Yvette Nicole Brown

Yvette Nicole Brown (born August 12, 1971) is an American actress, producer, writer, and host. She starred as Shirley Bennett on the NBC and Yahoo Screen sitcom Community, as Dani in the 2015 reboot of The Odd Couple on CBS, and as Dina Rose on the ABC sitcom The Mayor. Brown had a recurring role as Helen Dubois in Drake & Josh, and has had guest roles in television shows such as That '70s Show, The Office, Boston Legal, Chuck, The Soul Man, Mom, and Big Shot. In 2021, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role in A Black Lady Sketch Show.

In addition to television, she has had supporting roles in films such as (500) Days of Summer, Tropic Thunder, Repo Men, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and Avengers: Endgame. She voiced Harper in the video game Minecraft: Story Mode in addition to Cookie on Pound Puppies, Luna on Elena of Avalor, Principal Amanda Waller on DC Super Hero Girls, and Coach Roberts in Inside Out 2. She has hosted Syfy cosplay series Cosplay Melee and has been a frequent couch guest on Talking Dead. She has served as a guest co-host on talk shows including The View, The Talk, and The Real.

Early life Yvette Nicole Brown was born on August 12, 1971, in East Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Warrensville Heights High School in 1989. Brown studied communication studies at the University of Akron and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in communication in 1994. While at Akron, she was selected for initiation into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honors Society. She was initiated into the University of Akron's Delta Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority on May 2, 1993.

After graduating, Brown took acting classes in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Career In 1992, Brown appeared as "Yvette" in the music video "1-4-All-4-1" by the East Coast Family, a Michael Bivins project, for Biv10 Records. Brown said of the experience, "It was a great run, but I guess music was just never meant to be for me."

Brown first appeared on commercials before entering television shows and films a few years later. She has since played roles on television shows such as The War at Home, Girlfriends, Malcolm in the Middle, That's So Raven, Half & Half, and the American version of The Office. She had a recurring role as theater manager Helen Dubois in the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh. Frances Callier replaced Brown as Helen for one episode. Brown reprised the role in the Victorious episode "Helen Back Again".

She has appeared in television commercials for Hamburger Helper, Big Lots, Pine-Sol, Comcast, Aquapod, Shout, Fiber One, Yoplait Yogurt, DiGiorno Pizza, Dairy Queen, and Time Warner. Shortly after her exit of Community, Brown's role of Dani on the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple was upgraded to series regular. She has been a regular guest on AMC's Talking Dead. She hosts Syfy cosplay series Cosplay Melee. Entertainment Weekly named her one of the 19th Best Guest Stars on 7th Heaven.

In July 2018, Brown temporarily replaced Chris Hardwick as the host of Talking Dead and served as moderator for The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead panels at San Diego Comic-Con during Hardwick's suspension.

Brown has had a recurring role as Judge Anita Harper on the HBO series A Black Lady Sketch Show which earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2019, Brown wrote the independent romantic comedy feature Always a Bridesmaid.

In 2020, Brown was a guest panelist in season three of The Masked Singer. She later competed in season twelve as "Showbird" with recurring panelist Joel McHale as her Mask Ambassador. Brown was eliminated on "Footloose Night".

In 2023, Brown voiced KRS, a robotic assistant, and recurring character in My Dad the Bounty Hunter.

Personal life Brown was inducted into Warrensville Heights High School's hall of fame in 2009. They were married on December 14, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.

Politics

Brown endorsed and campaigned for Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

During the 2020 general election, Brown, along with several of her Community castmates, made a campaign video in support of Joe Biden, entitled "Human Beings For Biden."

In 2022, Brown worked with VoteRiders on a campaign to help educate people about local voter ID requirements so that eligible voters would not be turned away at the polls.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2000 His Woman, His Wife Renee Video 2003 180 Miles Away Other Woman Short 2004 Little Black Book Production Assistant 2005 Harvest Nurse Bunny 2006 Dreamgirls Curtis' Secretary 2007 Nurse 2008 Meet Dave Old Navy Saleswoman Tropic Thunder Peck's Assistant – Peck's Office 2009 Hotel for Dogs Ms. Camwell 500 Days of Summer New Secretary Dori Coleman N.C.B.S Flashback Wife Short 2010 Repo Men Rhodesia 2012 Community: Abed's Master Key Shirley Bennett (voice) Short 2013 Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Gray Sister Anger Community: Miracle on Jeff's Street Shirley Bennett (voice) Short 2014 Yellowbird Ladybug (voice) 2015 Don't Be a Drip Store Clerk Short 2016 Cuddle Party Allison Short DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High Amanda Waller (voice) Video DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year Amanda Waller (voice) Video 2022 DC League of Super-Pets Patty (voice) 2023 Wish Porcupine (voice) Uncredited 2024 Inside Out 2 Coach Roberts (voice) 2025 Code 3 Shanice Zootopia 2 Bearoness Bear/EMT Otter (voice)Cameos

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 For the People Server Episode: "Lonely Hearts" Do Over Woman Episode: "Investing in the Future" 2003 Girlfriends Sherri Childs Recurring cast (season 3) 2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Stewardess Episode: "Opening Night" Eartha Cleveland Main cast Two and a Half Men Mandy Episode: "Just Like Buffalo" 7th Heaven Leah Morris Episode: "Gratitude" Drake & Josh Helen Dubois Recurring cast (season 2–4) 2005 Fat Actress Woman in Restaurant Episode: "Big Butts" That's So Raven Monica Episode: "Too Much Pressure" That '70s Show Sgt. Davis Episode: "You're My Best Friend" Hot Properties Oprah-Head Episode: "Waiting for Oprah" 2006 Malcolm in the Middle Female Security Agent #2 Episode: "Bride of Ida" House Ellen Stambler Episode: "Sex Kills" Airport Security Episode: "The West Palm Beach Story" Half & Half Ceci Recurring cast (season 4) Pepper Dennis Angela Howell Episode: "Pepper Dennis Behind Bars" Sleeper Cell Fatima Recurring cast (season 2) 2007 Paris Episode: "The Return" Agent Isabelle Episode: "Yeah, Presents" American Body Shop Ms. Durant Episode: "Pilot" Entourage Daily Variety Agent Episode: "Gary's Desk" Boston Legal Doris Thumper Recurring cast (season 4) 2008 'Til Death Roxie Episode: "Raisinette in the Sun" Privileged Pam Episode: "All About the Haves and the Have-Nots" Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh Helen Dubois Television film 2009 Kath & Kim Clerk #1 Episode: "Competition" True Jackson, VP Coral Barns Episode: "Company Retreat" Rules of Engagement Mrs. Alberts Episode: "Voluntary Commitment" Roommates Madam Saphire Episode: "The Tarot" iCarly Art Student Episode: "iMust Have Locker 239" Sherri Church Lady Episode: "There Is No 'I' in Church" 2009–15 Community Shirley Bennett Main cast (season 1–5), guest (season 6) 2010–13 Pound Puppies Cookie, additional voices (voice) Main cast 2016 It's Not You, It's Men Herself Episode: "Modern Romance" First Impressions with Dana Carvey Herself Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown" Whose Line Is It Anyway? Herself Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown" Cupcake Wars Herself/Contestant Episode: "Celebrity: Medieval Cupcakes" To Tell the Truth Herself/Panelist Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown" Rizzoli & Isles U.S. Postal Inspector CJ Prescott Episode: "Post Mortem" Star vs. the Forces of Evil Brigid (voice) Episode: "Star vs. Echo Creek" Fairfax Trini (voice) Recurring cast American Dad! Additional Voices (voice) Recurring guest Big Shot Sherilyn Thomas Main cast Central Park Gina Tracker (voice) Recurring cast (season 2–3) 2021–23 The Ghost and Molly McGee Dianne (voice) Guest (season 1), recurring cast (season 2) The Family Business: New Orleans Monique Duncan Series regular Gremlins Mayor Hanson (voice) 2 episodes Suits LA Herself Matlock Nadine Episode: "Tomorrow Is Still Tomorrow" He Wasn't Man Enough Candy Television film 2026 Sofia the First: Royal Magic Lady Saddlespur (voice) Recurring role Among Us Orange (voice) Criminal MindsSheila WatkinsGuest role; season 19 Hollywood Arts Helen Dubois Post-production

Video games Year Title Voice role 2011 Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse Additional Voices 2016 Minecraft: Story Mode Harper