Monica Calhoun

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Monica Patrice Calhoun (born July 29, 1971)^[3] is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her roles in the films Bagdad Cafe, The Players Club,^[4] The Salon, The Best Man,^[5] and its sequel The Best Man Holiday. Calhoun was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the CBS Schoolbreak Special "Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love" (1993), as well as an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Mia Morgan in the 1999 comedy–drama film The Best Man.

Biography[]

A Philly native, with screen and stage time shared with the likes of Bill Duke, Danny DeVito, Whoopi Goldberg, Jean Stapleton, Drew Barrymore, Tatum O’Neal, Ozzie Davis, Ruby Dee, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Williams, Billy Dee Williams, Pam Grier, C.C.H. Pounder, Jack Palance, Mare Winningham, Ion aid Sutherland and slain rapper Tupac Shakur etc., she has garnered the respect of many entertainers. To realize how good an actress she really is, her film and television credits should open eyes and enlighten many. She appears along with Regina King and Blair Underwood in Love Chronicles then in Pandora's Box she is reunited with Players Club's Chrystale Wilson, Michael Jai White (Spawn and Mike Tyson Story), Christoff St. John (The Young and the Restless), and Joe Lawrence.

In “Civil Brand”, a prison movie about prison life, she reunites with Lisa Raye and Nbushe Wright, and Neema Bamette directs. In “The Player’s Club" she played the role of Ebony alongside co-star/director Oshay “Ice Cube” Jackson. In Spike Lee's film The Best Man, she played Mia the bride that had a hidden secret, and co-starred with Morris Chestnut. In Park Day, a controversial film, she played the role of Tamela a young girl looking for her first love. The Jacksons: An American Dream she played the role of Rebbie Jackson, and in Eric LaSalle's directorial debut film Rebound she plays the role of Yvonne alongside Don Cheadle’, James Earl Jones, and Loretta Devine; in Jack the Bear she worked with Danny DeVito (Death of Smochey and Duplex), Robert Steinmiller (Rudy), and Marshall S. Herskovitz (I Am Sam, Once and Again, Traffic, -Thirty Something and Rock The Vote) and on the pilot T.V. Show Heart and Soul she worked with famed Director Stan Lathan (Dave Chappelle:/ Killin’ Them Softly, How To Be A Player, The Steve Harvey Show, Moesha, Martin, and It's Black Entertainment) and on Children of the Night (MOW), she worked with director Robert Guenette and Taking a Stand she worked with Director Paul Hopkins; Where I Live, she worked with Director Michael Jacobs (Fangs, Charles In Charge and My Two Dads) and Writer/Producer Ehrich Van Lowe (Homeboys In Outer Space, Even Stevens, and Cadillac Dreams) and Richard Libertini (Pacific Station). She went from doing plays at the Morgan Wixon Theater and The Inglewood Playhouse to her first ‘Movie of the Week,” Children of the Night at age 13; she worked with fame Composer H.B. Bamum and Singer Donna Summers on Pope John Paul video and Godfather I, II and III fame Director Francis Ford Coppola directed her at age 14 and then went on to co-star in her first major film Bagdad Cafe at age 15. Training includes Los Angeles Gifted Talented Program, L.A. Conservatory of the Arts, Tepper Gallegos Commercial Workshop, L. A. City College; UCLA; Vocal Coach Seth Riggs; Bill Duke Actor's Bootcamp, Caroline Leonetti Modeling Agency, Children's Theatre Factory, Eubanks Music Conservatory and finally she studied Musical Comedy Theatre, etc.. This training prepared her for roles on Malcom and Eddie, The Jamie Foxx Show, Good News, The Wayans Brothers, A Different World, Love and Basketball, Sister Act 2, and various other roles. Monica said, “I feel that there is a lot more for me to do”. By working with organizations like Women n Film she hopes to develop more skills. For example, singing has always been a passion of mine and a part of my formal training in theatre,” she sang on the stage of Friends and Lovers and Sister Act II. Worked on Jeffrey Osborne’s Soweto Album; worked with noted Composers Quincy Jones and H. B. Barnum. Played Robert Guillaume’s daughter on a television show Pacific Station and sang with Frank Sinatra in the USA for Africa’s Children of the World Choir; danced on Barry White’s Video, between the Sheets; danced, acted and sang on a Smokey Robinson Tribute; sang Don Cornelius and Aretha Franklin and Mrs. Coretta Scott King Tributes, and Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers Special; sang with Stevie Wonder and Lou Rawls; danced on Madonna’s Pepsi Commercial; did voice-over work for Lee Rittenour and ~ dance regular on a television show Videopolis, and have completed her first album all by the age of 20. “In the future, I would like to focus on screenwriting and directing. I also plan to take a couple of music classes (piano and guitar). I hope to use these talents for future endeavors. “Loved, admired, and supported by her family, friends, fellow actors, and fans, in addition to possessing that natural beauty and intelligence she strives to work with other prominent stars. With the ever-growing opportunities for African, Americans Monica is expected to forge full speed ahead and help make cinematic history

Early life and education[]

Monica Calhoun was born Lorine Monica Patrice Calhoun at the south Philadelphia Pennsylvania Naval Hospital to Lorine W. Calhoun, former O.I.C. secretary, and Peter Calhoun, Jr. retired naval officer, Mason, La Salle University and Wharton graduate and CPA. Her parents separated after their second child Peter Eric Calhoun III was born. Lorine W. Calhoun traveled to study in the U.S. Virgin Islands at The University of the Virgin Islands with two kids ages 2 1/2 and six months old. At age four, Monica began to show interest in the arts when her mother took her to see Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliette” at an amphitheater on the college campus. While Monica's Mother focused on her college studies in Business Administration, she enrolled Monica at the St. Thomas School of Ballet on a scholarship in the Virgin Islands. “It was the best place for me at the time because of all my energy,” says Monica.

"I remember a story my mother would tell of me imitating 'Richard Simmons' and banging on pots and pans. I guess I was an annoying little thing. My Ballet teacher kicked me out of class because I was her unauthorized assistant when I lived in Philadelphia. Of course, I returned to class but that was the beginning,” says Monica. Monica’s mother completed her studies at the university and decided to move to California to be closer to her twin sister, Lorise W. Maynard. A popular comedian Franklin Ajaye’s father at the time suggested Hollywood could use my talents. The family of three moved to California on a wing and a prayer. First, staying in a hotel, then finding an apartment nearby, Mother enrolled Monica at Clyde Woodworth Elementary School in Inglewood California. Teased for having a West-Indian accent MONICA developed an unshakable shyness. Monica's mother found a dance class and the “Children’s Theater Factory “summer camp at NEWBRIDGE Elementary school. Theater camp was the beginning of the transition away from dance and into acting. The camp focused on training children to act, sing, dance, make costumes, build sets, everything theater! At the end of the summer camp session a performance for family, friends and maybe a special appearance by a talent agent. She also worked on plays The African American at Inglewood Playhouse, The Hair Ebony Showcase Theatre, and a Play in Hollywood.

After three seasons of summer camp at “Children’s Theatre Factory” who found a new home at the Morgan Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica California an agent from the Jack Rose Agency, thrilled about the performances in the play “YOU DONT KNOW ME BUT I’M FAMOUS,” suggested commercial classes with “Tepper and Gallegos.” Then a steady round of commercial auditions followed. The Jack Rose Agency pitched talented Monica Calhoun. Calhoun showed up but didn't book any commercial gigs. Calhoun continued dance classes in ballet, jazz, afro, and tap. Mother, Lorine W. Calhoun, added Caroline Leonetti's modeling school to the list for a well-rounded career training. Mother could not afford the classes, so Monica Calhoun attended on a scholarship basis and worked at the modeling agency part-time. All before the age of 16 she dances on a Pepsi Commercial with Madonna, DISNEY’S VIDEOPOLISIS and joined the L.A. Breakers who rehearsed regularly at the Inner City Cultural Center, recorded two singles one with her brother Peter Eric and other solos under the name “MONIKA.” La Tijera Elementary School there was a teacher by the name of Cheryl Grant who read an article in the Los Angeles Times about a school located on the Cal-State Los Angeles campus. Unfortunately, the school was not accepting any freshman students. Classes were only for juniors, sophomores, and senior students. So, MONICA CALHOUN joined “Life Gospel Choir” with world-famous H.B. Barnum (known for his composing and song arrangements with Aretha Franklin), as a choir member MONICA CALHOUN worked on the United Negro college fund Telethon, Jerry Lewis Telethon, Recording with Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Nile Rodgers, Joe Cocker, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, Lee Ritenour and Jeffrey Osborne.

At BANCROFT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL I attended only for the 9th grade. Trained in Dance with Vanminnen, Drama with Barry Bialik, and Video Production with Thibideau all at BANCROFT JUNIOR HIGH A Magnet School for the Arts in Hollywood. Also, classes on SATURDAY TALENTED AND GIFTED PROGRAM. Trained in piano, ear training (vocal), and Ballet at Eubanks Music Conservatory. The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts were holding auditions for 10th-grade class students. “I created a monologue incorporating singing and dance. My audition was shaky at best. But I knew I was going to attend the high school for the arts. My mother sent my brother and me away for the summer to Philadelphia. There I got an education in-studio sessions, song writing, retail record sales, promotions, radio, and record companies,” says Monica. The Jack Rose Agency agent decided to change strategy and submitted MONICA CALHOUN's picture and resume to casting directors ONORATO and FRANK. The independent feature film Island Pictures project was called “Bagdad Café also known as “Out of Rosenheim”.

Calhoun is an alumnus of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.^[6]

Career[]

Calhoun appeared in Pacific Station. She appeared in several sitcoms including The Wayans Bros., A Different World and The Jamie Foxx Show. Calhoun portrayed Rebbie Jackson in the 1992 biopic miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. Calhoun's film work includes portraying the cousin of actress Lisa Raye in Ice Cube's directorial debut The Players Club;The Best Man; Bagdad Cafe; Love & Basketball and 2007's The Salon with Vivica Fox. In 2009, Robert Townsend directed Calhoun in Diary of a Single Mom, Season I, II and III (2008–10).^[7] Calhoun appeared as Patricia Tresvant, Ralph's Mother in The New Edition Story miniseries, which aired on the BET network in January 2017.

Personal[]

Calhoun gave birth to a son in 2000.^[8][9][10]

Filmography[]

References[]

External links[]

• www.eclecticsoulllc.com
• www.vimeo.com/eclecticsoulllc
• www.monicacalhoun.com
• Monica Calhoun at IMDb
• Monica Calhoun at AllMovie