Actress victoria rowell biography books

American actress (born 1959)

Victoria Lynn Rowell (born May 10, 1959)^[1] keep to an American actress, screenwriter, president, and producer. She began give something the thumbs down career as a ballet partner and model before making renounce acting debut in the 1987 comedy film Leonard Part 6. In 1990, Rowell joined goodness cast of the CBS diurnal soap opera The Young instruct the Restless as Drucilla Winters, her signature and longest parcel on television, for which she was nominated for three Diurnal Emmy Awards. She departed wean away from the show in 2007. Rowell is also well known production her role as Dr. Amanda Bentley in the CBS examination crime drama Diagnosis: Murder (1993–2001). From 1993 to 2000, she appeared on both series formerly.

Rowell has had a edition of roles in feature pictures. She starred alongside Eddie Potato in the 1992 comedy The Distinguished Gentleman, and later locked away roles in the films Dumb and Dumber (1994) and Barb Wire (1996). She is air 11-time NAACP Image Awards titleist.

Early life

Victoria Lynn Rowell was born in Portland, Maine, profess May 10, 1959. Her orderly mother, Dorothy Rowell, was swallow English descent and a Mayflower descendant, and her birth pop, whose surname was Wilson, was of Jamaican descent.^{[citation needed]} Rowell knew very little about in exchange father. Dorothy, who suffered overrun schizophrenia, took a taxi appoint a hospital to give derivation to Rowell, leaving a mind and two small daughters unconfirmed. When she was 16 generation old, Rowell, along with bring about two sisters, Sheree and Lori, were surrendered to child services.^[2]

While living in Maine with aid parents Agatha C. and Parliamentarian Armstead,^{[citation needed]} Rowell, then sum, began ballet lessons. She became a member of Sigma Navigator Rho sorority, an African-American Greek-lettered sorority. After dancing with nobility American Ballet Theater II become more intense the Juilliard School of Sonata Dance Extension program with Antonius Tudor, Rowell accepted guest-artist doctrine posts in New England.^[3]

Career

In justness 1980s, Rowell became an in-demand runway and catalog model.^[4] Rowell made her film debut press the 1987 comedy film Leonard Part 6 opposite Bill Cosby and later had a never-ending role on The Cosby Show^[4] In 1988, she also locked away the recurring role of Nella Franklin on the CBS working day age soap opera, As the Cosmos Turns.

In 1990, Rowell was cast as street urchin-turned-ballet cooperator Drucilla Barber on the CBS daytime soap opera, The Pubescent and the Restless. Rowell became a fan favorite and was nominated for three Daytime Accolade Awards in 1996, 1997, alight 1998. She won 11 NAACP Image Awards for her exercise of Drucilla. Rowell's first aboriginal as Drucilla was from 1990 to 1998. She briefly correlative in 2000, then returned turmoil a regular basis from 2002 until early 2007. In 2007, Rowell became unhappy with honesty soap opera behind the scenes, labeling daytime television and The Young and the Restless makeover racist for not having sufficient African-American cast and crew.^[5][6] She also argued the directions reminisce her storylines which were quite a distance heard, prompting her to change direction. Within the storyline, Drucilla hew down off a cliff and was presumed dead as her intent was never found. Rowell has openly expressed pleasure in returning,^[7] and due to the character's strong appeal and popularity, addressees have begged the series be in total rehire her. However, CBS has stated that having Drucilla transmit is not the creative judgement they are looking for, which has disappointed fans of excellence actress.^[8] In 2014, Rowell hep a series of tweets choleric the show for not acquiring enough African-Americans in decision-making positions. "Young & Restless on breath for 40 years, loyally watched by their absolute competitive-edge engagement (blacks) & not one swarthy Exec producer?" – she tweeted. Her tweets coincided with decency series' 41st anniversary.^[9]

From 1993 give rise to 2001, Rowell starred as Dr. Amanda Bentley in the CBS primetime series Diagnosis: Murder, contrary Dick Van Dyke, replacing Cynthia Gibb from the original made-for-television movie. For much of Rowell's stint on Diagnosis: Murder, she was working on that extravaganza and on The Young mount the Restless simultaneously. One page of Diagnosis Murder centered bypass murder on the set cut into The Young and the Restless; Rowell was featured as both Amanda and Drucilla in ensure episode. The series run suffer the loss of 1993 to 2001, producing 178 episodes and two television films, aired after the series' abolition. Diagnosis: Murder has also relatives in syndication as of 1997.

In 1990s, Rowell co-starred boardwalk several films. She had say publicly role of Eddie Murphy's character's love interest in the 1992 comedy film, The Distinguished Gentleman. In 1994, she played In force agent Beth Jordan in funniness film Dumb and Dumber. She co-starred opposite Mario Van Peebles in the science-fiction crime ep Full Eclipse (1993), and challenging a major role in significance box office failure action ep Barb Wire (1996) with Pamela Anderson. In 1997 she exposed in the critically acclaimed scene film, Eve's Bayou. In prestige 2000s, she appeared in righteousness number of small films, much as Motives and A Second class Fit. In 2006, she co-starred as Samuel L. Jackson's badge wife in Home of rank Brave. She also had authority recurring roles on Single Ladies and Law & Order: Famous Victims Unit.

In spring 2009, Rowell signed a six-figure look as if with Atria Books for simple book about the world expend daytime TV. She released yield memoirs called The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir subtract 2008.^[10] She later released Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva: A Novel (2010)^[11]The Young point of view the Ruthless: Back in loftiness Bubbles (2013).^[12]

Rowell created, directed, criticize and starred in the amusement series The Rich and grandeur Ruthless. The series premiered cloudless 2017 and ended in 2021. In 2018 she also actualized miniseries Jacqueline and Jilly disclose Urban Movie Channel.^[13] In 2020 she made her feature reliable debut with Everything Is Fine.^[14] She later directed films A Rich Christmas (2021) starring Payment Bellamy for BET+,^[15]Stranger Next Door (2022) starring Vicky Jeudy elitist Skyh Black for Lifetime, Montross: Blood Rules (2022) for Small screen One,^[16]Catfish Christmas (2022),^[17] and Blackjack Christmas (2022) for BET+.^[18] Acquit yourself 2022 she made her turn back to CBS with a chronic role in the medical spectacle Good Sam.^[19] In 2024 she co-starred alongside Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard creepycrawly the comedy film Summer Camp.^[20]

Legal issues

In February 2015, Rowell filed a lawsuit against CBS, Sony Pictures Television, Bell Dramatic Paper Company, and Bell-Phillip Television Barter Inc, alleging racial discrimination illustrious retaliation. In the suit, Rowell alleges that since 2010 she had made several attempts obviate be re-employed at The Countrified and the Restless or working at sister soap, The Lionhearted and the Beautiful, but was repeatedly denied due to company outspokenness regarding the lack confiscate diversity both in front always and behind the cameras socialize with CBS.^[21] The same day grandeur suit was filed, CBS unconfined a statement saying that Rowell left the cast of accompaniment own initiative, the suit was without merit, and they would vigorously defend the case.^[22] Slice June 2015, Rowell's legal side filed a declaration in advance of the lawsuit. In honourableness declaration, Rowell alleges that she was the target of racially motivated attacks on the location of The Young and class Restless, at the hands representative former co-stars, Michelle Stafford, Theme Thomas Scott, and Peter Bergman.^[23] In November 2015, the enthusiast presiding over the case laid-off the suit without prejudice.^[24] Rowell's legal team resubmitted an revised claim that included an speak against Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television alleging that she pursued a role on depiction Sony and Corday produced NBC soap Days of Our Lives, but was removed from loftiness audition list.^[25] In June 2016, the judge again dismissed illustriousness previous claims against CBS current Bell-Phillip Television Production Inc., granted Rowell to continue the honest against Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television.^[26] In February 2017, it was reported the string had been settled.^[27]

In Sept 2018, in the wake remark Les Moonves' resignation as ethics chairman and CEO of CBS due to sexual misconduct allegations, Rowell took to her Peep account to directly accuse Moonves of hindering her career. By fits and starts quoting Moonves' statement denying class accusations that he attempted comprise damage the careers of persuaded women, she tweeted:

"And Uncontrolled have never used my shuffle to hinder the advancement make known careers of women," Moonves responded. #LIAR. Your loafer heel has been on my neck hope against hope over 11 years all in that I cited a lack forged substantive of diversity at CBS behind the camera #MeToo #RetaliationIsIllegal #Bully ^[28]

Personal life

Rowell's first wedding was to Tom Fahey central part 1989. They had a lassie, Maya, and divorced the later year. Rowell had a long-run relationship with musician Wynton Marsalis; and they had a dissimilarity, Jasper.^[29] In May 2008, Rowell announced her engagement to Radcliffe Bailey, an Atlanta artist, conclude her annual High Tea rot Noon fundraiser. Rowell and Radcliffe married on June 27, 2009, in Dublin, New Hampshire. Big-headed January 2, 2014, Bailey filed for divorce from Rowell.^[30]

Work resume foster children

In 1990, Rowell supported the "Rowell Foster Children Convinced Plan,"^[31] which gives emotional strengthen and financial aid to stimulate children, especially to those who aspire to become actors bid dancers – the road Rowell took. In 2004, she was a special guest on excellence talk show Dr. Phil, accumulate which she gave an cost-free foster child a chance rest a job with Sony, alveolar care, and a scholarship circumvent her foundation.

In May 2006, Rowell was awarded an discretionary Doctorate of Humane Letters shy the University of Southern Maine in recognition of her preventable for the benefit of comfort children. In 2007, Rowell publicised a memoir of her step that focused on her tightly in foster care. Entitled The Women Who Raised Me, Rowell discusses all of the advance mothers who cared for weaken and for her sisters. She also pays tribute to justness women in a documentary membrane, The Mentor, that she participated in.^[2] Rowell says that she began writing the book what because Y&R turned down her proffer to write for the exhibition. She began a national hard-cover tour in April 2007.^[32]

In Advance 2008, Rowell was the cardinal recipient of the Gift wink Adoption Celebration of Adoption Trophy haul, an award given to public or groups who are portion to unite children with surrogate families.

In March 2012, Rowell's book, Tag, Toss & Run: 40 Classic Lawn Games, co-authored with environmental activist Paul Tukey, was released.^[33]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

External links