Tichina Arnold

Tichina Rolanda Arnold born June 28, 1969) is an American actress .

She began her career as a child actor, appearing in supporting roles in Little Shop of Horrors (1986) and How I Got into College (1989) before being cast as Pamela "Pam" James on the Fox sitcom Martin, whom she portrayed from 1992 until the show ended in 1997. Arnold also portrayed the family matriarch Rochelle on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris from 2005 to 2009, and reprised the role in the animated revival Everybody Still Hates Chris (2024-).

She portrayed Judi Mann in the TV Land original sitcom Happily Divorced from 2011 to 2013, and from 2014 to 2017, she acted the lead role of Cassie Calloway on Survivor's Remorse. From 2018 to 2026, Arnold portrayed Tina Butler on the CBS sitcom series The Neighborhood. From 2018 to 2019, she acted the role of Paulette in the South African series Lockdown.

Early life Arnold was born in Queens, New York City, to a working-class family. Her mother, Diane, was a sanitation worker and her father Gene Arnold was a police officer. She was raised in the Church of God in Christ. She attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Career Film and television In 1986, Arnold appeared as Crystal, one of the three chorus girls who perform R&B numbers in Frank Oz's film musical Little Shop of Horrors (1986) along with future Martin co-star Tisha Campbell. Arnold was only sixteen at the time of filming, and her career continued steadily after that, with a role or two almost every year, including the films How I Got into College and the Paul Mazursky/Woody Allen collaboration Scenes from a Mall (1991). In February 1987 Arnold scored her first big break on television, with a permanent role on the soap opera Ryan's Hope. Her critically lauded role, as young heroine Zena Brown, landed her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1988. She continued in the role until the series ended in January 1989. Later that year, Arnold was cast as Sharla Valentine, a high-school friend of Emily Ann Sago (played by Liz Vassey) on the ABC-TV daytime drama All My Children. She continued in the role until 1991. Arnold performs for service members during the United Service Organization's Holiday Tour, 2008. Arnold's best-known television role was Pamela James on Martin Lawrence's sitcom Martin (1992–1997). She also played the recurring role of Nicole Barnes on the sitcom One on One. In 2000, she was reunited with Martin Lawrence in Big Momma's House. In 2007, she again reunited with Lawrence (this time as his character's wife) in the big screen road comedy/buddy film Wild Hogs. In 2003, she appeared in Civil Brand. Arnold played the role of the matriarch, Rochelle, on the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris which premiered in September 2005 and ended in May 2009. In a departure from her known comedic roles, she played the title role in The Lena Baker Story (2008), which was about the first and only woman to be executed by the electric chair in Georgia. In 2010 she guest starred in the one-hour episode premiere of the Disney XD Original Series Pair of Kings as Aunt Nancy, and also reprise her role for one more episode.

Arnold played the best friend of Fran Drescher in the TV Land sitcom Happily Divorced, which is based on Fran Drescher's real-life marriage and divorce to series co-creator Peter Marc Jacobson.

She made her biggest break ever in The Neighborhood, the success of which that in March 2026 that she signed a first look deal with CBS Studios.

Personal life In 1998, Arnold started her own company of designer headgear called "China Moon Rags". The headbands were Swarovski crystal-embroidered bandanas. Celebrities such as her good friends Michel'le, Tisha Campbell, Janet Jackson, Vivica A. Fox, Regina King, Christina Aguilera and LisaRaye McCoy were seen wearing Arnold's designs. When her daughter was born, she stopped production.

She was married to heavyweight boxer Lamon Brewster; they divorced in 1995. During the late 90s, she dated Brian Austin Green, but they ended their relationship due to the hardship of being in an interracial relationship. They remain on good terms.

Arnold has a daughter, Alijah Kai Haggins (b. March 16, 2004), with music producer Carvin Haggins. In an interview with Joan Rivers, Arnold revealed that she had thought she was unable to conceive after bouts with endometriosis. In January 2016, Arnold's representative confirmed she and Hines were divorcing. The media reported that Hines had been unfaithful to Arnold, having made a sex tape with another woman during their marriage, which was later released to the public without his consent. They were divorced in July 2022.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes 1983 The Brass Ring Mary TV movie 1984 The House of Dies Drear Pesty TV movie 1986 Little Shop of Horrors Crystal 1988 Starlight: A Musical Movie Evelyn Ruth 1989 How I Got into College Vera Cook 1991 Scenes from a Mall Ticket Seller 1997 Fakin' Da Funk Tracy 1998 Perfect Prey Susie TV movie 1999 A Luv Tale Wendi 2000 Dancing in September Robber Big Momma's House Ritha 2002 Civil Brand Aisha Yo Alien Ray Goods 2005 Preaching to the Choir Desiree Getting Played Woman in Restaurant TV movie 2007 Wild Hogs Karen Davis 2008 Drillbit Taylor Photography Teacher Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story Lena Baker 2009 Dance Flick Ray's Mamma 2012 Stolen Child Claudia TV movie The Great Divide Tosha 2013 Summoned Mylene TV movie 2014 More to Love Margo A Day Late and a Dollar Short Charlotte TV movie Top Five Theatre Manager 2015 Royal Family Thanksgiving Chevonne TV movie Royal Family Christmas Chevonne TV movie 2018 A Father's Love Miss Danine Short 2019 The Last Black Man in San Francisco Wanda Countdown Nurse Amy All the Way with You Lorreta 2020 Runt Principal Carey Clover Pat The Main Event Denise Thompson 2023 So Fly Christmas Wyvetta TV movie

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 Sesame Street Tichina Episode: "Another Cold Day on Sesame Street" Ryan's Hope Zena Brown Regular Cast 1989 The Cosby Show Delores Episode: "Theo's Women" 1990 Law & Order Leona Episode: "Out of the Half-Light" 1990–91 All My Children Sharla Valentine Regular Cast 1992–97 Martin Pamela "Pam" James Main Cast 1994 Soul Train Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Xscape/Gerald Albright" 1998 The Jamie Foxx Show Carla Episode: "Soul Mate to Cellmate" 1999 Pacific Blue Dana Brown Episode: "Ghost Town" The Norm Show Mrs. Murphy Episode: "Norm vs. the Boxer" 2001 The Test Herself Episode: "The OCD Test" 2001–05 One on One Nicole Barnes Recurring Cast: Season 1–3, Guest: Season 4 2002 Intimate Portrait Herself Episode: "Tisha Campbell-Martin" Biography Herself Episode: "Martin Lawrence: Comic Trip" Soul Food Adina Episode: "Past Imperfect" 2004 Punk'd Herself Episode: "Episode #3.2" Listen Up Kiara Episode: "Thanksgiving" 2005–09 Everybody Hates Chris Rochelle Rock Main Cast 2006 Hi-Jinks Herself Episode: "Tichina Arnold" 2007 The Boondocks Nicole/Brenda Harvey (voice) Episode: "Attack of the Killer Kung-Fu Wolf Bitch" 2009 Played by Fame Herself Episode: "Anger Management" Sherri Russell's Mamma Episode: "Pilot" Brothers Cynthia Recurring Cast 2010–11 Pair of Kings Aunt Nancy Episode: "Return of the Kings" & "The Bite Stuff" 2011 Are We There Yet? Vicky Howard Episode: "The Fight Party Episode" American Dad! Deborah (Voice) Episode: "A Ward Show" Raising Hope Sylvia Recurring Cast: Season 1 2011–13 Happily Divorced Judi Mann Main Cast Let's Stay Together Dr. Knotts Guest Cast: Season 1 & 3 2014 Celebrity Wife Swap Herself Episode: "Tichina Arnold/Kelly Packard" Hit the Floor Mary Roman Episode: "Blow Out" & "Winner Takes All" 2014–17 Survivor's Remorse Cassie Calloway Main Cast 2015 Chopped Herself Episode: "Sitcom Moms" Black Dynamite Episode: "The Wizard of Watts" Born Again Virgin Quinn Episode: "Off to See the Wizard" 2015–16 Celebrity Name Game Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Gilles Marini & Tichina Arnold #1-#3" 2017 Daytime Divas Mo Evans Recurring Cast 2018 Lockdown Paulette Recurring Cast: Season 3 2018–21 Soul Train Music Awards Herself/Co-Host Main Co-Host 2018–26 The Neighborhood Tina Butler Main Cast 2020 Celebrity Family Feud Herself The Price Is Right at Night Herself Episode: "The Neighborhood" 2021 Devil May Care Jezebeth (voice) Episode: "The Sisters" 2022 Herself Recurring Guest Celebrity Game Face Herself Episode: "Cedric the Entertainer Busts Kevin's Chops" Bob Hearts Abishola Tina Butler Episode: "Compress to Impress" 2023 Yes We Cannabis Gladys (voice) Recurring Cast 2024 Everybody Still Hates Chris Rochelle Rock (voice) Main Cast 2025 Hollywood Squares Herself Recurring Guest Crutch Tina Butler Episode: "Financial Crutch"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1988 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series Ryan's Hope 1989 Soap Opera Digest Awards Outstanding Female Newcomer: Daytime 1996 Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Martin 2006 BET Awards Best Actress Herself Teen Choice Awards TV - Choice Parental Unit Everybody Hates Chris TV - Choice Actress: Comedy Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series 2007 2008 2009 2010