Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish | |
---|---|
Born | Tiffany Sarac Haddish December 3, 1979 |
Nationality | American and Eritrean |
Occupation(s) | Comedian Actress |
Years active | 2005–present |
Tiffany Sarac Haddish (born December 3, 1979)[1] is an American comedian and actress.[2][3] After guest starring on several television series, Haddish gained prominence as Jackie on the first season of the OWN television drama If Loving You Is Wrong from 2014 to 2015. From 2015 to 2017, she starred as Nekeisha Williams on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show. After appearing in the 2016 comedy film Keanu, Haddish made her film breakthrough as Dina in the 2017 film Girls Trip, for which she received critical acclaim.
Early life and education
Haddish was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.[2] Her father was a refugee from Eritrea [4][5] Her mother is African-American and was a small business owner who was part of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion.[5][6][7][8] After Haddish's father left when she was three years old, her mother remarried and went on to have more children; Haddish has two half-sisters and two half-brothers.[9]
In 1988 while living in Colton, California,[4] Haddish's stepfather tampered with the brakes on her mother’s car, resulting in her mother crashing through the windshield of her car. The tampering was allegedly intended to harm Haddish and her siblings as well, but they had opted to stay home.[10] The accident caused Haddish's mother to have brain damage, possibly triggering schizophrenia. Haddish, then 9-years-old and the oldest of her five siblings, became the primary caregiver for her family.[10]
Haddish was twelve when she and her siblings were put into foster care. While in there, she used comedy as a way to cope with being in situations with new people.[11] When she was 15, she and her siblings were reunited and put under the care of their grandmother.
She attended George Ellery Hale Middle School in Woodland Hills and graduated from El Camino Real High School, also in Woodland Hills, where she was the school mascot.[4] Haddish said she could not read very well until high school, but improved when she received tutoring from a teacher.[8] She also got in a lot of trouble at school, despite her award-winning participation in drama competition featuring Shakespearean monologues. In 1997, after her social worker gave her an ultimatum to either attend psychiatric therapy or go to the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp, then 17-year-old Haddish opted for comedy as outlet for her pain.[4][12] She has said that the mentorship from many notable comedians—including Richard Pryor, Dane Cook, Charles Fleischer, the Wayans brothers[13]—helped her discover her passion for comedy and it "literally saved her life."[4] She has said that she incorporates her past real life experiences in her sets, finding that doing so functions as a sort of "safe space" for her.[4]
Before her on-screen success, Haddish held a number of jobs, including customer service for Alaska Airlines.[14] Haddish has said she lived in her car during her 20s while in her early days of comedy.[15]
Career
Haddish's first break was a spot on the comedy competition Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?[16] She has made guest appearances on such shows as, Chelsea Lately, That's So Raven, My Name Is Earl, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Underground, Nick Cannon's Short Circuitz, Just Jordan, In the Motherhood, Def Comedy Jam, Reality Bites Back and New Girl. She has also starred in movies such as Meet the Spartans and Janky Promoters.[17]
In 2013, she had a recurring role on Real Husbands of Hollywood. In 2014, Haddish was cast in the Oprah Winfrey Network series If Loving You Is Wrong.[18] She left the soap after the first season for a regular role on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show where she starred as Nekeisha, the semi-estranged wife of Bobby Carmichael (Lil Rel Howery), for three seasons.[16]
In 2016, she co-starred opposite Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key in the comedy film Keanu in the role of Hi C.[19]
In 2017, Haddish starred alongside Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Regina Hall in the comedy film Girls Trip for Universal Pictures.[5][20] The performance was cited by many critics as a Bridesmaids Melissa McCarthy-style breakout.[21] The film has received positive reviews from critics and became a box-office hit.[22][23] In May 2017, it was announced that Haddish would be co-starring opposite Tracy Morgan in an upcoming TBS sitcom, The Last O.G., her first lead in a sitcom.[24]
In August 2017, Haddish's comedy special, Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood, premiered on Showtime.[25] On November 11, 2017, Haddish became the first black female stand-up comedian to host Saturday Night Live.[26] Her memoir, The Last Black Unicorn,[27] was released in December 2017.
Haddish will star in the 2018 comedy film Night School alongside Kevin Hart, and reunite with Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee.[28] She is also set to lead in the comedy Limited Partners for Paramount Pictures.[29]
Personal life
As described in her memoir,[27] Haddish married and divorced William Stewart twice. Stewart helped her locate her once estranged father who walked her down the aisle at their first wedding, which is once described as "one of the happiest days of my life."[30] She filed for divorce in L.A. County, California, in 2011 and 2013.[5][31]
Haddish endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Presidential Election. Haddish volunteers at the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp and for homeless and other charities that help people.[4] For a period, after she graduated from high school, Haddish was homeless, living in her car.[32][33] She also had a brief experience in Scientology.[5] At one point early in life, she was hospitalized with toxic shock syndrome.[4]
Filmography
Film
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | That's So Raven | Charlotte | Episode: "When in Dome" |
2006 | Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes? | Herself (contestant) | Episode: "Warm It Up in LA" |
2006 | My Name Is Earl | Robin | Episode: "The Bounty Hunter" |
2006 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Stripper | Episode: "Charlie Gets Crippled" |
2006 | The Underground | Various | Episode #1.3 |
2007 | Nick Cannon's Short Circuitz | Various | Episode #1.1 |
2007 | Just Jordan | Diamond | Episode: "Krumpshakers" |
2008 | The McCaingels | The Bride | Recurring role |
2008 | Reality Bites Back | Herself (contestant) | |
2008 | Racing for Time | Denise | Television film |
2008 | Da Network | Odette | Television film |
2009 | In the Motherhood | Teddy | Episode: "It Takes a Village Idiot" |
2009 | Secret Girlfriend | Jessica's Co-Worker | Episode: "You and Your Ex Call It Quits" |
2011–2012 | Chelsea Lately | Herself | 4 episodes |
2013–2014 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Tiffany | 7 episodes |
2014 | Funniest Wins | Herself (contestant) | 5 episodes |
2014–2015 | If Loving You Is Wrong | Jackie | Series regular, 14 episodes |
2014 | New Girl | Leslie | Episode: "Exes" |
2014 | TripTank | Delsyia (voice) | 3 episodes |
2015 | Stunted | Teri | Television film |
2015 | Faux Show | Felicity | Television film |
2015–2017 | The Carmichael Show | Nekeisha | Series regular, 25 episodes |
2016 | @midnight | Herself | 2 episodes |
2016–present | Legends of Chamberlain Heights | Cindy (voice) | Series regular, 18 episodes |
2017 | The High Court with Doug Benson | Herself (guest bailiff) | 3 episodes |
2017 | Animal Nation with Anthony Anderson | Tina the Brain Coral (voice) | 7 episodes |
2017 | Face Value | Herself (host) | |
2017 | Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood | Herself | Showtime comedy special |
2017 | Saturday Night Live | Herself (host), various | Episode: "Tiffany Haddish/Taylor Swift" |
2018 | The Last O.G. | Shay | Main cast |
Music videos
Year | Song | Artist | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | "Moonlight" | Jay-Z | Phoebe Buffay |
Works and publications
- Haddish, Tiffany (December 2017). The Last Black Unicorn. New York: Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1-501-18182-5. OCLC 983640770.
References
- ^ "Tiffany Sarac Haddish - California Birth Index". FamilySearch. 3 December 1979.
- ^ a b Desta, Yohana (21 July 2017). "Girls Trip Star Tiffany Haddish Is the Funniest Person Alive Right Now". Vanity Fair.
- ^ Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (2 June 2017). "The Cast of 'Girls Trip' Take Us on an Adventure in ESSENCE's July 2017 Issue". Essence.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Brennan, Neal; Kasher, Moshe; Haddish, Tiffany (7 January 2015). "Tiffany Haddish" (Audio podcast). The Champs.
- ^ a b c d e DJ Envy; Yee, Angela; Charlamagne Tha God; Haddish, Tiffany (19 June 2017). "Tiffany Haddish Speaks On Girls Trip, Escaping Death, Raising Her Siblings & More" (Video interview). The Breakfast Club. WWPR-FM.
- ^ Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (21 July 2017). "5 Things To Know And Love About 'Girls Trip' Star Tiffany Haddish". Essence.
- ^ Seabaugh, Julie (2016). "Best Breakout Comedian: Tiffany Haddish – Best of L.A. 2016". LA Weekly.
- ^ a b Irrera, Dom; Haddish, Tiffany (17 November 2012). "Dom Irrera Live from The Laugh Factory with Tiffany Haddish" (Video interview (comedy podcast)). Dom Irrera Live from The Laugh Factory.
- ^ Faris, Anna; Sarna, Sim; Haddish, Tiffany (9 May 2016). "Episode #22 Tiffany Haddish!" (Podcast – audio). Anna Faris Is Unqualified.
- ^ a b Jeffries, Michael P. "The Remarkable Rise of Tiffany Haddish". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ Gomez, Patric (22 April 2016). "The Carmichael Show's Tiffany Haddish: From Foster Care Kid to Sitcom Star". People.
- ^ Haddish, Tiffany (December 2012). "Dreams Come True Through Laughter". Origin Magazine. No. 10. p. 57.
- ^ Miller, Liz Shannon (2017-07-19). "Tiffany Haddish: Why The 'Girls Trip' Star Is This Year's Comedy Wonder Woman". IndieWire. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ Desta, Yohana. "Girls Trip Star Tiffany Haddish Is the Funniest Person Alive Right Now". HWD. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ Miller, Liz Shannon (2017-07-19). "Tiffany Haddish: Why The 'Girls Trip' Star Is This Year's Comedy Wonder Woman". IndieWire. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ a b Anderson, Tre'vell (1 April 2016). "'Dirty' comedian Tiffany Haddish searches for meaning on 'The Carmichael Show'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Hyman, Devon (20 January 2014). "Actress Tiffany Haddish - Beautiful, Talented, Funny & Smart". Parlé Magazine.
- ^ Dalton, Deron (9 September 2014). "OWN Drama 'If Loving You is Wrong' Explores Women's Desire to 'Swirl'". Lee Bailey's EURweb.
- ^ Chang, Justin (13 March 2016). "Film Review: 'Keanu'". Variety.
- ^ Ford, Rebecca (24 June 2016). "'Keanu' Actress Joins Universal's Comedy 'Girl Trip' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "'Girls Trip' Breakout Tiffany Haddish Dishes on Her Big Week". Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ "Girls Trip (2017) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ "Girls Trip". Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (10 May 2017). "'The Carmichael Show' Breakout to Co-Star in TBS' Tracy Morgan Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Anderson, Tre'vell (20 July 2017). "With 'Girls Trip' and a comedy special, Tiffany Haddish's 'calling card' is open for the taking". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Gibbs, Adrienne (11 November 2017). "'Girls Trip' Breakout Star Tiffany Haddish Making History Hosting 'SNL'; Taylor Swift Performing". Forbes.
- ^ a b Haddish, Tiffany (2017). The Last Black Unicorn. Simon & Schuster.
- ^ "'Girls Trip' Breakout Tiffany Haddish Joins Kevin Hart in 'Night School' (Exclusive)". Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (23 October 2017). "Paramount Lands Pitch Vehicle For 'Girls Trip' Breakout Tiffany Haddish". Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ News, A. B. C. (2017-11-13). "5 things to know about 'SNL' host Tiffany Haddish". ABC News. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Tiffany Haddish Stewart Vs William Stewart - UniCourt". unicourt.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ Parker, Najja (14 March 2016). "Tiffany Haddish Brings It All Full Circle". Ebony.
- ^ Wieselman, Jarett (19 July 2017). "Hollywood's Next Queen Of Comedy Has Arrived". BuzzFeed.
- ^ Thompson, Anne. "New York Film Critics Favor A24's Lady Bir' and The Florida Project - IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (30 November 2017). "Tiffany Haddish, Billy Dee Williams & 'Power's Omari Hardwick Named 2018 ABFF Honors Recipients". Retrieved 1 December 2017.
External links
- 1979 births
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- African-American actresses
- American actresses
- African-American comedians
- American stand-up comedians
- Living people
- Actresses from Los Angeles
- American women comedians
- American people of Eritrean descent
- American people of Ethiopian-Jewish descent
- African-American Jews
- Jewish American comedians
- Comedians from California
- Jewish American actresses