Keesha Sharp

Keesha Ulricka Sharp (née Fleth; born June 9, 1973) is an American actress and television director. She played Monica Charles Brooks in the UPN/The CW comedy series, '' Girlfriends'' (2002–08), for which she received a nomination for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Sharp has also appeared in films include ''American Adobo'' (2002), ''Why Did I Get Married?'' (2007), and from 2010 to 2013 co-starred in the TBS sitcom, '' Are We There Yet?''. In 2016, she played Dale Cochran, the wife of Johnnie Cochran, in the FX anthology drama series, '' The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story''. From 2016 to 2019, Sharp starred as Trish Murtaugh in the Fox police comedy-drama series, ''Lethal Weapon'', for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series nomination.

Life and career

Sharp was born in Rochester, New York. After graduating ''cum laude'' from The Boston Conservatory, Sharp set her sights on the stage. She performed in the Broadway National Tour of ''Carousel'', debuted Off-Broadway in Michael Bradford's ''Living in the Wind'' and played eight different roles in the interactive comedy ''Eat the Runt''. Other theatre performances include ''Abyssinia'', ''Aida'', ''Thunder Knockin'', '' Jitney'', '' The Producers'', ''Big Street'', ''Suburb'' and ''Joe Turner's Come and Gone''. On television, she guest starred on '' Welcome to New York'', ''Third Watch'', and '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', before moving to Los Angeles.

In 2002, Sharp was cast on the CW comedy series '' Girlfriends'', which she played William Dent's ( Reggie Hayes) girlfriend, and later wife, Monica. Her role garnered a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The series ended in 2008. From 2005 to 2006, she also had the recurring role on ''Everybody Hates Chris'' as Sheila Ridenhour. Sharp also had roles in films ''Malibu's Most Wanted'', '' Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood'', '' Never Die Alone'' and ''Why Did I Get Married?''.

After ''Girlfriends'', Sharp had guest starring roles on '' The Game'', ''Cold Case'', ''Melissa & Joey'', ''Elementary'' and '' The Exes''. From 2010 to 2013, she was a regular cast member on the TBS sitcom, '' Are We There Yet?''. In 2015, Sharp was cast as Dale Cochran, the wife of Johnnie Cochran (played by Courtney B. Vance), in the FX anthology drama series, ''American Crime Story''. In 2016, she was cast in a series regular role opposite Damon Wayans Sr. in the Fox series ''Lethal Weapon'' playing Trish Murtaugh (played by Darlene Love in the ''Lethal Weapon'' film series). Golden Brooks, her ''Girlfriends'' co-star, originally was cast in the role, but was replaced by Sharp during filming of pilot episode. Later that year, she was cast as Thurgood Marshall's wife in the biographical film ''Marshall'' starring Chadwick Boseman.

In 2018, Sharp secured the rights to John Williams’ 2013 biography ''America’s Mistress: The Life and Times of Eartha Kitt''. She was slated to star as Kitt and to produce the film alongside her husband, Brad Sharp.

In 2019, Sharp was cast in the final season of the Fox musical drama series ''Empire''.

In 2022, Sharp joined the third season of '' Power Book II: Ghost'' as a series regular.

Personal life

Sharp married actor and singer-songwriter Brad Sharp on August 1, 1997. The couple have been together since high school and have a son named Solomon.

Filmography

Film

Television

Directing

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp, Keesha
American film actresses
American television actresses
Living people
21st-century African-American actresses
21st-century American actresses
1973 births
Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumni
21st-century African-American people
20th-century African-American people
20th-century African-American women