Salli Richardson

Salli Elise Richardson-Whitfield (née Richardson; born November 23, 1967) is an American actress and director. Richardson is known for her role as Angela in the film A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994) and for her role as Dr. Allison Blake on the Syfy comedy-drama series Eureka (2006–2012).

Salli Richardson
Richardson in 2012
Born
Salli Elise Richardson

(1967-11-23) November 23, 1967
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other namesSalli Richardson-Whitfield
Occupation
  • Actress
  • director
Years active1991–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2002)
Children2
Websitesallirw.com (archived copy)

She is also known for her voice acting as Elisa Maza on the Disney animated series Gargoyles (1994–1996),[1] and as Viveca Foster on the CBS series Family Law (1999-2002). Richardson also has appeared in a number of other films such as The Great White Hype (1996), Antwone Fisher (2002), Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004) and I Am Legend (2007). She had leading roles in the independent films Pastor Brown (2009), Black Dynamite (2009) and I Will Follow (2010). In the 2010s, Richardson started working as a television director.

Early life

Richardson was born in Chicago, Illinois.[2] Her mother was African American and Native American, and her father reported Italian and English descent.[3] She played tennis in high school at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and launched her acting career in the Kuumba Workshop theater there; she graduated in 1985.

Career

Acting

Richardson "began her acting career in the theater before transitioning to roles in television and film".[4] In film, she played small roles in Prelude to a Kiss, Mo' Money, Posse, and later had major roles in Sioux City and A Low Down Dirty Shame. From 1994 to 1996 she voiced the character Elisa Maza on the animated series Gargoyles.[1] She had many guest-starring roles in numerous television shows, such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, New York Undercover, The Pretender, Stargate SG-1, NYPD Blue, House, Bones, Criminal Minds, NCIS and Castle.[5]

Richardson in 2008

Richardson starred opposite Dixie Carter and Kathleen Quinlan in the CBS legal drama series, Family Law, from 1999 to 2002. She had recurring roles as Nancy Adams on Rude Awakening, and as Laura on CSI: Miami. She starred opposite Denzel Washington in the 2002 drama film Antwone Fisher.[6] She also appeared in the 2004 horror film Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, and starred opposite Will Smith in 2007's post-apocalyptic film I Am Legend.[6] She later had a leading role in the independent dramas Pastor Brown (2009), and in I Will Follow (2010) directed by Ava DuVernay.[6][7] She also starred in The Sin Seer with Isaiah Washington, set for 2015 release.[8]

From 2006 to 2012, Richardson starred as Department of Defense agent (and later head of Global Dynamics) Allison Blake in the Syfy comedy-drama series Eureka. Her second pregnancy was written into the storyline of the series.[4] After the series' cancellation, she was cast as the lead in the Lifetime drama pilot The Secret Lives of Wives.[9] In 2014, Richardson was cast in a recurring role on Lifetime's The Lottery as the first lady of the United States,[10] but she lost it to Shelley Conn;[11] She also has a role on BET's Being Mary Jane as an old friend of the lead character.[12][13] In 2015, Richardson was cast in the ABC Family series, Stitchers.[14] The series was canceled after three seasons in 2017.[15]

Directing

Richardson has also worked as a director of episodic television. Following her directorial debut on two episodes of her show Eureka,[16] in 2016 she directed two episodes of Ava DuVernay's drama series for Oprah Winfrey Network, Queen Sugar (on which her husband Dondre Whitfield appears as a series regular).[17] In 2016, Richardson also directed an episode of the historical action-drama Underground for WGN America.[18] In 2017, she directed two episodes of BET drama Rebel, and Shonda Rhimes' Scandal. Her comedy directing credits include Survivor's Remorse, I'm Dying Up Here, Black-ish and Dear White People. In 2018, she also directed the 16th episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fifth-season episode "Inside Voices".[19] Her other notable directing credits include Chicago Med, Luke Cage, Black Lightning, The Punisher, American Gods, See and Altered Carbon.[20]

In 2019, Richardson received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series nomination for her work directing Luke Cage.[21] Also in 2019, she won a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for directing Black-ish.[22] In September 2020, she signed a project development deal with HBO.[23] Richardson produces and had had directed episodes of HBO period drama The Gilded Age and Adam McKay's untitled Lakers project.[23] Also in 2020, she directed the Zoom Where It Happens special The One with the Diverse Cast, a Friends one-night reboot starring Sterling K. Brown, Uzo Aduba, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Aisha Hinds, Kendrick Sampson and Jeremy Pope.[24]

Personal life

On September 8, 2002, she married long-time boyfriend and fellow actor Dondre Whitfield. She and Whitfield have one daughter and one son.[25] Whitfield and her husband appeared in a late-night infomercial as part of an advertising campaign to promote the Time Life Zestify Midnight Soul collection.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Up Against the Wall Denise
1992 How U Like Me Now Valerie
1992 Mo' Money Pretty customer
1992 Prelude to a Kiss Bridesmaid
1993 Posse Lana
1994 A Low Down Dirty Shame Angela
1994 Sioux City Jolene Buckley
1995 Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored Miss Alice
1996 The Great White Hype Bambi
1996 Soul of the Game Lahoma
1998 Butter Blusette Ford
1999 Lillie Lillie
2002 Antwone Fisher Berta Davenport
2002 Baby of the Family Nelli McPherson
2002 Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs Karen
2003 Biker Boyz Half & Half
2004 Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid Gail Stern
2007 I Am Legend Zoe Neville
2009 Black Dynamite Gloria
2009 Pastor Brown Jessica "Jesse" Brown Also producer
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Actress
2010 I Will Follow Maye
2012 We the Party Principal Reynolds
2015 Playin' for Love Talisa McCoy
2015 The Sin Seer Nia

Acting

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Silk Stalkings Shelley Episode: "Wild Card"
1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Fenna / Nidell Episode: "Second Sight"
1994 I Spy Returns Nicole Scott Television film
1994 Lily in Winter Ada Covington Television film
1994 New York Undercover Tammy Barrett Episode: "Eyewitness Blues"
1994 Roc Diane Hubbard Episode: "The Last Temptation of Roc"
1994–1996 Gargoyles Elisa Maza (voice) Series regular
1996 Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles Elisa Maza (voice) Series regular
1997 Between Brothers Vanessa Episode: "The Player"
1997 Stargate SG-1 Drey'auc Episode: "Bloodlines"
1997 True Women Martha Television film
1998 The Pretender Cynthia Sloan Episode: "Gigolo Jarod"
1998–1999 Mercy Point Kim Salisaw Series regular
1999 The Jamie Foxx Show Camille Turner Episode: "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire"
1999–2002 Family Law Viveca Foster Series regular
2000 Secret Agent Man Rachel Episode: "WhupSumAss"
2000–2001 Rude Awakening Nancy Adams Recurring role; 9 episodes
2003 CSI: Miami Laura Recurring role; 5 episodes
2004 Line of Fire Erica Logan Episode: "The Senator"
2004 NYPD Blue Bobbi Kingston Episodes: "My Dinner with Andy" and "I Like Ike"
2004 Second Time Around Amanda Episode: "Coupling Up"
2005 House Sharon Episode: "Sports Medicine"
2005 1-800-Missing Kelly Episode: "Sisterhood"
2005 The War at Home Vanessa Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to the Barbecue"
2006 Bones Kim Kurland Episode: "Aliens in a Spaceship"
2006–2012 Eureka Allison Blake Series regular
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2011)
2009 Criminal Minds Tamara Barnes Episodes: "Hopeless" and "The Eyes Have It"
2012 The Finder Athena Brookes Episode: "Life After Death"
2012 The Secret Lives of Wives Reed TV pilot
2012–2013 The Newsroom Jane Barrow Recurring role; 3 episodes
2013 Teachers Christine Television film
2013–2015 NCIS Carrie Clark Episodes: "Alibi", "Semper Fortis", "A Day in Court"
2014 Castle Elizabeth Weston Episode: "The Greater Good"
2014 House of Lies Sandra Joy Episode: "Power(less)"
2015 Being Mary Jane Valerie Recurring role; 5 episodes
2015–2017 Stitchers Maggie Series regular
2018 Black Lightning Montez Episode: "The Book of Consequences: Chapter Four: Translucent Freak"; also episode director
2020 Altered Carbon Commission leader Episode: "Broken Angels"

Directing

Year Title Notes
2011 Grace Short film, also writer
2011-2013 Eureka Episodes: "Worst Case Scenario" and "Omega Girls"
2015 Different Position Short film
2016 Post Life Short film
2016 Queen Sugar Episodes "So Far" and "All Good"
2017 Underground Episode: "Nok Aaut"
2017 Rebel Episodes: "Conceal and Carry" and "Black Not Blue"
2017 Scandal Episode: "Tick Tock"
2017 Stitchers Episode: "Kill It Forward"
2017 Survivor's Remorse Episodes: "Reparations" and "Closure"
2017 Lethal Weapon Episode: "Birdwatching"
2018 Chicago Med Episode: "Lock It Down"
2018 Star Episode: "Take It to Church"
2018 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Episode: "Inside Voices"
2018 I'm Dying Up Here Episode: "Between Us"
2018 Luke Cage Episode: "Get Physical"
Nomination — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
2018 Love Is_ Episode: "Not Valentine's Day"
2018 Black Lightning Episode: "The Book of Consequences: Chapter Four: Translucent Freak"
2019 Black-ish Episode: "Black Like Us"
Black Reel Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
2019 The Punisher Episode: "Flustercluck"
2019 All American Episode: "Legacy"
2018-2019 The Magicians Episodes: "The Side Effect" and "Six Short Stories About Magic"
2017-2019 Shadowhunters Episodes: "A Kiss from a Rose" and "Dust and Shadows"
2019 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Episode: "Chapter Fourteen: Lupercallia"
2019 American Gods Episode: "The Ways of the Dead"
2019 Doom Patrol Episode: "Hair Patrol"
2019 The Chi Episode: "Lean Into It"
2019 Dear White People Episodes: "Volume 3: Chapter IX " and "Volume 2: Chapter V"
2019 Pearson Episode: "The Former City Attorney"
2019 See Episode: "House of Enlightenment"
2019 Reprisal Episode: "dammit"
2019 Treadstone Episode: "The Seoul Asylum" and "The McKenna Erasure"
2020 Altered Carbon Episodes: "Broken Angels" and "Experiment Perilous"
2020 The Gilded Age 4 episodes; also executive producer
TBA The Wheel of Time Episode: "Blood Calls Blood"

References

  1. Dretzka, Gary (August 8, 1995). "What's Dramatic, Fun and Keeping These Actors Busy? Sounds Like Gargoyles". Chicago Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  2. "Salli Richardson Facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Salli Richardson". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  3. Whitfield, Salli; et al. (July 1997). "Black America and Tiger's Dilemma". Ebony: 28–34, 138ff (esp. 29, 34). Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  4. "Salli Richardson-Whitfield Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  5. "Salli Richardson-Whitfield | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  6. "Salli Richardson-Whitfield - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  7. "I Will Follow: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. "Richard Brooks, Salli Richardson-Whitfield Join Isaiah Washington in 'The Sin Seer'". TheWrap. May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (August 25, 2012). "Salli Richardson-Whitfield To Star In Lifetime's 'Secret Lives Of Wives' Pilot". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  10. "'Homeland's' Martin Donovan Joins Lifetime's 'Lottery' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. December 2, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  11. "A+E Networks – Life is Entertaining". Aenetworks.com. May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  12. "MacKenzie Porter Joins AMC's 'Hell On Wheels'; Salli Richardson-Whitfield In BET's 'Being Mary Jane'". Deadline.com. April 8, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  13. "TV News: Salli Richardson-Whitfield Joins 'Being Mary Jane,' Omar J. Dorsey In 'Ray Donovan' + New Oxygen Greenlights|Shadow and Act". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  14. "ABC Family Adds 3 to Cast of First Crime Procedural 'Stitchers'". TheWrap. January 14, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  15. Nemetz, Dave (September 15, 2017). "Stitchers Cancelled at Freeform".
  16. "'Underground' director Salli Richardson-Whitfield". amsterdamnews.com.
  17. "Ava DuVernay and Queen Sugar Look Like the Future of Television". Essence. March 30, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  18. "Salli Richardson-Whitfield On Underground's "Nok Aaut" & The Age Of The Black Female Director". Essence. March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  19. "Scoop: Coming Up On All New MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D on ABC - Today, April 6, 2018". BWW. April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  20. "Salli Richardson Whitfield: From Screen Queen To Directorial Maestro". The Shadow League. May 9, 2019.
  21. "Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series - NAACP Awards: 'Black-ish,' 'Black Panther' Top Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter.
  22. "BRATs Winners". August 8, 2019.
  23. White, Peter (September 1, 2020). "HBO Strikes Overall Deal With Salli Richardson-Whitfield; Actor-Turned-Director To Helm Eps Of 'The Gilded Age' & Adam McKay's Lakers Drama". Deadline. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  24. Pedersen, Erik (September 21, 2020). "'Friends' Table Read Set With All-Black Cast Including Sterling K. Brown & Uzo Aduba; Gabrielle Union To Host".
  25. "Dondre and Salli Welcome Son Dre Terrell Whitfield". People. February 25, 2009. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009 via web.archive.org.
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