Vivica A. Fox

Vivica Anjanetta Fox (born July 30, 1964)[1] is an American actress, producer and television host. Fox began her career with roles on the daytime television soap operas Days of Our Lives (1988) and Generations (1989–91), subsequently shifting to the prime-time slot starring opposite Patti LaBelle, in the NBC sitcom Out All Night (1992–93). Fox's breakthrough came in 1996, with roles in two box-office hit films, Roland Emmerich's Independence Day and F. Gary Gray's Set It Off.
Fox later has starred in films Booty Call (1997), Soul Food (1997), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Kingdom Come (2001), Two Can Play That Game (2001), and Boat Trip (2002). Fox played Vernita Green in Kill Bill, and played supporting parts in films like Ella Enchanted (2004). Fox had the leading roles in the short-lived Fox sitcom Getting Personal (1998), and CBS medical drama City of Angels (2000). From 2003 to 2006, she co-starred in and produced the Lifetime crime drama series, Missing, for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Fox has also produced a number of straight-to-video films.
== Early life ==
Fox was born in South Bend, Indiana, the daughter of Everlyena, a pharmaceutical technician, and William Fox, a private school administrator.[1]She has African American and Native American ancestry.[2][3] Her parents relocated to the Indianapolis, Indiana, area soon after her birth. Fox is a 1982[4][5][6] graduate of Arlington High School in Indianapolis, and Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California with an Associate Art degree in Social Sciences.[2]
== Career ==
=== 1988–1995 ===
In 1988, Fox relocated to California in order to attend Golden West College.[2]While in California she started acting professionally, first on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives in 1988 playing Carmen Silva. After making her debut as a hooker in Oliver Stone's war drama film Born on the Fourth of July(1989),[7] she was cast as Emily Franklin in the pilot episode of ABC comedy series, Living Dolls, a spin-off of the sitcom Who's the Boss? but was replaced with Halle Berry for the remaining episodes. Later that year, Fox was cast as Maya Reubens, the leading character, in the NBC daytime soap opera Generations. The series was groundbreaking in that it was the first soap opera to feature from its inception an African-American family.[8]
In the early 1990s, Fox began appearing in prime time television, playing guest starring roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, 90210, Family Matters, Matlock and Martin. In 1992, she was cast as Patti LaBelle's fashion designer daughter, Charisse Chamberlain, on the NBC sitcom Out All Night. In addition to her role, she returned to soap operas with role of Dr. Stephanie Simmons on CBS' The Young and the Restless during 1994–95. In 1995, she had a cameo role in the comedy film Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.[9]
=== 1996–2004 ===
In 1996, Fox played Will Smith's character's girlfriend, Jasmine Dubrow, in the epic science fiction disaster blockbuster Independence Day, directed by Roland Emmerich. The film grossed over $800 million worldwide.[10] Fox received an MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss with Smith, and was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.[11] Later that year, she played Francesca 'Frankie' Sutton in the crime action film Set It Off opposite Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah and Kimberly Elise. Directed by F. Gary Gray, Set It Off became a critical and box office success, grossing over $41 million against a budget of $9 million.[12] In 1997, Fox starred in three movies: Booty Call, a Columbia Pictures' comedy opposite Jamie Foxx; the superhero film Batman & Robin;[13] and 20th Century Fox's critically acclaimed comedy-drama Soul Food.[14] The latter was a major box office success.[15] For her role, Fox received her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture nomination, and MTV Movie Award for Best Performance.[11]
In 1998, Fox starred alongside Halle Berry, Lela Rochon and Larenz Tate in the romantic drama film Why Do Fools Fall in Love, playing one of the three wives of singer Frankie Lymon.[16] The following year, she appeared in stoner comedy horror Idle Hands, and Teaching Mrs. Tingle with Helen Mirren. Fox had additional leading roles on television. She also takes a leave of absence on Out All Night to starred opposite Arsenio Hall in the short-lived ABC sitcom Arsenioin 1997,[17] and returned to Out All Night after her show was canceled. After she left the cast shortly after Out All Night ended its run in 1998, she was lead actress in the short-lived Fox sitcom Getting Personal in 1998. She played Queen of Sheba in the British television film Solomon in 1997. In 2000, she starred alongside Blair Underwood in the short-lived CBS medical drama, City of Angels.[18]
In 2001, Fox had starring roles in three films. First was Kingdom Come, a comedy-drama starring LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith and Whoopi Goldberg. She played the lead in the romantic comedy Two Can Play That Game,[19][20] and had supporting role in the independent comedy-drama Little Secrets. In 2002, she starred alongside Miguel A. Núñez Jr. in Juwanna Mann, and with Cuba Gooding Jr. in Boat Trip. In 2003, Quentin Tarantino cast her as Vernita Green in his two-part martial arts film Kill Bill.[21]
=== 2005–present ===
From 2004 to 2006, Fox starred as FBI special agent Nicole Scott and co-produced the Lifetime television crime drama series, Missing. She received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in 2006. Also in the 2000s, she produced (and played the leading roles) several films, include Motives, The Salon, Getting Played and Three Can Play That Game. From 2007 to 2009, she had the recurring role in the HBO comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm as a mother of a family displaced by a hurricane and taken in by Larry and Cheryl.
Fox was a judge on The WB's talent show The Starlet. Fox participated in the third season of ABC's hit television show, Dancing with the Stars,[22] she was voted off after the fourth week. In 2009, Fox served as celebrity spokesperson for the newly revamped Psychic Friends Network. After receiving backlash for her involvement with the network, Fox denied any involvement with the company, despite having filmed a commercial and promo video which had already gone to air.[23] Fox also hosted her own VH1 reality series Glam God with Vivica A. Fox (2008), TV Land's The Cougar (2009), and Lifetime's Prank My Mom(2012). She was contestant on The Apprentice in 2015.[24]
In the late 2000s and 2010s, Fox had supporting roles in poorly received by critics movies such as The Hard Corps (2006) alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kickin' It Old Skool (2007) starring Jamie Kennedy, and Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008) with Jessica Simpson. She worked in many smaller movies such as Shark City, Black November, 30 Days in Atlantaand Mercenaries the following years. On television, Fox had guest star roles on Law & Order, Drop Dead Diva, Melissa & Joey and Raising Hope. As regular, she starred in the syndicated sitcom Mr. Box Office alongside Bill Bellamy and Jon Lovitz.[25]
In 2015, she was cast as Cookie Lyon's sister for the second season of the Fox prime time soap opera, Empire.[24][26] In 2016, she reprised her Independence Day role in Roland Emmerich's Independence Day: Resurgence.[27] The film was released on June 24, 2016. In 2016 it was announced that she would portray the president of the United States in the science fiction film "Crossbreed", making her the first African-American woman to portray the role in a feature film.[28]
January 4, 2017, Lifetime launched the premiere of Vivica's new venture "Vivica's Black Magic" which was an exotic male review. At the same time, she had a supporting role in the movie Chocolate City: Vegas Strip guestarring Robert Ri'chard, Michael Jai White, Mekhi Phifer, Ginuwine and Melanie Brown.[29] The movie is available since August 12, 2017 on netflix.[30][31][32] Also, Fox appeared as Cheer Goddess in the film Bring It On: Worldwide Cheersmack[33]
Vivica's Every Day I'm Hustling (St. Martin's Press, 2018) is a "part memoir, part inspirational" book that focuses on her career and relationships.[34]
== Personal life ==
In December 1998, Fox married singer Christopher "Sixx-Nine" Harvest. The couple divorced in 2002.[35] Fox later dated rapper 50 Cent in 2003.[36] In November 2011, Fox and club promoter Omar "Slim" White broke off their ten-month engagement.[37]
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes 	
1989	Born on the Fourth of July 	Hooker – VA Hospital 	 	
1995	The Tuskegee Airmen 	Charlene 	Television film 	
1995	Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood	Ashtray's Mother 	 	
1996	Independence Day 	Jasmine Dubrow 	MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss shared with Will Smith
Universe Reader's Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Genre Motion Picture
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress	
1996	Set It Off 	Francesca "Frankie" Sutton 	 	
1997	Booty Call 	Lysterine 	 	
1997	Batman & Robin 	Miss B. Haven 	 	
1997	Soul Food 	Maxine 	Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance	
1997	Solomon 	Queen of Sheba 	Television film 	
1998	Why Do Fools Fall in Love 	Elizabeth "Mickey" Waters 	 	
1999	Idle Hands 	Debi LeCure 	 	
1999	A Saintly Switch 	Sara Anderson 	 	
1999	Teaching Mrs. Tingle 	Miss Gold 	 	
2000	Hendrix 	Faye Pridgeon 	Television film 	
2001	Double Take 	Shari 	Uncredited cameo 	
2001	Kingdom Come 	Lucille Slocumb 	Nominated – BET Award for Best Actress
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture	
2001	Two Can Play That Game 	Shante Smith 	Nominated – BET Award for Best Actress
Black Reel Award for Best Actress
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture	
2001	Little Secrets 	Pauline 	 	
2002	Juwanna Mann 	Michelle Langford 	Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture	
2002	Boat Trip 	Felicia 	Nominated – BET Award for Best Actress 	
2003	Ride or Die 	Lisa 	Producer 	
2003	Kill Bill: Volume 1 	Vernita Green/Jeanie Bell AKA Copperhead	Nominated – BET Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress	
2004	Ella Enchanted 	Lucinda Perriweather 	 	
2004	Kill Bill: Volume 2 	Vernita Green/Jeanie Bell AKA Copperhead	 	
2004	Motives 	Constance Simms 	Producer
Nominated – Black Reel Award for Best Independent Film 	
2004	Blast 	Agent Reed 	 	
2005	The Salon 	Jenny Smith 	Producer 	
2006	Getting Played 	Andrea Collins 	Producer 	
2006	The Hard Corps 	Tamara Barclay 	 	
2006	Citizen Duane 	Miss Houston 	 	
2007	Kickin' It Old Skool 	Roxanna Jackson 	 	
2007	Motives 2 	Constance Simms 	Direct to video 	
2007	Father of Lies 	Barbara Robinson 	 	
2007	Three Can Play That Game 	Shante Smith 	Producer 	
2007	Cover 	Zahara Milton 	 	
2008	San Saba 	Kate 	 	
2008	Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare 	Dotty Tortoise 	Voice 	
2008	Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous 	Sgt. Louisa Morley 	 	
2009	The Slammin' Salmon 	Nutella 	 	
2009	Hollywood & Wine 	Jackie Johnson 	 	
2009	There's a Stranger in my House 	Harmony's mother 	 	
2009	Shark City 	Veronica Wolf 	 	
2010	Trapped: Haitian Nights 	Violet Martin[38] 	 	
2010	Junkyard Dog 	Samantha Deatherage 	 	
2010	Miss Nobody 	Nan Wilder 	 	
2010	Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed 	Janet 	 	
2010	The Land of the Astronauts 	Studio Executive 	 	
2010	Farewell Mr. Kringle 	Zoe Marsden 	Television film 	
2011	Black Gold 	Jackie 	 	
2011	Lord, All Men Can't Be Dogs 	Lisa 	 	
2011	A Holiday Heist 	Dean Erma 	 	
2011	Cheaper to Keep Her 	Morgan Mays 	 	
2011	Annie Claus is Coming to Town 	Lucy 	 	
2011	Searching for Angels 	Nurse Carter 	 	
2011	1 Out of 7 	Devon 	 	
2012	Black November 	Angela 	 	
2012	In the Hive 	Billie 	 	
2012	Solid State 	Agent Fox 	 	
2013	Crosstown 	Gabrielle 	 	
2013	Caught on Tape 	Nadine 	 	
2013	The Pastor and Mrs. Jones 	Mrs. Jones 	 	
2013	Line of Duty 	Agent Montelongo 	 	
2013	Home Run 	Helene 	 	
2013	Queen City 	Lady Midnight 	 	
2013	Space Bros. II 	Neek 	Voice 	
2013	It's Not You, It's Me 	Gina[39] 	 	
2013	Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright 	Lotte Lavoie 	Voice 	
2013	The Power of Love 	PJ Payton 	 	
2013	So This Is Christmas 	Sharon 	 	
2013	A Christmas Wedding 	Sharon Douglas 	 	
2014	Whatever She Wants 	Vivian Wolf 	 	
2014	Looking for Mr. Right 	Della 	 	
2014	Sharknado 2: The Second One 	Skye 	Television film 	
2014	Mercenaries 	Donna "Raven" Ravena 	 	
2014	30 Days in Atlanta 	Wilson's Wife 	 	
2014	Cool Cat Saves The Kids 	Herself 	 	
2015	Chocolate City 	Katherine McCoy 	 	
2015	Assassin's Game 	The Target 	 	
2015	Blaq Gold 	Mayor Morgan Hardaway 	Television film 	
2015	6 Ways to Die 	Veronica Smith 	 	
2015	4Got10 	Imani Cole 	 	
2015	Golden Shoes 	Mary 	 	
2015	Carter High 	Mrs. James 	 	
2015	A Royal Family Holiday 	Mona Levi 	Television film 	
2015	Royal Family Christmas 	Mona Levi 	Television film 	
2015	The Good, the Bad and the Dead 	Imani Cole 	 	
2016	The Stepson - Evil in the House 	Renee Chamberlain 	 	
2016	True to the Game 	Shoog 	 	
2016	The Wrong Roommate 	Detective Valdez 	Television film 	
2016	Gibby 	Director 	 	
2016	Independence Day: Resurgence 	Jasmine Dubrow 	 	
2016	The Wrong Child 	Renee 	 	
2016	Summer in the City 	Alyssa 	Television film 	
2016	A Husband for Christmas 	Brooke Harris 	Television film 	
2017	Jason's Letter 	Sammi Brooks 	 	
2017	The Wrong Student 	Gibson 	Television film 	
2017	Illicit 	Linda Steele 	 	
2017	Chocolate City: Vegas Strip 	Katherine McCoy 	available on netflix 	
2017	Fat Camp 	Barb 	 	
2017	Bobbi Kristina 	Pat Houston 	Television film 	
2017	Crossbreed 	The President 	 	
2017	Kinky 	Dana 	 	
2017	The Sky Princess 	Moon Queen 	Voice 	
2017	Garlic & Gunpowder 	Mayor Brown 	 	
2017	Bring It On: Worldwide Cheersmack 	Cheer Goddess 	Direct to video 	
2017	Lust For Murder 	Gibson 	Television film 	
2018	The Wrong Cruise 	Claire Tanner 	Television film 	
2018	The Last Sharknado: It's About Time 	Skye 	Television film[40] 	
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1988 	Days of Our Lives 	Carmen Silva 	Recurring role
1988 	China Beach 	Toffee Candette 	Episodes: "Lost and Found" and "Lost and Found: Part 2"
1989 	Who's the Boss? 	Emily Franklin 	Episode: "Living Dolls"
1989–91 	Generations 	Maya Reubens 	Series regular
1991 	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 	Janet 	Episode: "It Had to Be You"
1991 	Beverly Hills, 90210 	Sherice Ashe 	Episode: "Ashes to Ashes"
1992 	Family Matters 	Halawna 	Episode: "Jailhouse Blues"
1993 	Matlock 	Celebrity Patient at Clinic 	Episode: "The Obsession"
1992–93 	Out All Night 	Charisse Chamberlain 	Series regular, 20 episodes
1994–95 	The Young and the Restless 	Stephanie Simmons 	Series regular
1995 	Martin 	Patrice 	Episode: "The Ex-Files"
1995 	The Watcher 	Elizabeth 	Episode: "Second Chances"
1996 	Soul Train 	Herself 	Guest host, two episode
1996 	Living Single 	Tina 	Episode: "Do You Take This Man's Wallet?"
1997 	Arsenio 	Vicki Atwood 	Series regular, 7 episodes
1998 	Getting Personal 	Robyn Buckley 	Series regular, 18 episodes
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
1999 	Cosby 	Anita 	Episode: "War Stories"
1999 	The Hughleys 	Regina 	3 episodes
2000 	City of Angels 	Dr. Lillian Price 	Series regular, 13 episodes
2001 	The Proud Family 	Margaret (Voice) 	Episode: "Seven Days of Kwanzaa"
2002 	My Wife and Kids 	Kelly Kyle 	Episode: "Sister Story"
2003 	Ozzy & Drix 	Ellen Patella (Voice) 	6 episodes
2003 	The Twilight Zone 	Adelaide Tyler 	Episode: "Memphis"
2003 	Tremors 	Delores 	Episode: "The Key"
2003 	The Parkers 	Claire 	Episode: "Kimmie Has Two Moms"
2004 	Alias 	Toni Cummings 	Episodes: "After Six" and "Legacy"
2004–06 	1-800-Missing 	FBI Agent Nicole Scott 	Series regular, 37 episodes, also co-executive producer
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2006)
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2005)
2005 	Loonatics Unleashed 	Black Velvet (Voice) 	Episode: "The Cloak of Black Velvet"
2006 	All of Us 	Beverly Hunter 	Episodes: "Surprise, Surprise: Part 1" and "Surprise, Surprise: Part 2"
2007–09 	Curb Your Enthusiasm 	Loretta Black 	11 episodes
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2008)
2008 	Law & Order 	Kate Tenny 	Episode: "Sweetie"
2008 	Glam God with Vivica A. Fox 	Host 	Executive producer
2009 	'da Kink In My Hair 	Karen 	Episode: "Oil's Well That Ends Well"
2010 	True Jackson, VP 	True's Mom 	Episode: "Pajama Party"
2010–13 	Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated	Angel Dynamite/Cassidy Williams	Voice, 20 episodes
2010 	Drop Dead Diva 	Maria Ellis 	Episode: "The Long Road to Napa"
2011 	Melissa & Joey 	Tasha 	Episode: "Toledo's Next Top Model"
2011 	The Protector 	Captain Lisa Novak 	Episode: "Ghosts"
2012 	Raising Hope 	Sara Louise 	Episode: "Hogging All the Glory"
2012 	Prank My Mom 	Host 	15 Episodes
2012–15 	Mr. Box Office 	Casandra Washington 	Series regular, 26 episodes
2015–16 	Mann & Wife 	Michelle 	Recurring role
2015 	Sofia the First 	Carol (voice) 	Episode: "Carol of the Arrow"
2015–present	Empire 	Candace Mason 	7 episodes
2018 	Face the Truth 	Herself 	Talk Show Host/Moderator