Keshia Knight Pulliam

Keshia Knight Pulliam (born April 9, 1979) when she earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards. She later reprised the character on the spin-off series A Different World (1987–88). Knight Pulliam is also known for her portrayal of Miranda Lucas-Payne on the TBS comedy drama series Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2007–present) and films such as Polly, Beauty Shop (2005) and Madea Goes to Jail (2009).

Career Knight Pulliam made her professional debut at 9 months old, in a national print advertisement for Johnson & Johnson baby products.

Knight Pulliam won a celebrity version of Fear Factor in September 2002. She also won a celebrity version of The Weakest Link, and participated in Celebrity Mole: Yucatan. In 2004, she appeared in Chingy's music video for "One Call Away". In 2005, she played Darnelle in Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah. Knight Pulliam performed in Donald Gray's play The Man of Her Dreams in the fall of 2006 in St. Louis. In 2008, she joined the cast of Tyler Perry's House of Payne as Miranda, the new wife of Calvin Payne. The role earned her the 2009 and 2010 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2009, she played Candace "Candy" Washington-Collins in the film Madea Goes to Jail. Knight Pulliam appeared in Tank's 2010 music video for his cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me", playing his love interest.

In 2011, commenting on the fact that only white actors had won Golden Globe Awards that year, she said: "I think that there is definitely work to be done. It can always be more diverse. We live in a very multicultural and global society. More needs to be done to increase the representation of all people and really show the world for what it is. It’s not just one color."

In 2013, she was a contestant on the ABC celebrity diving show Splash. She was first to be eliminated. In 2015, Knight Pulliam was a contestant on the NBC show The Celebrity Apprentice Season 7 and was the first contestant eliminated after being the losing project manager for her team. In 2018, Knight Pulliam was a HouseGuest on the first season of the CBS series Celebrity Big Brother, where she was the second person evicted out of the house, on Day 13.

Personal life Keshia Knight Pulliam was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 9, 1979, the daughter of Denise and James Knight Pulliam Sr., a manager. She has three brothers, James Knight Pulliam II, Mshon Knight Pulliam, and Juwan Pulliam. Knight Pulliam attended Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey.

When The Cosby Show ended its run in 1992, her family moved to Virginia, where Knight Pulliam attended the Potomac School in McLean and Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, from which she graduated in 1997. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Spelman College in 2001. They were married the next day, January 1, 2016, in Knight Pulliam's Atlanta home. On July 25, 2016, Hartwell filed for divorce. On January 23, 2017, Knight Pulliam gave birth to a daughter named Ella Grace Hartwell. The divorce was finalized in April 2018, with Knight Pulliam receiving primary custody of Ella while Hartwell was ordered to pay child support of about $3,000 a month.

In December 2020, she became engaged to actor Brad James. They began dating in 2019 after they met on the set of the television movie Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta. They were married in an intimate ceremony in September 2021. In December 2022, it was announced Knight Pulliam was pregnant with her second child and her first with James. On April 4, 2023, she gave birth to a son named Knight James.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1983–88 Sesame Street Herself Recurring Guest 1984–92 Rudy Huxtable Main Cast 1987–88 Rudy Huxtable Recurring Cast: Season 1 1990 Reading Rainbow Herself (voice) Episode: "The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth" 1993 Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Episode #6.17" 1997 Guitarist Episode: "The Return of Charlites" 2001 Herself Episode: "TV Child Stars Edition" 2002 Fear Factor Episode: "Celebrity Fear Factor 3" 2004 Herself/Contestant Contestant: Season 4 2005 Herself Episode: "100 Greatest Kid Stars" 2007–09 Whatever Happened To? Episode: "Little Sisters" & "Middle Sibbles" 2007–12, 2020–present Tyler Perry's House of Payne Miranda Lucas Payne Main Cast 2009 Played by Fame Herself Episode: "Eco Friend Date" 2010 Psych Stranjay Episode: "The Polarizing Express" 2011 Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ming-Na, Chi McBride, Mia Tyler" Hollywood Icons and Innovators Episode: "Episode #1.3" 2012 Episode: "All Pomp But No Circumstance" Mr. Box Office Vanessa Owens Episode: "Pilot" 2013 Herself/Contestant Main Cast Guys with Kids Bridget Episode: "Divorce Party" 2015 Herself/Contestant Contestant: Season 14 2018 Herself/Contestant Contestant: Season 1 2019 BET Her Presents: The Waiting Room Dr. Bennett Episode: "The Waiting Room" 2021 Down to Business Herself Episode: "Various Artists" 2022 Uncensored Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam" Herself/Host Main Host: Season 15

Music videos Year Title Artist 2004 "" featuring J-Weav 2007 "" 2010 "I Can't Make You Love Me" Tank

Awards and nominations 1986: Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series (nominated) The Cosby Show 2009: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne 2010: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne 2011: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (nominated) Tyler Perry's House of Payne 2012: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne