Taral Hicks

Taral Hicks (born September 21, 1974) is an American actress and R&B singer. Hicks is best known for her acting in such films as 1993's American crime drama film A Bronx Tale and her 1997 debut R&B studio album This Time which featured a cover of Deniece Williams' "Silly" that peaked at No. 4 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.

Raised in Bronx, NY, Hicks graduated from Grace Dodge in 1993.

Career

Acting Hicks began her film career with a role in the critically acclaimed 1993 film, A Bronx Tale. Her subsequent film roles were small: 1995's Just Cause with Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne, and 1996's Educating Matt Waters and The Preacher's Wife with Whitney Houston. She appeared in the movie Belly in 1998. In 2000, she appeared on screen in the short film, Are You Cinderella?, with actor Wood Harris. Her later film roles were in independent films such as 2005's The Salon, with Vivica A. Fox, Dondre Whitfield, and Darrin Henson; 2006's Forbidden Fruits with Ella Joyce, Fredro Starr, and R&B singer Keith Sweat; 2007's Humenetomy; and 2010's Ex$pendable. Hicks featured in the HBO television series Subway Stories in 1997. Two guest roles followed: 2002's 100 Centre Street in the episode titled "Fathers", and a 2003 episode of Soul Food: The Series titled "The New Math".

Hicks co-starred in the musical stage play Tyler Perry's Aunt Bam's Place with Paris Bennett, Cassi Davis, Jeffrey Lewis, Maurice Lauchner, and Melonie Daniels. It had a 3-day run beginning August 30, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia (Cobb Energy Center) and was filmed for a DVD release on June 12, 2012.

Music In 1995, Hicks signed a deal with Motown Records and released an album titled This Time. The single "Ooh, Ooh Baby", written by and featuring Missy Elliott, charted on the Billboard R&B singles chart. However, the lead single intended to debut her singing career was "Distant Lover", an uptempo track produced by Teddy Riley. The album did not take off until the second single, "Silly", a remake of the classic R&B hit by Deniece Williams, was released. Featuring a black-and-white music video directed by Hype Williams, the single charted well on the R&B chart. After collaborating on the video for "Silly", Williams cast Hicks as in his directorial film debut, 1998's Belly, as Keisha, DMX's girlfriend. The video for "Silly" appeared in one of the film's scenes. Hicks has expressed interest in pursuing a career in gospel music.

Personal life Hicks is a 1993 graduate of Grace Dodge Vocational High School in the Bronx, New York. and the couple married in 2001 and share two children.

Hicks was announced as an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. on July 11, 2026, during the organization's International Grand Boule in Nashville, Tennessee.

Discography

Singles Year Song Peak positiona US Pop US R&B 1996 "Ooh, Ooh Baby" (featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott)—81 1997 "Distant Lover"—60 1998 "Silly"104 54 "How Can I Get Over You"——

Soundtracks 1996: The Associate (on "Yes We Can Can" with Chantay Savage, LaShanda Reese and The Pointer Sisters)

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 A Bronx Tale Jane Williams 1995 Just Cause Lena Brown 1996 The Preacher's Wife Teen 1997 Subway Stories Woman with Flowers TV movie 1998 Belly Keisha 2000 Are You Cinderella? Homeless Woman Short 2005 The Salon Trina 2006 Forbidden Fruits Nicole Walters Video 2007 Humenetomy Member of Gospel Choir 2010 Ex$pendable Brenda Video 2012 Aunt Bam's Place Mona 2014 The Hilltop Barbershop Member of the church choir 2016 Where Hearts Lie Shante Jackson A Sub in the Brick City Detective Tammy Short The 1 Closest 2 U Le-Le Supposition Cheryl Jameson King of Newark Mistress 2017 The Hills Dr. Welker North Housing Authority Billy Blaire News Caster 2018 King of Newark 2 Lawyer 2020 Bitch Lover Mrs. Marshall 2022 Gaslight Kendra Sleepyhead Yvonne A Second Chance Shena A Father's Pride Sister Rose

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 100 Centre Street - Episode: "Fathers" 2003 Soul Food Naomi Episode: "The New Math" 2018 Illusions Kelly Main Cast 2020 Chase Street Beverly Johnson Main Cast