Anne-Marie Johnson

Summary

Anne-Marie Johnson (born July 18, 1960) is an American actress and impressionist.[2] She is perhaps best known for her roles as Nadine Hudson–Thomas in What's Happening Now!! (1985–1988), Althea Tibbs in In the Heat of the Night (1988–1993), or her recurring role as fashion designer Donna Cabonna on That's So Raven (2006) during its final season. Johnson is known as a cast member of the FOX sketch comedy television series In Living Color (1993–1994) during its final season, and has had recurring or regular roles in Melrose Place, JAG, Girlfriends and The InBetween.

Anne-Marie Johnson
Johnson in 2006
Born (1960-07-18) July 18, 1960 (age 63)
EducationUCLA
Occupations
  • Actress
  • impressionist
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Martin Grey
(m. 1996)
[1]

Biography edit

Early life and education edit

Anne-Marie Johnson was born in Los Angeles, California. For high school, she attended John Marshall High School, graduating in 1978.[3] Johnson graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in Acting and Theater.[4]

Career edit

Johnson's first US television appearance was as a contestant on the game show Card Sharks that originally aired on June 5, 1979, where her name was listed as Anne Johnson. She appeared on the game show Child's Play under her full name as well as a pilot episode for the game show Body Language as Anne Marie Johnson, where she described herself as a "struggling actress".[5] Johnson began her career appearing in episodes of the Australian dramas Homicide and Matlock Police in the 1970s. In 1984, she played the role of Aileen Lewis on the short-lived NBC comedy series Double Trouble, and at the same time had a recurring role on the NBC police drama Hill Street Blues.

She played Raj's wife Nadine Hudson Thomas in the syndicated sitcom What's Happening Now!! from 1985 to 1988.[6] In 1988, Johnson began starring as Althea Tibbs in the NBC/CBS police drama series In the Heat of the Night, playing the role through 1993.[6] While appearing on In the Heat of the Night, Johnson recorded the song "Little Drummer Boy" for the 1991 cast Christmas CD Christmas Time's A Comin'. Providing vocals behind her were country gospel group The Marksmen Quartet. The song was produced by co-stars Randall Franks and Alan Autry. She also appeared in a number of films, including Robot Jox (1989), which featured her only career nude scene, The Five Heartbeats (1991), True Identity (1991), and Strictly Business (1991).[6] On television, she played a leading role in the 1989 film Dream Date and starred as Carrie Jones/Carolyn Dimes in the 1990 miniseries Lucky Chances.

After leaving In the Heat of the Night, Johnson joined the cast of the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color in its last season (1993–1994). She portrayed Alycia Barnett in the Fox prime-time soap opera Melrose Place from 1995 to 1996. From 1997 to 2002, she had a recurring role on the CBS series JAG as Representative Bobbi Latham. She also has made guest appearances on other TV series, including That's So Raven; Living Single; Murder, She Wrote; Leverage; Ally McBeal; Girlfriends; The Parkers; Dharma & Greg; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; NCIS; Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Grey's Anatomy.

In 2019, she had a regular role in the short-lived NBC drama The InBetween[7] and in 2020 had a recurring roles in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama Cherish the Day and ABC legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder.[8][9]

Other activities edit

Johnson was elected first national vice president of the Screen Actors Guild in 2008.[10] She ran for president of the actors' union in 2009 on the Membership First ticket, but she lost to eventual winner Ken Howard.[11]

Personal life edit

Johnson has been married once and has no children. Since January 1, 1996, she has been married to Martin Grey.[citation needed]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Hollywood Shuffle Lydia / Willie Mae / Hooker #5
1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Cherry
1989 Robot Jox Athena
1991 The Five Heartbeats Sydney Todd
1991 True Identity Kristi
1991 Strictly Business Diedre
1998 Down in the Delta Monica Sinclair
2001 Pursuit of Happiness Devin Quinn
2001 Apartment 12 Yvette
2010 Suicide Dolls Maria
2011 About Fifty Erin
2012 Freeloaders Lydia
2014 Knock 'em Dead Alex Hart
2015 Double Daddy Ms. Wolk
2015 Sister Code Mama Layne
2019 Adopt a Highway Tracy Westmore

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1971, 1974 Homicide Jenny Marshall / Deborah Price 2 episodes
1972–1976 Matlock Police Debbie / Jenny Martin / Linda Watson / Rebecca Grant 4 episodes
1973 Division 4 Susan Marshall Episode: "Three Mouths to Feed"
1984 High School U.S.A. Beth Franklin Unsold pilot
1984 Diff'rent Strokes Denise Episode: "Undercover Lover"
1984–1985 Double Trouble Aileen Lewis 3 episodes
1984–1985 Hill Street Blues Lynn Williams 4 episodes
1985–1988 What's Happening Now!! Nadine Hudson Thomas Main role (66 episodes)
1986 Hunter Isabel Teret / Nella Watkins Episode: "Saturday Night Special"
1988–1993 In the Heat of the Night Althea Tibbs Main role (109 episodes)
1989 Dream Date Donna Television film
1990 Lucky Chances Carrie Jones / Carolyn Dimes Miniseries
1990 Singer & Sons Felicity Patterson Episode: "Once Bitten"
1992 The Larry Sanders Show Barbara Kirsch Episode: "The Guest Host"
1993–1994 In Living Color Various characters Main role (24 episodes)
1994 Living Single Sheila Kelly Episode: "What's Next?"
1994 Babylon 5 Mariah Cirrus Episode: "The Long Dark"
1995 Sirens Christine Episode: "Color Blind"
1995 Murder, She Wrote Priscilla Dauphin Episode: "Big Easy Murder"
1995–1996 Melrose Place Alycia Barnett 14 episodes
1996–1997 Spider-Man Angela / Mousie Voice, 3 episodes
1997 Asteroid Karen Dodd Television film
1997 Smart Guy Ms. Williams Pilot
1997–2002 JAG Rep. Bobbi Latham 18 episodes
1998 Any Day Now Aisha Bullock Episode: "Making Music with the Wrong Man"
1998 The Pretender Lt. Alison Fawkes Episode: "Once in a Blue Moon"
1999 Chicago Hope Mrs. Jamison Episode: "Vanishing Acts"
1999 It's Like, You Know... Cabil Episode: "Two Days in the Valley"
1999 Ally McBeal District Attorney Foster Episode: "Love's Illusions"
1999 Hope Island Dr. Karen Dunbar Episode: "You Can't Look at the Sea Without Wishing for Wings"
2000 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Verena Voice, episode: "The Frog Princess"
2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Elaine Episode: "A Pearl of Great Value"
2000 For Your Love Dr. Brown Episode: "The Shrink Gets Shrunk"
2000 The X-Files Vicky Wells Episode: "Redrum"
2001 Strong Medicine Nurse Doreen Collins Episode: "Gray Matter"
2001 The Parkers Lady Egyptian Episode: "Nobody's Fool"
2001 The District Renee Sawyer Episode: "Rage Against the Machine"
2002 Dharma & Greg Laura Episode: "The Mamas and the Papas: Part 1"
2002 Through the Fire Anne-Marie Television film
2003 The System Ms. Kimberly Trotter 9 episodes
2003 The District Rita Douglas Episode: "Criminally Insane"
2003 What I Like About You Olivia Episode: "Loose Lips"
2003 The Division Martha Episode: "Castaways"
2004 Rock Me, Baby Ms. Watson Episode: "I Love You, You Don't Love Me"
2003–2004 Girlfriends Sharon Upton Farley 7 episodes
2006 That's So Raven Donna Cabonna 7 episodes
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ADA Jasmine Davis Episode: "Leaving Las Vegas"
2007 Bones Dr. Jasper Episode: "Death in the Saddle"
2007 NCIS Marine Col. Stacey Radcliffe Episode: "Requiem"
2007–2010 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Liz Shelton 4 episodes
2008 Boston Legal Vivian Stewart Episode: "Juiced"
2009 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Baby Shop Person 1 episode
2009 Uncorked Debra Miller Television film
2010 I'm in the Band Janet King Episode: "Slap Goes the Weasel"
2011 Fairly Legal Jennifer Episode: "The Two Richards"
2011 Leverage Darlene Wickett Episode: "The Grave Danger Job"
2012-2016 Days of Our Lives Dr. Patel 8 episodes
2014 Murder in the First Emily English Pilot
2014 Chasing Life Arianna Episode: "Blood Cancer Sex Carrots"
2014 See Dad Run Principal Harris 1 episode
2015 Pretty Little Liars Claire Handleman Episode: "Bloody Hell"
2016 Childrens Hospital Dr. Parker Episode: "The Grid" (Parts 1 & 2)
2016 Grey's Anatomy Judge Episode: "Mama Tried"
2016 Castle Mrs. Kramer Episode: "Hell to Pay"
2016 Major Crimes Jane Wolfe Episode: "Present Tense"
2016 NCIS: Los Angeles Doctor Adams 2 episodes
2017 Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Burkhart Web series
2017 Wisdom of the Crowd Patty King 1 episode
2018 Imposters Gail, therapist 3 episodes
2018 For the People Senator Knox Recurring
2018 Reverie Mrs. Trent 1 episode
2018 I Was A Teenage Pillow Queen Suzanne Television film
2019 The InBetween Lt. Swanstrom Main cast
2019 Dear Santa, I Need a Date Mrs. Vaughn Television film
2020 Cherish The Day Dana Fisher 3 episodes[12]
2020 How to Get Away with Murder Kendra Strauss 2 episodes[13]
2022 So Help Me Todd Felicity 1 episode
2022 Raven's Home Donna Cabonna Episode: "Raven and the Fashion Factory"

References edit

  1. ^ "Anne Marie-Johnson & Husband Martin Grey".
  2. ^ Sandra Brennan (2013). "Anne-Marie Johnson". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013.
  3. ^ '1978 John Marshall High School (Los Angeles, California) Yearbook
  4. ^ McCann, Bob (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-7864-3790-0.
  5. ^ "Body Language". The Game Show Pilot Light.
  6. ^ a b c "Anne-Marie Johnson's Biography". The HistoryMakers.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (March 17, 2018). "'In Between Lives' Casts Anne-Marie Johnson; Raffi Barsoumian Cracks 'The Code'".
  8. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 3, 2019). "Ava DuVernay's OWN Drama 'Cherish The Day' Rounds Out Cast, Adds Directors Blitz Bazawule, Aurora Guerrero And Deborah Kampmeier".
  9. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 26, 2020). "'How To Get Away With Murder': Anne-Marie Johnson To Recur, Cicely Tyson Returning For Final Season".
  10. ^ "Screen Actors Guild Announces National Vice Presidents". www.sagaftra.org. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "Ken Howard Elected". SAG.org. September 24, 2009.
  12. ^ "Anne-Marie Johnson Talks New Series "Cherish The Day"". www.audacy.com. February 24, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  13. ^ West, Amy (March 28, 2020). "How To Get Away With Murder star to return for final season". Digital Spy. Retrieved November 9, 2021.

External links edit

  • Anne-Marie Johnson at IMDb