# Terri J. Vaughn

Terri Juanita Vaughn (born October 16, 1969) is an American actress, director and producer. She is best known for her role as high school secretary Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson in The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show (1997–2002), for which she received three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She later co-starred in the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us (2003–2005), and TBS sitcom Meet the Browns (2009–2011).

## Career

In her early career, Vaughn appeared in the films Friday and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. She co-starred opposite Joan Severance in the comedy-action film Black Scorpion (1995) and its sequel, Black Scorpion II: Aftershock (1997). Later in 1997, Vaughn was cast as high school secretary Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson for the second season of The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show. She received three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on show. The series ended in 2002, and Vaughn later that year joined the cast of Showtime drama series Soul Food as Eva Holly. She received another NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination.
From 2003 to 2005, Vaughn was regular cast member on the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us. In 2007, she had supporting role in the Tyler Perry's comedy-drama film Daddy's Little Girls opposite Gabrielle Union, and later had a regular role on another of Perry's productions, Meet the Browns (2009-2011). She owns a production company alongside her business partner, Cas Sigers, called Nina Holiday Entertainment, that produced films such as Sugar Mommas, A Cross to Bear and Girlfriends' Getaway. In 2016, Vaughn made her directing debut with the comedy film #DigitalLivesMatter.
In 2016, Vaughn was cast in the recurring role as housekeeper in Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf opposite Keith David and Lynn Whitfield. In 2020 Vaughn had a recurring role as Robin in Shona Ferguson's South African TV series, Kings Of Jo'Burg shown on Netflix.

## Personal life

Vaughn grew up in San Francisco, California. She was married to Derrick Carolina and had a son, Daylen Ali (2001). She is currently married to former football player Karon Riley, and the couple have both a son and a daughter.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Student | |
| 1995 | Friday | China | |
| 1995 | Black Scorpion | Tender Lovin' | |
| 1995 | Excessive Force II: Force on Force | Grace | |
| 1996 | Don't Be a Menace | Keisha | |
| 1996 | Carnosaur 3: Primal Species | B.T. Coolidge | |
| 1997 | Black Scorpion II: Aftershock | Tender Lovin' | |
| 1997 | 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag | Flight Attendant | |
| 2000 | The Smoker | - | Short |
| 2003 | Detonator | Sharona Brown | |
| 2005 | Fair Game | Wanda | |
| 2005 | Exposure | Woman #1 | Short |
| 2006 | Stick It | Susie Mack | |
| 2007 | Dirty Laundry | Jackie | |
| 2007 | Daddy's Little Girls | Brenda | |
| 2007 | Redrum | Amber | |
| 2007 | Angels Can't Help But Laugh | Herself | |
| 2007 | Three Can Play That Game | Linda | |
| 2010 | Baby Mama's Club | Mrs. Lagos | |
| 2010 | Love Me or Leave Me | Sheila Edwards | TV movie |
| 2010 | This Time | Janet | Short |
| 2012 | Think Like a Man | Audience Member | |
| 2012 | Sugar Mommas | Sheila | TV movie |
| 2012 | The Marriage Chronicles | Kamel Jackson | |
| 2012 | Probable Cause | Tamika | |
| 2012 | Life, Love, Soul | Tiffany | |
| 2013 | Who Did I Marry? | Jennifer | |
| 2013 | Between Sisters | Benita | TV movie |
| 2013 | In the Meantime | Nina | TV movie |
| 2013 | Not 4 Sale | Juanita Poitier | Short |
| 2014 | Where's the Love? | Kai | TV movie |
| 2014 | Hamlet & Hutch | Kendall | Video |
| 2014 | Girlfriends' Getaway | Sophie | TV movie |
| 2014 | Breeze | Brenda | |
| 2015 | 72 Hours | Kia | |
| 2015 | Touched | Laura | |
| 2015 | Girlfriends' Getaway 2 | Sophie | TV movie |
| 2015 | Soul Ties | Ruth | |
| 2016 | Beat Street | Mayor Cummings | Video |
| 2017 | Love by Chance | Herself | |
| 2018 | Melinda | Stacia LeBeau | |
| 2018 | One Crazy Christmas | Felecia | |
| 2019 | Cultural Clash | Mrs. Jefferson | |
| 2019 | His, Hers & the Truth | Craigs Mom | |
| 2020 | Heaven On Seven | Sister Lisa | |
| 2020 | The Millennial | Mrs. Sterling | |
| 2020 | A Christmas Surprise | Aisha | TV movie |
| 2022 | The Millennial | Mrs. Sterling | |
| 2023 | Here Comes the Sun | Ruth | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Living Single | Woman #1 | Episode: "Great Expectations" |
| 1993 | The Sinbad Show | Woman #1 | Episode: "Strictly Business" |
| 1994 | Married... with Children | Connie | Episode: "Business Sucks: Part 1" |
| 1994 | Family Matters | Girl #1 at Party | Episode: "Beta Chi Guy" |
| 1995 | Sherman Oaks | Denise Cook | Episode: "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" |
| 1995 | Family Matters | Eddie's Date | Episode: "They Shoot Urkels, Don't They?" |
| 1997–2002 | The Steve Harvey Show | Lovita Alizay Jenkins Robinson | Main Cast: Seasons 2–6 |
| 1999 | ER | Mrs. Gleason | Episode: "Point of Origin" |
| 2001 | The Test | Herself/Panelist | Episode: "The PDA Test" & "The Optimist Test" |
| 2002–03 | Soul Food | Eva Holly | Guest: Season 3, Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| 2003 | Girlfriends | Tasha | Episode: "Single Mama, Drama" |
| 2003-05 | All of Us | Jonelle Abrahams | Main Cast: Seasons 1–2, Guest: Season 3 |
| 2004 | The Drop | Herself | Episode: "Episode #1.35" |
| 2008 | Baisden After Dark | Herself | Episode: "Are Women Too Picky?" |
| 2009–11 | Meet the Browns | Renee | Recurring Cast: Season 3, Main Cast: Seasons 4–5 |
| 2011 | The Real Housewives of Atlanta | Herself | Episode: "The Bride and the Doom" |
| 2013 | JD Lawrence's Community Service | Lydia | Main Cast |
| 2016 | Being | Herself | Episode: "Terri J. Vaughn" |
| 2016 | Unsung Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "Jasmine Guy" |
| 2016 | Greenleaf | Melisse | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2017 | Mann & Wife | Lieutenant Tate | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2018 | Rel | Tia | Episode: "Windy City Politics" |
| 2020 | Insecure | Rose Cranberry | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| 2020 | Terror Lake Drive | Dr. Chisholm | Episode: "Something About AJ" |
| 2020 | Kings of Jo'burg | Robin | Recurring Cast |
| 2020–21 | We Stay Looking | Rose Cranberry | Main Cast |
| 2021–22 | First Wives Club | Cousin Pam | Guest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2022 | The Neighborhood | Claire | Episode: "Welcome to the Man Code" |
| 2022 | Johnson | Wanda Brooks | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2022 | Cherish the Day | Anastasia | Main Cast: Season 2 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
| 2000 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Steve Harvey Show | Nominated |
| 2001 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Steve Harvey Show | Won |
| 2002 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Steve Harvey Show | Won |
| 2003 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Steve Harvey Show | Won |
| 2004 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Soul Food | Nominated |
| 2004 | BET Awards | BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | All of Us | Nominated |