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Lark Voorhies
Lark Voorhies.jpg
Voorhies in 2008
Born
Lark Holloway

(1974-03-25) March 25, 1974 (age 50)
Occupation
Years active 1987–present
Known for Lisa Turtle – Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell
Spouse(s)
Miguel Coleman
(m. 1996; div. 2004)
Jimmy Green
(m. 2015; div. 2015)
Partner(s) Martin Lawrence
(1993–1994)

Lark Voorhies (born Lark Holloway; March 25, 1974) is an American actress. Voorhies played Lisa Marie Turtle on the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell (1989–1993). Voorhies was nominated for the Young Artist Award six times, winning in 1990 and 1993 for her work on the show.

Early life

Born Lark Holloway to Wayne and Tricia Holloway in Nashville, Tennessee, she later adopted "Voorhies" as a stage name. Her mother named her "Lark" after the character in the 1972 film Cool Breeze, played by Margaret Avery. By the time Voorhies was two years old, the family had moved to Pasadena, California. During this period, her mother took her to a talent agent, because of her belief that Voorhies was "a natural-born ham." However, her first audition ended poorly when she froze up. She appeared in a national television commercial for Universal Studios Tour at age 12, advertising its upcoming King Kong attraction. She said of the experience: "I was on this tram screaming with all these other people. I had such a great time doing that."

Entertainment career

Acting

Voorhies made her acting debut at the age of two. Though photogenic, she was shy, and her mother put Voorhies' acting career on hold until she was more comfortable in front of the cameras. Later, at the age of fourteen, Voorhies reappeared on an episode of Small Wonder in 1988. In June of that same year, she landed the role of Lisa Turtle in Disney Channel's television series Good Morning, Miss Bliss and appeared in thirteen episodes from 1988 to 1989. She remained as the same character, as did Zack, Screech, and Mr. Belding, after Disney dropped the series and it was picked up and retooled by NBC and renamed Saved by the Bell.

Voorhies has since appeared in several television sitcoms and soap operas. She played the role of single mom Wendy Reardon on Days of Our Lives in 1993. On The Bold and the Beautiful Voorhies played the role of amiable intern fashion-designer, Jasmine Malone beginning in September 1995. .....

In 1995, Voorhies guest-starred in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Life Support". During the same year, Voorhies guest-starred in the Family Matters season six episode "Home Sweet Home", as Eddie's upstairs dream girl. She has continued to act in various roles since then, such as In the House, in which she played the girlfriend-turned-wife of Alfonso Ribeiro’s character, Dr. Max Stanton. Previously, she played Ribeiro's love interest twice on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Besides sitcoms, Voorhies also appeared in movies and direct-to-video films. In 2001, Voorhies played a major role in the film How High as Lauren, a Harvard student. She was involved in a 1990 movie adaptation of the book The Black Man's Guide to Understanding Black Women and played Ana Smith in the 2008 movie The Next Hit. Although she only has two acting credits since 2008, and none since 2012, Voorhies' representatives cited a busy work schedule when she did not appear in a SBTB-based mini-reunion sketch on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" alongside Gosselaar, Lopez, Thiessen, and Dennis Haskins in 2015. Voorhies publicly stated in 2020 that she was "hurt" that she was not invited to participate in the Saved by the Bell sequel series on Peacock. Later that year, however, NBC announced that Voorhies would in fact reprise her role as Lisa Turtle for the new show.

Music

Voorhies has appeared in several music videos. She plays Kenny Lattimore's love interest in his debut video "Never Too Busy", from his 1996 self-titled debut album. In Boyz II Men's music video "On Bended Knee", she plays Wanya's girlfriend. She is featured in Montell Jordan's "Somethin' for the Honeyz" and in Dru Hill's "These Are the Times". In 1994, Voorhies was in a group originally called the X-Girls (now known as Geneva) with Stacee and Yashi Brown (the daughters of singer and oldest Jackson family sibling, Rebbie Jackson). Voorhies founded and was the lead singer in Third Degree, an alternative band.

Writing

Over 2010 and 2011, Voorhies self-published three books she authored: Reciprocity, Trek of the Cheshire, and A True Light.

Personal life

Voorhies dated her Saved by the Bell co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar for three years during the show's run. Voorhies was engaged to actor Martin Lawrence in 1993 but it was later called off in 1994. Voorhies married Miguel Coleman in 1996. They separated in 2001, and divorced in 2004.

..... The case was dropped in less than two months.

Voorhies met music engineer Jimmy Green at a networking event in 2014. After a year of dating, Voorhies and Green married on April 30, 2015, at a chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Voorhies filed for divorce in October 2015 after six months of marriage.

Voorhies was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2015 and did not publicly reveal it until 2020.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988–1989 Good Morning, Miss Bliss Lisa Turtle 13 episodes
1988, 1989 Small Wonder Brandie Ross
Binky
"When You Hear the Beep"
"The Tattletale"
1989 The Robert Guillaume Show Danica Episode: "Educating Ann"
1989–1993 Saved by the Bell Lisa Turtle 86 episodes
1992 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Cindy Episode: "Mama's Baby, Carlton's Maybe"
1992 Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style Lisa Turtle TV movie
1993 Martin Nicole Episodes: "The Break Up" (Parts 2 & 3)
1993 Getting By Tasha Episodes: "Men Don't Dance", "Turnabout Dance"
1993–1994 Days of Our Lives Wendy Reardon
1994 Saved by the Bell: The College Years Lisa Turtle Episode: "Wedding Plans"
1994 Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas Lisa Turtle Movie
1994 Me and the Boys Denise Episode: "Talent Show"
1994 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Lisa Turtle Episode: "Goodbye Bayside" (Part 2)
1995 CBS Schoolbreak Special Breena Black Episode: "What About Your Friends"
1995 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Leanne Episode: "Life Support"
1995 Family Matters Dream Girl Episode: "Home Sweet Home"
1995–1996, 2004 The Bold and the Beautiful Jasmine Malone Originated the role (Jan. 1995 – Nov. 1996); reprised in April 2004 – June to July 2004
1997 Malcolm & Eddie Lydia Episode: "Club Story"
1997 The Last Don Tiffany Miniseries
1997–1999 In the House Mercedes Langford 18 episodes
1998 The Love Boat: The Next Wave Johari Mayfield Episode: "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"
1999 Mutiny Movie
1999 The Parkers Chandra 2 episodes
2000 Grown Ups Stacy Episode: "J's Pet Peeve"
2001 Fire & Ice Holly Aimes Movie
2002 Widows Miniseries
2008 Robot Chicken Lisa Turtle / Betty Childs / Borg Queen (voice) Episode: "Boo Cocky"
2020–2021 Saved by the Bell Lisa Turtle 3 episodes

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Def Jam's How to Be a Player Lisa
2000 Longshot Woman at Bar Alternative title: Jack of All Trades
2001 How High Lauren
2002 Civil Brand Lil' Momma
2008 The Next Hit Ana Smith
2009 Mimi's Place Sydney Short film
2011 Measure of Faith Kim Direct-to-video
2012 Little Creeps The Dean Direct-to-video

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1989 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actress in a Cable Family Series Good Morning, Miss Bliss Nominated
1990 Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Good Morning, Miss Bliss Nominated
1990 Best Young Actress Starring Good Morning, Miss Bliss Won
1991 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Saved by the Bell Nominated
1992 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Saved by the Bell Nominated
1993 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Saved by the Bell Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lark Voorhies para niños Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lark Voorhies para niños

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