Shari Headley facts for kids

Shari Headley (born July 15, 1964) is an American actress and former model. She is most famous for playing Lisa McDowell in the popular romantic comedy movie Coming to America (1988). She returned to play the same character in the sequel, Coming 2 America (2021).

Headley has also appeared in other movies, such as The Preacher's Wife (1996) and Johnson Family Vacation (2004). On television, she is known for her roles in soap operas like All My Children and The Haves and the Have Nots.

Early Life and Modeling

Shari Headley was born in the Queens borough of New York City. She is the youngest of four children and has Trinidadian roots. Her father was a dental technician and hoped she would become a doctor. In college, she studied subjects to prepare for medical school but also took drama classes and acted in school plays.

Her modeling career started by surprise in 1984. Without telling her, Shari's sister sent her photo to the famous Ford Modeling Agency. She became a finalist in a contest called "Face of the 80s" and soon began modeling for magazines like Glamour and Mademoiselle.

Acting Career

Breakthrough with 'Coming to America'

Headley began her acting career in 1985 with a guest role on the TV show The Cosby Show. She later appeared in shows like Miami Vice and Matlock.

Her big break came in 1988 when she was cast as Lisa McDowell in the movie Coming to America. In the film, she co-starred with the famous actor Eddie Murphy. The director, John Landis, chose Headley because she was not yet a well-known actress. The movie was a huge success at the box office, earning over $288 million worldwide. This role made her a star.

Television Roles

After her movie success, Headley starred in the ABC drama series Gideon Oliver in 1989. From 1991 to 1994, she played police officer Mimi Reed in the popular soap opera All My Children. Her performance earned her two nominations for an NAACP Image Award.

In 1997, she had a leading role in the Fox drama series 413 Hope St.. Although the show did not last long, she received another NAACP Image Award nomination for her acting. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, she appeared in many TV shows, including Walker, Texas Ranger, Guiding Light, and The Bold and the Beautiful.

Later Career and Return to Film

In 2004, Headley played Jacqueline Johnson in the comedy movie Johnson Family Vacation. She also had guest roles on popular shows like Veronica Mars, House, and Castle.

From 2014 to 2016, she played the villain Jennifer Sallison in the TV drama The Haves and the Have Nots. In 2019, she had a recurring role in the show On Becoming a God in Central Florida.

In 2021, she delighted fans by returning to her most famous role as Queen Lisa Joffer in Coming 2 America, the sequel to the 1988 hit film.

Personal Life

From 1993 to 1995, Shari Headley was married to Christopher "Play" Martin. He is known for being part of the hip-hop group Kid N' Play. They have one son together.

Notable Works

Film

• Coming to America (1988) as Lisa McDowell
• The Preacher's Wife (1996) as Arlene Chattan
• Johnson Family Vacation (2004) as Jacqueline Johnson
• Towelhead (2007) as Mrs. Bradley
• Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) as Mrs. Carter
• Coming 2 America (2021) as Lisa McDowell

Television

• The Cosby Show (1985)
• Gideon Oliver (1989) as Zina Oliver
• All My Children (1991–1996, 2005) as Mimi Reed
• 413 Hope St. (1997–1998) as Juanita Barnes
• Guiding Light (2001–2002) as Felicia Boudreau
• The Bold and the Beautiful (2004–2005) as Heather Engle
• The Haves and the Have Nots (2014–2016) as Jennifer Sallison
• On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019) as Harmony