My Brother and Me | Mrs. Pinckney | Recurring Cast |
1995 | The Parent Hood | Muriel | Episode: "Wendell and Muriel's Wedding" |
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 Cast |
1998 | The Wayans Bros. | Phyllis | Episode: "Misery" |
Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | Cheer Instructor | Episode: "Scrubs" | |
1999 | Arli$$ | Susan Caldwell | Episode: "Our Past, Our Present, Our Future" |
2000 | Grown Ups | Kim | Episode: "Valentine J" |
Moesha | Gertrude Lowe | Episode: "The Candidate" | |
Intimate Portrait | Herself | Episode: "Robin Givens" | |
2001–02 | Oh, Drama! | Herself/Hostess | TV Series |
2001–04 | The Parkers | Gertrude "Gertie" Lowe | Recurring Cast |
2002 | My Wife and Kids | Wanda | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
2003 | The Proud Family | Caramel Jones/Mamma (voice) | Episode: "Hooray for Iesha" & "Adventures in BeBe-Sitting" |
The Real Roseanne Show | Herself | Episode: "Domestic Goddess" | |
2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Monena | Episode: "The Car Pool Lane" |
Significant Others | Nurse | Episode: "Intercourse, an Official Gathering & a Big Fat Lie" | |
1-800-Missing | DEA Agent Dominique Shaw | Episode: "Domestic Bliss" | |
One on One | Liza | Episode: "Who Brought the Jive Turkey?" | |
Wanda Does It | Herself | Episode: "Wanda Does Photos" | |
Discovery Health Celebrity Body Challenge | Herself | Episode: "Spa Day" | |
2005 | That's So Raven | Cousin Vicky | Episode: "Country Cousins: Part 1 & 2" |
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law | Waitress/Norlisa (voice) | Episode: "Booty Noir" & "Harvey's Civvy" | |
Grey's Anatomy | Yvonne | Episode: "Into You Like a Train" | |
Ego Trip's Race-O-Rama | Herself | TV Series Documentary | |
Made You Look: Top 25 Moments of BET History | Herself | TV Series Documentary | |
Behind the Scenes at the Michael Jackson Trial | Herself | Video Documentary | |
2005–10 | The Boondocks | Various characters | Recurring Cast |
2006 | Love, Inc | Arsenetta | Episode: "Arrested Development" |
Reno 911! | Kay Kay | Episode: "The Junior Brothers" | |
Class of 3000 | Drama Student (voice) | Episode: "Peanuts! Get Yer Peanuts!" | |
Standoff | Angela Worthington | Episode: "Accidental Negotiator" | |
History of Curb Your Enthusiasm: So Far | Herself | Video Documentary short | |
History of Curb Your Enthusiasm: Even Further | Herself | Video Documentary short | |
2007 | Comics Unleashed | Herself | 2 Episodes |
In the Company of Friends | Herself | TV Special | |
2008 | 1st Amendment Stand Up | Herself | Episode: "Kym Whitley/Ray Lipowski/Steve Brown" |
Baisden After Dark | Herself | Episode: "Shacking Up" | |
2008–09 | 'Til Death | Tina | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
2009 | An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Patti LaBelle | Herself | TV Special |
Black to the Future | Herself | TV Series | |
TV One's Roast and Toast: John Witherspoon | Herself | TV Special | |
2009–13 | The Cleveland Show | Auntie Momma | Recurring Cast |
2010 | Jonas | Officer Evie | Episode: "And... Action!" |
The Brian McKnight Show | Herself/Co-Hostess | TV Series | |
Curb: The Discussion | Herself | Episode: "The Lefty Call" | |
RnB Live Hollywood presents | Herself | TV Series | |
School Pride | Herself | Main Cast | |
2010–11 | Meet the Browns | Yvonne | Episode: "Meet the Neighbor" & "Meet the Knock-Off" |
2011 | A Series of Unfortunate People | Dr. Kent | Episode: "She's in a Better Place" |
Childrens Hospital | Black Administrator | Episode: "The Black Doctor" | |
Nick Swardson's Pretend Time | Baneequwa | Episode: "Show Me on the Doll" | |
Hot in Cleveland | Jada | Episode: "Elka's Choice" | |
Wedding Fabulous: Sherri Shepherd Gets Married | Herself | TV Special | |
2011–12 | The Life & Times of Tim | Tanya Miller | 2 Episodes |
2011–14 | Let's Stay Together | Charmaine Wax | Recurring Cast: Season 1-2, Guest: Season 4 |
2011–15 | Black Dynamite | Honeybee | Main Cast |
2012–13 | Animal Practice | Juanita | Main Cast |
2013 | 2 Broke Girls | Shirley | Episode: "And the Big Hole" & "And the Worst Selfie Ever" |
Mommy in Chief | Herself | Episode: "Actress Kym Whitley Talks New Baby & Food Allergies for Kids" | |
Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious | Herself | TV Series | |
Exhale | Herself | Episode: "Entertainment" | |
The 365Black Awards | Herself/Gold Carpet Host | TV Special | |
2013–14 | Baby Daddy | Margaret Jenson | Episode: "Whatever Lola Wants" & "An Affair Not to Remember" |
2013–16 | Raising Whitley | Herself | Main Cast |
2014 | One Love | Mrs. Frock | Episode: "Tea-Ball" |
Mind of a Man | Herself/Panelist | 4 Episodes | |
Apollo Night LA | Herself/Celebrity Host | TV Series | |
Oprah's Lifeclass | Herself | Episode: "Oprah, Iyanla, Actress Nia Long & Tyler Perry: The Single Moms Club Part 2" | |
London Garcia Entertainment Show | Herself | Episode: "Ernest Borgnine Tribute honoring Joe Mantegna" | |
The King Assassin Show | Herself | Main Cast | |
Life with La Toya | Herself | Episode: "What Happens in Vegas..." & "The Big Announcement" | |
TakePart Live | Herself/Guest | Episode: "Episode #3.19" | |
2014–18 | Young & Hungry | Yolanda | Main Cast |
2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Aunt Cudi | Episode: "Judy Greer Wears a Navy Blouse and Strappy Sandals" |
2015–16 | The Bay | Big Candi | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
2016 | Kocktails with Khloé | Herself | Episode: "The Happiest Hour" |
It's Not You, It's Men | Herself | Episode: "The Playbook Exposed" | |
Botched | Herself | Episode: "Pinched Perfect" | |
Celebrity Food Fight | Herself | Episode: "Greg Grunberg Goes Gooey" | |
Celebrity Name Game | Herself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "David Alan Grier & Kym Whitley #1 & #2 & #3" | |
2017 | Master of None | Joyce | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
Curb Your Enthusiasm | Monena | Episode: "Never Wait for Seconds!" | |
2018 | Marlon | Lovey | Episode: "Sisters" |
Forever | Sharon | Recurring Cast | |
2018–19 | Pinky Malinky | Mrs. Malinky (voice) | Recurring Cast |
2019 | Fuller House | Mayor Boone | Episodes: "The Mayor's Bird" |
Worst Cooks In America: Celebrity Edition | Herself | Season 16: Celebrity Edition 5 | |
2019-21 | The Neighborhood | LaTonya | Episode: "Welcome to Bowling" & "Welcome to the Invasion" |
2020 | Twenties | Esther | Recurring Cast |
blackAF | Aunt Nadine | Episode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery" | |
Two Degrees | Kym | Episode: "DATING MYself" | |
Mr. Iglesias | Mrs. Webber | Episode: "Playing Favorites" | |
2021 | Baby Shark's Big Show! | Toothfish Fairy (voice) | Episode: "Baby Tooth/Slobber Slug" |
Call Your Mother | Barbara | Episode: "One Bad Mother" | |
2021-22 | Made For Love | Judiff | Recurring Cast |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
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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] |
2022 | 53rd Annual NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast | Two Funny Mamas Podcast | Won |
General | |
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National libraries |