Aloma Wright

Aloma Wright (born March 10, 1950

Career Wright began her acting career on stage, before appearing in films like Stuart Saves His Family, Devil in the Flesh, and Shadow Hours, and television shows such as Suddenly Susan, Dangerous Minds, Frasier, Friends, Malcolm in the Middle, Ally McBeal, Girlfriends, and Judging Amy. She also had a recurring role in the Fox series Power Rangers in Space in 1998. She was in the Steve Harvey show as Lovita’s aunt. She also had a recurring role as Ms. Shirley on the series The Soul Man. In 1999, she was in Friends, playing the memorable saleswoman who only offered Ross $4 in store credit for his broken couch in the episode "The One with the Cop" (Season 6, Episode 16).

In 2001, Wright was cast as Laverne Roberts in the NBC comedy series, Scrubs. After six seasons, her character was killed off in "My Long Goodbye". She returned in season seven playing a new character, Nurse Shirley. She later returned to play Nurse Roberts in the season 8 finale, "My Finale", as JD is looking back on all the people in his life. In 2000s, Wright also guest starred on NYPD Blue, Cold Case, NCIS, and Mad Men. She also had supporting parts in films such as Bring It On, The Brothers, Mr. Deeds and Johnson Family Vacation.

In 2008, Wright began appearing as nurse Maxine Landis in the NBC daytime soap opera, Days of Our Lives. From 2012 to 2013, Wright also had the recurring role as Mildred Clemons in the Shonda Rhimes' series, Private Practice, and in 2015 appeared in an episode of Scandal. In 2015, she joined the cast of USA Network legal series Suits for season five as secretary, Gretchen Bodinski, working first for Harvey Specter and then for Louis Litt. She appeared on the show in a recurring basis until the series finale aired in 2019. In 2020, she was cast as Viola, the title character's grandmother in the Nickelodeon sitcom Young Dylan created by Tyler Perry.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 Stuart Saves His Family Autograph Seeker 1998 Dearly Devoted Secretary Video About Sarah Claudia Avery TV movie I Married a Monster Desk Clerk TV movie 1999 Trippin' Louise Reed 2000 Sonic Impact Travel Agent Shadow Hours Nurse Johnson Bring It On Pauletta 2001 Kingdom Come Veda Motocrossed Barbara Rollins TV movie The Brothers Helen Palmer When Billie Beat Bobby Convalescent Home Nurse TV movie Patient Diversity: Beyond the Vital Signs Mrs. Humpherys Short 2002 Mr. Deeds Coretta Keeling Try Seventeen Alicia 2003 Deliver Us from Eva Reverend Washington 2004 Johnson Family Vacation Glorietta Johnson 2005 Thank You for Smoking Gizelle (voice) The Gospel Ernestine Ralph & Stanley Receptionist Short Family Reunion Bernadine Porter 2006 Grad Night Principal Wheeler 2007 Love... & Other 4 Letter Words Nana Lord Help Us Melvina Thomas Video Universal Remote Judge Vintage Ben 10: Race Against Time Mrs. Dalton TV movie 2008 After School Ma Dear 2009 Redemption Harriet Short Janky Promoters Ms. Ann Hurricane in the Rose Garden Miriam Egba Video Touched Miss Esther 2010 My American Nurse 2 Madam Mississippi My Girlfriend's Back Cynthia 2011 Okoto the Messenger Mrs. Joy Nkuku 2012 Dinner Date Elle Short Sistaah Friend Super Shero of Wisdom Short 2014 More to Love Aunt Fran Clarissa's Gift Mrs. Bessie Wells Short 2016 Diva Diaries Auntie Nana 2019 Baking Christmas Patty TV movie 2020 The Christmas Edition Edna TV movie 2021 7 Sharp Gammy Short Our Christmas Journey Robin TV movie

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 Night Stand with Dick Dietrick Blanche Episode: "Mama's Boys" 1996 Suddenly Susan Rachel Episode: "Suddenly Susan Unplugged" Dangerous Minds James's Grandmother Episode: "Family Ties" & "Jumped" 1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Nanny Morgan Episode: "A New Leaf: Part 2" Power Rangers in Space Adelle Ferguson Recurring Cast 1999 The Steve Harvey Show Tulabett Episode: "Working Homegirl" Frasier Maria Episode: "To Tell the Truth" Friends The Saleswoman Episode: "The One with the Cop" Silk Stalkings Clerk Episode: "Dance Fever" The Drew Carey Show Security Officer Episode: "Good Vibrations" 1999–2000 Ally McBeal Judge Aloma Harris Guest Cast: Seasons 3-4 2000 Malcolm in the Middle Nurse Episode: "Home Alone 4" Cover Me Receptionist Episode: "Our Mr. Brooks" The Invisible Man Nurse Cathy Episode: "It Hurts When You Do This" Girlfriends Laurie's Mother Episode: "The Remains of the Date" Providence Orderly Episode: "Rescue Me" The Trouble with Normal Church Secretary Episode: "Clairanoia" 2000–2001 Judging Amy Judge Roberta Pattison Guest Cast: Season 1-2 The Parkers Shirley West Guest Cast: Season 1 & 3 2001 Mysterious Ways Peggy's Mom Episode: "Wonderful" 18 Wheels of Justice Miss Lopez Episode: "Dream Girls" 2001–2009 Scrubs Laverne Roberts Shirley Recurring role (Seasons 1–6) Guest role (season 8) Recurring role (season 7) 2002 The Guardian Grandma Annie Episode: "Solidarity" The Drew Carey Show Mrs. Taylor Episode: "Never Been to Spain" Even Stevens Mother Wexler Episode: "Dirty Work" The Practice Corrections Officer Episode: "Convictions" 2004 NYPD Blue Florence George Episode: "Chatty Chatty Bang Bang" Crossing Jordan Desk Nurse Episode: "You're Not Alone" The Bernie Mac Show - Episode: "Mac Overdrive" Cold Case Della Lincoln Episode: "The Badlands" Kevin Hill Nana Bea Episode: "Full Metal Jessie" 2005 Committed Constance James Episode: "The Mother Episode" 2006 NCIS Nurse Ethel Washington Episode: "Hiatus (Part #1)" 2007 The Bill Engvall Show Dotty Episode: "Have You Seen My Muffins, Man?" 2007–2015 Days of Our Lives Maxine Landis Regular Cast 2008 Mad Men Viola Episode: "The Inheritance" 2009–2011 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Eunice Guest Cast: Seasons 5 & 7 2010 Zeke and Luther Nurse Episode: "Zeke Jumps the Shark" 2011 Harry's Law Nancy Jones Episode: "Last Dance" 9ine Nana Goodall Recurring Cast The Celibate Nympho Chronicles Mabaleen Recurring Cast Parenthood Natalie Episode: "Nora" 2012–2013 Private Practice Mildred Clemons Recurring Cast: Seasons 5-6 2013 The Rev Sister Johnson Recurring Cast 2014 Growing Up Fisher Tricia Episode: "Desk/Job" The Middle Cashier Episode: "The Optimist" 2015 Scandal Tina Wilson Episode: "The Lawn Chair" Ward of the State Evelyn Episode: "Pilot" 2015–2016 The Soul Man Shirley Guest: Season 4, Recurring Cast: Season 5 2015–2019 Suits Gretchen Bodinski Recurring Cast: Seasons 5-9 2016 Masters of Sex County Clerk Episode: "The Eyes of God" 2017 The Carmichael Show Aunt Clarice Episode: "Lesbian Wedding" 2017–2018 The Guest Book Emma Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2 2018 Champions Sister Timothy Episode: "Matt Bomer Poster" Lucifer Party Bus Driver Episode: "All Hands on Decker" Claws Ms. Wallace Episode: "Double Dutch" 2019 Forky Asks a Question Officer Rib Tickles (voice) Episode: "What Is a Pet?" 2020 Raven's Home Ms. Pearl Episode: "What About Your Friends?" 2020–2025 Tyler Perry's Young Dylan Viola Wilson Main Cast