Megalyn Echikunwoke

Ebubennem Megalyn Ann Echikunwoke ( ; born May 28, 1983 ), also known as Megalyn E.K., is an American actress, known primarily for her roles in television and film.

Born in Spokane, Washington, she was discovered while performing in a theatrical production for an arts academy, and began working professionally at age 15, appearing in an episode of The Steve Harvey Show. Between 2001 and 2002, she starred as Nicole Palmer, daughter of David Palmer, on the Fox series 24, followed by guest roles on ER and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Between 2004 and 2005, she portrayed Angie Barnett, the half-sister of Steven Hyde, on the sitcom That '70s Show. In 2006, she starred as a lead in the series The 4400 which ran until 2007, followed by recurring roles on 90210 and House of Lies.

Her film roles in the early 2010s include Whit Stillman's Damsels in Distress (2011), and the action sequel A Good Day to Die Hard (2013). In 2016, she portrayed Mari McCabe / Vixen in the Arrowverse. The following year, she had a supporting role in CHiPs (2017), followed by the independent comedy An Actor Prepares (2018). Next, she co-starred in the comedy Night School (2018). In late 2018, she made her New York stage debut in an off-Broadway production of Apologia.

Early life Ebubennem Megalyn Ann Echikunwoke was born in Spokane, Washington to Mark Onigwe Versato Echikunwoke, a black Igbo Nigerian father, and Anita Laurie, a white American mother. At age 14, Echikunwoke was discovered while performing in a theater production at an arts academy summer camp. also in 2008, she appeared as a singer in the Leonard Chess biopic Who Do You Love? In 2011, she played Holly for the fourth season of 90210, and subsequently appeared in the comedy film Damsels in Distress.

She played April on Showtime's House of Lies (2012) and Riley Parker, in the legal drama Made in Jersey (also 2012), on CBS. In 2014, she co-starred in the drama series Mind Games on ABC.

In 2016, Echikunwoke appeared on the CW's Arrow as DC Comics superhero Mari McCabe / Vixen for an episode, and voiced the character in the CW Seed animated series Vixen. Due to prior commitments, she was unavailable to play the character in Legends of Tomorrow, resulting in the introduction of a new Vixen (played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers), the time-displaced grandmother of Echikunwoke's character. Echikunwoke had a supporting role in Dax Shepard's CHiPs (2017), followed by the comedy An Actor Prepares (2018). That year, she had a supporting role in the comedy Night School, which grossed over $100million.

In 2018, Echikunwoke played Claire in the off-Broadway production of Apologia for the Roundabout Theatre Company, In 2019, she had a supporting role in Late Night. It was canceled after one season.

Personal life In 2007, Echikunwoke, along with Justin Long, Olivia Wilde, and Kal Penn, successfully campaigned for 2008 Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. The campaign included a winter tour of college campuses and bars in Iowa, with the added goal of registering new and young college-aged voters, known as the “All-Actor All-Iowa All-Star Voter Education Tour”.

Echikunwoke's cousin is athlete Annette Echikunwoke.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1999Funny ValentinesLaurenDrama 2022 Emily the Criminal LizCrime / Drama / Thriller 2022 The Drop Birth DoulaComedy 2026 In Memoriam Rachel Comedy / Drama

Television

Web Year Title Role Notes 2015–2016 VixenMari McCabe / Vixen Voice, main role 2018 Freedom Fighters: The RayMari McCabe / Vixen Voice 2023QueenterrogatedDetectiveYouTube

Video games

Stage credits Year Title Role Notes 2018 Apologia Claire Roundabout Theatre Company