Da'Vine Joy Randolph facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Randolph in 2024
Born	(1986-05-21) May 21, 1986 (age 39) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Temple University (BFA) Yale University (MFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2011–present

Da'Vine Joy Randolph (born May 21, 1986) is a talented American actress. In 2024, she was recognized as one of the "100 most influential people in the world" by Time magazine.

Da'Vine became well-known for her role as Oda Mae Brown in the Broadway musical Ghost in 2012. For this, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She later appeared in films like Dolemite Is My Name (2019) and The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2020). Her performance in the movie The Holdovers (2023) was highly praised. She won several major awards for this role, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

On television, Da'Vine has been in shows such as Selfie (2014), This Is Us (2016), and Empire (2017–18). She also had a role in High Fidelity (2020). In 2024, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her appearances in the mystery series Only Murders in the Building.

Early Life and Education

Da'Vine Joy Randolph was born on May 21, 1986, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents named her "Da'Vine Joy" because it took them seven years to have children. They felt she was a "divine joy" to them. She grew up in the Mount Airy area of Philadelphia.

As a young person, she studied theater at the Interlochen Arts Camp. She first went to Temple University to study classical singing and opera. However, in her third year, she changed her focus to musical theatre. After graduating from Temple in 2008, she attended the Yale School of Drama. She earned her master's degree from Yale in 2011. She also spent a summer studying Shakespeare at the University of Oxford in England.

Acting Career Highlights

Broadway Debut

Da'Vine first tried out for a backup role in the Broadway version of Ghost: The Musical. But the producers were so impressed that they cast her in the main role of Oda Mae Brown. Before the Broadway show opened, the actress playing Oda Mae in London had a small injury. Da'Vine quickly flew to London to fill in. Her first performance was on December 16, 2011.

The Broadway show officially opened on April 23, 2012. Da'Vine starred alongside Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Early Film and TV Roles

In 2013, Da'Vine made her first film appearance in Mother of George. The next year, she played a nurse in the movie The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014), which starred Robin Williams. She gained more attention for her main role as Charmonique Whitaker in the TV series Selfie, which started in 2014. Even though the show was canceled after one season, it gained a loyal fan base.

From 2015 to 2017, Da'Vine lent her voice to the character Christine in The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show. She also had guest roles in popular shows like The Good Wife (2013) and Veep (2017). She played Tanya in the drama series This Is Us (2016). In 2016, she also appeared in the film Office Christmas Party. She starred as Yvonne Watson in the sitcom People of Earth for two seasons.

Breakthrough Performances

Da'Vine had a major breakthrough role as Lady Reed in the 2019 film Dolemite Is My Name, starring Eddie Murphy. Her performance earned her several nominations for Best Supporting Actress awards. The next year, she appeared in Kajillionaire (2020) and was a main cast member in the TV series High Fidelity (2020).

She also took on many voice roles during this time. She voiced Ranger Woolf in Madagascar: A Little Wild (2020–2022) and characters in animated films like Trolls World Tour (2020) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022).

Recent Work and Awards

In 2021, Da'Vine appeared in the drama film The United States vs. Billie Holiday and the comedy The Lost City (2022). Since 2021, she has had a recurring role as Detective Williams in the popular series Only Murders in the Building. She also played Destiny in the series The Idol (2023).

In 2023, she played gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the film Rustin. She also starred in Alexander Payne's film The Holdovers as Mary Lamb. Mary is a cook and a mother who is dealing with a loss. Critics highly praised Da'Vine's performance in this role. She won many awards for it, including the Golden Globe Award, the BAFTA, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Academy Award.

Da'Vine recently filmed an action comedy movie called Bride Hard, which was released in June 2025.

Randolph in 2024

Film and Television Roles

Da'Vine Joy Randolph has appeared in many films and television shows. Here are some of her notable roles:

Films

Television Shows

Theatre Performances

Awards and Nominations

Da'Vine Joy Randolph has received many awards and nominations for her acting. Here are some of her most important recognitions:

Images for kids

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  Randolph in 2024

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  Randolph in 2024

See also

In Spanish: Da'Vine Joy Randolph para niños