Garcelle Beauvais

Garcelle Beauvais (, formerly Beauvais-Nilon; born November 26, 1966) is a Haitian-American actress and television personality. She is best known for her starring roles in the sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show and the crime drama series NYPD Blue. She also appeared in the films Coming to America and its sequel, Coming 2 America (2021), White House Down (2013), and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).

In 2020, Beauvais became a part of the main cast on the reality television series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where she remained for five seasons before announcing her departure after season 14. She also co-hosted the daytime talk show The Real (2020–2022) alongside Adrienne Bailon, Loni Love, and Jeannie Mai for its final two seasons.

Early life Beauvais was born in Saint-Marc, Haiti, At age seven, she moved with her mother and six older siblings to the United States and they settled in Peabody, Massachusetts, where she enrolled in elementary school. Upon her arrival to the United States, Beauvais originally only spoke French and Creole, but learned English from watching Sesame Street on television.

Career Modelling Beauvais moved to Miami at 16 to pursue a career in modeling. After driving down from Massachusetts, Beauvais hoped to interview for a modelling agency without an appointment. She was approached at a red light while putting on lipstick by the very owner of the agency she sought to see. went to New York City to pursue a career as a fashion model, after signing with the Ford Modeling Agency. She lived with Eileen Ford and later modeled with Irene Marie Models. She modeled print ads for Avon, Mary Kay, and Clairol and in catalogs for Lerner New York Clothing Line, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom and walked the runway for Calvin Klein and Isaac Mizrahi and also shot TV commercials for Burdines.

Magazine covers

Beauvais has appeared on the covers of numerous luxury lifestyle and fashion magazines such as CVLUX, Harper's Bazaar, Sheen Magazine, People 's Health issue, VIVmag, Essence, Ebony, Jet, Playboy, Vibe and Hype Hair. In 2017, she was featured on five different magazine covers. right

Film and television In 1984, she made her first television appearance in the crime drama series Miami Vice, in the episode "Give a Little, Take a Little". Beauvais portrayed a rose-bearer in the romantic comedy film Coming to America (1988) at age 21. In 1994, she rose to prominence as an actress for her portrayal of Cynthia Nichols in Aaron Spelling's prime time soap opera Models Inc. From 1996 to 2001, she co-starred in The Jamie Foxx Show as hotel employee Francesca "Fancy" Monroe and the love interest of Jamie Foxx's character, Jamie King.

From 2001 to 2004, she played Assistant District Attorney Valerie Heywood and the love interest of Detective Baldwin Jones, played by Henry Simmons, on NYPD Blue. In 2011 and 2012, Beauvais played Hanna Linden on the TNT law drama Franklin & Bash. In 2013, Beauvais portrayed the First Lady opposite Foxx as the President in the action thriller film White House Down. In 2017, she played the role of Doris Toomes, wife of Michael Keaton's character, Adrian Toomes, in Spider-Man: Homecoming. She starred in R. Kelly's music video for "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)", as the wife of Ronald Isley and the lover of R. Kelly, delivering the title line as inducement for an affair. In 2001, after the Jamie Foxx Show ended its run, Beauvais appeared in Luther Vandross' music video, "Take You Out," playing Vandross' girlfriend. She also appeared on some episodes of Grimm as Henrietta. In 2016, Beauvais was named as one of the co-hosts of the syndicated infotainment discussion series Hollywood Today Live, after a month-long period of guest hosting the show.

Beauvais recurred as Veronica Garland, the Wicked Stepmother character from Cinderella, on the second season of the web television series Tell Me a Story. She also portrayed Dennis Quaid's love interest in the web television series Merry Happy Whatever. Beauvais joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as the series' first black cast member during its tenth season, which premiered in April 2020.

Throughout her five seasons on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Beauvais was outspoken about pay disparities within the cast on the franchise. She was regularly referred to as a grounded voice during a period of significant cast turnover across the franchise. During her last few seasons on the show, she formed a close friendship wth cast member Sutton Stracke though the two are no longer friends.

She began co-hosting the daytime talk show The Real for its seventh season in September 2020. Beauvais reprised her role as a rose bearer in the sequel to the romantic comedy film Coming to America, titled Coming 2 America.

In 2022, Beauvais signed a first-look development deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, via her production company Garcelle Beauvais Productions. That same year, she was cast in the Hulu mystery thriller series The Other Black Girl, a television adaptation of the 2021 novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris. In addition, she starred in TV movies Caught in His Web and Black Girl Missing on Lifetime. In April 2024, Deadline announced that Beauvais will be executive producing three original films for Lifetime channel, saying: "I am so excited and grateful to continue my relationship with Lifetime because they immediately understood the importance of creating this new franchise with the Black Girl Missing movies. Having a network that stands by you and supports your mission gives me hope in humanity."

On August 4, 2024, Beauvais and Keltie Knight hosted the Miss USA 2024 beauty pageant.

In March 2025, Beauvais announced her departure from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, after five seasons.

Other ventures In 2008, Beauvais launched a children's jewelry line called Petit Bijou. She hosts the weekly late-night talk show podcast Going to Bed with Garcelle, in which she discusses dating, sex, and relationships with guests.

Her memoir, Love Me As I Am: My Journey from Haiti to Hollywood to Happiness, co-written with Nicole E. Smith, was published by Amistad on April 12, 2022.

Interior design On July 13, 2022, Beauvais launched a home collection, "Garcelle at Home" on HSN. The collection, inspired by her Haitian heritage, includes comforter sets, lamps, pillows, doormats and other accessories.

Personal life She was married to producer Daniel Saunders; their marriage ended in divorce. They have a son, Oliver Saunders, born in 1991. Beauvais married Mike Nilon, a talent agent with Creative Artists Agency, in May 2001. Their twin sons, Jax Joseph and Jaid Thomas Nilon, were born on October 18, 2007. They had dealt with treatment over five years for infertility. In April 2010, Beauvais publicly accused Nilon of infidelity after he admitted he had been having an affair for five years. Beauvais filed for divorce on May 10, 2010, seeking joint custody of their sons. January 25, 2026, Beauvais experienced an LAPD swatting at her home in Los Angeles, and discussed it on 'Good Morning America', on January 30, 2026.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1984–85 Miami Vice Waitress/Gabriella Episode: "Give a Little, Take a Little" & "The Maze" 1986 Nurse Episode: "An Early Spring" 1991–96 Family Matters Various Roles Guest Cast: Season 3 & 5–7 1992 Down the Shore Liat Episode: "Schwing Time" Dream On Danica Episode: "Red All Over" 1992–95 Various Roles Guest Cast: Season 3 & 5–6 1993 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Keeler Episode: "Boy Don't Leave" Where I Live Terry Episode: "Married... with Children" 1994 Dead at 21 Officer Episode: "In Through the Out Door" 1994–95 Models Inc. Cynthia Nichols Main Cast 1995 Rachel Episode: "Fatal Subtraction" 1996–01 Francesca "Fancy" Monroe Main Cast 1999 Arli$ – Episode: "The Cult of Celebrity" 2000 Opposite Sex Ms. Maya Bradley Recurring Cast 2001 Titans Tina Episode: "She Stoops to Conquer" 2001–04 NYPD Blue A.D.A. Valerie Heywood Main Cast: Season 8–11 2002 Journeys in Black Herself Episode: "Luther Vandross" 2003 I Love the '70s Episode: "1970" Vicki Episode: "Bernie Mac Rope-a-Dope" 2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Renee Episode: "The Surrogate" Life with Bonnie Dr. Gamz Episode: "Therabeautic" 2005 TV Land's Top Ten Herself Episode: "Sexiest Men" Eyes Nora Gage Main Cast 2006 10.5: Apocalypse Natalie Warner Episode: "Part 1 & 2" CSI: Miami Katrina Iverson Episode: "Death Pool 100" 2009 Maneater Suzee Saunders Episode: "Part 1 & 2" Crash Connie Episode: "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline" 2010 Harry Loves Lisa Herself Episode: "Belle Gray Party" Human Target Vivian Cox Episode: "Lockdown" 2011 State of Georgia Gwen Dressel Episode: "Foot in the Door" 2011–12 Franklin & Bash Hanna Linden Main Cast: Season 1–2 2012 Kendra Episode: "Shall We Dance" 2013 Kris Herself/Co-Host Episode: "Episode #1.8" Psych Miranda Sherrod Episode: "Dead Air" Arrested Development Ophelia Love Episode: "Off the Hook" Necessary Roughness Lana Langer Episode: "Swimming with Sharks" 2014 Playing House Dr. Jay Episode: "Let's Have a Baby" Danitra Cass Recurring Cast: Season 7 2015 The Meredith Vieira Show Herself/Panelist Episode: "Episode #1.173" The View Herself/Guest Co-Host Guest Co-Host: Season 18 Grimm Henrietta Recurring Cast: Season 4 2015–17 Hollywood Today Live Herself/Co-Host Main Co-Host 2016 Herself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Episode #9.19" Hell's Kitchen Herself/Restaurant Patron Episode: "10 Chef's Compete" Window Warriors Herself/Host Main Host 2016–19 Our Lady Underground Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2–4 2017–18 Chicago Med Lyla Dempsey Guest Cast: Season 2–3 2018 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "My Best Squirrelfriend's Dragsmaids Wedding Trip" Steve Herself/Panelist Recurring Panelist: Season 1 Mason Recurring Cast: Season 2 Power Linda Episode: "Are We On The Same Team?" 2019 Siren Susan Bishop Recurring Cast: Season 2 Middle School Moguls Mrs. Pierre (voice) Recurring Cast Merry Happy Whatever Nancy Recurring Cast 2019–20 Tell Me a Story Veronica Garland Recurring Cast: Season 2 2020 Celebrity Family Feud Herself Episode: "Episode #7.2" Sugar Rush Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "Tropical Vacation" Carol's Second Act Tina Episode: "Plus One" 2020–22 Herself/Co-Host Main Co-Host: Season 7–8 2020–25 Herself Main Cast: Season 10–14 2021 Entertainment Tonight Herself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Episode #40.148" 25 Words or Less Herself Recurring Guest Beat Shazam Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Beat Shazam Celebrity Challenge!" Herself (voice) Episodes: "Beverly Hills" & "The Flummery Tart" 2022 Uncensored Herself Episode: "Garcelle Beauvais" 2023 Vanderpump Rules Herself Episode: "Mistress in Distress" See It Loud: The History of Black Television Herself Episode: "Laughing Out Loud" Hell's Kitchen Herself/Restaurant Patron Episode: "The Dream Begins" The Real Murders of Los Angeles Herself/Narrator Main Narrator Miracle Workers Margaret Episode: "Olympus" Diana Gordon Recurring Cast 2023–26 Survival of the Thickest Natasha Karina Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Seasons 2 & 3 2024 Miss USA 2024 Herself/Host Main Host 2025 Denise Richards & Her Wild Things Herself Episode: "The Family that Photoshoots Together..."

Music videos Year Song Artist 1987 "Luv's Passion And You" Chad 1996 "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" R. Kelly featuring The Isley Brothers 1998 "Come with Me" Puff Daddy featuring Jimmy Page 2001 "Take You Out" Luther Vandross 2003 "Dance with My Father"

Awards and nominations