Lisa Bonet
Lisa Bonet | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lisa Michelle Bonet[1] |
| Other names | Lilakoi Moon |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1983—present |
| Spouse | Lenny Kravitz (1987 - 1993) |
Lisa Michelle Bonet (born November 16, 1967) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying the character of Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show and its spinoff A Different World.
Biography
Early life
Bonet was born in San Francisco, California.[2][1] Her African American father, Allen Bonet, was an opera singer, and her Jewish mother, Arlene Litman, was a teacher. She also has a younger sister who attended an elite private school in Marin County north of San Francisco; and another who attended Oberlin College. Lisa has had limited interaction with her family for several years for unknown reasons.[2][3] Bonet attended Reseda High School in Reseda, California, and Celluloid Actor's Studio in North Hollywood where she majored in acting.[4]
Career
After being in beauty pagents 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, among others. In 1987, she briefty left The Cosby Show to star in the spin-off version, A Different World that 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. Her part in the film was controversial: she appeared in a graphic sex scene with Rourke, out of which scenes had to be censored in order to ensure an R rating though later an uncut X rated version was released.[5] After announcing her pregnancy during the run of A Different World, Bonet left the series.[6] The following year, she returned to The Cosby Show, but was fired in 1991 for "creative differences".[7][8]
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.[9]
In August 2006, 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. That same year, Bonet co-starred in the 2006 film Whitepaddy, alongside Sherilyn Fenn, Hill Harper, Debra Wilson, Karen Black, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Personal life
On Bonet's 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.[3]
She gave birth to daughter Zoë Isabella on December 1, 1988. She and Kravitz separated and eventually divorced in 1993.
It was around this time (1992) that Bonet legally changed her name to Lilakoi Moon, although she still uses the name Lisa Bonet for her entertainment career.[10]
On July 23, 2007, Bonet gave birth to her second child, daughter Lola Iolani Momoa. This is the first of two children with Jason Momoa, an actor noted for his roles in the television shows Baywatch and Stargate Atlantis. On December 15, 2008, Bonet and Momoa had a son, Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa.[11]
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1987 | Angel Heart | Epiphany Proudfoot | |
| 1993 | Bank Robber | Priscilla | |
| 1994 | Dead Connection | 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 | Life on Mars | Maya Daniels | 2 episodes |
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) |
References
- ^ "Lisa Bonet Biography (1967-)". filmreference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Gibel Azoulay, Katya (1997). Black, Jewish, and Interracial: It's Not the Color of Your Skin, But the Race of Your Kin : and Other Myths of Identity. Duke University Press. p. 14. ISBN 0-822-31971-3.
- ^ a b Cooper, Carol (1990). "Let love rule - Lisa Bonet and husband Lenny Kravitz". Essence Magazine. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ "Lisa Bonet Biography". movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "Appeals Board Upholds 'Angel Heart' X Rating". The New York Times. 1987-02-21.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Hunt, Darnell. "A Different World". museum.tv. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Allis, Tim (1992-05-04). "Leaving the Nest". People. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Backstage at the last Cosby Show - television program". Ebony. 1992-05. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Westbrook, Caroline (2003-09-14). "Lisa Bonet". SomethingJewish. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Westbrook, Caroline (2003-09-14). "Lisa Bonet". somethingjewish.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa Welcome Son Nakoa-Wolf". celebrity-babies.com. 2009-01-07.