Cassi Davis
Cassi Davis | |
|---|---|
 Davis in 2018 | |
| Born | Cassandra Davis July 31, 1966 |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse(s) | Kerry Patton (m. 2017) |
Cassandra "Cassi" Davis (born July 31, 1966) is an American actress and singer who is best known for her role as Ella Payne on Tyler Perry's House of Payne and its spin-off series The Paynes. She has also starred in several other productions under the direction of Tyler Perry.
Life and career[]
Born in Holly Springs, Mississippi,[1][2] Davis attended Spelman College in Atlanta and majored in music. She left the college one credit short of graduation, because she was not allowed to perform religious music during her senior recital. Davis returned to Spelman in 2008 to complete her degree, graduating in November of that year.[3] She has credited her devout, born-again Christian faith as the main reason behind her professional success.[4]
Davis' acting career began in 1988 with a supporting role in the Spike Lee comedy film School Daze. Her early television credits include appearances on Living Single, Married... with Children, Kenan & Kel, and The PJ's. She established her acting career by appearing in Tyler Perry productions such as Madea's Family Reunion, Madea Goes to Jail, Daddy's Little Girls, Madea's Big Happy Family, Boo! A Madea Halloween and A Madea Family Funeral.
Davis is best known for her role as Ella Payne in the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne from 2007 to 2012. She received two NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance.[5] In 2018, she starred in House of Payne spinoff The Paynes that aired on Oprah Winfrey Network. In 2020, revival series of House of Payne was ordered on BET.[6]
Personal life[]
Davis married her longtime boyfriend Kerry Patton on January 11, 2017; the two were dating in 2007 prior to their marriage.[7]
Filmography[]
Films and plays[]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | School Daze | Paula | |
| 1994 | Silent Bomb | Kate | |
| 2004 | He Say... She Say... But What Does GOD Say? | Sister Tiny | |
| 2005 | Love on Layaway | Willanetta | |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Aunt Sarah | |
| 2006 | Madea Goes To Jail | Ella Kincaid | |
| 2007 | Daddy's Little Girls | Aunt Rita | |
| 2010 | Madea's Big Happy Family | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2011 | Madea's Big Happy Family | ||
| 2011 | A Madea Christmas | ||
| 2011 | Aunt Bam's Place | ||
| 2014 | Madea's Neighbors from Hell | ||
| 2014 | Act of Faith | Brady's wife | |
| 2015 | Madea on the Run | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2015 | Madea's Tough Love | voice | |
| 2016 | Boo! A Madea Halloween | ||
| 2017 | Boo 2! A Madea Halloween | ||
| 2017 | Jenice | ||
| 2019 | Madea's Farewell Play Tour | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2019 | A Madea Family Funeral |
Television[]
| Year | Film | Role | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Living Single | Francine | Episode: "In The Black It's Beautiful" |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope | Nurse #1 | Episode: "Food Chains" |
| 1996 | Moesha | ||
| 1996 | Married... with Children | Patty | Episode: "Crimes Against Obesity" |
| 1999 | Kenan & Kel | Kitty | Episode: "He Got Job" |
| 1999–2001 | The PJs | HUD woman (Voice) | Recurring Role; 27 episodes |
| 2000 | The Parkers | Big Woman | |
| 2001 | Boycott | Cook | Television movie |
| 2007–2012, 2020–present | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Ella Payne | Lead role; 254 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2010, 2013) Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2009, 2011) |
| 2009 | Meet the Browns | Episode: "Meet the Christmas Spirit" | |
| 2015 | Love Thy Neighbor | Episode: "Ella and Curtis" | |
| 2018 | The Paynes | Lead role, 38 episodes |
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Golden Raspberry Awards[8] | Worst Supporting Actress | A Madea Family Funeral | Nominated |
References[]
- ^ "Cassi Davis Biography". tbs.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
- ^ "Holly Springs Star!! Cassandra "Cassi" Davis". Visit Holly Springs. August 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ^ "'House of Payne' Star Cassi Davis Graduating From College—25 Years Later".
- ^ "Cassi Davis: House of Grace". www.cbn.com.
- ^ "NAACP Image Awards: Winners Announced". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 4, 2020). "Tyler Perry Confirms 'House Of Payne' Revival On BET, New 'Assisted Living' Comedy Series".
- ^ https://news.amomama.com/192416-house-payne-cassi-davis-marriage.html
- ^ "RAZZ NEWZ - The Razzies!". razzies.com.
External links[]
- Cassi Davis at IMDb
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- 1964 births
- African-American Christians
- Actresses from Mississippi
- American film actresses
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- Living people
- Spelman College alumni
- People from Holly Springs, Mississippi
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- African-American actresses
- American voice actresses