Regina King | |
|---|---|
 King in 2018 | |
| Born | Regina Rene King (1971-01-15)January 15, 1971 (age 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
Regina Rene King (born January 15, 1971) is an American actress, director and producer. She has receivedvarious accolades, including anAcademy Award, aGolden Globe Award, and fourPrimetime Emmy Awards.[1] In 2019,Time magazine named her one of the100 most influential people in the world.[2]
King first gained attention for starring in the television sitcom227 (1985–1990). Her subsequent roles included the filmFriday (1995), the animated seriesThe Boondocks (2005–2014), and the crime television seriesSouthland (2009–2013). She received fourPrimetime Emmy Awards for her performances in theABC anthology seriesAmerican Crime (2015–2017), theNetflix miniseriesSeven Seconds, and theHBO limited seriesWatchmen (2019). Her other television roles include the drama seriesThe Leftovers (2015–2017) and the sitcomThe Big Bang Theory (2013–2019).
King has also played supporting roles in the drama filmsBoyz n the Hood (1991),Poetic Justice (1993),How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), andRay (2004), and the comediesDown to Earth (2001),Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003),A Cinderella Story (2004), andMiss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous (2005). She earned critical acclaim, as well as theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role inIf Beale Street Could Talk (2018). She then starred in thewesternThe Harder They Fall (2021), played thetitle role in thebiopicShirley (2024) and played Detective Roman incrime thrillerCaught Stealing (2025).
King has directed episodes for several television shows, includingScandal andThis Is Us. She has also directed the music video for the 2010 song "Finding My Way Back" byJaheim. King's feature film directorial debut came with the dramaOne Night in Miami... (2020), which earned her a nomination for theGolden Globe Award for Best Director.
Regina Rene King was born on January 15, 1971,[3] inLos Angeles County, California,[4] and grew up inView Park–Windsor Hills. King's ancestors were part of thetransatlantic slave trade; they originated from Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Both of her parents are from theSouthern United States, and they later moved to Los Angeles during theGreat Migration.[5] Her mother, Gloria Jean (née Cain), was a special education teacher, and her father, Thomas Henry King Jr., was an electrician.[4][6] King has a younger sister, Reina, who co-starred with her in theShirley ChisholmNetflix biographical filmShirley.[7] King first started in dance classes training in ballet and jazz before she began tagging along with her sister to acting classes.[8]She soon began studying acting under her acting coach Betty Bridges.[9] Her parents divorced when she was eight years old.[10] King attendedWestchester High School, graduating in 1989.[11] She later studied communications at theUniversity of Southern California for two years before pursuing her passion for acting.[12]
King began her acting career in 1985, playing the role of Brenda Jenkins on the television series227,[13] a role she played until the show ended in 1990. Her performance as Brenda Jenkins during the five-season run of the show was well-received and earned King two Young Artist Award nominations: one for Best Actress Starring in a New Television Series in 1986 and one for Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Long Running Series Comedy or Drama in 1987.[14] She went on to appear in theJohn Singleton filmsBoyz n the Hood,Poetic Justice, andHigher Learning.[15] In 1995, she was featured in the hit comedy filmFriday.[15] The next year, she starred in theMartin Lawrence dark comedy-romanceA Thin Line Between Love and Hate as Mia,[16] and she gained fame starring in blockbuster romantic comedy filmJerry Maguire as Marcee Tidwell.[15][17]
In 1998, she was cast inTony Scott's filmEnemy of the State, receiving her first nomination at theNAACP Image Awards forOutstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.[18] In the same year, King took part in the filmsHow Stella Got Her Groove Back,[19]Mighty Joe Young,[20] andLove and Action in Chicago.[21] In 2001, King played Sontee Jenkins inChris andPaul Weitz'sDown to Earth, receiving praise from critics for her performance.[22] The following year, she played the main role in television seriesLeap of Faith.[23]
After taking part inteenromantic comedy filmA Cinderella Story,[24] King was cast asMargie Hendrix in theAcademy Awards nominatedbiographical filmRay, aboutRay Charles.[25] For her performance inRay, King won theSatellite Award for Best Supporting Actress, theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress and was part of a cast nomination from theScreen Actors Guild Awards.[26][27]
In 2005, King was cast inMiss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous[28] and began voicing the charactersHuey andRiley Freeman for the animated seriesThe Boondocks.[29] In 2007, King played the main role ofSandra Palmer inseason six of television series24 and acted in filmsYear of the Dog andThis Christmas.[30] From 2009 to 2013, King played Detective Lydia Adams inTNTpolice dramaSouthland,[31] receiving multipleCritics' Choice Television Award nominations,[32][33] and winning twoNAACP Image Awards.[34][35]
After taking part inRick Famuyiwa'sromantic comedy filmOur Family Wedding, King appeared as guest judge inRuPaul's Drag Race.[36] In 2013, King played Caltech HR manager Janine Davis in the television seriesThe Big Bang Theory.[37] In 2014, she was cast in two television series,The Strain andShameless.[38]
In 2015, King was a cast member onABC'sJohn Ridley-penned ensemble dramaAmerican Crime, playing three roles including a devout member of theNation of Islam and the sister of a drug addict accused of murder.[39] In 2015 and 2016, King won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie for her roles.[40][39] Also in 2015, King starred inThe Leftovers, which earned her aPeabody Award.[41]
From 2015 to 2017, King began to pursue work as a director and writer,[42] initially directing six episodes of the drama seriesBeing Mary Jane.[43] In 2016, she directed two episodes ofScandal, and single episodes ofThe Catch,Animal Kingdom,This Is Us andShameless.[44][45]
In 2018, King played the mother of a murdered black teenager in the Netflix original seriesSeven Seconds, winning her thirdPrimetime Emmy Award.[46] Her performance in the 2018 filmIf Beale Street Could Talk, directed byBarry Jenkins, garnered critical acclaim and earned her theGolden Globe Award andAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress.[47][48] King additionally won theCritics' Choice,Los Angeles Film Critics,New York Film Critics,National Society of Film Critics, and numerous other critic awards for Supporting Actress, making her the most awarded actor of 2018 in film.[49] In regards to King's performance,Richard Roeper for theChicago Sun-Times wrote: "Regina King is blazingly good in a nomination-worthy performance as Tish's mother. Even when there's fire in her eyes as she defends her daughter, you can see her primary motivating force is love. The love she has for her child, and for the child of her child."[50] In his review forThe Observer,Mark Kermode wrote: "As for Regina King, her brilliantly modulated performance is a masterclass in physical understatement. One moment stands out [...] 'Mamma... ,' says Tish, tentatively, and even before she turns to face us, an almost imperceptible movement of King's neck and shoulders tells us that Sharon knows exactly what her daughter is about to say."[51]
Re-teaming withThe Leftovers creatorDamon Lindelof, King starred in the 2019 limited seriesWatchmen, for which she received acclaim and won theTCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama,Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series, and her fourthPrimetime Emmy Award. In anIndieWire review for the series, Ben Travers wrote: "King is nothing short of amazing — yes, she's got an Oscar and three Emmys, but she puts even more range on display in a turn that effortlessly pivots between invulnerable and vulnerable."[52] In a decade-end list byCaroline Framke and Daniel D'Addario forVariety, King's performance was amongst the best of the 2010s in television.[53] In July 2019, it was announced King would directOne Night in Miami... based upon theplay of the same name.[54][55] In a CBS interview regarding the movie, King said taking on the project was daunting and "scary in a good way" and described the connection she felt to these characters saying, "I felt like I knew all of these men. I saw my son in these conversations. I saw my father in these conversations. They love, they're vulnerable, they're strong."[56] When asked about her experience of directing in an interview with Rolling Stone, King says "I love being the person that the idea starts from. And then you give these thoughts to your department heads, and they get excited and take it even further, and then bring things to the table that you may not have thought about. It’s really fun. I love doing puzzles. Hardcore. I’m a puzzler. And so maybe a bit of that spirit is what’s exciting."[57] The film had its world premiere at theVenice Film Festival on September 7, 2020, the first film directed by an African-American woman to be selected in the festival's history.[58] King received numerous awards and nominations at major critics' prizes, earning aBest Director nomination at theGolden Globe Awards[48] and being recognized with theRobert Altman Award at theIndependent Spirit Awards.[59]
In October 2021, King starred in Netflix's AmericanWestern filmThe Harder They Fall, directed byJeymes Samuel,[60] winning several awards including theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.[61]
King next produced Netflix'sShirley, a biopic about the first black congresswomanShirley Chisholm during her historic presidential campaign, and starred as the title character. It was written and directed byJohn Ridley, with whom she previously worked onAmerican Crime.[62][63] In May 2021, it was announced that King would direct race-themed monster movieBitter Root forLegendary Entertainment.[64] She served as an executive producer and directed theDavid E. Kelley–written television seriesA Man in Full for Netflix, based on theTom Wolfe novelof the same name.[65]
In her directorial projects, King has aimed to create movies about representation, advocacy for diversity and uplifting unseen storytellers.[66] King has further cemented her passion in these themes onstage at the 2019 Golden Globes stating, "In the next two years, everything that I produce — I am making a vow and it's going to be tough — to make sure that everything I produce is 50% women."[67]
King was married to Ian Alexander Sr. from 1997 to 2007. They had one son, Ian Alexander Jr., who was born in 1996 and later became adisc jockey and recording artist.[68] Ian Jr. died by suicide on January 21, 2022, at age 26.[69][70] Since the loss of her son, King has brought up important conversations about the complexities of grief and loss as well as the importance of mental health awareness.[71] King on the subject of mental health in an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America said, "When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way and they expect it to look heavy. And people expect that…to have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian’s choice, which I respect and understand, you know, that he didn’t wanna be here anymore, that’s a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey."[72]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–1990 | 227 | Brenda Jenkins | Main role |
| 1994 | Northern Exposure | Mother Nature | Episode: "Baby Blues" |
| New York Undercover | Marah | Episode: "Tasha" | |
| 1995 | Living Single | Zina | Episode: "The Shake-Up" |
| 1999 | Where the Truth Lies | Lillian Rose-Martin | Television film |
| 2000 | If These Walls Could Talk 2 | Allie | |
| 2002 | Leap of Faith | Cynthia | Main role (season 1) |
| Damaged Care | Cheryl Griffith | Television film | |
| 2005–2014 | The Boondocks | Huey Freeman /Riley Freeman | Voice; main role |
| 2006 | Women in Law | — | Pilot |
| 2007 | 24 | Sandra Palmer | Main role (season 6) |
| 2008 | Living Proof | Ellie Jackson | Television film |
| 2009–2013 | Southland | Detective Lydia Adams | Main role |
| 2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself (guest judge) | Episode: "Dragazines" |
| 2013 | Divorce: A Love Story | Cassandra | Television film |
| 2013–2019 | The Big Bang Theory | Janine Davis | 6 episodes |
| 2014 | The Strain | Ruby Wain | 3 episodes |
| Shameless | Gail Johnson | 4 episodes | |
| The Gabby Douglas Story | Natalie Hawkins | Television film | |
| 2015–2017 | American Crime | Aliyah Shadeed | Recurring role (season 1) |
| Terri LaCroix | Main role (season 2) | ||
| Kimara Walters | Main role (season 3) | ||
| 2015, 2017 | The Leftovers | Erika Murphy | Main role (season 2); guest role (season 3) |
| 2015 | Pariah | Karen | Television film |
| 2016 | The Snowy Day | Mom | Voice; Television special |
| 2017 | The Adventures of Hooligan Squad in World War III | Colonel Rah | Television film |
| 2018 | Seven Seconds | Latrice Butler | Main role |
| 2019 | Watchmen | Angela Abar / Sister Night | |
| 2021 | Saturday Night Live | Herself (host) | Episode: "Regina King /Nathaniel Rateliff" |
| 2022 | Phat Tuesdays: The Era Of Hip Hop Comedy | Herself | Documentary series |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Southland | Episode: "Off Duty" |
| Let the Church Say Amen | Television film | |
| 2014 | Story of a Village | Feature film |
| 2015 | Being Mary Jane | 6 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Scandal | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | The Catch | Episode: "The Princess and the I.P." |
| Animal Kingdom | Episode: "Child Care" | |
| Greenleaf | Episode: "Veni, Vidi, Vici" | |
| Pitch | Episode: "The Break" | |
| 2017 | This Is Us | Episode: "The 20s"[76] |
| Shameless | Episode: "Fuck Paying It Forward"[77] | |
| 2018 | The Good Doctor | Episode: "Heartfelt" |
| Insecure | Episode: "Ghost-Like" | |
| The Finest | Feature film | |
| 2020 | One Night in Miami... | Feature film;[78] also executive producer |
| 2024 | A Man in Full | 3 episodes; also executive producer[79] |
| 2025 | FOREVER | 1 episode[80] |
| Release date unknown | Bitter Root | Feature film[81] |
| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Finding My Way Back" | Jaheim |
| 2011 | "Not My Daddy" | Kelly Price featuringStokley |
List of awards and nominations received by Regina King
What began in 2004 as a modern retelling of the iconic fairy tale... quickly spiraled into a cult classic yielding a decade and a half of follow-up films with different actors and plots...
