Terri J. Vaughn

Terri Juanita Vaughn-Riley (née Vaughn; born October 16, 1969) is an American actress, director and producer. She is best known for her role as high school secretary Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson in The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show (1997–2002), for which she received three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She later co-starred in the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us (2003–2005), and TBS sitcom Meet the Browns (2009–2011). In 2025, Vaught created, produced and starred in the Netflix political comedy series, Miss Governor.

Career Acting In her early career, Vaughn appeared in the films Friday and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. She co-starred opposite Joan Severance in the comedy-action film Black Scorpion (1995) and its sequel, Black Scorpion II: Aftershock (1997). Later in 1997, Vaughn was cast as high school secretary Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson for the second season of The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show. She received three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on show. The series ended in 2002, and Vaughn later that year joined the cast of Showtime drama series Soul Food as Eva Holly. She received another NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination.

From 2003 to 2005, Vaughn was regular cast member on the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us. In 2007, she had supporting role in the Tyler Perry's comedy-drama film Daddy's Little Girls opposite Gabrielle Union, and later had a regular role on another of Perry's productions, Meet the Browns (2009-2011). In 2016, Vaughn was cast in the recurring role as housekeeper in Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf opposite Keith David and Lynn Whitfield. In 2020 Vaughn had a recurring role as Robin in Shona Ferguson's South African series, Kings Of Jo'Burg shown on Netflix, and the HBO comedy series, Insecure. She starred in the second season of Oprah Winfrey Network romantic drama Cherish the Day and had a recurring roles on Johnson and First Wives Club both in 2022. In 2025, Vaught created, produced and starred in the Netflix political comedy series, Miss Governor.

Directing and producing She owns a production company alongside her business partner, Cas Sigers, called Nina Holiday Entertainment, that produced films such as Sugar Mommas, A Cross to Bear and Girlfriends' Getaway. In 2016, Vaughn made her directing debut with the comedy film #DigitalLivesMatter. She later directed made-for-television and for streaming movies Merry Wish-Mas (2018), Christmas Belles (2019), Twas the Chaos before Christmas (2019), Dear Santa, I Need a Date (2019), Angrily Ever After (2019), Hip Hop Holiday (2019), A Christmas Surprise (2020), Soul Santa (2021), A Merry Switchmas (2021), Unthinkably Good Things (2022), and So Fly Christmas (2023). She directed episodes of television series Mann and Wife, Kingdom Business, Tales, Bunk'd, Miss Governor and Reasonable Doubt.

Personal life Vaughn grew up in San Francisco, California. She was married to Derrick Carolina and had a son, Daylen Ali (2001). She is currently married to former football player Karon Riley, and the couple have a son and a daughter.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Student 1995 Friday China Black Scorpion Tender Lovin' Excessive Force II: Force on Force Grace 1996 Don't Be a Menace Keisha Carnosaur 3: Primal Species B.T. Coolidge 1997 Black Scorpion II: Aftershock Tender Lovin' 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag Flight Attendant 2000 The Smoker - Short 2003 Detonator Sharona Brown 2005 Fair Game Wanda Exposure Woman #1 Short 2006 Stick It Susie Mack 2007 Dirty Laundry Jackie Daddy's Little Girls Brenda Redrum Amber Angels Can't Help But Laugh Herself Three Can Play That Game Linda 2010 Baby Mama's Club Mrs. Lagos Love Me or Leave Me Sheila Edwards TV movie This Time Janet Short 2012 Think Like a Man Audience Member Sugar Mommas Sheila TV movie The Marriage Chronicles Kamel Jackson Probable Cause Tamika Life, Love, Soul Tiffany 2013 Who Did I Marry? Jennifer Between Sisters Benita TV movie In the Meantime Nina TV movie Not 4 Sale Juanita Poitier Short 2014 Where's the Love? Kai TV movie Hamlet & Hutch Kendall Video Girlfriends' Getaway Sophie TV movie Breeze Brenda 2015 72 Hours Kia Touched Laura Girlfriends' Getaway 2 Sophie TV movie Soul Ties Ruth 2016 Beat Street Mayor Cummings Video 2017 Love by Chance Herself 2018 Melinda Stacia LeBeau One Crazy Christmas Felecia 2019 Cultural Clash Mrs. Jefferson His, Hers & the Truth Craigs Mom 2020 Heaven On Seven Sister Lisa The Millennial Mrs. Sterling A Christmas Surprise Aisha TV movie 2022 The Millennial Mrs. Sterling 2023 Here Comes the Sun Ruth 2024 Color Book Robyn Queens of Christmas Doris Griffin 2025 I Hate My Love Life Angie Turner Short I Thought You'd Never Ask Nathan's Mom Short

Television Year Title Role Notes 1993 Living Single Woman #1 Episode: "Great Expectations" The Sinbad Show Woman #1 Episode: "Strictly Business" 1994 Married... with Children Connie Episode: "Business Sucks: Part 1" Family Matters Girl #1 at Party Episode: "Beta Chi Guy" 1995 Sherman Oaks Denise Cook Episode: "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" Family Matters Eddie's Date Episode: "They Shoot Urkels, Don't They?" 1997–2002 The Steve Harvey Show Lovita Alizay Jenkins Robinson Main Cast: Seasons 2–6 1999 ER Mrs. Gleason Episode: "Point of Origin" 2001 The Test Herself/Panelist Episode: "The PDA Test" & "The Optimist Test" 2002–03 Soul Food Eva Holly Guest: Season 3, Recurring Cast: Season 4 2003 Girlfriends Tasha Episode: "Single Mama, Drama" 2003-05 All of Us Jonelle Abrahams Main Cast: Seasons 1–2, Guest: Season 3 2004 The Drop Herself Episode: "Episode #1.35" 2008 Baisden After Dark Herself Episode: "Are Women Too Picky?" 2009–11 Meet the Browns Renee Recurring Cast: Season 3, Main Cast: Seasons 4–5 2011 The Real Housewives of Atlanta Herself Episode: "The Bride and the Doom" 2013 JD Lawrence's Community Service Lydia Main Cast 2016 Being Herself Episode: "Terri J. Vaughn" Unsung Hollywood Herself Episode: "Jasmine Guy" Greenleaf Melisse Recurring Cast: Season 1 2017 Mann & Wife Lieutenant Tate Recurring Cast: Season 3 2018 Rel Tia Episode: "Windy City Politics" 2020 Insecure Rose Cranberry Recurring Cast: Season 4 Terror Lake Drive Dr. Chisholm Episode: "Something About AJ" Kings of Jo'burg Robin Recurring Cast 2020–21 We Stay Looking Rose Cranberry Main Cast 2021–22 First Wives Club Cousin Pam Guest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3 2022 The Neighborhood Claire Episode: "Welcome to the Man Code" Johnson Wanda Brooks Recurring Cast: Season 2 Cherish the Day Anastasia Main Cast: Season 2 2025 Miss Governor Antoinette Dunkerson Main Cast

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result 2000 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The Steve Harvey Show 2001 2002 2003 2004 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Soul Food 2004 BET Awards BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series All of Us