Khandi Alexander

Harriet Rene "Khandi" Alexander (born September 4, 1957) Later in 2013, she joined the cast of the ABC drama Scandal as Maya Lewis, Olivia Pope's mother, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2015. Alexander also received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for playing Bessie Smith's sister Viola in the 2015 HBO film Bessie.

Early life, family and education Khandi Alexander was born in Jacksonville, Florida, She was raised in Queens, New York.

She attended Queensborough Community College. She was a dancer in Natalie Cole's music video for "Pink Cadillac" in 1988. She met pop singer Whitney Houston in 1989, backstage at an American Music Awards ceremony. She became Houston's choreographer, "working with her on her world tour"

Alexander appears as a dancer in the 1985 film A Chorus Line. She made her television debut on the 1985 sketch-comedy show FTV. She later appeared in the films Emmett's Mark and Dark Blue, and starred opposite Rob Lowe in the Lifetime television movie Perfect Strangers. In 2002 through 2008, she portrayed the character of Alexx Woods, a medical examiner in the CBS police drama CSI: Miami. Alexander left CSI: Miami shortly before the end of the 2007–2008 season. Her final appearance aired on May 5, 2008. On February 2, 2009, she returned to the role of Alexx Woods for a guest appearance in the episode "Smoke Gets in Your CSI's". She returned again as Alexx Woods in guest appearances in the episodes "Out of Time" on September 21, 2009, and "Bad Seed" on October 19, 2009.

In fall 2008, Alexander was cast as a lead character in the HBO drama pilot Treme, that premiered on April 11, 2010. Alexander starred in the award-winning HBO television series by David Simon from 2010 to 2013. The series ended after four seasons. She later was cast in Shonda Rhimes' drama series Scandal as Maya Lewis, Kerry Washington's character Olivia Pope's mother. In 2015, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.

In 2014, Alexander was cast as older sister of Queen Latifah's title character in the HBO Film Bessie about iconic blues singer Bessie Smith. She was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries.

Personal life Alexander has resided in Queens, New York City, New York; She has owned cats. 2018 Fahrenheit 451 Toni Morrison Television Year Title Role Notes 1985 FTV Various Characters TV series 1987 Rags to Riches The Delights Episode: "Pilot" 1988 Duet Nurse Episode: "Special Delivery" 1989 A Different World Theressa Stone Episode: "Citizen Wayne" 1992 The Edge Various Characters Episode: "Episode #1.11" 1993 Shameful Secrets Rosalie TV movie 1994 To My Daughter with Love Harriet TV movie 1995–1998 NewsRadio Catherine Duke Main cast (season 1–4), guest (season 5) 1995–2001 ER Jackie Robbins Recurring cast (season 1–8) 1996 Terminal Dr. Deborah Levy TV movie 1998 La Femme Nikita Terry Episode: "Soul Sacrifice" 1999 Cosby Karen Episode: "The Awful Truth" NYPD Blue Sonya Episode: "What's Up, Chuck?" Spawn 3: Ultimate Battle Lakesha / Nurse (voice) Episode: "Seed of the Hellspawn" X-Chromosome Yolanda (voice) TV series Partners Charlie TV movie 2000 Rude Awakening Juanita Wilson Episode: "Star 80 Proof" The Corner Denise Francine 'Fran' Boyd Main cast Third Watch Beverly Saunders Episode: "History" 2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sgt. Karen Smythe Episode: "Paranoia" 2002 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Alexx Woods Episode: "Cross Jurisdictions" 2002–2009 CSI: Miami Dr. Alexx Woods Main cast (season 1–6), guest (season 7–8) 2003 Life's a Bitch Yolanda Episode: "Pilot" 2004 Perfect Strangers Christie Kaplan TV movie 2009 Better Off Ted Stella Clifton Episode: "Battle of the Bulbs" 2010–2013 Treme LaDonna Batiste-Williams Main cast 2012 Body of Proof Beverly Travers Episode: "Occupational Hazards" & "Identity" 2013–2018 Scandal Maya Pope Recurring cast (season 3–4 & 6–7) 2014 The Assault Detective Jodi Miller TV movie 2015 Bessie Viola Smith TV movie BoJack Horseman Police Chief / Farmer's Wife (voice) Episode: "Chickens" 2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show Narrator Episode: "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?" SEAL Team Ambassador Nicole Marsden Episode: "All Along the Watchtower: Part 1 & 2" 2021 What We Do in the Shadows Contessa Carmilla De Mornay Episode: "A Farewell" 2026 Abbott Elementary Miss Carroll Episode: "Mall Part 3: Heroes"

Music videos Year Title Artist 1993 "Heaven Knows" Luther Vandross

Awards and nominations