Kim Coles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kim Coles
Kim Coles at the Essence Festival of Culture in July 2025.
Born	Kimberly Coles (1962-01-11) January 11, 1962 (age 63) New York City, U.S.
Education	North Carolina Central University
Occupation	Actress comedian game show host
Years active	1988–present
Known for	Synclaire James – Living Single
Spouse(s)	Aton Edwards ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1995)​ Reggie Mckiver ​ ​ (m. 2015; div. 2019)​

Kimberly "Kim" Coles (born January 11, 1962) is an American actress, comedian, and game show host. She is famous for her role as Synclaire James-Jones on the popular 1990s TV show Living Single. She was also one of the first cast members on the comedy show In Living Color.

Early Life and School

Kim Coles was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Her father was a priest and the first black Dean of the Pratt Institute, a famous college for art and design.

As a child, Kim went to a private school where she was known for being quiet and a good student. Her funny side started to show when she got to high school. She graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1980.

In 1984, Kim entered the Big Beautiful Woman Fashion and Beauty Pageant. She won first runner-up, which means she came in second place out of 45 contestants. This success made her rethink her future plans. She had been in college studying people and cultures but decided to try something new. She started modeling and appeared in commercials for Burger King.

Career in Comedy and Television

Starting in Stand-Up

The audience at the beauty pageant loved a comedy sketch she performed. This positive reaction inspired her to become a stand-up comedian in 1984. "Once I saw the reaction of the audience," she said, "I knew this was what I wanted to do."

At one point, a nightclub owner gave her some unhelpful advice. Instead of listening, Kim decided to focus on her health by eating better and exercising. Her determination helped her succeed in her career.

Famous TV Roles

Kim Coles became a star on television. She was one of the original cast members of the hit comedy show In Living Color in 1990. The show was known for its funny sketches and appeared on the Fox network.

After leaving In Living Color, she landed her most famous role as the cheerful and funny Synclaire James on the sitcom Living Single. The show, which ran from 1993 to 1998, was about a group of friends living in Brooklyn. For her role, Kim won an NAACP Image Award.

She has also appeared in many other TV shows, including:

• Frasier, where she played Dr. Mary Thomas.
• One on One, where she played the mother of the character Spirit.
• The Geena Davis Show, where she was part of the main cast.

Hosting and Reality TV

Besides acting, Kim has hosted several shows. Early in her career, she was a host on It's Showtime at the Apollo. In 2009, she hosted the BET game show Pay It Off. She also co-hosted a daytime show called In The Loop With iVillage.

Kim has also participated in reality TV shows. She was on Celebrity Mole: Hawaii and was one of only two players who correctly guessed the secret "mole." She also joined Celebrity Fit Club to work on her health and fitness, showing her dedication to a healthy lifestyle.

In 1998, she wrote a book called I'm Free But It Will Cost You.

Personal Life

In 2015, Kim Coles married Reggie Mckiver, who was a former SWAT police officer. Their wedding took place in the Dominican Republic.

Selected Work

Here are some of Kim Coles's well-known roles in movies and television.

Movies

• Strictly Business (1991) as Millicent
• Kids in America (2005) as Loretta Jenkins
• A Jenkins Family Christmas (2021) as Beverly

Television Shows

• In Living Color (1990) as a cast member
• Martin (1993) as Bonquisha
• Living Single (1993–1998) as Synclaire James-Jones
• Frasier (2000) as Dr. Mary Thomas
• The Geena Davis Show (2000–2001) as Judy Owens
• One on One (2002–2004) as Leilani Jones
• My Wife and Kids (2004) as a childcare instructor
• 10 Items or Less (2009) as Mercedes “Mercy” P. Jones
• The Soul Man (2012) as Wanda
• Days of Our Lives (2023) as Nurse Whitley King

Awards