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Ella Joyce

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Ella Joyce
Born
Cherron Hoye

(1954-06-12) June 12, 1954 (age 70)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationEastern Michigan University
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1992)​

Ella Joyce (born Cherron Hoye; June 12, 1954)[1] is an American actress. She starred as Eleanor Emerson in the Fox comedy-drama series Roc, which originally ran from 1991 until 1994. Joyce also appeared in films Set It Off (1996), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), Our Family Wedding (2010), Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) and Nina (2016).

Early years

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The daughter of an autoworker and a hairdresser,[2] Joyce was born Cherron Hoye in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from the Performing Arts Curriculum at Cass Technical High School, and went on to attend the Dramatic Arts program at Eastern Michigan University. When financial problems caused her to leave, she returned to Detroit, where she graduated from a business school and then worked as an executive secretary at General Motors. She supplemented the income from that job by reading scripts for director Lloyd Richards, who encouraged her to act on-screen.[3] After she moved to Harlem, New York City, she worked as a word processor while she improved her acting skills.[2] After she earned her first film credit in 1979, she changed her name to honor her mother and great-grandmother.[3] She has studied with several professional mentors, and worked in many regional theaters across America and overseas.

Career

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Theater

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Joyce began her career as an actress appearing on stage.[3] Her theater credits include Fences (at the National Black Theater Festival), as well as Medea and the Doll, Steppin' into Tomorrow; she was the first to play the roles of Risa at the Yale world premiere production of Two Trains Running, Tonya in the world premiere production of King Hedley II, and Lily Ann Green in Crumbs from the Table of Joy, earning The Joseph Jefferson Award.[4] Other stage plays in which she has appeared include Bossa Nova, Last Street Play (The Mighty Gents), Checkmates, Brothers, Sisters, Husbands and Wives, Don't Get God Started!, Louis and Ophelia, Split Second, Home, Not a single Blade of Grass, Odessa, Barefoot in the Park, and Anna Lucasta. She is a founder and performer at The National Black Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[4] She has received numerous awards, nominations, and accolades for her performances in the theater, including the New York AUDELCO and the NAACP Image Nomination (for theater and television). She is also a recipient of the Spirit Of Detroit Award from the Mayor's Office in 1998.[5] Joyce received Ovation Award for August Wilson’s King Hedley II for the role of Ruby.[4]

Film and television

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On television, Joyce made her debut appearing in an episode of Katts and Dog in 1990 and later made her big screen debut playing minor role in the 1992 comedy film, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot From 1991 to 1994 she starred alongside Charles S. Dutton in the Fox comedy-drama series, Roc. In 1995 she starred in the pilot episode of NBC sitcom NewsRadio, playing the part that eventually went to Khandi Alexander.[6] She made a cameo appearance in the music video for TLC's "Waterfalls" later that year.[4] She later made guest-starring appearances in The Client, Dangerous Minds, Seinfeld, The Jamie Foxx Show and Eve. From 2003 to 2004 she played the recurring role of Jasmine Scott in the ABC sitcom My Wife & Kids.

In 1996, Joyce co-starred in the crime action film Set It Off directed by F. Gary Gray. She starred in the made-for-television film Selma, Lord, Selma (1999) playing Sheyann Webb's mother. In 2001 she starred alongside Yolonda Ross in the prison drama Stranger Inside and was featured in Debbie Allen-directed and starring comedy-drama The Old Settler. The following year she starred in the horror-comedy film Bubba Ho-Tep starring alongside Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis.[7][8] She later appeared in films Forbidden Fruits (2006) alongside Keith David, Lost Signal (2006), Who Made the Potatoe Salad? (2006), Preacher's Kid (2010), Our Family Wedding (2010), Hopelessly in June (2011) and California Solo (2012). In 2023, Joyce starred in the Tyler Perry's romantic drama film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor playing the role of Jurnee Smollett's mother.[9] In 2016 she appeared as Clifton's mother in the biographical film Nina.[10]

In 2013, Joyce starred alongside Keith David in the short-lived TV One sitcom Belle's.[11] She had supporting roles in films Resolution Song (2018) and Never and Again (2021). In 2022 she was cast as a Tami Roman's character's mother in the BET drama series, Haus of Vicious.[12]

Personal life

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Joyce married actor Dan Martin in 1989.[13] She has written her first book Kink Phobia, Journey Through a Black Woman's Hair.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot McCabe
1994 Reality Bites Libby Cumba
1996 Set It Off Det. Geraldine Waller
1999 Her Married Lover Dr. Ella Solomon
Frozen Hot Atty. Jean Ross
2000 Clockin' Green Sonya Brignone Video
2002 Bubba Ho-Tep Nurse Joyceline Bridges
2003 Salvation Auntie Reed Short film
2005 Uncle P Bertha Miller
2006 Forbidden Fruits Minister's Wife
Who Made the Potatoe Salad? Mrs. Jenkins
Lost Signal Nancy Caulderbank
2007 City Teacher Anita Sawyer
2008 A Simple Promise Mary James
2009 Busted Ms. Lucille Watts
2010 Preacher's Kid Sister Pauletta Watkins
Our Family Wedding Earlene Boyd
2011 Hopelessly in June Mrs. Rita Myers
Saybrook: The Truly Girls Young Janet Tully – Mary Gloyd Warner
2012 California Solo Carol Weathers
2013 Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor Ms. Sarah
2015 Lucky Girl Melanie Jackson
2016 Juney Smith's Black American Film Collection City Teacher
Nina Clifton's Mom
2017 Sweet Dreams, Momma Denise Short film
2018 Resolution Song Edith
2019 Heavenly Deposit Nurse Edna Williams
2020 When We Kill the Creators Billie
2021 Never and Again Mrs. Donna
All the Men in My Life Jackie Helms
2022 Holiday Hideaway Rose
Catfish Christmas Helen
First Janice

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Katts and Dog - Episode: "Officer Down"
1991–94 Roc Eleanor Emerson Main Cast
1994 Soul Train Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Lisa Lisa/Masta Ace/Smooth Sylk"
1995 NewsRadio Catherine Duke Episode: "Pilot"
The Client Alice Ward Episode: "Them That Has..."
1996 Dangerous Minds Judge Episode: "Pilot"
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Mrs. Patrice Bogzigian Episode: "Bundt Friday"
1997 Seinfeld Dean Patrice Jones Episode: "The Voice"
1998 The Jamie Foxx Show Annabeth Episode: "Convent-ional Gifts"
In the House Porsche Langford Episode: "My Pest Friend's Wedding"
1999 Selma, Lord, Selma Betty Webb Television film
2001 Stronger Inside Doodle Alderidge Television film
The Old Settler Waitress Television film
2002 What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway Juanita Television film
2003–04 My Wife and Kids Jasmine Scott Recurring Cast: Season 4–5
2004–05 Eve Mama Netta Pearl Recurring Cast: Season 2
2013 Belle's Gladys Crawford Main Cast
2015 Being Mary Jane Sheila Episode: "Sparrow"
2016 Future You Henrietta Episode: "Internet Casualties"
2017 Bronzeville Madame Marie Episode: "2, 11, 75"
2020 Casting the Net Mabel Singer Recurring Cast
2022 Haus of Vicious Carolyn Main Cast

References

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  1. ^ "Ella Joyce - Biography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Spiller, Nancy (December 13, 1992). "Down-home Ella Joyce, the Gibraltar of 'Roc'". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. USA Weekend 12. Retrieved September 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c Carter, Kelly L. (July 6, 1999). "Screen Tested". Detroit Free Press. pp. D 1, D 2. Retrieved September 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "Ella Joyce". Goodman Theatre.
  5. ^ "Ella Joyce". Detroit Public Theatre.
  6. ^ "Ella Joyce - Actress". TV Insider.
  7. ^ "Bubba Ho-Tep | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. June 9, 2002.
  8. ^ "Ella Joyce - Filmography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013.
  9. ^ "New Tyler Perry's Temptation Movie Delivered Great Drama,Intense Story,Twists & More | OnTheFlix". ontheflix.com.
  10. ^ "First Full Trailer for Nina Simone Biopic 'Nina' Starring Zoe Saldana | FirstShowing.net". www.firstshowing.net. March 2, 2016.
  11. ^ Staff, Shadow and Act. "Say Goodbye To TV One's New Scripted Series 'Belle's'... - Blavity". Blavity News & Entertainment.
  12. ^ Cordero, Rosy (August 12, 2022). "Tami Roman-Starrer 'Haus Of Vicious' Lands At BET; Premiere Date Set".
  13. ^ "Ella Joyce: Star Of Hit Sitcom 'Roc' Reveals How Actor Hubby Helps Her Cope With TV Fame". Jet. 83 (24): 54–56. April 12, 1993. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
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