# Essence Atkins

Essence Uhura Atkins (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. She began her career appearing on television sitcoms, before her regular role on the African-American prime-time drama Under One Roof (CBS, 1995).
Atkins is best known for her roles on television comedies. From 1997 to 1999, she starred as Tasha Yvette Henderson in The WB sitcom Smart Guy. She later went to star as Dee Dee Thorne in UPN sitcom Half & Half (2002–2006), Suzanne Kingston-Persons in TBS sitcom Are We There Yet? (2010–2013) and as Ashley Wayne in NBC sitcom Marlon (2017–2018). In film, Atkins has appeared in How High (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Dance Flick (2009), A Haunted House (2013), A Haunted House 2 (2014), and The Noel Diary (2022).

## Career

Atkins began her career as a teenager guest starring on NBC sitcom The Cosby Show in 1986. The following years she spent playing guest roles on sitcoms include Family Matters, before landing co-leading role opposite James Earl Jones and Vanessa Bell Calloway in the African-American prime-time soap opera Under One Roof in 1995. The following year, she co-starred with Keri Russell in the NBC teen soap opera Malibu Shores. One of her television roles was in the Saved by the Bell spin-off, Saved by the Bell: The College Years in 1993. She appeared in the pilot, but when Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, a regular from the original, opted to return, Atkins's character was written out.
From 1997 to 1999, Atkins starred in the WB sitcom Smart Guy as the older sister Tasha Yvette Henderson. From 2002 to 2006 she starred alongside Rachel True in the UPN sitcom Half & Half playing Dee Dee Thorne, her half-sister. She also had supporting roles in films How High (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003) opposite Gabrielle Union, and Dance Flick (2009). From 2010 to 2013, she starred in the TBS sitcom series Are We There Yet? opposite Terry Crews. Atkins later starred alongside Marlon Wayans in the parody films A Haunted House (2013) and A Haunted House 2 (2014). In 2016, she was cast opposite Wayans in his NBC sitcom Marlon. it was canceled after two seasons in 2018.
In 2019, Atkins was cast in a leading role in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series Ambitions opposite Robin Givens.

## Personal life

In September 2009, Atkins married All-American collegiate football free safety Jaime Mendez. They met Valentine's Day 2008 through the online dating service Match.com. Her Half and Half co-star Valarie Pettiford performed during the reception.
They divorced in 2016.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Nikita's Blues | Nikita | Short |
| 2000 | Love Song | Toni | TV movie |
| 2001 | Nikita Blues | Nikita | |
| 2001 | Looking Through Lillian | Andrea | |
| 2001 | XCU: Extreme Close Up | Tamikah Jones | |
| 2001 | How High | Jamie | |
| 2003 | Deliver Us from Eva | Kareenah Dandridge | |
| 2007 | Love... & Other 4 Letter Words | Roxanne | |
| 2008 | Love for Sale | Candace | |
| 2009 | Dance Flick | Charity | |
| 2010 | Preacher's Kid | Peaches | |
| 2010 | N-Secure | Robin Joyner | |
| 2011 | The Bachelor Party | Michelle | Video |
| 2012 | Dysfunctional Friends | Alice | |
| 2012 | From This Day Forward | Patrice | TV movie |
| 2013 | A Haunted House | Kisha Davis | |
| 2013 | Act Like You Love Me | Kelly | |
| 2013 | My Sisters Wedding | Tandy | |
| 2013 | Holiday Road Trip | Clara | TV movie |
| 2014 | A Haunted House 2 | Kisha Davis | |
| 2014 | Girlfriends' Getaway | Lauren | TV movie |
| 2014 | My Other Mother | Candy | TV movie |
| 2015 | Sister Code | Corrine Wells | |
| 2015 | Battle Scars | Elsie Ramirez | |
| 2015 | Girlfriends' Getaway 2 | Lauren | TV movie |
| 2016 | You Can't Hurry Love | Camille | TV movie |
| 2017 | Solstice Ranch | Lola Solstice | Short |
| 2017 | Illicit | Nadine | |
| 2018 | Coins for Christmas | Madison Morris | TV movie |
| 2019 | Same Difference | Tonya/Shauna | |
| 2020 | Open | Wren | TV movie |
| 2020 | The Sin Choice | Rebecca Anderson | |
| 2020 | Coins for Love | Madison Morris | TV movie |
| 2021 | Coins Forever | Madison Morris | TV movie |
| 2022 | The Noel Diary | Noel Ellis | |
| 2023 | Angie's Cure | Sheila Hart | |
| 2024 | One Night Stay | April | |
| 2024 | Sea Cloud Park | Judy | Short |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986–89 | The Cosby Show | Paula Young | Guest Cast: Season 3 & 6 |
| 1991 | Charlie Hoover | Amy | Episode: "Out of the Frying Pan" |
| 1992 | Family Matters | Becky | Episode: "Brown Bombshell" |
| 1992 | Here and Now | Khalila | Episode: "Love Handles" & "A.J.'s Big Leap" |
| 1993 | Saved by the Bell: The College Years | Danielle Marks | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1995 | Under One Roof | Charlotte "Charlie" Langston | Main Cast |
| 1995 | The Wayans Bros. | Nina | Episode: "Farmer's Daughter" |
| 1996 | The Parent 'Hood | Chantel | Episode: "One Man and a Baby" |
| 1996 | Malibu Shores | Julie Tate | Main Cast |
| 1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Jocelyn | Episode: "The Blues Traveller" & "Cheeses H. Taste" |
| 1997–99 | Smart Guy | Yvette Henderson | Main Cast |
| 1998 | Promised Land | Rachel | Episode: "Mirror Image" |
| 1999 | Moesha | Piper Davis | Episode: "The Party's Over (Here)" & "Unappreciated Interest" |
| 2000 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Marnie | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| 2002 | For Your Love | Genesis | Episode: "The Missing Link" |
| 2002–06 | Half & Half | Deirdre Chantal "Dee Dee" Thorne | Main Cast |
| 2004 | MADtv | Herself | Episode: "Episode #10.7" |
| 2005 | Love, Inc. | Renee | Episode: "Mad About You" |
| 2007 | The Class | Melanie Deacon | Episode: "The Class Has to Go to a Stupid Museum" |
| 2007 | House | Capt. Greta Cooper | Episode: "The Right Stuff" |
| 2009 | Nite Tales: The Series | Shandra | Episode: "Dark Heart" |
| 2010 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Monica | Recurring Cast: Season 6 |
| 2010–13 | Are We There Yet? | Suzanne Kingston-Persons | Main Cast |
| 2011 | Life After | Herself | Episode: "AJ Johnson" |
| 2012–15 | Mr. Box Office | Samantha Owens | Main Cast |
| 2013 | Annual Trumpet Awards | Herself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host |
| 2016 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Episode: "Episode #3.10" |
| 2017 | Face Value | Herself/Team Captain | Episode: "Essence Atkins v Affion Crockett" |
| 2017 | Kiki Mobile | Herself | Episode: "Kiki Hits the Trails" |
| 2017 | The Great Indoors | Denise | Episode: "The Heartbreaker" |
| 2017–18 | Marlon | Ashley Wayne | Main Cast |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Hannah | Episode: "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade" |
| 2019 | Carol's Second Act | Kathleen | Episode: "Game Changer" |
| 2019 | Ambitions | Amara Hughesken | Main Cast |
| 2020 | Behind Her Faith | Herself | Episode: "Essence Atkins" |
| 2021–22 | First Wives Club | Maxine Hart | Recurring Cast: Season 2-3 |
| 2022 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Chef Rayna | Episode: "Bounce Them Coochies, Y'all!" |
| 2022 | Family Reunion | Maureen | Episode: "Remember the New Beginning?" |
| 2023 | Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50 | Herself | Main Guest |
| 2023 | The Ms. Pat Show | Charnelle | Episode: "Twenty Seven Side Pieces" |
| 2023 | The Company You Keep | Shelby | Episode: "Pilot" & "The Art of the Steel" |
| 2024 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Renee Holcomb | Episode: "The Dream Scheme" |
| 2024 | Poppa's House | Ivy | Main Cast |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Awards | Category | Movie/Serie | Outcome |
| 2003 | NAACP Image Award | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | "Half & Half" | Nominated |
| 2011 | NAACP Image Award | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | "Are We There Yet?" | Nominated |
| 2017 | NAACP Image Award | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | "Marlon" | Nominated |