JoNell Kennedy facts for kids

JoNell Kennedy is an American actress, producer, and writer. She has appeared in many movies and over 60 TV shows.

Early Life and Acting Start

JoNell Kennedy's mother, Joan Marie Johnson, was a singer in a 1960s music group called The Dixie Cups. JoNell began her acting career in Chicago. She performed in plays at well-known theaters like the Steppenwolf Theatre and The Goodman Theatre.

In 1992, JoNell won an award called the Joseph Jefferson Award. She received it for her great acting in a play titled Spunk: Three Tales. After that, she acted in other plays such as Intimate Apparel and Midsummer Night's Dream. In 2002, she even recorded an album with a soul band called The Soul of John Black.

Movies and TV Shows

JoNell Kennedy started her screen career in 1992. Her first movie role was in the romantic comedy How U Like Me Now. She later appeared in several other films, including Goodbye Lover (1998), Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), and Dreamgirls (2006).

On television, JoNell has been a guest star on more than 60 different shows. Some of the popular shows she has appeared in include Living Single, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Seinfeld, Friends, The X Files, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Chicago Fire, and Grey's Anatomy. Her roles on these shows have made her a familiar face to many TV viewers.

Personal Life

JoNell Kennedy was married to actor Morocco Omari. They were married from 2001 to 2006.

Selected Filmography

JoNell Kennedy has acted in many films and television series throughout her career. Here are some of her notable roles:

Film Appearances

• 1998: Goodbye Lover as Evelyn
• 2005: Me and You and Everyone We Know as Pam
• 2005: Guess Who as Winnie
• 2006: Dreamgirls as JoAnn
• 2011: Fertile Ground as Brittany McGraw
• 2019: Bolden as Ida Bass
• 2020: Nocturne as Gordon

Television Appearances

• 1994: Living Single as Rebecca
• 1994: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Karen
• 1997: Seinfeld as Secretary
• 1997: ER as Judy Munder
• 1999: The X-Files as Dr. Amina Ngebe
• 2000: Touched by an Angel as Judith
• 2002: Friends as Nurse #1
• 2006: Bones as Dr. Lawrence
• 2009–2012: The Mentalist as Coroner Pat
• 2013: NCIS as Navy Commander Lisa Cleveland
• 2013: Criminal Minds as Sgt. Lynne Johnson
• 2016–2019: NCIS: Los Angeles as Navy Commander Susan Yelton
• 2019: Chicago Fire as Jasmine Lacey
• 2022: Grey's Anatomy as Duda Kyat
• 2022: 9-1-1 as Doctor James
• 2024: Chicago Med as Sheryl Russell

Video Game Roles

JoNell Kennedy has also lent her voice to several video games:

• 2006: Saints Row as Stilwater's Resident
• 2007: Conan as Argos Maiden, Additional Voices
• 2013: Grand Theft Auto V as The Local Population