Crystal R. Fox
Crystal R. Fox | |
---|---|
Born | Tryon, North Carolina, U.S. | January 1, 1964
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
Years active | 1989–present |
Crystal R. Fox (born January 1, 1964)[1][2] is an American actress and singer. Fox has performed in many stage productions during her career, and is best known for her television roles as Luann Corbin in the NBC/CBS police drama series In the Heat of the Night (1989–1995), and as Hanna Young in the Oprah Winfrey Network prime time soap opera, The Haves and the Have Nots (2013–2021). Fox has also appeared in a number of films, most notably playing the leading role in the 2020 thriller A Fall from Grace.
Early life
[edit]Fox was born in Tryon, North Carolina. She moved from North Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia in 1979 and attended middle school and high school.[3] She began her professional acting career in the late 1970s, appearing on stage in Atlanta. She is the niece of the late singer Nina Simone and cousin of Lisa Simone Kelly.[4]
Career
[edit]Fox made her big-screen debut playing Katie Bell in the comedy-drama film Driving Miss Daisy (1989) starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy. She later joined the cast of NBC police-drama series In the Heat of the Night in its third season, playing Luann Corbin. She was a regular cast member through the series finale in 1995, appearing in more than 100 episodes.[5] In the 1990s, Fox had supporting roles in films Drop Squad (1994) and Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored (1995) opposite Phylicia Rashad and Al Freeman Jr. She co-starred opposite Cicely Tyson in the 1998 miniseries Mama Flora's Family based on a novel by Alex Haley. On television, she guest-starred on Law & Order, The Sopranos, and Third Watch. Fox also co-starred opposite Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen in the 2001 PBS production of The Old Settler.[6]
Fox has appeared in many stage productions during her career.[7] She has worked in New York City, Alexandria, Silver Spring, and Atlanta, where she lives.[8] She received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her performance in the 2002 play Home.[8] Her other stage credits include For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, Antony and Cleopatra, The Comedy of Errors, A Raisin in the Sun, The Colored Museum, The Amen Corner, The Boys from Syracuse, Bessie's Blues, Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.[8] She was a member of the Alliance Theatre for many years.[9] She received IRNE Awards and Elliot Norton Awards for Best Actress for playing Rose Maxson in the 2009 production of Fences at the Huntington Theatre Company.[10] During 2014–15, she acted as lead in the play Blues for an Alabama Sky.[11]
In 2013, Fox began starring in the Oprah Winfrey Network prime time soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots, produced by Tyler Perry.[12] She played one of the show's leading roles, Hanna Young, a soulful single mother who works as the rich Cryer family's maid and also served as the best friend and confidante of the lady of the house, Katheryn Cryer (played by Reneé Lawless). The series also starred Tika Sumpter, Angela Robinson, and John Schneider. Fox received positive reviews for her performance in the show.[13][14][15] The series ended in 2021, after 196 episodes.
In 2019, Fox was cast for the second season of the HBO drama series Big Little Lies as Zoë Kravitz’s character's mother Elizabeth Howard.[16][17][18] Along with the cast, she was nominated for Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. She co-starred opposite Forest Whitaker in the drama film Burden.[19] The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award.[20] In 2020, Fox had a leading role in the Netflix thriller film A Fall from Grace.[21] It was Fox's first leading film role in her long career.[22] The film received negative reviews from critics, but her performance was praised by many.[23] Chicago Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper wrote in a review: "Best of all is seeing Crystal Fox getting her moment in the spotlight and absolutely shining."[24] Later in 2020, Fox appeared in the Amazon Prime drama series Utopia created by Gillian Flynn.[25]
In 2021, Fox starred in the three movie adaptations of V. C. Andrews' books for Lifetime.[26][27] In 2022, she was cast opposite Chris O'Dowd in the Apple TV+ comedy series The Big Door Prize.[28] The series was canceled after two seasons in 2024. Later in 2024, she was cast as the mother of lead character in the Netflix thriller series, His & Hers adapted from the novel by Alice Feeney.[29]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Driving Miss Daisy | Katie Bell | |
1991 | Separate but Equal | NAACP telephone receptionist | Television film |
1994 | Drop Squad | Zora | |
1995 | Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored | Miss Doll | |
2001 | The Old Settler | Lou Bessie | Segment "Charmaine" |
2014 | Ir/Reconcilable | Pam | Short film |
2016 | Coffee Klatch | Cindy Mercer | |
2018 | Burden | Janice Kennedy | |
2020 | A Fall from Grace | Grace Waters | |
2021 | V.C. Andrews' Ruby | Mama Dede | |
2021 | V.C. Andrews' All That Glitters | Mama Dede | |
2021 | V.C. Andrews' Hidden Jewel | Mama Dede |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989-1995 | In the Heat of the Night | Luann Corbin | Series regular, 102 episodes |
1996 | Savannah | DA Laine Thompkins | Episodes: "From Here to Paternity" and "Creep Throat" |
1998 | Mama Flora's Family | Ruthana | Miniseries |
2001 | Law & Order | Mancelli | Episode: "White Lie" |
2001 | The Sopranos | Nurse | Episode: "Pine Barrens" |
2001 | Third Watch | Nunez | Episode: "And Zeus Wept" |
2010 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | CJ & Janine's nanny/housekeeper, Ms. Willamina | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
2013–2021 | The Haves and the Have Nots | Hanna Young | Series regular, 196 episodes |
2019 | Big Little Lies | Elizabeth Howard | Recurring role, 6 episodes Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |
2020 | Utopia | Kim | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
2023–2024 | The Big Door Prize | Izzy | Main role |
TBA | His & Hers | Alice | Main role |
References
[edit]- ^ Fox, Crystal [@Only1CrystalFox] (October 9, 2019). "Hello my HAHN friends & family. If you could, please help me spread the word that Wikipedia has my birthdate WRONG & I can't seem to get it corrected. My birthday is NOT in October at all! My birthday is January 1, 1964 New Year's Day! Thanks all for sending bday wishes though!" (Tweet). Retrieved March 7, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Crystal Fox, a feature film lead at last, takes on Tyler Perry's 'Fall From Grace' critics". Los Angeles Times. February 13, 2020.
- ^ "Atlantan Crystal Fox's screen time stretches from 1989's "Daisy" to today's "Burden"". ARTS ATL. March 12, 2020.
- ^ Whaley, Kacie (September 22, 2015). "Actress Crystal Fox calls film on her aunt, Nina Simone, 'the ultimate rejection'".
- ^ Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. 2009. ISBN 978-0786437900.
- ^ "The Old Settler". Rotten Tomatoes. April 25, 2001. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Crystal Fox as 'Hanna Young'". OWN. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Fox, Crystal R." Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Crystal Fox". Alliance Theatre. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Crystal R. Fox theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com.
- ^ Jewish Times. "Crystal Fox". Atlanta Jewish Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ Brian Lowry (May 29, 2013). "Tyler Perry's "The Haves and Have Nots" Premieres on OWN - Variety". Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ Hollinger, Michelle (August 24, 2017). "Crystal Fox shines her light". South Florida Times.
- ^ Team TVLine (August 22, 2015). "Keegan-Michael Key's 'Playing House' Performance — Season 2, Episode 4 - TVLine". TVLine. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Crystal Fox spills 'The Haves and the Have Nots' secrets before season finale - Rolling Out". Rolling Out. September 21, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 3, 2018). "'Big Little Lies' Closes Deals For 4 To Return; Adds Two New Season 2 Cast Members". Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ Nemetz, Dave (April 3, 2018). "Big Little Lies: Merrin Dungey to Return, Plus Robin Weigert and 2 Others". Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (April 3, 2018). "'Big Little Lies' Season 2 Brings Back Four Cast Members, Adds Two More". Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ "Burden (2020)" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
- ^ "2018 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED". Sundance Institute. January 27, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ Bennett, Anita (November 24, 2019). "Tyler Perry Announces Next Project – Netflix Film 'A Fall From Grace'".
- ^ "Why Tyler Perry Gave A Fall From Grace Star Her First Big Break In 40 Years". CINEMABLEND. January 18, 2020.
- ^ "Tyler Perry's A Fall from Grace (2020)" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
- ^ Roeper, Richard (January 17, 2020). "'A Fall from Grace': Tyler Perry brings the best out from some veteran actors". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ "The Haves And The Have Nots' Actress Crystal Fox On The Show And Joining 'Big Little Lies'". June 11, 2019.
- ^ Shafer, Ellise (September 2, 2020). "TV News Roundup: Apple TV Plus Reveals 'Tehran' Trailer (Watch)".
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (September 2, 2020). "V.C. Andrews' Ruby: Double Trouble Brews in Trailer for Next Lifetime Series".
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 7, 2022). "'The Big Door Prize': Djouliet Amara, Ally Maki & Crystal Fox Round Out Series Regular Cast For Apple TV+ Comedy".
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (September 13, 2024). "Netflix's 'His & Hers' Adds Crystal Fox, Sunita Mani, Rebecca Rittenhouse And Marin Ireland".
External links
[edit]- Living people
- American film actresses
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- American soap opera actresses
- Actresses from North Carolina
- People from Tryon, North Carolina
- 20th-century African-American actresses
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century African-American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- 1964 births
- 20th-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American people