Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Da'Vine Joy Randolph (; born May 21, 1986) is an American actress. She has earned various accolades including an Academy Award, British Academy Film Award and Golden Globe Award, alongside nominations for a Tony Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2024, she was named one of 100 most influential people in the world by Time.

Randolph gained recognition for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown in the Broadway production of Ghost (2012), for which she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Randolph went on to appear in the films The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014) and Office Christmas Party (2016) before receiving praise for her roles in Dolemite Is My Name (2019) and The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2020). Her performance as a grieving mother in The Holdovers (2023) earned her several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Randolph's television credits include Selfie (2014), This Is Us (2016), People of Earth (2016–17), Empire (2017–18), High Fidelity (2020), and The Idol (2023). In 2024, Randolph earned a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, for her appearances on the Hulu mystery series Only Murders in the Building (2021–present).

Early life and education Da'Vine Joy Randolph was born on May 21, 1986, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her first name is pronounced "Day Vine Joy"; she has no middle name. It took her parents seven years to have children. When Da'Vine was born, they said she was a "divine joy".

Randolph grew up in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. She went to Temple University to focus on classical vocal performance and opera, but switched to musical theatre in her junior year. After graduating from Temple in 2008, she attended the Yale School of Drama. She graduated from Yale in 2011 with her master's degree. Randolph became an alumna of the British American Drama Academy (BADA) after spending a summer studying Shakespeare at the University of Oxford.

Career Randolph auditioned for an understudy role in the Broadway transfer of Ghost: the Musical (which was playing in London's West End), but the producers decided to cast her in the principal role of Oda Mae Brown. Before the casting of the Broadway transfer was announced, Sharon D. Clarke, who played Oda Mae in the London run of Ghost the Musical, suffered a minor knee injury. Randolph was quickly flown to London to cover the role in Clarke's absence. Her debut performance took place on December 16, 2011, and she continued to share the role with understudy Lisa Davina Phillip until early January 2012, when Clarke returned.

After a preview period that began in March 2012, the Broadway production opened Monday April 23, 2012, with Randolph playing opposite Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy in the leading roles. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. In 2013 she made her feature film debut in a supporting role, in Mother of George directed by Andrew Dosunmu. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews. The following year she played a nurse in the comedy-drama The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014) starring Robin Williams. Randolph rose to prominence acting in one of the main roles as Charmonique Whitaker in Selfie, which premiered on September 30, 2014. The show starred Karen Gillan and John Cho. It received mixed reviews and was canceled after one season, but the show continued to have a cult fan base. When asked about a Selfie revival in May 2022, Randolph responded that she would return in a movie or limited series if given the opportunity. She mentioned that it meant a lot to her and the cast, and that fans still talk about the series years after it aired. Randolph commented that she loved working on the show and that her character was one of her favorite roles.

From 2015 to 2017, Randolph performed a voice role as Christine in the series The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show. She also had guest roles on The Good Wife (2013), See Dad Run (2014), Life in Pieces (2015), and Veep (2017). She had a recurring role as Tanya in the drama series This Is Us (2016). The same year, she had a part in Office Christmas Party (2016). She starred in one of the main roles as Yvonne Watson, a postal worker, in the sitcom People of Earth for two seasons from 2016 to 2017. She had recurring roles in the series Empire from 2017 to 2018 and in the series On Becoming a God in Central Florida in 2019.

She had her breakout role as Lady Reed in Dolemite Is My Name (2019) starring Eddie Murphy. For her performance she received nominations for the African-American Film Critics Association, Black Reel Awards, and NAACP Image Awards for Best Supporting Actress. The following year, she acted in Kajillionaire (2020), and she was a main cast member in High Fidelity (2020). During this time, she took voice roles as Ranger Woolf in Madagascar: A Little Wild from 2020 to 2022, Tamarind Toucan in Tuca & Bertie (2021), Detective Gail Johnson in Ultra City Smiths (2021), Tina in Chicago Party Aunt from 2021 to 2022, and various roles in Birdgirl (2022). She also voiced roles in the animated films Trolls World Tour (2020) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022).

She took roles in the drama film The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021) and the comedy The Lost City (2022). In 2021. she took a main role in the sitcom The Last O.G. (2021). Since 2021, she has taken a recurring role as Detective Williams in the series Only Murders in the Building starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. She played a manager to a pop star in the controversial series The Idol (2023).

In 2023, she played gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the political drama film Rustin. She also starred in Alexander Payne's coming-of-age film The Holdovers as Mary Lamb, a cook and bereaved mother. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. She earned praise for the role, with Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood writing "Randolph is simply wonderful, saying more with a look than any words could ever do. She is enormously touching and earns our tears along the way." Randolph received numerous nominations and awards for the role, including winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, the BAFTA, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Randolph filmed an action comedy film with Rebel Wilson called Bride Hard, which was released in June 2025. In September 2025, Randolph appeared in the Bi-ray music video "Butterfly (Narrative Version)" directed by Japanese rock star Yoshiki. She then starred as afterlife coordinator Anna in A24's fantasy romantic comedy Eternity alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner. Her next film, The Gallerist, premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and will be followed by a theatrical release later in the year.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 Mother of George Marsea The Purge: The Morning After De'Shondranique short A Long Walk Mom short 2014 The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Nurse Rowan 2016 The Secrets of Emily Blair Fran Office Christmas Party Carla 2019 Dolemite Is My Name Lady Reed 2020 Kajillionaire Jenny The Last Shift Shazz Trolls World Tour Bliss Marina / Shelia Bvoice Mama Got A Cough Yolanda video short 2021 The United States vs. Billie Holiday Roslyn The Guilty CHP Dispatchervoice

Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 The Good Wife Margie Episode: "A More Perfect Union" Brenda Forever Pearl Television film 2014 See Dad Run Mrs. Rothschild Episode: "See Dad Become Room Mom" Selfie Charmonique Whitaker Main cast 2015 Life in Pieces Janice Episode: "Babe Secret Phone Germs" 2015–2017 The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show Christine / Abby Fisher Voice, main cast 2023 The Idol Destiny Recurring cast

Theatre +List of stage performances Year Title Role Notes 2007 Hair Tribe Prince Music TheaterMay 26, 2007 – June 17, 2007 2010 The Servant of Two Masters Clarice Yale Repertory TheatreMarch 12, 2010 – April 3, 2010 2012 Ghost: The Musical Oda Mae Brown Lunt-Fontanne TheatreApril 23, 2012 – August 18, 2012 2013 The Cradle Will Rock Performer New York City CenterJuly 10, 2013 – July 13, 2013

Awards and nominations + Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result AACTA International Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress The Holdovers Academy Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress AAFCA Awards 2020 Best Supporting Actress Dolemite Is My Name Astra Film Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress The Holdovers Austin Film Critics Association 2020 Breakthrough Artist Award Dolemite Is My Name Black Reel Awards 2020 Outstanding Supporting Actress Outstanding Breakthrough Performance 2022 Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy Series Only Murders in the Building 2024 Outstanding Supporting Performance The Holdovers Boston Society of Film Critics 2023 Best Supporting Actress British Academy Film Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress Celebration of Cinema & Television 2023 Supporting Actress Award (Film) Chicago Film Critics Association 2023 Best Supporting Actress Critics' Choice Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress Best Acting Ensemble Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association 2023 Best Supporting Actress Drama League Awards 2012 Distinguished Performance Ghost: The Musical Florida Film Critics Circle 2023 Best Supporting Actress The Holdovers Georgia Film Critics Association 2024 Best Supporting Actress Best Ensemble Golden Globe Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Gotham Awards 2023 Outstanding Supporting Performance Independent Spirit Awards 2024 Best Supporting Performance Kansas City Film Critics Circle 2019 Best Supporting Actress Dolemite Is My Name London Film Critics' Circle 2024 Supporting Actress of the Year The Holdovers Los Angeles Film Critics Association 2023 Best Supporting Performer NAACP Image Awards 2020 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Dolemite Is My Name 2024 The Holdovers National Board of Review 2023 Best Supporting Actress New York Film Critics Circle 2023 Best Supporting Actress New York Film Critics Online 2023 Best Supporting Actress Outer Critics Circle Awards 2012 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Ghost: The Musical Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024 Breakthrough Performance Award The Holdovers Primetime Emmy Awards 2024 Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Only Murders in the Building San Diego Film Critics Society 2023 Best Supporting Actress The Holdovers Best Ensemble 2025 Best Comedic Performance Eternity Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2024 Virtuoso Award The Holdovers Satellite Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Awards 2024 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role St. Louis Film Critics Association 2023 Best Supporting Actress Best Ensemble Tony Awards 2012 Best Featured Actress in a Musical Ghost: The Musical Toronto Film Critics Association 2023 Best Supporting Performance The Holdovers Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 2023 Best Supporting Actress Best Acting Ensemble