Who is Malinda Williams?
American actress and film producer Malinda Williams was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey USA, on 24 September 1970, meaning that her zodiac sign Libra. She’s had roles in nearly 60 movies and TV series, perhaps still best known for her playing of Natalie Thompson in the 1996 romantic crime comedy movie “High School High”, directed by Hart Bochner, and which starred Jon Lovitz, Tia Carrere and Louise Fletcher. It follows Richard Clark who’s left Wellington Academy and has begun teaching at Marion Barry High School.
Education and early life
Malinda was raised in Elizabeth alongside her sisters Leslie Williams-Dunn and Lisa Sorenson, by their parents who celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2022; their grandfather passed away in January 2018, aged 106.
Malinda was attending a local high school in New Jersey when she fell in love with acting, after having watched a theatre play with her sisters; she then joined her school’s drama club, and appeared in nearly all the plays performed there until she matriculated in 1989.
She then launched her acting career, choosing not to pursue a college degree; she practiced acting at The Actor’s Conservatory (New York City).
Roles in TV series
Malinda’s debut TV series role was her playing of Althea Logan in the 1987 episode “Calling Doctor Huxtable” of the hit romantic family comedy “The Cosby Show”, and the year 1989 saw her play Lynette in the episode “Too Much, Too Late” of the action crime drama “Miami Vice”.
She gained recognition in 1993, when cast to portray Maya in the romantic drama “Loving”, created by Agnes Nixon and Douglas Marland, and which starred Lisa Peluso, Laura Wright and Lauren-Marie Taylor. It follows the members of the rich Alden family from Corinth, Pennsylvania, the series aired from 1983 to 1995, and won three of its 61 award nominations. Malinda could then have been seen appearing in an episode of the comedy drama “Roc”, the comedy “South Central”, and the romantic comedy drama “My So-Called Life”.
What also marked the ‘90s for her was her playing of Tasha Morrison in the 1998 comedy “Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher”, created by Marc Warren and Dennis Rinsler, and which starred Charles Cyphers, Clinton Jackson and Mitch Mullany. It follows an actor who’s working as a substitute teacher at Gerald R. Ford Middle School; the series won two of its three award nominations.
Between 2000 and 2004, Malinda played the main character Tracy ‘Bird’ Van Adams in the drama “Soul Food”. It also starred Rockmond Dunbar and Darrin Dewitt Henson, follows the lives of the Joseph family from Chicago, Illinois, and the series won seven of its 39 award nominations.
Malinda’s since appeared in only a single TV series: she played Kimberly George in five episodes of the 2006 romantic comedy drama “Windfall”.
Roles in movies
Malinda’s debut film role was her playing of Erica Wright in the 1996 crime comedy drama “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate”, written and directed by Martin Lawrence, who also starred in it alongside Lynn Whitfield and Regina King. It follows a nightclub promoter who’s just broken the heart of a psychotic woman.
Malinda could then have been seen playing supporting characters in the 1996 sports drama “Sunset Park”, the 1997 short drama “Damn Whitey”, and the 1999 thriller drama “Uninvited Guest”.
The year 2000 saw her play Rhonda in the drama “Dancing in September”, written and directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood, and which starred Tichina Arnold, James Avery and Jenica Bergere. It follows the struggles of a black female TV producer, and the film won two of its 10 award nominations. Melinda’s following film role came in 2005, when cast as Woman #2 in the short drama “Exposure”, and the following year saw her play Zora in the popular musical crime drama “Idlewild”, which Bryan Barber wrote and directed, and which starred Andre 3000, Big Boi and Terrence Howard. It follows Rooster and Percival as they’re performing at a nightclub, and the film was nominated for seven awards.
Some of Malinda’s roles in the remainder of the decade were in the 2007 romantic drama “Daddy’s Little Girls”, the 2008 crime comedy drama “First Sunday”, and the 2009 action crime drama “A Day in the Life”.
The year 2014 saw her play Cassandra in the action crime drama “Percentage”, directed by Alex Merkin, and which starred Cam’ron, Omar Gooding and Ving Rhames. It follows the lives of two hustlers who’ve launched a credit fraud operation in Miami, Florida.
Malinda’s three most recent movie roles have been in the 2018 comedy “Chandler Christmas Getaway”, and in 2019 the drama “Loved to Death” and the romantic drama “A Second Chance”; she hasn’t had any roles in the past three years, but hasn’t officially retired from acting.
https://twitter.com/malinsworld/status/1337429711073513472
Other credits
Malinda worked as an assistant producer on the 1999 romantic action comedy movie “History Is Made at Night”, and produced the 2013 romantic comedy film “Marry Me for Christmas”.
She’s been featured in a number of documentary movies, such as the 2011 “Reel Black Love”, the 2014 “Side Piece” and the 2020 “Anatomy of Black Love”.
Some of the talk-shows in which Malinda’s made a guest appearance include “Exhale”, “The D. L. Hughley Show” and “Celebrity Page”.
Awards and nominations
Malinda’s won one of her five award nominations: she won a Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance by an Actor (Male or Female) at the 2012 American Black Film Festival, for her performance in “The Undershepherd”.
She was also nominated for three Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2003, ‘04 and ‘05, all for her performance in “Soul Food”.
Husband and children
Malinda’s married thrice. She first wed American actor, producer and director Mekhi Phifer in 1999, in a large ceremony attended by more than 300 people; Mekhi’s appeared in nearly 70 movies and TV series, and is probably best known for his playing of Gregory Pratt (2002-2009) in the romantic drama “ER”. Malinda and Mekhi have a son Omikaye together, but his birthdate hasn’t been disclosed; they divorced in 2003.
Malinda married her second husband, American rapper and actor Derrick ‘D-Nice’ Jones on 23 August 2008, but they split in August 2009, and divorced on 14 June 2010.
Since January 2020, Malinda’s been married to American journalist Tariq Walker.
She hasn’t mentioned other men whom she’s dated, is married to her third husband Tariq Walker as of November 2022, and has a son Omikaye with her first husband Mekhi Phifer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClZNUqhPJbK/
Interesting facts and hobbies
Malinda played Young Buck’s love interest in his 2004 music video “Shorty Wanna Ride”.
She’s quite active on Instagram, and there are today more than 700,000 people following her, while she’s uploaded nearly 1,200 pictures and videos onto the social media network.
Malinda’s recently become an author, having published her book “The Game of Life & How to Slay It”.
She spends the majority of her spare time outdoors, as she enjoys being in nature, especially in parks and near rivers, and enjoys being at the beach, which is perhaps why her favorite season’s summer.
Her favorite actresses are Elizabeth Taylor and Maggie Smith, while some of her favorite films include “Sweet Bird of Youth”, “There Must Be a Pony”, and “Between Friends”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Malinda’s age is 52. She has brown eyes and short black hair, her weight is about 110lbs (51kgs) and she’s 5ft 2ins (1.58m) tall.
Malinda’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2.5 million, as of November 2022.
Leave a Comment