Khandi Alexander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Khandi Alexander
Alexander in 2014
Born	Harriet Rene Alexander (1957-09-04) September 4, 1957 (age 67) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	Dancer choreographer actress
Years active	1985–present

Harriet Rene "Khandi" Alexander (born September 4, 1957) is a talented American performer who is known for her work as a dancer, choreographer, and actress. A choreographer is someone who creates dance routines. She started her career dancing in the 1980s. From 1988 to 1992, she was the choreographer for singer Whitney Houston's world tours.

In the 1990s, Khandi acted in many movies, such as CB4 (1993), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), and There's Something About Mary (1998). She also starred in the TV comedy show NewsRadio from 1995 to 1998. Many people also know her from the medical TV show ER, where she played Jackie Robbins, the sister of Dr. Peter Benton.

From 2002 to 2009, Khandi played Dr. Alexx Woods in the popular police show CSI: Miami. She later starred in the drama series Treme from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, she joined the show Scandal as Maya Lewis, the mother of the main character, Olivia Pope. This role earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2015.

Early Life and First Steps in Show Business

Khandi Alexander was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Her mother was an opera and jazz singer, and her father owned a construction company. She grew up in the Queens borough of New York City.

She studied at Queensborough Community College and later performed on Broadway, which is famous for its big stage shows. She was in popular musicals like Chicago and Dreamgirls.

Before becoming a famous actress, she was a choreographer for Whitney Houston's world tours for four years. She also appeared as a dancer in a 1988 music video for Natalie Cole's song "Pink Cadillac".

Acting Career

Alexander in 2013

Khandi Alexander started her acting career in the late 1980s. Her first TV appearance was on a comedy show called FTV in 1985. In the 1990s, she focused on acting in movies and TV shows. She had roles in films like CB4, What's Love Got to Do with It, and Poetic Justice.

Major Television Roles

In 1995, Khandi joined the cast of the comedy show NewsRadio as Catherine Duke. She was a main character for four seasons. Around the same time, she had a recurring role on the hit medical drama ER as Jackie Robbins.

In 2000, she received praise for her role in the HBO miniseries The Corner, where she played a mother facing very difficult challenges in her life.

From 2002 to 2008, she played Dr. Alexx Woods, a medical examiner, on the crime show CSI: Miami. A medical examiner is a doctor who helps police solve crimes by studying evidence. She left the show in 2008 but came back for a few guest appearances in 2009.

Later Work and Acclaim

In 2010, Khandi began starring in the HBO show Treme. The series was about people living in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She played a bar owner and was praised for her performance.

Later, she played Maya Lewis, the mother of the main character, in the drama series Scandal. Her powerful acting in this role earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award, a major television award.

In 2015, she played Viola, the sister of the famous blues singer Bessie Smith, in the HBO movie Bessie. For this role, she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Khandi Alexander para niños