Lela Rochon

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.[1] She later had starring roles in films The Chamber (1996), Gang Related (1997), Knock Off (1998), and Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998).
== 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.[2][3] She graduated from 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.[4] In 2016, Rochon returned to give the commencement speech at California State University, Dominguez Hills.[5]
== Career ==
=== Early works ===
In 1982, Lela appeared as an extra in the movie Breakin’, where she met the man who would later become her husband. From 1986 to 1988, while attending college, Rochon was one of the "Spudettes" featured in over 30 national spots for the Spuds MacKenzie 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,[6] and in Luther Vandross' "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",[7] 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.[8]
=== 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.[9]
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 a single season.[10]
=== 2000s-present ===
In 2004, Rochon co-starred opposite Katie Holmes in the romantic comedy film First Daughter.[10] In 2009, she had cameo in crime drama Brooklyn's Finestdirected by her husband, Antoine Fuqua.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12][13][14]
== 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 	
1987	The Wild Pair 	Debby 	
1987	Into the Homeland 	Exquisite Woman 	
1989	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
1996	Mr. and Mrs. Loving 	Mildred Loving 	Television film
Nominated — CableACE Award for Outstanding Actress in a Movie or Miniseries
1996	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 	
2004	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
2010	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
1987	The Facts of Life 	Diana 	Episode: "The Greek Connection"
1987	The Cosby Show 	Veronica 	Episode: "The Shower"
1988	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: "Don'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"
1994	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"
2001	The Division 	Inspector Angela Reide	Series regular, 22 episodes
2011	Reed Between the Lines 	Sherri 	Episode: "Let's Talk About Affairs"
2018	Alone Together 	Rose 	Episode: "Dinner Party"