Ella Joyce (born Cherron Hoye; June 12, 1954) is an American actress. She starred as Eleanor Emerson in the

Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...

comedy-drama series '' Roc'', which originally ran from 1991 until 1994. Joyce also appeared in films '' Set It Off'' (1996), '' Bubba Ho-Tep'' (2002), '' Our Family Wedding'' (2010), '' Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor'' (2013) and '' Nina'' (2016).

Early years

The daughter of an autoworker and a hairdresser, Joyce was born Cherron Hoye in

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, and raised in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

. She graduated from the Performing Arts Curriculum at

Cass Technical High School Cass Technical High School (simply referred to as Cass Tech) is a four-year Public magnet high school in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. from the University Cultural Center Association, retrieved June 9, 1001 It was established in 19 ...

, and went on to attend the Dramatic Arts program at

Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern) is a public university, public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal ...

. When financial problems caused her to leave, she returned to Detroit, where she graduated from a business school and then worked as an executive secretary at General Motors. She supplemented the income from that job by reading scripts for director Lloyd Richards, who encouraged her to act on-screen. After she moved to

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

, New York City, she worked as a word processor while she improved her acting skills. After she earned her first film credit in 1979, she changed her name to honor her mother and great-grandmother. She has studied with several professional mentors, and worked in many regional theaters across America and overseas.

Career

Theater

Joyce began her career as an actress appearing on stage. Her theater credits include ''

Fences A fence is a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary. Fence or fences may also refer to: Entertainment Music * Fences (band), an Amer ...

'' (at the National Black Theater Festival), as well as ''Medea and the Doll'', ''Steppin' into Tomorrow''; she was the first to play the roles of Risa at the

Yale Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and one of the nine colonial colleges ch ...

world premiere production of '' Two Trains Running'', Tonya in the world premiere production of '' King Hedley II'', and Lily Ann Green in '' Crumbs from the Table of Joy'', earning The Joseph Jefferson Award. Other stage plays in which she has appeared include ''Bossa Nova'', ''Last Street Play (The Mighty Gents)'', ''Checkmates'', ''Brothers, Sisters, Husbands and Wives'', ''Don't Get God Started!'', ''Louis and Ophelia'', ''Split Second'', ''Home'', ''Not a single Blade of Grass'', ''Odessa'', ''

Barefoot in the Park ''Barefoot in the Park'' is a romantic comedy stage play by Neil Simon. The play premiered on Broadway in 1963, starring Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley. It was made into a film in 1967, which starred Redford and Jane Fonda. Productions ...

'', and ''Anna Lucasta''. She is a founder and performer at The National Black Festival in

Winston-Salem, North Carolina Winston-Salem is a city in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the List of municipalities in North Carolina, fifth-most populous ...

. She has received numerous awards, nominations, and accolades for her performances in the theater, including the New York AUDELCO and the

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du&nbs ...

Image Nomination (for theater and television). She is also a recipient of the Spirit Of Detroit Award from the Mayor's Office in 1998. Joyce received Ovation Award for

August Wilson August Wilson (né Frederick August Kittel Jr.; April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005) was an American playwright. He has been referred to as the "theater's poet of Black America". He is best known for a series of 10 plays, collectively called '' ...

’s '' King Hedley II'' for the role of Ruby.

Film and television

On television, Joyce made her debut appearing in an episode of '' Katts and Dog'' in 1990 and later made her big screen debut playing minor role in the 1992 comedy film, '' Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot'' From 1991 to 1994 she starred alongside Charles S. Dutton in the Fox comedy-drama series, '' Roc''. In 1995 she starred in the pilot episode of NBC sitcom ''

NewsRadio ''NewsRadio'' is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from March 21, 1995, to May 4, 1999, focusing on the work lives of the staff of a New York City AM news radio station. It had an ensemble cast featuring Dave Foley, Stephen R ...

'', playing the part that eventually went to Khandi Alexander. She made a cameo appearance in the music video for

TLC TLC may refer to: Arts and entertainment Television * ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2 * TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network ** TLC (Asia), an A ...

's "

Waterfalls A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several ...

" later that year. She later made guest-starring appearances in '' The Client'', ''

Dangerous Minds ''Dangerous Minds'' is a 1995 American drama film directed by John N. Smith, written by Ronald Bass, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. It is based on the 1992 autobiography ''My Posse Don't Do Homework'' by retired U.S. Mar ...

'', ''

Seinfeld ''Seinfeld'' ( ) is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, with a total of nine seasons consisting of List of Seinfeld episodes, 180 episodes. It ...

'', ''

The Jamie Foxx Show ''The Jamie Foxx Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Jamie Foxx and Bentley Kyle Evans for The WB. It premiered on August 28, 1996, and ended on January 14, 2001, with a total of 100 episodes over the course of five seasons. A ...

'' and ''

Eve Eve is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the universe and its inhabitants came to be. Creation myths develop through oral traditions and there ...

''. From 2003 to 2004 she played the recurring role of Jasmine Scott in the ABC sitcom '' My Wife & Kids''. In 1996, Joyce co-starred in the crime action film '' Set It Off'' directed by F. Gary Gray. She starred in the made-for-television film '' Selma, Lord, Selma'' (1999) playing Sheyann Webb's mother. In 2001 she starred alongside

Yolonda Ross Yolonda Ross is an American actress, writer and director. Life and career Ross was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She began her acting career in New York, appearing in the episodes of television series ''New York Undercover'' and ''Third Wa ...

in the prison drama '' Stranger Inside'' and was featured in

Debbie Allen Deborah Kaye Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, singer, director, producer, and a former member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She has been nominated 20 times for an Emmy Award ...

-directed and starring comedy-drama ''The Old Settler''. The following year she starred in the horror-comedy film '' Bubba Ho-Tep'' starring alongside

Bruce Campbell Bruce Lorne Campbell (born June 22, 1958) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known best for his role as Ash Williams in Sam Raimi's ''Evil Dead'' horror series, beginning with the short movie '' Within the Woods'' (1978). He has also f ...

and

Ossie Davis Ossie Davis (born Raiford Chatman Davis; December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, Film director, director, writer, and activist. He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, until his death. He received num ...

. She later appeared in films ''Forbidden Fruits'' (2006) alongside

Keith David Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for his deep voice and screen presence in over 300 roles in film, stage, television, and interactive media. He has starred in such films as '' The Thing'' (1982), ''Pla ...

, ''Lost Signal'' (2006), '' Who Made the Potatoe Salad?'' (2006), '' Preacher's Kid'' (2010), '' Our Family Wedding'' (2010), ''Hopelessly in June'' (2011) and '' California Solo'' (2012). In 2023, Joyce starred in the

Tyler Perry Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is an American actor, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of Madea, Mabel "Madea" Simmons, a tough elderly woman, and also portrays her brother Joe Simmons and her ...

's romantic drama film '' Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor'' playing the role of

Jurnee Smollett Jurnee Diana Smollett (born October 1, 1986) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress appearing on television sitcoms, including '' On Our Own'' (1994–1995) and ''Full House'' (1992–1994). She gained greater recognition ...

's mother. In 2016 she appeared as Clifton's mother in the biographical film '' Nina''. In 2013, Joyce starred alongside

in the short-lived TV One sitcom '' Belle's''. She had supporting roles in films ''Resolution Song'' (2018) and ''Never and Again'' (2021). In 2022 she was cast as a Tami Roman's character's mother in the BET drama series, '' Haus of Vicious''.

Personal life

Joyce married actor Dan Martin. She has written her first book ''Kink Phobia, Journey Through a Black Woman's Hair''.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

*
Kinkphobia

Ms. Thing Productions, Inc.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyce, Ella Living people Cass Technical High School alumni Eastern Michigan University alumni Actresses from Detroit 1954 births American television actresses American film actresses American stage actresses 21st-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses 20th-century African-American actresses 20th-century American actresses