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Diarra Kilpatrick

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Diarra Kilpatrick
Born1983 or 1984 (age 40–41)
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Occupations
  • actress
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2007-present

Diarra Kilpatrick (born c. 1983) is an American actress, writer and producer. She produced, wrote and starred in the ABC web-series, American Koko (2017), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series nomination. From 2020 to 2023, Kilpatrick starred in the HBO period drama series, Perry Mason.[1][2] Kilpatrick created, produced and plays the leading role in the BET+ mystery comedy-drama series, Diarra from Detroit.[3]

Early life and education

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Kilpatrick was born in 1983,[4] and reared in Detroit.[5] She is the half-sister of Kwame Kilpatrick.[5]

She grew up performing in productions at Meadow Brook Theater. When she turned 12, she joined Mosaic Youth Theatre and starred in her first production.[5][4] During her early school years, Kilpatrick attended Alonzo W. Bates Academy for the gifted and talented. Thereafter, Kilpatrick attended and graduated from the Detroit Country Day[1] and attended NYU Tisch for her bachelor's degree.[4]

Career

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Kilpatrick made her film debut appearing in the 2006 drama film Forbidden Fruits. She later moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and acted in local theater productions including Three Sisters After Chekhov, The Interlopers, and Tarell Alvin McCraney's In the Red and Brown Water.[1] She co-starred in the comedy-drama film Hollywood, je t'aime (2009)[6] and made guest-starring appearances on television series such as House, The Game, Hart of Dixie, Mike & Molly, Southland and five appearances on Private Practice. She appeared in the independent films H4 (2012) and Stand Down Soldier (2014) starring, written and directed by Jeryl Prescott. In 2015 she appeared opposite Viola Davis in the crime drama film Lila & Eve, and starred in the drama film The Salton Sea (2016).

In 2015, she wrote, produced, and starred in a satirical web series, American Koko, and launched it on YouTube.[4] The series won the American Black Film Festival’s Best Web Series Award in 2015, after which it caught the attention of Julius Tennon, the husband of Viola Davis.[4] The series was developed through their production company, JuVee Productions,[4] and was purchased by ABC. The original first season was re-shot and a second season was also produced.[2] Both seasons premiered online on ABC Digital on June 19, 2017.[7] It follows Koko (played by Kilpatrick), who "is a Los Angeles race detective at the Everyone’s a Little Racist Agency, which has the daunting mandate of ending racism in America."[8] The role gained her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series nomination.[9]

Kilpatrick wrote and starred in a pilot for Amazon Studios in fall 2017, The Climb. It is a "Detroit-set comedy about an assistant who ditches her job to find internet fame."[9] The series was not picked up by Amazon.[10] She later starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone reboot, and had recurring role in the comedy series, The Last O.G.. In 2020 she was cast as Clara Drake in the HBO period drama series, Perry Mason.[11][12] In 2021 she starred in the television film revival of Nash Bridges.[13]

In April 2023, she had signed an overall deal with BET Studios.[14] She created, produced and went to star in the Diarra from Detroit, a mystery comedy-drama series set in Detroit. The series received positive reviews from critics.[15][16][17]

Personal life

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Kilpatrick is married.[12]

Awards and nominations

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Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Forbidden Fruits Lisa
2007 Unfinished Waitress Short
2008 Keepin' the Faith: Higher Ground Asia
2009 All Americana Steph Short
Gang Girl Bess Roundtree
Hollywood, je t'aime Kaleesha
Surrender Bess Roundtree Short
2011 Under-Tow Shar Short
Talking with the Taxman About Poetry Afton
2012 H4 Clarice
2014 Stand Down Soldier Billi
Four Women Sarah Short
2015 Lila & Eve Maya
The Brink Jane Short
2016 The Salton Sea The Hitchhiker Nordic International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2020 Baldwin Beauty - Short
2021 The Goldfish Maya Short
14 Days Faitma Short

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 House Sally Episode: "The Itch"
2008–12 Private Practice Nurse Danielle 5 episodes
2009 The Game Groupie Episode: "Take a Bow"
The Young and the Restless Young Maid Episode: "Episode #1.9195"
2010–11 Disaster Date Herself Recurring role (season 3); main role (season 4)
2011 Hart of Dixie Mother Episode: "Gumbo & Glory"
2012 Mike & Molly Amira Episode: "Surprise"
2013 Southland Yvette Episode: "Babel"
2014; 2017 American Koko Akosua Miller Main role, producer, writer
2015 Major Crimes Peaches Williams Episode: "The Jumping Off Point"
2017 The Climb Nia TV pilot
2019 The Twilight Zone Didi Scott Episode: "The Comedian"
The Last O.G. Lisa Recurring role
2020–2023 Perry Mason Clara Drake Recurring role (season 1); main role (season 2)
2021 Nash Bridges Lena Harris Television film
2024 Diarra from Detroit Diarra Brickland Lead role, also creator and producer
Nominated — Black Reel Award for Outstanding Lead Performance, Comedy Series (2024)
Nominated — Black Reel Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (2024)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Johnson, Reed (4 December 2012). "Diarra Kilpatrick is a natural as a force of nature". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b N'Duka, Amanda (19 June 2017). "'American Koko': Viola Davis-Produced Digital Series Launches Season 2 In Honor Of Juneteenth". Deadline. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  3. ^ "BET+ Unveils Trailer for Upcoming Series 'Diarra from Detroit' Starring Diarra Kilpatrick, Morris Chestnut, Phylicia Rashad and More". 1 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Tate, Crystal (19 June 2017). "Actress Diarra Kilpatrick Is One To Watch". Essence. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Hinds, Julie (15 September 2017). "Web series created by Kilpatrick family member gets rave reviews". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Hollywood, je t Aime | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. 9 June 2016.
  7. ^ Rose, Jacqueline (21 June 2017). "Viola Davis produced series tackles racism through comedy". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. ^ Weatherford, Ashley (12 July 2017). "The Radical ABC Show Tackling Racism Head-on". The Cut. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "'The Climb' Creator Reflects on Her Public Pilot, From Pitch to Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Amazon passes on picking up Diarra Kilpatrick's 'The Climb' as a series". shadowandact.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  11. ^ Collins, Sean T. (5 July 2020). "'Perry Mason' Season 1, episode 3 Recap: If the Teeth Fit …". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b Terrell, Kellee (18 April 2019). "From 'The Twilight Zone' to 'The Last O.G.,' Diarra Kilpatrick Proves She Can Do it All". Shondaland. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  13. ^ Petski, Denise (7 May 2021). "'Nash Bridges' Revival: Diarra Kilpatrick, Bonnie Somerville Among Six To Join Returning Don Johnson, Cheech Marin & Jeff Perry".
  14. ^ Jones, Monique. "Diarra Kilpatrick Signs Overall Deal With BET Studios, Includes New Series 'Diarra From Detroit'". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  15. ^ Tinubu, Aramide (21 March 2024). "BET+'s Hilariously Chaotic 'Diarra From Detroit' Is a P.I. Drama With Flair: TV Review".
  16. ^ Han, Angie (20 March 2024). "'Diarra From Detroit' Review: BET+'s Mystery-Comedy Serves as a Sparkling Showcase for Creator-Star Diarra Kilpatrick".
  17. ^ "'Diarra From Detroit' BET Plus Review: Stream It Or Skip It?".
  18. ^ "Ovation Awards nominations announced for 2010-11 season". LA Times Blogs - Culture Monster. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  19. ^ Wetherbe, Jamie (17 September 2013). "Center Theatre Group leads 2012-2013 Ovation Awards nominations". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
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