Regina King, an American actress, has gained recognition for her exceptional acting skills in movies and TV shows like If Beale Street Could Talk and American Crime. In 1985, at the age of a teenager, she made her acting debut in the sitcom called 227, playing a supporting role.
After attending Westchester High School, she proceeded to enroll at the University of Southern California. She began her acting career in the movie Boyz n the Hood in 1991 and continued to take on minor roles in subsequent films like Higher Learning, Jerry Maguire, and Enemy of the State.
Regina King Movie Career
King’s acting journey commenced in 1985 when she joined the cast of the NBC sitcom “227.” She portrayed the character of Brenda Jenkins, the daughter of a couple residing in the inner-city, portrayed by Marla Gibbs and Hal Williams. King’s portrayal earned her two nominations at the Young Artist Awards in 1986 and 1987. “227” aired for a total of 116 episodes until 1990.
After “227” ended, Regina King was cast in a supporting role in John Singleton’s highly praised 1991 directorial debut “Boyz n the Hood.” She then went on to appear in Singleton’s following two films: 1993’s “Poetic Justice,” where she starred alongside Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, and 1995’s “Higher Learning,” which featured a star-studded cast including Omar Epps, Ice Cube, Jennifer Connelly, Tyra Banks, and Laurence Fishburne.
Additionally, in 1995, King played a minor character in the successful comedic film “Friday,” which featured Ice Cube and Chris Tucker as the lead duo.
The following year, she had a part in the Martin Lawrence movie “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” and her performance in the popular romantic comedy “Jerry Maguire” earned her widespread acclaim.
King’s success continued to grow as she landed significant parts in popular movies such as “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Enemy of the State,” “Mighty Joe Young,” and “Love and Action in Chicago.”
During the 2000s, King’s focus shifted to comedy films, and she starred in a string of comedic hits such as “Down to Earth,” “Daddy Day Care,” “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,” “A Cinderella Story,” “Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous,” and “This Christmas.”
During that time, she had a small number of dramatic roles, including her portrayal of R&B singer Margie Hendrix in the 2004 music biopic “Ray” alongside Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles.
In 2018, King took on a significant dramatic role in the romantic movie “If Beale Street Could Talk,” which was an adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel. As Sharon Rivers, she portrayed a determined mother fighting to prove her daughter’s boyfriend’s innocence.
This performance earned Regina King multiple accolades, including the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She continued to excel in her craft with notable parts in the 2021 films “Flag Day” and “The Harder They Fall.”
Aside from her acting career, King has also established herself as a director. She first dabbled in directing in 2013 with an episode of “Southland.”
She then went on to direct six episodes of the BET drama “Being Mary Jane” and two episodes of the ABC political thriller “Scandal.” King has also directed various episodes of shows such as “The Catch,” “Animal Kingdom,” “Greenleaf,” “Pitch,” “This is Us,” “Shameless,” “The Good Doctor,” and “Insecure.”
Personal Life
In 1997, Regina King tied the knot with Ian Alexander, who was previously a vice president at Warner Bros. studio. Despite their son being born during their marriage, they eventually divorced in 2007.
Regina has credited her mother as her source of inspiration, as she too wanted to be independent and avoid marriage. However, her feelings for Ian ultimately led her to change her mind and walk down the aisle.
In January 2022, Ian Alexander Jr., the only son of actress Regina King, passed away shortly after celebrating his 26th birthday.
Net Worth
Regina King, known for her role as Brenda Jenkins on the NBC sitcom “227,” has achieved recognition as both an actress and director. Her net worth is estimated to be $16 million.
