Lisa Arrindell Anderson

Lisa Arrindell (born March 24, 1969), also credited as Lisa Arrindell Anderson, is an American actress. Beginning her career in the early 1990s, Arrindell is most known for her role as Vanessa Breaux-Henderson in Madea's Family Reunion, Heather Comstock in the series In the House (1995), and Toynelle Davis in Livin' Large (1991).

Early life and education Lisa Arrindell was born in the Bronx on March 24, 1969 and brought straight home to Brooklyn, where she grew up. Arrindell attended the High School of Performing Arts, now called Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. Arrindell earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre from The Juilliard School in New York City.

Career Arrindell made her film debut in Walt Disney's One Good Cop alongside Michael Keaton in 1991. That same year, she played the lead in the comedy Livin' Large. She later appeared in Trial by Jury (1994) and Spike Lee's Clockers (1995). Arrindell was a series regular in the NBC sitcom In the House in 1995. She co-starred in several made-for-television movies, including A Lesson Before Dying (1999) alongside Don Cheadle and Cicely Tyson, and Disappearing Acts (2000) starring Sanaa Lathan. In 2006, Arrindell appeared in three films, Big Momma's House 2, The Second Chance, and Madea's Family Reunion. In 2010, she appeared in The Wronged Man with Julia Ormond and Mahershala Ali. Arrindell appeared opposite Isaiah Washington in the thriller The Sin Seer (2015) and appeared in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017), starring Oprah Winfrey. She also had guest starring roles on The Cosby Show, The Practice, The Steve Harvey Show, Drop Dead Diva, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Elementary. In 2017, she had a recurring role in the Bounce TV prime-time soap opera Saints & Sinners. She also appeared in Fox's Our Kind of People in 2022.

Arrindell recently starred in the film 12 Angry Men And...Women on Apple TV with Wendell Pierce and BET's Favorite Son (2021). Arrindell opened the revival of Law & Order (2022) in its first episode as Veronica King. Arrindell has guest starred on several other network series, including Random Acts of Flyness, Bull, Elementary, Madam Secretary, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Notorious. Some of her stage performances include the Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad, Jubilee (Arena Stage), Reparations (Billie Holiday Theatre), Richard III (Delacorte Theater), Heliotrope Bouquet (Playwrights Horizons), and Earth & Sky (Second Stage).

Personal life Arrindell married Basil Anderson in 1993. Together, they have two children. The couple divorced in 2015, and she reverted to her maiden name. Arrindell currently resides in New York City.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 One Good Cop Raisa Livin' Large Toynelle Davis 1994 Trial by Jury Eleanor Lyons 1995 Clockers Sharon Dunham 1999 A Lesson Before Dying Vivian Baptiste 2006 Big Momma's House 2 Danielle The Second Chance Amanda Sanders Madea's Family Reunion Vanessa Breaux-Henderson 2012 Probable Cause Captain 2014 First Impression Imani Townsend Christmas Wedding Baby Lori 2015 The Sin Seer Rose Ricard 2018 One Last Thing Margo Turtle vs. Octopus Sage Short 2021 Favorite Son First Lady Wilson 2022 Tyson's Run Dr. Wyatt The Christmas Clapback Brandy 2023 Once Upon A Time in the District Mayor Sharp 2024 Albany Road Carol Betty & Blue The Announcer Short An Extraordinary Life Adrienne Herndon Short

Television Year Title Role Notes 1991 The Cosby Show Imani Baker Episode: "Theo and the Kids: Part 1" 1992 ScreenPlay Joanne Matheson Episode: "Buying a Landslide" 1992–93 Ghostwriter Special Agent Norma Episode: "Into the Comics: Part 1 & 4" 1995 In the House Heather Comstock Recurring cast (season 1-2) 1997 The Practice Andrea Wilton Episode: "The Means" 1997–98 The Steve Harvey Show Rachel Recurring cast (season 2) 1999 Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years Young Sadie TV movie 2000 Disappearing Acts Claudette TV movie 2007 K-Ville Maya Beaulieu Episode: "Boulet in a China Shop" 2008 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Dr. Lynn Gilcrest Episode: "Play on Playa" 2009–10 Meet the Browns Karen Guest cast (season 1 & 3-4) 2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Cara Raleigh Episode: "Disabled" The Wronged Man Michelle Willis TV movie 2010–11 Drop Dead Diva Pacific Holdings Lawyer Guest cast (season 2-3) 2013 A Christmas Blessing Pamela TV movie 2014 Drumline: A New Beat Lois Raymond TV movie 2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Robin Daughtry Episode: "Sheltered Outcasts" Notorious Sergeant Betsy Powell Episode: "Pilot" 2017 The Quad - Episode: "#MuleBone" Saints & Sinners Rebecca Jourdan Main cast (season 2) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Ethel TV movie 2018 Madam Secretary Judge Tamara Pollard Episode: "Family Separation: Part 1" 2019 Elementary Ethiopian Consul Episode: "The Price of Admission" Bull Dr. Linsey Allendale Episode: "Into the Mystic" 2021–22 Our Kind of People Giselle Hilgard Recurring cast (season 1) 2022 Law & Order Veronica King Episode: "The Right Thing" 2023 Favorite Son Christmas Lady Rita TV movie 2025 Watson Felicia Mancini Episode: "Wait for the Punchline"

Accolades Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome 2000 Black Reel Awards Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series A Lesson Before Dying 2001 Black Reel Awards Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series Disappearing Acts 2015 American Black Film Festival American Black Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Best Actress The Sin Seer