Cast of the Fox series 'The Bernie Mac Show'
Smith was nominated for the 'Image (NAAP) Awards' under 'Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series',' in 2013 for her work on 'The First Family'
'The Bernie Mac Show'wasabouta stand-up comedian, Bernie 'Mac' McCullough, and his wife, Wanda McCullough, who suddenly became parents to his sister's three children. Smithplayedthe role of Wanda from 2001 to 2006. Theshowwent on to win an 'Outstanding Writing for a Comedy' at the 2002 'Primetime Emmy Awards,' and a 'Peabody Award.' To the surprise of the show's creators, Larry Wilmore and Bernie Mac, the series progressed till 2006 for five seasons.
- By Chetana
- Original :
Kellita Smith is an actress and comedian known for her role on the Fox series 'The Bernie Mac Show.'
Who is Kellita Smith?
Smith initially worked as a model and later started acting in theaters and TV shows.
Smith entered acting after touring with the cast of the playTell It Like It Tiz. She later appeared on a 1993 episode of the TV seriesIn Living Color. She then went on to act feature on TV shows such asMartin,Malcolm & Eddie,The Jamie Foxx Show,The Steve Harvey Show,Z Nation, and alsoIn the Cut.
Her film credits includeThe Crossing Guard(1995),Q: The Movie(1999),Retiring Tatiana(2000),Kingdom Come(2001),Roll Bounce(2005),Fell the Noise(2007),Conspiracy X(2010),Imperial Dreams(2014),The Choir Director(2018) andInfluence(2020).
However, she came to the limelight for her role as Wanda McCullough on the 'Emmy Award' winning showThe Bernie Mac Show. For her performance, she was nominated at the 'BET Comedy Awards' under 'Outstanding Lead Actress in Comedy Series' in 2004 and 2005. She was also nominated for the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 'Image (NAAP) Awards' under 'Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series,' for the same show.
Early Life
Smith wasbornon 15 January 1969 in Chicago, Illinois. Shegrewup in Oakland, California, and graduated with an Associate Degree in Political Science from Santa Rosa Junior College.
Career
Smithbeganher career as a model and later decided to become an actress. She made her acting debut in 1993 for the TV seriesIn Living Colorbeforeshe did theatre and toured as a cast of the playTell It Like It Tiz.
She then acted in numerous movies such asThe Crossing Guardin 1995,Q: The Moviein 1999, thenRetiring Tatianain 2000,Kingdom Comein 2001,Roll Bouncein 2005,Fell the Noisein 2007,Conspiracy Xin 2010,Imperial Dreamsin 2014,The Choir Directorin 2018 andInfluencein 2020.
TV Series
Smith is also known for her roles on TV series. From 1994 to 1995, she played the role of Tracy onMartin.In 1995, Smith played Tonya onSister, Sister, and played the role of Danielle onMalcolm & Eddiein 1997. She starred as Cherise from 1997 to 1999 onThe Jamie Foxx Showand Ava Whitley on the 1999 seriesThe Steve Harvey Show. The same year, she portrayedValerie Maxwell onThe Parkers.
Further, from 2001 to 2006, she played the role of Wanda McCullough onThe Bernie Mac Show, which went on to become her career highlighting character. Subsequently, she was First Lady Katherine Johnson onThe First Familyfrom 2012 to 2015, Roberta Warren onZ Nationfrom 2014 to 2018, and Chery onIn the Cutfrom 2016 to 2019.
'The Bernie Mac Show'
The Bernie Mac Showwasabouta stand-up comedian, Bernie 'Mac' McCullough, and his wife, Wanda McCullough, who suddenly became parents to his sister's three children.
Smithplayedthe role of Wanda from 2001 to 2006. Theshowwent on to win an 'Outstanding Writing for a Comedy' at the 2002 'Primetime Emmy Awards,' and a 'Peabody Award.'
To the surprise of the show's creators, Larry Wilmore and Bernie Mac, the series progressed till 2006 for five seasons.
Last words with Bernie Mac
Even after the show ended, Smith was on good terms with her co-star Bernie Mac. In2019, Smith revealed that Mac requested her to work with him on a stand-up at the Las Vegas MGM show in 2008.
But, when she was hesitant and nervous about opening up for the show, Mac encouraged her to do it. Unfortunately, Smith did not know that Mac was calling her from the hospital where he was admitted due to sarcoidosis and pneumonia. He passed away on 5 October 2008 at the age of 50.
In2020, Smith shared that Mac and Wilmore worked tremendously to air the show on their terms while recalling about The Bernie Mac Show. She further added that they had originally proposedThe Bernie Mac Showto be of a different family-style, but due to the season's trends, it could not be implemented as they pictured. However, the two negotiated with their network to eliminate certain things like the background laughs, presence of the audience, and shooting the show with only one camera.
Awards and Nominations
Smith wasnominatedmultiple times for her performance onThe Bernie Mac Show. In 2004 and 2005, she was nominated at the 'BET Comedy Awards' under 'Outstanding Lead Actress in Comedy Series.' For the same show, she was nominated for the 'Image (NAAP) Awards' under 'Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series' in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. In 2013, she was nominated for the same category for her performance onThe First Family.
Further, she won 'Image (NAACP) Awards' under 'Best Supporting Actress,' for her work in the Los Angeles production ofFeelingsat The Hudson Theatre.
Personal Life
Smith has notpubliclyannounced her relationships. But, she has expressed her disagreement with the trends and conditions of marriage, and at the same time, she is not against the social tradition.
The Bernie Mac Show The First Family BET Comedy Awards Kellita Smith
