Shari Headley - wikipedia Shari Headley Shari Headley ( 1964 - 07 - 15 ) July 15, 1964 ( age 53 ) Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. Occupation Actress model Years active 1977 -- present Known for Lisa McDowell -- Coming to America Spouse ( s ) Christopher Martin ( m. 1993 ; div. 1995 ) Children Website shariheadley.com Shari Headley ( born July 15, 1964 ) is an American actress and former model. Headley is best known for her role as Lisa McDowell in the 1988 box - office hit romantic comedy film, Coming to America. Headley also has appeared in films The Preacher 's Wife ( 1996 ) and Johnson Family Vacation ( 2004 ). On television, Headley starred as Det. Mimi Reed in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children on a regular basis from 1991 to 1994. As lead actress, she starred in the Fox short - lived drama series, 413 Hope St. ( 1997 - 1998 ), for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nomination. In 2014, Headley began starring as villainous Jennifer Sallison in the Oprah Winfrey Network primetime soap opera, The Haves and the Have Nots. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life and career 1.2 Career 2 Personal life 3 Filmography 3.1 Film 3.2 Television 3.3 Music videos 4 References 5 External links Biography Early life and career Born in Queens, New York, Headley was the youngest of four children. Headley is part - Trinidadian descent. Headley began her career as a model, appearing in magazines such as Glamour and Mademoiselle. Career Headley made her acting debut appearing in an episode of NBC sitcom The Cosby Show in 1985. Headley later has appeared on Miami Vice, Quantum Leap, and Matlock. In 1988, she was cast in the female leading role opposite Eddie Murphy in the romantic comedy film, Coming to America. The film was a box - office success grossing worldwide total of $288,752,301. The following year, Headley had starring role alongside Louis Gossett, Jr. in the short - lived ABC drama series, Gideon Oliver. Later that year, she co-starred in the Kojak television film series. In 1991, Headley joined the cast of ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children playing police officer Mimi Reed. At the 25th NAACP Image Awards, she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series nomination, but lost to Victoria Rowell. She was regular on All My Children from 1991 to 1994, and returned to the series in 1995 and 2005. After leaving the soap, she guest - starred on New York Undercover, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Cosby. In 1996, she had supporting role in the comedy - drama film The Preacher 's Wife directed by Penny Marshall. In 1997, Headley has landed a leading role in the short - lived FOX drama series, 413 Hope St. alongside Richard Roundtree. The series was cancelled after only ten episodes, but Headley received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her performance. In early 2000s, Headley returned to daytime television playing the recurring roles on Guiding Light ( 2001 - 2002 ) and The Bold and the Beautiful ( 2004 - 2005 ). In 2004, she played Mack Johnson 's ( portrayed by Steve Harvey ) wife Jacqueline in the comedy film, Johnson Family Vacation. In 2007, she appeared in the comedy - drama film Towelhead. She also had guest starring roles on Veronica Mars, House, Castle, and Switched at Birth. In 2014, she joined the cast of Oprah Winfrey Network primetime soap opera, The Haves and the Have Nots created by Tyler Perry, playing District Attorney Jennifer Sallison. She was promoted to series regular as of season four. Personal life Headley was married to actor / entertainer Christopher Martin, better known as `` Play '' from the hip - hop duo Kid N ' Play from May 1993 until they divorced in June 1995. In April 1994, Headley gave birth to their son, Skyler Martin. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Coming to America Lisa McDowell 1989 Kojak : Ariana Trish Van Hogan Television film 1990 Kojak : None So Blind Trish Van Hogan Television film The Preacher 's Wife Arlene Chattan A Woman Like That Herself Johnson Family Vacation Jacqueline Johnson 2007 Towelhead Mrs. Bradley 2008 Belly 2 : Millionaire Boyz Club Alexis Direct - to - video 2013 Act Like You Love Me Tianna 2014 The Congregation Maple 2015 Ex-Free Wendy Television Year Title Role Notes 1985 The Cosby Show Expectant Mother Two episodes 1986 Miami Vice Cindy Episode : `` French Twist '' 1989 Gideon Oliver Zina Oliver Three episodes 1990 Quantum Leap Violet Walters Episode : `` Pool Hall Blues '' 1990 Matlock Carla Royce Episode : `` The Cover Girl '' 1991 -- 1994 ; 1995 ; 2005 All My Children Det. Mimi Reed Main Role 1995 New York Undercover Leanne Episode : `` Brotherhood '' Walker, Texas Ranger Vanessa St. John Episode : `` Behind the Badge '' Cosby Nude Model Episode : `` No Nudes Is Good Nudes '' 1997 -- 1998 413 Hope St. Juanita Barnes Ten episodes 1998 Love Boat : The Next Wave Barbara Episode : `` Smooth Sailing '' 1998 Getting Personal Fake Robyn Episode : `` Bring in ' Da Milo, Bring in ' Da Robyn '' 1998 Malcolm & Eddie Veronica Episode : `` Twisted Sisters '' 1998 For Your Love Maya Episode : `` The Sister Act '' 1999 The Wayans Bros. Dawn Two episodes 2001 -- 2002 The Guiding Light Felicia Boudreau Recurring Role 2003 Half & Half Barbara Episode : `` The Big Bitter Baby Shower Episode '' One on One Pamela Episode : `` Sleepless in Baltimore '' 2004 -- 2005 The Bold and the Beautiful Heather Engle Seven episodes 2005 Veronica Mars Vanessa Hamilton Episode : `` Lord of the Bling '' 2005 House M.D. Dr. Arlene Marks Episode : `` Kids '' 2009 Castle Nicole Cameron Episode : `` Love Me Dead '' 10 Things I Hate About You Marcheline Episode : `` The Winner Takes It All '' 2011 White Collar Isabel Wilson Episode : `` As You Were '' 2014 Love That Girl Maxine Episode : `` Gullible Is as Gullible Does '' 2014 -- 2016 The Haves and the Have Nots Jennifer Sallison Main Role Music videos Johnny Gill : `` Half Crazy '' ( 1985 ) Jonathan Butler : `` Sarah Sarah '' ( 1988 ) Blackstreet : `` Before I Let You Go '' ( 1994 ) Will Smith : `` Wild Wild West '' ( 1999 ) References Jump up ^ Ebony Magazine - I Knew It Was Love When... - February 1993 Jump up ^ JET Magzine - People Are Talking About... - March 29, 1993 Jump up ^ JET Magzine - EDDIE MURPHY AND ARSENIO HALL In The New Movie `` Coming To America '' - July 18, 1988 Jump up ^ `` Shari Headley Stars At Home And In The Community ''. fierceblackwoman.com. Retrieved 2 September 2017. Jump up ^ Ebony Magazine - The New Wave Of Black Starlets - March 1989 Jump up ^ `` Coming to America ''. 29 June 1988. Retrieved 7 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Coming to America ( 1988 ) - Box Office Mojo ''. Retrieved 7 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Crisis ''. Retrieved 7 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Wayans Takes a Detour to the Gritty Side With ' 413 Hope St. ' ''. latimes. Retrieved 7 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Image Award ''. Retrieved 7 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Johnson Family Vacation ''. 7 April 2004. Retrieved 7 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Towelhead ''. 8 September 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Shari Headley Stars at Home and in Community ''. Fierce for Black Women. 2014 - 06 - 10. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 08. External links Shari Headley on IMDb Shari Headley on Twitter VIAF : 31680197 LCCN : no2003027759 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shari_Headley&oldid=824585392 '' Categories : 1964 births 20th - century American actresses 21st - century American actresses Actresses from New York City African - American actresses American actresses American film actresses American people of Trinidad and Tobago descent American soap opera actresses American television actresses Living people People from Queens, New York Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Twitter username different from Wikidata Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu تۆرکجه Čeština Español فارسی Français Italiano Polski Português Русский اردو 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 8 February 2018, at 06 : 53. 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Question: who is the girl in coming to america
Answer: Shari Headley