Lela Rochon

Lela Rochon Fuqua (; April 17, 1964) is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as Robin Stokes in the 1995 romantic drama film Waiting to Exhale. Rochon also had roles in the films Harlem Nights, Boomerang (1992), The Chamber (1996), Gang Related (1997), Knock Off (1998), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), and Any Given Sunday (1999).

Early life Rochon was born in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, the daughter of Zelma, a nurse practitioner, and Samuel Staples, a business owner and graphic artist. She is a 1982 graduate of Cerritos High School in Cerritos, California. In 1986, she graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), where she earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism, with minors in sociology and theatre. In 2016, Rochon returned to CSUDH as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremonies for the College of Arts and Humanities.

Career Early works In 1984, Rochon appeared as an extra in the movie Breakin’, where she met the man who would later become her husband. From 1986 to 1988, while attending college, Rochon was one of the "Spudettes" featured in over 30 national spots for the Spuds MacKenzie Budweiser/Bud Light TV commercials. She also appeared in the 1985 made-for-television film A Bunny's Tale starring Kirstie Alley and Delta Burke, based on Gloria Steinem's experiences as a Playboy Bunny. She appeared as the love interest of Gerald Levert in the video for "My Forever Love" by Levert, and in Luther Vandross' "It's Over Now" video. She also appeared in the music video for Lionel Richie's single "All Night Long (All Night)", in Al B. Sure's video for the song "Natalie", and in Tupac Shakur's video "I Get Around" as one of the female dancers. She had many guest starring roles in a number of sitcoms, include The Cosby Show, Amen, 227, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. Rochon made her film debut in 1985, when she starred opposite Fred Williamson in Fox Trap. In 1987, she played the role of Debby in the film The Wild Pair, starring Beau Bridges and Bubba Smith. In August 1988, she filled in as a game show model on American game show "Card Sharks" on CBS. In 1989, Rochon acted opposite Eddie Murphy in 1989's Harlem Nights, as the memorable "Sunshine" character. She again worked with Murphy in the successful 1992 romantic comedy, Boomerang. In 1995, she was regular cast member during the first season of The WB sitcom, The Wayans Bros.

Breakthrough

In 1995, Rochon landed one of the lead roles opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine in the adaptation of the Terry McMillan novel and highly successful drama film Waiting to Exhale. She played the character Robin Stokes, for which she was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. In 1996, Rochon starred opposite Timothy Hutton in the Showtime cable network film Mr. and Mrs. Loving, receiving a Cable Ace Award nomination for Best Actress. Later that year, she played the female lead in the crime thriller film The Chamber. The following year, she starred alongside Jim Belushi and Tupac Shakur in the crime thriller Gang Related. In 1998, Rochon had the leading role alongside Halle Berry and Vivica A. Fox in the romantic drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and well starred in Knock Off with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and The Big Hit, as love interest to Mark Wahlberg's leading character. In 1999, she appeared in Any Given Sunday directed by Oliver Stone. In 2001, Rochon made her return to television with one of leading roles alongside Bonnie Bedelia, Nancy McKeon, Tracey Needham, and Lisa Vidal in the Lifetime crime drama series, The Division. She left the series after a single season.

2000s-present In 2004, Rochon co-starred opposite Katie Holmes in the romantic comedy film First Daughter. She later had roles in films Supremacy (2014) with Danny Glover and Derek Luke, and Reversion (2015), playing Aja Naomi King's character's mother. In 2017, she had a recurring role in the CBS crime drama series Training Day, and in 2019 on the Oprah Winfrey Network drama David Makes Man.

In 2024, Rochon was cast in the leading role in the BET+ crime family drama series, The Family Business: New Orleans as Big Shirley Duncan.

Personal life Rochon has been married twice and has two children. Her first marriage to dancer and actor Adolfo Quiñones, better known as Shabba Doo, lasted from 1982 until 1987. In 1999, she married film director Antoine Fuqua. Together, they have a daughter, Asia Rochon Fuqua, Rochon suffered a miscarriage in 2001.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 Breakin' Extra in First Scene Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Dancer 1985 A Bunny's Tale Charlotte TV movie 1986 Foxtrap Lindy Stewardess School School Instructor 1987 The Wild Pair Debby Into the Homeland Exquisite Woman TV movie 1989 Harlem Nights Sunshine 1992 Boomerang Christie 1993 The Meteor ManVanessa 1995 Waiting to Exhale Robin Stokes 1996 Mr. and Mrs. Loving Mildred 'Bean' Jeter TV movie The Chamber Nora Stark 1997 Gang Related Cynthia Webb Legal Deceit Sydney Banks 1998 Ruby Bridges Lucielle 'Lucy' Bridges TV movie The Big Hit Chantel Knock Off Karen Lee Why Do Fools Fall in Love Emira Eagle 1999 Any Given Sunday Vanessa Struthers The Charlotte Austin Story Charlotte Austin TV movie 2000 Labor Pains Lulu Brown 2004 First Daughter Liz Pappas 2006 Running Out of Time in Hollywood - 2009 Balancing the Books Sharlene Brooklyn's Finest Investigator #1 2010 Blood Done Sign My Name Roseanna Allen 2013 Let the Church Say Amen Loretta Jackson TV movie 2014 Supremacy Odessa 2015 Reversion Maya 2024 Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted by Love Deena TV movie 2026 Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love Deena TV movie The Dating App Killer: The Monica White Story Monica White TV movie

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 The Facts of Life Diana Episode: "The Greek Connection" The Cosby Show Veronica Episode: "The Shower" What's Happening Now!! Sharona Episode: "The Hat Comes Back" 1988 Amen Young Bride Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues" 1990 21 Jump Street Denise Price Episode: "Change of Heart" 227 Leslie Episode: "Gone Fishing" 1st & Ten Joy Brock Episode: "Don't Powerburst My Bubble" 1991 Generations Brandy Alexander Recurring Cast: Season 3 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Cindy Episode: "Will Gets a Job" Extralarge Wendy Episode: "Black & White" 1992 Homefront Mary Louise Episode: "At Your Age" Roc Carol Episode: "Roc Throws Joey Out" Tales from the Crypt Mercedes Episode: "Werewolf Concerto" Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Paula Episode: "On the Rebound" 1993 Out All Night Victoria Episode: "Mall in the Family" The Sinbad Show Denise Episode: "Pilot" 1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Denise Episode: "The Courtship of Mark Cooper" 1995 The Wayans Bros. Lisa Main Cast: Season 1 1997 The Outer Limits Beth Carter Episode: "The Awakening" 1999-01 Intimate Portrait Herself Recurring Guest 2001 The Division Inspector Angela Reid Main Cast: Season 1 2011 Reed Between the Lines Sherri Episode: "Let's Talk About Affairs" 2016 Unsung Hollywood Herself Episode: "Vanessa Bell Calloway" 2017 Training Day Mrs. Craig Recurring Cast 2018 Meet the Peetes Herself Episode: "Let's Dance" Alone Together Rose Episode: "Dinner Party" 2019 David Makes Man Alma Recurring Cast: Season 1 2021 Insecure Jackie Episode: "Pressure, Okay?!" 2022 Family Reunion Dr. Turner Episode: "Remember Stompin' the Yard?" 2024 Black Comedy in America Herself Episode: "Eddie Murphy In The 80s" 2025 The Family Business: New Orleans Big Shirley Duncan Main Cast

Music Videos Year Song Artist 1983 "All Night Long (All Night)" Lionel Richie 1985 "It's Over Now" Luther Vandross 1986 "Harlem Shuffle" The Rolling Stones 1987 "My Forever Love" LeVert

Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Movie/Serie Outcome 1996 MTV Movie Award MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance "Waiting to Exhale" NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 1997 CableACE Award CableACE Award for Outstanding Actress in a Movie or Miniseries "Mr. and Mrs. Loving"