Malinda Williams

Malinda Williams (born September 24, 1970) is an American actress and producer. She began her career on television, before appearing in films A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996), High School High (1996), and The Wood (1999).
From 2000 to 2004, Williams starred as Tracy "Bird" Van Adams in the Showtimedrama series Soul Food, for which she received three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nominations. After starring role in the short-lived NBC drama series Windfall, Williams returned to film playing supporting roles in Idlewild (2006), Daddy's Little Girls (2007), First Sunday(2008), and 2 Days in New York (2012).
== Career ==
Williams made her television debut in an episode of The Cosby Show in 1987.[1]She guest starred on Miami Vice, Roc, My So-Called Life, Sister, Sister, Moesha, and NYPD Blue. In film, she made her debut in the 1996 dark comedy-romance film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, starring Martin Lawrence and Lynn Whitfield. Later that year, she co-starred in Sunset Park with Rhea Perlman, and High School High alongside Mekhi Phifer. From 1997 to 1998, she had a starring role in The WB sitcom Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher. In 1999, she appeared in the romantic comedy film The Wood and the following year in the thriller Uninvited Guest, starring Mekhi Phifer.
Williams is best known for her role as Tracy "Bird" Van Adams in the Showtimedrama series Soul Food, a continuation of the successful 1997 film of the same name.[1] It also starred Nicole Ari Parker and Vanessa A. Williams. Nia Longplayed Tracy in the 1997 film. For her performance, Williams received three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nominations.[2]The series aired from 2000 to 2004. Soul Food went on to be the longest running drama with a predominantly black cast in the history of American prime-time television.[3]
She later guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and was a regular cast member on the short-lived NBC drama series Windfall in 2006.[4]
In 2006, Williams appeared in the musical film Idlewild. The following year, she co-starred in the Tyler Perry's romantic comedy-drama Daddy's Little Girls. In 2008, she appeared in First Sunday opposite Ice Cube. She then starred in several independent films. In 2012, Williams co-starred as Chris Rock's sister in the romantic comedy film 2 Days in New York.[5] Between 2013 and 2015, she played the leading role in the Up network's television film Marry Me for Christmas, and its two sequels Marry Us for Christmas and A Baby for Christmas.[6] In 2013, she began hosting the Aspire network's television talk show Exhale.[7] She also starred in two films for TV One: Girlfriends' Getaway and its sequel Girlfriends' Getaway 2 in 2014 and 2015, alongside Garcelle Beauvais, Terri J. Vaughn and Essence Atkins.[8][9] In 2015, Williams also had a supporting role in David O. Russell's comedy film Accidental Love.[10]
== Personal life ==
Williams was married to actor Mekhi Phifer and the two had a son, Omikaye Phifer.[11] In August 2008, she married D-Nice; they divorced in 2010.
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1993	Laurel Avenue 	Sheila Arnett 	Television film
1996	A Thin Line Between Love and Hate	Erica Wright 	
1996	Sunset Park 	Cheryl 	
1996	High School High 	Natalie Thompson 	
1997	Damn Whitey 	Malinda 	Short film
1999	Uninvited Guest 	Tammy 	
1999	The Wood 	Alicia 	Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actress
2000	Dancing in September 	Rhonda 	
2005	Exposure 	Woman 	Short film
2006	Idlewild 	Zora 	
2007	Daddy's Little Girls 	Maya 	
2008	First Sunday 	Tianna 	
2009	A Day in the Life 	Boopsy 	
2012	2 Days in New York 	Elizabeth 	
2012	Back Then 	Andrea 'Dre' Devine	
2012	The Undershepherd 	Casandra 	American Black Film Festival Award for Best Performance
2012	A Cross to Bear 	Fae 	Television film
2012	Side by Side 	Herself 	
2013	24 Hour Love 	PJ 	
2013	Marry Me for Christmas 	Marci Jewel 	Television film
2014	Percentage 	Cassandra 	
2014	Girlfriends' Getaway 	Camille 	
2014	Marry Us for Christmas 	Marci Jewel 	Television film
2015	Accidental Love 	Rakeesha 	
2015	Girlfriends Getaway 2 	Camille 	
2015	A Baby for Christmas 	Marci Jewel 	
2016	" Merry Christmas, Baby" 	Marci Jewel 	Television Film
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1987–1990	The Cosby Show 	Althea Logan/Shana 	Episode: "Calling Doctor Huxtable" / Episode: "Denise Kendall: Singles Counselor"
1989 	Miami Vice 	Lynette 	Episode: "Too Much, Too Late"
1993 	Roc 	Celina 	Episode: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father"
1994 	South Central 	Candi 	Episodes: "Dad" and "Gun: Part 2"
1994 	My So-Called Life 	Yvette 	Episode: "The Substitute"
1994 	Me and the Boys 	Elizabeth 	Episode: "Bad Influence"
1994–1995	Sister, Sister 	Tyra 	Episodes: "Get a Job" and "Field Trip"
1995 	Under One Roof 	Tamika 	Episode: "Secrets"
1995 	The Client 	Zora Ward 	Episode: "Them That Has..."
1996 	Moesha 	Taylor 	Recurring role, 3 episodes
1996 	NYPD Blue 	Annette Morris 	Episode: "Ted and Carey's Bogus Adventure"
1996 	The John Larroquette Show 	Shanelle 	Episode: "When Yussel Learned to Yodel"
1997 	Dangerous Minds 	Lashawn 	Episode: "The Feminine Mystique"
1997–1998	Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher 	Tasha Morrison 	Series regular, 21 episodes
2000 	Movie Stars 	Bianca 	Episode: "La Vida Loca"
2000–2004	Soul Food 	Tracy "Bird" Van Adams	Series regular, 74 episodes
Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series(2003–2005)
2003 	Half & Half 	Myra 	Episode: "The Big Much 'I Do' About Nothing Episode"
2004 	The Division 	Tanya 	Episode: "Play Ball"
2004 	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Lori-Ann Dufoy 	Episode: "Careless"
2004 	The District 	Rennee 	Episodes: "A.K.A" and "The Black Widow Maker"
2006 	Windfall 	Kimberly George 	Series regular, 5 episodes