Lela Rochon - wikipedia Lela Rochon Lela Rochon Rochon with husband Antoine Fuqua at the 2007 Shooter Film Premiere. Lela Rochon Staples ( 1964 - 04 - 17 ) April 17, 1964 ( age 53 ) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Education Cerritos High School California State University, Dominguez Hills Occupation Actress Years active 1984 -- present Spouse ( s ) Adolfo Quiñones ( m. 1982 -- 87 ) Antoine Fuqua ( m. 1999 ) Children Lela Rochon ( born Lela Rochon Staples ; April 17, 1964 ) is an American actress, best known for her breakthrough role as Robin Stokes in the 1995 romantic drama film Waiting to Exhale. She later had starring roles in films The Chamber ( 1996 ), Gang Related ( 1997 ), Knock Off ( 1998 ), and Why Do Fools Fall in Love ( 1998 ). Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Early works 2.2 Breakthrough 2.3 2000s - present 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 4.1 Film 4.2 Television 5 References 6 External links Early life Rochon was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Zelma, a nurse practitioner, and Samuel Staples, a business owner and graphic artist, who are both of Haitian descent. She graduated Cerritos High School in Cerritos, California. She attended California State University, Dominguez Hills where she earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism, with minors in Sociology and Theatre. Career Early works From 1986 to 1988, while attending college, Rochon was one of the `` Spudettes '' featured in over 30 national spots for the Spuds Mckenzie Budweiser / Bud Light TV commercials. She also appeared in the 1985 made - for - television film A Bunny 's Tale starring Kirstie Alley and Delta Burke, based on Gloria Steinem 's experiences as a Playboy Bunny. She appeared as the love interest of Gerald Levert in the video for `` My Forever Love '' by Levert, and in Luther Vandross 's `` It 's Over Now '' video. She also appeared in the music video for Lionel Richie 's single `` All Night Long ( All Night ) '', in Al B. Sure 's video for the song `` Natalie ''., and in Tupac Shakur 's video `` I Get Around as one of the female dancers. She had many guest starring roles in a number of sitcoms, include The Cosby Show, Amen, 227, The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air, and Hangin ' with Mr. Cooper. Rochon made her film debut in 1985, when she starred opposite Fred Williamson in Fox Trap. In 1987, she played the role of Debby in the film The Wild Pair, starring Beau Bridges and Bubba Smith. In 1989, Rochon acted opposite Eddie Murphy in 1989 's Harlem Nights, as the memorable `` Sunshine '' character. She again worked with Murphy in the successful 1992 romantic comedy, Boomerang. In 1995, she was regular cast member during the first season of The WB sitcom, The Wayans Bros. Breakthrough Rochon ' biggest break came in 1995, when she landed one of the lead roles opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine in the adaptation of the Terry McMillan novel and highly successful drama film Waiting to Exhale. She played the character Robin Stokes, for which she was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. Rochon was chosen by People magazine as one of the `` 50 most beautiful people in the world '' in 1996. In 1996, Rochon starred opposite Timothy Hutton in the Showtime cable network film Mr. and Mrs. Loving, receiving a Cable Ace Award nomination for Best Actress. Later that year, she played the female lead in the crime thriller film The Chamber. The following year, she starred alongside Jim Belushi and Tupac Shakur in the crime thriller Gang Related. In 1998, Rochon had the leading role alongside Halle Berry and Vivica A. Fox in the romantic drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and well starred in Knock Off with Jean - Claude Van Damme, and The Big Hit, as love interest to Mark Wahlberg 's leading character. In 1999, she appeared in Any Given Sunday directed by Oliver Stone. In 2001, Rochon made her return to television with one of leading roles alongside Bonnie Bedelia, Nancy McKeon, Tracey Needham, and Lisa Vidal in the Lifetime crime drama series, The Division. She left the series after single season. 2000s - present In 2004, Rochon co-starred opposite Katie Holmes in the romantic comedy film First Daughter. In 2009, she had cameo in crime drama Brooklyn 's Finest directed by her husband, Antoine Fuqua. In 2013, she played one of leading roles in Regina King 's directorial debut Let The Church Say Amen, the film adaptation of ReShonda Tate Billingsley 's 2005 novel for BET. She later had roles in films Supremacy ( 2014 ) with Danny Glover and Derek Luke, and Reversion ( 2015 ), playing Aja Naomi King 's character 's mother. Personal life Rochon was married to actor Shabba - Doo from 1982 to 1987. In 1999, she married film director Antoine Fuqua. Together, they have two children, Asia and Brando. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 Breakin ' Extra Uncredited 1984 Breakin ' 2 : Electric Boogaloo Dancer 1985 A Bunny 's Tale Charlotte Television film 1986 Foxtrap Lindy 1986 Stewardess School School Instructor The Wild Pair Debby Into the Homeland Exquisite Woman Harlem Nights Sunshine 1991 Extralarge : Black and White Wendy 1992 Boomerang Christie 1993 The Meteor Man Vanessa 1995 Waiting to Exhale Robin Stokes Nominated -- MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Mr. and Mrs. Loving Mildred Loving Television film Nominated -- CableACE Award for Outstanding Actress in a Movie or Miniseries The Chamber Nora Stark 1997 Gang Related Cynthia Webb 1997 Legal Deceit Sydney Banks 1998 Ruby Bridges Lucielle ' Lucy ' Bridges Television film 1998 The Big Hit Chantel 1998 Knock Off Karen Lee 1998 Why Do Fools Fall in Love Emira Eagle 1999 Any Given Sunday Vanessa Struthers 1999 The Charlotte Austin Story Charlotte Austin Also executive producer 2000 Labor Pains Lulu Brown First Daughter Liz Pappas 2006 Running Out of Time in Hollywood 2009 Balancing the Books Sharlene Also executive producer 2009 Brooklyn 's Finest Investigator Cameo Blood Done Sign My Name Roseanna Allen 2013 Let the Church Say Amen Loretta Jackson Television film 2014 Supremacy Odessa 2015 Reversion Maya Television Year Title Role Notes The Facts of Life Diana Episode : `` The Greek Connection '' The Cosby Show Veronica Episode : `` The Shower '' Amen Young Bride Episode : `` Wedding Bell Blues '' 1990 21 Jump Street Denise Price Episode : `` Change of Heart '' 1990 227 Leslie Episode : `` Gone Fishing '' 1990 1st & Ten Joy Brock Episode : `` Do n't Powerburst My Bubble '' 1991 Generations Brandy Alexander Recurring role 1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air Cindy Episode : `` Will Gets a Job '' 1992 Homefront Mary Louise Episode : `` At Your Age '' 1992 Roc Carol Episode : `` Roc Throws Joey Out '' 1992 Tales from the Crypt Mercedes Episode : `` Werewolf Concerto '' 1993 Out All Night Victoria Episode : `` Mall in the Family '' 1993 The Sinbad Show Denise Episode : `` Pilot '' Hangin ' with Mr. Cooper Denise Episode : `` The Courtship of Mark Cooper '' 1995 The Wayans Bros. Lisa Series regular, 13 episodes 1997 The Outer Limits Beth Carter Episode : `` The Awakening '' The Division Inspector Angela Reide Series regular, 22 episodes 2011 Reed Between the Lines Sherri Episode : `` Let 's Talk About Affairs '' References Jump up ^ `` Angela Bassett Reaches a Stellar Groove at Last ''. The Los Angeles Times. 1996 - 03 - 30. Retrieved 2010 - 12 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Model, Movies, and Most Beautiful ''. Retrieved 4 June 2014. Jump up ^ Lela Rochon Biography ( 1964 ? - ). Filmreference.com. Retrieved on 2012 - 06 - 12. Jump up ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1998. ISSN 0021 - 5996. Jump up ^ Levert. `` My Forever Love ''. music video. mtv.com. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ Sure !, Al B. `` Natalie ''. music video. mtv.com. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ Tony Scott. `` The Wayans Bros. ''. Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Lela Rochon ''. Retrieved 6 January 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Lela Rochon ''. Hollywood.com. Retrieved 6 January 2016. Jump up ^ Tambay A. Obenson ( 14 September 2012 ). `` Steve Harris, Naturi Naughton, Lela Rochon Headline Regin - Shadow and Act ''. Shadow and Act. Retrieved 6 January 2016. Jump up ^ Tambay A. Obenson ( 26 June 2014 ). `` Deon Taylor 's Racially - Charged Thriller ' Supremacy ' Picke - Shadow and Act ''. Shadow and Act. Retrieved 6 January 2016. Jump up ^ Dave McNary. `` Danny Glover Supremacy U.S. Distribution - Variety ''. Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2016. Jump up ^ Tambay A. Obenson ( 18 September 2015 ). `` EXCLUSIVE Trailer & Poster : Aja Naomi King Headlines Sci - - Shadow and Act ''. Shadow and Act. Retrieved 6 January 2016. External links Lela Rochon on IMDb VIAF : 74050940 LCCN : no97049488 ISNI : 0000 0000 7841 022X SUDOC : 079010725 BNF : cb140269242 ( data ) IATH : w6z61jmn Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lela_Rochon&oldid=790464151 '' Categories : 1964 births American film actresses Actresses of Haitian descent American television actresses Living people People from Cerritos, California Actresses from Los Angeles 20th - century American actresses 21st - century American actresses Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch فارسی Français Italiano Kreyòl ayisyen 日本 語 Português Русский Suomi Edit links This page was last edited on 13 July 2017, at 22 : 37. 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Question: who played sunshine in the movie harlem nights
Answer: Rochon