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 short-lived first 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" (2002–06), Suzanne Kingston-Persons in TBS comedy series "Are We There Yet?" (2010–13) and as Ashley Wayne in NBC sitcom  Marlon (2016-18). In film, Atkins has appeared in "Deliver Us from Eva" (2003), "Dance Flick" (2009), "A Haunted House" (2013) and "A Haunted House 2" (2014). 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 short-lived first African-American prime-time soap opera "Under One Roof" in 1995. The following year, she co-starred with Keri Russell in the short-lived  NBC teen soap opera "Malibu Shores". One of her television roles was in the "Saved by the Bell" spin-off, "" 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 Puerto Rican 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. On August 9, 2011, the couple announced via Twitter that they were expecting their first child together. Essence gave birth to their son in December 2011.