Rochelle Aytes

Rochelle Aytes is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as April Malloy on the ABC drama series Mistresses (2013–16) and as the voice of Rochelle in the critically acclaimed video game Left 4 Dead 2. Aytes also starred in the auto-biography story film of TLC titled CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story as Perri "Pebbles" Reid, short-lived series Drive and The Forgotten (2009–10), as well as Criminal Minds and Work It. In film, Aytes has appeared in White Chicks, Madea's Family Reunion and Trick 'r Treat. Aytes also had a recurring role as Agent Greer, an ex-CIA officer, on the CBS television series Hawaii Five-0. From 2019 to 2024, Aytes played Nichelle Carmichael in the CBS action series S.W.A.T.. Since 2025, she has portrayed Dr. Mary Morstan in the CBS mystery-medical drama series Watson.

Early life and education Aytes was born in Harlem, New York City, and attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from State University of New York at Purchase college. She began her career as a model and has appeared in commercials for McDonald's, L'Oreal, Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz. She is also known for playing Lisa Breaux in Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion, where Aytes plays a woman who is caught in a relationship in which her fiancé (Blair Underwood) beats and threatens her. In 2006, she played Nicole Jamieson in the test pilot episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne. She also provides the voice for Rochelle in Left 4 Dead 2. In 2007, Aytes guest starred in the Fox series Bones as Felicia Saroyan, the sister of Lab Supervisor, Cam. She starred in the independent film Trick 'r Treat. She played role Leigh Barnthouse in the 2007 Fox series Drive. She also played Tara Kole in the TV show NCIS from CBS. Aytes also appeared in the TNT drama series Dark Blue in 2010.

Aytes was a regular cast member in the ABC drama series The Forgotten from 2009 to 2010, playing Detective Grace Russell who teams up with a volunteer group, including former Chicago police detective, Christian Slater, to solve cases of missing or unidentified homicide victims. From 2010 to 2011, she had a recurring role in the ABC series Detroit 1-8-7 as prosecutor Alice Williams, until her character was murdered in the episode "Key to the City", which aired on January 11, 2011. In 2011, Aytes guest starred in three episodes as Amber James, the former girlfriend of Keith Watson, in the seventh season of ABC comedy-drama Desperate Housewives.

In 2012, Aytes was cast as one of the four leads, along with Alyssa Milano, Yunjin Kim and Jes Macallan, in the ABC drama series Mistresses about the lives of four female friends and their involvement in an array of illicit and complex relationships. The series premiered on June 3, 2013. Aytes played the role of Perri "Pebbles" Reid in the 2013 biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story about the R&B and hip hop musical trio TLC. In 2013, she also began appearing as Dr. Savannah Hayes, the girlfriend of Special Agent Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) on the CBS crime thriller series Criminal Minds. When Moore moved to S.W.A.T., her character was written out. However, Aytes was then cast as his character Hondo's girlfriend Nichelle on S.W.A.T. as well, starting in season 3. She was promoted to the main cast in season 6.

In 2024, Aytes was cast as a lead in the CBS medical-mystery series Watson, playing Mary Morstan. As a result of her casting, she had to depart the main cast of S.W.A.T. for the eight and final season, although she remained as a guest star.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 A Hot Dog Program Customer 2004 White Chicks Denise Porter 2006 Madea's Family Reunion Lisa 13 Graves Karen TV movie 2007 Trick 'r Treat Maria 2011 Lily 2013 CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story Perri "Pebbles" Reid TV movie Stupid Hype Tina TV movie 2015 My Favorite Five Hailey Colburn 2017 Doomsday Elle TV movie 2020 Magic Camp Zoe Moses A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado Erin TV movie 2021 Redemption in Cherry Springs Melanie Abrams TV movie The Men in My Life Tish Helms

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Sex and the City Hostess Episode: "Great Sexpectations" 2005 Jonny Zero Keisha Episode: "I Did It All for the Nooky" My Wife and Kids Nurse Episode: "The 'V' Story" 2006 ER Tamara Episode: "Split Decisions" CSI: NY Sienna Episode: "Stuck on You" Half & Half Yolanda Episode: "The Big Who You Gonna Call Episode" 2007 Day Break Woman on Plane Episode: "What If He's Free?" Las Vegas Carley Episode: "When Life Gives You Lemon Bars" Bones Felicia Saroyan Episode: "Intern in the Incinerator" Drive Leigh Bartnhouse Main Cast 2008 Dirt Jasmine Ford Recurring Cast: Season 2 Shark Karla Ballantine Episode: "Leaving Las Vegas" 2009 NCIS Tara Kole Episode: "Knockout" 2009–2010 The Forgotten Grace Russell Main Cast 2010 Dark Blue Eva Recurring Cast: Season 2 2010–2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Alice Williams Recurring Cast 2011 Desperate Housewives Amber James Recurring Cast: Season 7 White Collar Isabelle Wilson Episode: "As You Were" 2012 Work It Vanessa Warner Main Cast 2013–2016 Criminal Minds Savannah Morgan Recurring Cast: Season 9–11 Mistresses April Malloy Main Cast 52 episodes 2017–2018 Designated Survivor Senator Cowling Recurring Cast: Season 2 2018–2019 Hawaii Five-0 Agent Greer Recurring Cast: Season 9 2019 Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Scarlett Episode: "Cracker Jack" The Purge Michelle Moore Recurring Cast: Season 2 2019–24 S.W.A.T. Nichelle Carmichael Recurring Cast: Season 3–5, Main Cast: Season 6–7, Guest: Season 8 2022 Monarch Mackenzie Recurring Cast 2025–26 Watson Dr. Mary Morstan Main Cast +KeyDenotes series/miniseries that have not yet been released

Video games Year Title Role 2009 Left 4 Dead 2 Rochelle 2013 Resident Evil 6 Rochelle