Lisa Bonet
| Lisa Bonet | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lisa Michelle Bonet[1] November 16, 1967 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Lilakoi Moon[2] |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1983–2009 |
| Spouse |
Lenny Kravitz (m. 1987–1993) |
| Children | Zoe Kravitz Lola Iolani Momoa (born 2007) Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa (born 2008)[4] |
| Parents | Allan Bonet (father) Arlene Litman (mother) |
Lisa Bonet (born Lisa Michelle Bonet; November 16, 1967), also known as Lilakoi Moon,[2] is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Denise Huxtable Kendall on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, and originally starring in its spinoff A Different World.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Bonet was born in San Francisco, California.[1][6] Her African American father, Allen Bonet, is an opera singer and Texas native; her Jewish mother, Arlene (née Litman), was a teacher. She has several younger half-siblings.
Bonet attended Reseda High School in Reseda, California, and Celluloid Actor's Studio in North Hollywood where she majored in acting.[7]
[edit] Career
After being in beauty pageants and appearing in guest spots on television series as a child, Bonet landed the role of Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show alongside Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashād. In 1987, she briefly left The Cosby Show to star in the spin-off series A Different World, which focused on Denise Huxtable's life at college. That year, Bonet accepted the role of Epiphany Proudfoot in the movie Angel Heart opposite Mickey Rourke, directed by Alan Parker. In the film, she appeared in a graphic sex scene with Rourke from which scenes had to be censored to ensure an R-rating, though later an uncut X-rated version was released.[8] After announcing her pregnancy during the run of A Different World, Bonet left the series.[9] The following year, she returned to The Cosby Show, but was fired in 1991 for "creative differences".[10][11]
After The Cosby Show, Bonet began to accept jobs on straight-to-video releases and made-for-TV movies. In 1998 she had a supporting role in Enemy of the State with Will Smith. In 2000, she appeared in the movie High Fidelity. In 2003, she played the role of Queenie in Biker Boyz, which reunited her with former co-star Kadeem Hardison of A Different World.[12]
In August 2006, Nick at Nite briefly aired A Different World. Bonet appeared in a week-long A Different World reunion special that aired on Nick at Nite — along with fellow co-stars Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, Dawnn Lewis, Darryl M. Bell, and Sinbad — to promote the series' Nick at Nite debut. Bonet also co-starred in the 2006 film Whitepaddy alongside Sherilyn Fenn, Hill Harper, Debra Wilson, Karen Black, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. She resurfaced two years later in the US adaptation of the British television series, Life on Mars.
[edit] Personal life
On November 16, 1987, her 20th birthday, she eloped with singer Lenny Kravitz in Las Vegas. Bonet recalled of their relationship:
| “ | It was interesting when we were first finding out about each other, that our backgrounds were so similar. When I first told him my mom was Jewish, and he said 'So's my dad,' I thought that was both unusual and enchanting. I felt like, 'Okay, here's someone who really knows how it is.' And I think I trusted him a little more with my feelings and let him inside a little more than I ordinarily would have.[13] | ” |
She gave birth to daughter Zoë Isabella on December 1, 1988.[14] She and Kravitz separated and eventually divorced in 1993.[citation needed]
In 1992 Bonet legally changed her name to Lilakoi Moon, although she still uses the name Lisa Bonet professionally.[2] Then in 2005 she met actor Jason Momoa, and started a relationship. On July 23, 2007, Bonet gave birth to her second child Lola Iolani Momoa, the first of two children with Momoa, an actor noted for his roles in the television shows Baywatch and Stargate Atlantis, and in the role of Khal Drogo in the HBO series Game of Thrones and the (2011) movie Conan the Barbarian based on the character created by Robert E. Howard. . Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa were married on November 15, 2007. On December 15, 2008, Bonet and Momoa had a son, Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa.[15]
[edit] Filmography
- Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Angel Heart | Epiphany Proudfoot | |
| 1993 | Bank Robber | Priscilla | |
| 1994 | Final Combination | Catherine Briggs | |
| 1998 | Enemy of the State | Rachel Banks | |
| 2000 | High Fidelity | Marie De Salle | |
| 2003 | Biker Boyz | Queenie | |
| 2006 | Whitepaddy | Mae Evans |
- Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | St. Elsewhere | Carla | Episode: "Entrapment" |
| 1984–1991 | The Cosby Show | Denise Huxtable Kendall | 103 episodes |
| 1985 | Tales from the Darkside | Justine | Episode: "The Satanic Piano" |
| ABC Afterschool Special | Carrie | 1 episode | |
| 1987–1988 | A Different World | Denise Huxtable | 22 episodes |
| 1994 | New Eden | Lily | Television movie |
| 2002 | Lathe of Heaven | Heather Lelache | Television movie |
| 2008-2009 | Life on Mars | Maya Daniels | 5 episodes |
[edit] Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Young Artist Award | Nominated | Best Young Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy Series | The Cosby Show |
| 1986 | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | The Cosby Show | ||
| 1988 | Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Comedy Series | The Cosby Show | ||
| Won | Best Young Female Superstar in Motion Pictures | Angel Heart | ||
| 1989 | Nominated | Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a Television Comedy, Drama Series or Special | The Cosby Show (shared with Tempestt Bledsoe, Sabrina Le Beauf, Geoffrey Owens, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Deon Richmond, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner) | |
| 1986 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | The Cosby Show | |
| 1988 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress | Angel Heart | |
| 2001 | Black Reel Awards | Theatrical – Best Supporting Actress | High Fidelity | |
| 2006 | TV Land Awards | Favorite Singing Siblings | The Cosby Show (shared with Tempestt Bledsoe, Sabrina Le Beauf, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner) |
[edit] References
- ^ According to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. Searchable at http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461
- ^ a b c Westbrook, Caroline (2003-09-14). "Lisa Bonet". somethingjewish.co.uk. http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/387_lisa_bonet.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Jason Momoa of 'Conan the Barbarian' talks about his horse fears, August 20, 2011, Olivia Allin, OnTheRedCarpet.com
- ^ Staff (January 9, 2009). "Lisa Bonet's New Baby's Name Is a Mouthful – Newborn Boy's Name Is Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa". Access Hollywood (via MSNBC). http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28584888/ns/today-entertainment/t/lisa-bonets-new-babys-name-mouthful. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ "Bonet's in `A Different World'". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1987_482541/bonet-s-in-a-different-world.html. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
- ^ "Lisa Bonet Biography (b. 1967)". filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/45/Lisa-Bonet.html. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "Lisa Bonet Biography". movies.yahoo.com. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018126/bio. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "Appeals Board Upholds 'Angel Heart' X Rating". The New York Times. 1987-02-21. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEEDA1F3DF932A15751C0A961948260.
- ^ Hunt, Darnell. "A Different World". museum.tv. http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/differentwor/differentwor.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Allis, Tim (1992-05-04). "Leaving the Nest". People. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112613,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "Backstage at the last Cosby Show – television program". Ebony. 1992-05. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_/ai_12291233. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Westbrook, Caroline (2003-09-14). "Lisa Bonet". SomethingJewish. http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/387_lisa_bonet.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ Cooper, Carol (1990). "Let love rule – Lisa Bonet and husband Lenny Kravitz". Essence Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-02-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20070214130023/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_n10_v20/ai_8320587. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ "Zoe Kravitz. Alternate Name: Zoe Isabella Kravitz" at All Movie Guide via The New York Times
- ^ "Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa Welcome Son Nakoa-Wolf". celebrity-babies.com. 2009-01-07. http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/01/07/lisa-bonet-and-jason-momoa-welcome-son-nakoa-wolf/.
[edit] External links
- Lisa Bonet at the Internet Movie Database
- Lisa Bonet at AllRovi
- 1967 births
- Actors from California
- African American child actors
- African American film actors
- African-American Jews
- African American television actors
- American child actors
- American film actors
- American television actors
- Jews in the African diaspora
- Jewish actors
- Living people
- People from San Francisco, California
- Young Artist Award winners
