Essence Atkins

Essence Uhura Atkins (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. She began her career appearing on television sitcoms, before her regular role on the African-American prime-time drama Under One Roof (CBS, 1995).

Atkins is best known for her roles on television comedies. From 1997 to 1999, she starred as Tasha Yvette Henderson in The WB sitcom Smart Guy. She later went to star as Dee Dee Thorne in UPN sitcom Half & Half (2002–2006), Suzanne Kingston-Persons in TBS sitcom Are We There Yet? (2010–2013) and as Ashley Wayne in NBC sitcom Marlon (2017–2018). In film, Atkins has appeared in How High (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Dance Flick (2009), A Haunted House (2013), A Haunted House 2 (2014), and The Noel Diary (2022).

Career Atkins began her career as a teenager guest starring on NBC sitcom The Cosby Show in 1986. The following years she spent playing guest roles on sitcoms include Family Matters, before landing co-leading role opposite James Earl Jones and Vanessa Bell Calloway in the African-American drama Under One Roof in 1995. Atkins later starred alongside Marlon Wayans in the parody films A Haunted House (2013) and A Haunted House 2 (2014). In 2016, she was cast opposite Wayans in his NBC sitcom Marlon. it was canceled after two seasons in 2018.

In 2019, Atkins was cast in a leading role in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series Ambitions opposite Robin Givens.

Personal life In September 2009, Atkins married All-American collegiate football free safety Jaime Mendez. They met Valentine's Day 2008 through the online dating service Match.com. Her Half and Half co-star Valarie Pettiford performed during the reception.

They divorced in 2016.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 Nikita's Blues Nikita Short 2000 Love Song Toni TV movie 2001 Nikita Blues Nikita Looking Through Lillian Andrea XCU: Extreme Close Up Tamikah Jones How High Jamie 2003 Deliver Us from Eva Kareenah Dandridge 2007 Love... & Other 4 Letter Words Roxanne 2008 Love for Sale Candace 2009 Dance Flick Charity 2010 Preacher's Kid Peaches N-Secure Robin Joyner 2011 Michelle Video 2012 Dysfunctional Friends Alice From This Day Forward Patrice TV movie 2013 Kisha Davis Act Like You Love Me Kelly My Sisters Wedding Tandy Holiday Road Trip Clara TV movie 2014 A Haunted House 2 Kisha Davis Girlfriends' Getaway Lauren TV movie My Other Mother Candy TV movie 2015 Sister Code Corrine Wells Battle Scars Elsie Ramirez Girlfriends' Getaway 2 Lauren TV movie 2016 You Can't Hurry Love Camille TV movie 2017 Solstice Ranch Lola Solstice Short Illicit Nadine 2018 Coins for Christmas Madison Morris TV movie 2019 Same Difference Tonya/Shauna 2020 Open Wren TV movie The Sin Choice Rebecca Anderson Coins for Love Madison Morris TV movie 2021 Coins Forever Madison Morris TV movie 2022 The Noel Diary Noel Ellis 2023 Angie's Cure Sheila Hart 2024 One Night Stay April Sea Cloud Park Judy Short 2025 He Wasn't Man Enough Monica TV movie 2026 Breathe Again Evelyn TV movie Main Cast 2026 Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness Clara Episode: "Buzz"

Awards and nominations