Essence Atkins

Acting

Essence Atkins

Born February 7, 1972 · New York City, New York, USA (age 54)

Essence Uhura Atkins (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. She is best known for the roles of Dee Dee Thorne on the UPN sitcom Half & Half and as Yvette Henderson on the The WB sitcom Smart Guy. She is currently starring in the TV series Are We There Yet? as Suzanne Kingston-Persons. Description above from the Wikipedia article Essence Atkins, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contr…

Known For

A Haunted House 2A Haunted House 2 · 2014
A Haunted House 2
6.22014
MovieComedyHorror
After exorcising the demons of his ex, Malcolm starts afresh with his new girlfriend and her two children. After moving into their dream home, Malcolm is once again plagued by bizarre paranormal events.
A Haunted HouseA Haunted House · 2013
A Haunted House
6.02013
MovieComedyHorror
Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm - determined to keep his sex life on track - turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help in this spoof of all the "found-footage/documentary style" films released in recent years.
Light GirlsLight Girls · 2015
Light Girls
10.02015
MovieDocumentaryHistory
From the creator and director of the critically acclaimed documentary Dark Girls, award-winning filmmaker Bill Duke continues the conversation on colorism with Light Girls. Sharing the untold stories and experiences of lighter-skinned women, Light Girls dives deep into the discussion of skin color, preference, privilege, pain and prejudice. The documentary features interviews with Russell Simmons, Soledad O'Brien, Diahann Carroll, India Arie, Iyanla Vanzant, Michaela Angela Davis, Kym Whitley, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and more.
How HighHow High · 2001
How High
6.42001
MovieComedy
Jamal and Silas, two ordinary guys who smoke something magical, pass their college entrance exams with flying colors and end up at Harvard. Ivy League ways are strange but Silas and Jamal take it in a stride -- until their supply of supernatural smoke runs dry. That's when they have to start living by their wits and rely on their natural resources to make the grade.
N-SecureN-Secure · 2010
N-Secure
5.42010
MovieDramaCrime
N-Secure is a no holds-barred thrilling drama mixed with murder, mayhem and manipulation among affluent professionals. This film sheds light on a man's downfall from the pinnacles of success into the depths of his damaged character. His insecurities lead him into a series of troubled romantic relationships and eventually a web of events that include betrayal and murder.
Dance FlickDance Flick · 2009
Dance Flick
5.02009
MovieMusicComedy
Street dancer Thomas Uncles is from the wrong side of the tracks, but his bond with the beautiful Megan White might help the duo realize their dreams as they enter in the mother of all dance battles.
The Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a StoryThe Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a Story · 2010
The Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a Story
2010
Movie
Preacher's Kid is an amazing journey of love, family, faith and forgiveness that touches upon the themes of a biblical story, while giving a message that is current and relevant in a way that can be embraced by everyone. Produced for the “Preacher’s Kid” DVD.
Toni Braxton’s Breathe AgainToni Braxton’s Breathe Again · 2026
Toni Braxton’s Breathe Again
8.52026
MovieDramaRomance
Jennifer, Vanessa, and Evelyn meet as contestants on a reality dating show and suffer heartbreak under the spotlight. Their shared rejection sparks an unlikely sisterhood that carries them from Los Angeles to a new life in Seattle.

Movies

A Haunted House 2A Haunted House 2 · 2014
A Haunted House 2
6.22014
MovieComedyHorror
After exorcising the demons of his ex, Malcolm starts afresh with his new girlfriend and her two children. After moving into their dream home, Malcolm is once again plagued by bizarre paranormal events.
A Haunted HouseA Haunted House · 2013
A Haunted House
6.02013
MovieComedyHorror
Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm - determined to keep his sex life on track - turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help in this spoof of all the "found-footage/documentary style" films released in recent years.
Light GirlsLight Girls · 2015
Light Girls
10.02015
MovieDocumentaryHistory
From the creator and director of the critically acclaimed documentary Dark Girls, award-winning filmmaker Bill Duke continues the conversation on colorism with Light Girls. Sharing the untold stories and experiences of lighter-skinned women, Light Girls dives deep into the discussion of skin color, preference, privilege, pain and prejudice. The documentary features interviews with Russell Simmons, Soledad O'Brien, Diahann Carroll, India Arie, Iyanla Vanzant, Michaela Angela Davis, Kym Whitley, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and more.
How HighHow High · 2001
How High
6.42001
MovieComedy
Jamal and Silas, two ordinary guys who smoke something magical, pass their college entrance exams with flying colors and end up at Harvard. Ivy League ways are strange but Silas and Jamal take it in a stride -- until their supply of supernatural smoke runs dry. That's when they have to start living by their wits and rely on their natural resources to make the grade.
N-SecureN-Secure · 2010
N-Secure
5.42010
MovieDramaCrime
N-Secure is a no holds-barred thrilling drama mixed with murder, mayhem and manipulation among affluent professionals. This film sheds light on a man's downfall from the pinnacles of success into the depths of his damaged character. His insecurities lead him into a series of troubled romantic relationships and eventually a web of events that include betrayal and murder.
Dance FlickDance Flick · 2009
Dance Flick
5.02009
MovieMusicComedy
Street dancer Thomas Uncles is from the wrong side of the tracks, but his bond with the beautiful Megan White might help the duo realize their dreams as they enter in the mother of all dance battles.
The Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a StoryThe Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a Story · 2010
The Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a Story
2010
Movie
Preacher's Kid is an amazing journey of love, family, faith and forgiveness that touches upon the themes of a biblical story, while giving a message that is current and relevant in a way that can be embraced by everyone. Produced for the “Preacher’s Kid” DVD.
Toni Braxton’s Breathe AgainToni Braxton’s Breathe Again · 2026
Toni Braxton’s Breathe Again
8.52026
MovieDramaRomance
Jennifer, Vanessa, and Evelyn meet as contestants on a reality dating show and suffer heartbreak under the spotlight. Their shared rejection sparks an unlikely sisterhood that carries them from Los Angeles to a new life in Seattle.
He Wasn't Man EnoughHe Wasn't Man Enough · 2025
He Wasn't Man Enough
7.72025
MovieRomanceDrama
When a successful writer learns her boyfriend is engaged to her former college friend, the two women reconnect and team up with her best friend, turning a painful betrayal into an unexpected journey of friendship and healing.
The Noel DiaryThe Noel Diary · 2022
The Noel Diary
6.32022
MovieRomanceComedy
Cleaning out his childhood home at Christmas, a novelist meets a woman searching for her birth mother. Will an old diary unlock their pasts — and hearts?
Girlfriends' GetawayGirlfriends' Getaway · 2014
Girlfriends' Getaway
5.72014
MovieComedyDrama
Set in Trinidad and Tobago, the comedy which is described as Waiting To Exhale meets The Hangover, Girlfriends’ Getaway is about four friends who take a trip to the Caribbean to celebrate two of their friends’ birthdays. One thing leads to another and they get into a bit of trouble.
Queens of ChristmasQueens of Christmas · 2024
Queens of Christmas
10.02024
MovieComedy
Lifelong friends become adversaries when they compete for the lead role in a new Christmas film, stirring up old family rivalries and threatening their yuletide joy.
Nikita BluesNikita Blues · 2001
Nikita Blues
6.02001
MovieDrama
A teenage girl seeks love in all the wrong places. In particular, with her English teacher, who is engaged to the school’s assistant principal.
One Night StayOne Night Stay · 2024
One Night Stay
8.02024
MovieThrillerTV Movie
Obsessive Jessica refuses to be discarded after a one night stand gone wrong. Instead of leaving Marcus' luxurious mansion, she finds a quiet place to hide and moves in permanently. Resuming their seemingly perfect lives, power couple Marcus and Milan have no idea Jessica is now living with them.
The Preacher's Kid in AtlantaThe Preacher's Kid in Atlanta · 2010
The Preacher's Kid in Atlanta
2010
Movie
A melting pot rich in history, culture and entertainment, Atlanta was the perfect location to shoot this film based on its understanding and reverance for the gospel community. Produced for the “Preacher’s Kid” DVD.
Deliver Us from EvaDeliver Us from Eva · 2003
Deliver Us from Eva
6.42003
MovieRomanceComedy
Eva Dandridge has been in charge of her younger sisters ever since their parents died many years ago. She is a very uptight young woman who constantly meddles in the affairs of her sisters and their significant others. Her brothers-in-law, who are tired of Eva interfering in their lives, decide to set her up with someone so she can leave them alone. They end up paying Ray, the local "playboy," $5,000 to date her. The plan goes by smoothly, but trouble comes when Ray actually falls in love with Eva.
Love for SaleLove for Sale · 2008
Love for Sale
6.02008
MovieComedyDrama
Trey is a young deliveryman who can't seem to catch a break. His whole life is a shambles - no money for college and no game to attract the ladies. After a failed attempt to get together with the girl of his dreams, Trey gets caught up by a seductive older woman who pays for his "personal delivery services." He's having the time of his life - at first, but this deceptively ideal situation soon sends his life spinning out of control!
Holiday Road TripHoliday Road Trip · 2013
Holiday Road Trip
5.22013
MovieTV MovieComedy
Ashley Scott plays an executive for a company that produces pet supplies. Just after getting into a fight with her boyfriend about their relationship status, she takes up with the company's mascot and the company president's son on a road trip across America at Christmastime in an effort to get home for the holiday season.
Coins for ChristmasCoins for Christmas · 2018
Coins for Christmas
5.52018
MovieComedyDrama
Single mom Madison finds herself scraping pennies together two weeks before Christmas after the IRS freezes her bank account, her ex fails to come through with any help and her boss fires her. Desperate to pay bills and buy gifts for her teenage children, Madison jumps into the ever-popular "gig economy." That's when she meets and eventually gets hired by obnoxious, sidelined former pro football player Alec Darby, also secretly on the verge of going broke. This odd couple butts heads time and time again, but they eventually forge a friendship. And, to their surprise, they learn a lot about themselves and teach one another how to be better people.
Same DifferenceSame Difference · 2019
Same Difference
9.52019
MovieMystery
As Tonya Keating grapples with the innate knowledge that her death is imminent, she is compelled to let go of the past and reconcile with her estranged twin sister.
Preacher's KidPreacher's Kid · 2010
Preacher's Kid
6.32010
MovieDramaFamily
Longing to experience more of life, twentysomething preacher's daughter Angie strikes out on her own for the very first time and joins a traveling gospel show.
Sunday in ParisSunday in Paris · 1991
Sunday in Paris
6.01991
Movie
A pilot for an unsold NBC series. A single woman with three children realizes that her family has lost sight of their values and gives up her career as a daytime-drama actress in New York to move back with her extended family on their Texas farm.
My Sister's WeddingMy Sister's Wedding · 2013
My Sister's Wedding
5.32013
MovieComedy
Matthew and Sharon are one day away from their highly anticipated wedding when her sister Candice comes home from New York.
My Other MotherMy Other Mother · 2014
My Other Mother
8.52014
MovieDramaTV Movie
When gruff and independent Candy meets her angry and stubborn birth mother, can the two open their hearts to each other?

TV Shows

HouseHouse · 2004
House
8.62004
SeriesDrama
Dr. Gregory House, a drug-addicted, unconventional, misanthropic medical genius, leads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey.
Curb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your Enthusiasm · 2000
Curb Your Enthusiasm
8.02000
SeriesComedy
The off-kilter, unscripted comic vision of Larry David, who plays himself in a parallel universe in which he can't seem to do anything right, and, by his standards, neither can anyone else.
Sabrina, the Teenage WitchSabrina, the Teenage Witch · 1996
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
7.81996
SeriesComedyFamily
On her sixteenth birthday, Sabrina Spellman discovers she has magical powers. She lives with her 600-year-old aunts Hilda and Zelda as well as talking cat Salem in the fictional town of Westbridge, Massachusetts.
After MidnightAfter Midnight · 2024
After Midnight
5.52024
SeriesComedy
Celebrated comedian Taylor Tomlinson hosts the smartest show on television about the dumbest things on the internet alongside a panel of guests from the worlds of entertainment, comedy, music, and beyond.
The Cosby ShowThe Cosby Show · 1984
The Cosby Show
7.01984
SeriesComedyFamily
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York.
The Wayans Bros.The Wayans Bros. · 1995
The Wayans Bros.
7.21995
SeriesComedy
Brothers Shawn and Marlon are on the lookout for money and success, though the two are complete opposites. Shawn is responsible and conservative while Marlon is free-spirited and liberal. They are not immune to sibling rivalry, but frequently enjoy being each other's partner in crime.
SherriSherri · 2022
Sherri
2.62022
Series
Sherri Shepherd, actress, comic, and Emmy Award-winning longtime co-host of "The View", appears before a live audience with a daily dose of pop culture, comedy, conversations, and daytime talk staples, including celebrity and human interest interviews.
Family MattersFamily Matters · 1989
Family Matters
6.81989
SeriesComedyFamily
A long-running dramedy centering on the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, and their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers.
MoeshaMoesha · 1996
Moesha
7.11996
SeriesComedyFamily
The everyday life of Moesha Mitchell, a vivacious young woman juggling romance, school, ever-changing family dynamics, and friendships.
Family ReunionFamily Reunion · 2019
Family Reunion
8.02019
SeriesComedy
Family Reunion follows a family of six who travel from Seattle, Washington to Columbus, Georgia for the McKellan Family Reunion and decide to stay to be closer to their family.
The John Larroquette ShowThe John Larroquette Show · 1993
The John Larroquette Show
6.81993
SeriesComedy
The John Larroquette Show is an American television sitcom .The show was a vehicle for John Larroquette following his run as Dan Fielding on Night Court. The series takes place in a seedy bus terminal in St. Louis, Missouri and originally focused on the somewhat broken people who worked the night shift, and in particular, the lead character's battle with alcoholism.
A Black Lady Sketch ShowA Black Lady Sketch Show · 2019
A Black Lady Sketch Show
6.92019
SeriesComedy
A narrative series set in a limitless magical reality full of dynamic, hilarious characters and celebrity guests presenting sketches performed by a core cast of black women.
Smart GuySmart Guy · 1997
Smart Guy
7.91997
SeriesComedyDrama
T.J. is a boy genius who gets bumped up from the fourth grade to high school. T.J. tries to adjust to his new life, but he shares some classes with his 14 year-old brother Marcus, the school jock, and his clueless and self-absorbed 16 year-old sister Yvette.
Half & HalfHalf & Half · 2002
Half & Half
8.32002
SeriesComedy
Half & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship. The series is set in San Francisco. It was the second-most-watched show on UPN's Monday night line-up and fourth overall on the network. The show was on The CW's first draft line-up in March 2006, but due to several circumstances—including The CW's contractual obligation to pick up Reba, the uncancelling of All of Us, and the pick-up of the Girlfriends spin-off The Game—Half & Half was left off the final Fall 2006 schedule and ended production. The series has aired in reruns on Global TV in Canada, Trouble in the UK and in local syndication in the United States. It also airs in the United States on TV One.
The Parent 'HoodThe Parent 'Hood · 1995
The Parent 'Hood
7.31995
SeriesComedy
The Parent 'Hood is an American sitcom that aired on The WB airing from January 18, 1995 to July 25, 1999. The series starred Robert Townsend and Suzzanne Douglas. Originally to have been titled Father Knows Nothing, the series was one of the four sitcoms that aired as part of the original Wednesday night two-hour lineup that helped launch The WB network.
The Company You KeepThe Company You Keep · 2023
The Company You Keep
7.22023
SeriesDramaCrime
A night of passion leads to love between con man Charlie and undercover CIA officer Emma, who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the ‘family business’ so he can get out for good, Emma’s closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie’s family debts in-hand — forcing them to reckon with the lies they’ve told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences.
MarlonMarlon · 2017
Marlon
6.72017
SeriesComedyDrama
A loving (but immature) father is committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife. While his misguided fatherly advice, unstoppable larger-than-life personality and unpredictable Internet superstardom might get in the way sometimes, for Marlon, family really always does come first - even if he's the biggest kid of all.
Are We There Yet?Are We There Yet? · 2010
Are We There Yet?
6.52010
SeriesComedy
Are We There Yet? opens where the popular film of the same name left off, with Nick and Suzanne newly married. After six months, their family is beginning to show growing pains, from the complexities of life as newlyweds to weathering the storm of teenage children. Work makes life all the more complicated. Former athlete Nick has sold his sports paraphernalia store and now works in information technology. Party planner Suzanne also has a hectic professional schedule.
AmbitionsAmbitions · 2019
Ambitions
7.42019
SeriesDrama
A multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having recently relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city.
Carol's Second ActCarol's Second Act · 2019
Carol's Second Act
6.12019
SeriesComedy
After raising her two children, getting divorced and retiring from teaching, Carol Chambers embarks on a unique second act: she’s going to become a doctor.
Saved by the Bell: The College YearsSaved by the Bell: The College Years · 1993
Saved by the Bell: The College Years
6.91993
SeriesFamilyComedy
The gang from Bayside High is leaving home and heading to the campus of California University for four years of new challenges, new faces and wild, new adventures.
The ClassThe Class · 2006
The Class
6.92006
SeriesComedy
A group of 20-somethings who are inextricably bound together having shared the same third-grade class. Now face to face at an impromptu reunion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the day they met, they wonder if they'll have anything in common besides vague memories of playground kisses and underwear sightings on the monkey bars. Turns out they do. After two decades apart for most of them, some are eager to show off, some want to rekindle old crushes and others just want to satisfy their curiosity.
First Wives ClubFirst Wives Club · 2019
First Wives Club
8.02019
SeriesComedy
Three women band together after their first marriages fall apart, and find strength in their sisterhood - and of course a little revenge. Based on the 1996 film.
Malibu ShoresMalibu Shores · 1996
Malibu Shores
7.71996
SeriesDrama
Malibu Shores is an American primetime teen drama/soap opera that aired on Saturday Night at 8:00PM EST from to June 1996 for ten episodes on NBC. Created by Aaron Spelling and starring Keri Russell and Tony Lucca, the program followed the exploits of Southern California teens.