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Yvette Nicole Brown facts for kids

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Yvette Nicole Brown
Yvette Nicole Brown by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg
Brown at the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019
Born (1971-08-12) August 12, 1971 (age 52)
Alma mater University of Akron
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • host
Years active 1992–present

Yvette Nicole Brown (born August 12, 1971) is an American actress, comedian, and host. She starred as Shirley Bennett on the NBC sitcom Community, as Dani in the 2015 version of The Odd Couple on CBS and as Dina Rose on the ABC sitcom The Mayor. Brown has had guest roles in television shows such as Drake & Josh, That '70s Show, The Office, Boston Legal, Chuck, The Soul Man, Mom, and Big Shot. In 2021, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role in A Black Lady Sketch Show.

In addition to television, she has had supporting roles in films such as (500) Days of Summer, Tropic Thunder, Repo Men, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and Avengers: Endgame. She voiced Harper in the video game Minecraft: Story Mode in addition to Cookie on Pound Puppies, Luna on Elena of Avalor and Principal Amanda Waller on DC Super Hero Girls. She has hosted Syfy cosplay series Cosplay Melee and has been a frequent couch guest on Talking Dead. She has served as a guest co-host on talk shows including The View, The Talk, and The Real.

Early life

Yvette Nicole Brown was born on August 12, 1971, in East Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Warrensville Heights High School in 1989. Brown studied communication studies at the University of Akron and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in communication in 1994. While at Akron she was selected for initiation into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honors Society. She was initiated into the University of Akron's Delta Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on May 2, 1993.

After graduating, Brown took acting classes in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Career

Brown appeared as "Yvette" in the music video "1-4-All-4-1" by the East Coast Family, a Michael Bivins project, for Biv10 Records. Brown said of the experience, "It was a great run, but I guess music was just never meant to be for me."

Brown first appeared on commercials before entering television shows and films a few years later. She has since played roles on television shows such as The War at Home, Girlfriends, Malcolm in the Middle, That's So Raven, Half & Half, and the American version of The Office. She had a recurring role as movie theater manager Helen Dubois in the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh. Frances Callier replaced Brown as Helen for one episode. Brown reprised the role in the season 2 episode of Victorious titled "Helen Back Again". She provided the voice of Cookie on The Hub's Pound Puppies.

In 2009, Brown began starring as Shirley Bennett on the comedy series Community. On September 30, 2014, Brown announced that she would be leaving the show after five seasons in order to take care of her ailing father. In her announcement she said, "My dad needs daily care and he needs me. The idea of being away 16 hours a day for five months, I couldn't do it. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but I had to choose my dad."

She has appeared in television commercials for Hamburger Helper, Big Lots, Pine-Sol, Comcast, Aquapod, Shout, Fiber One, Yoplait Yogurt, DiGiorno Pizza, Dairy Queen, and Time Warner. She has appeared on episodes of The Thrilling Adventure Hour as "The Troubleshooter" in the Sparks Nevada, Marshall on Mars series.

In 2012, Brown appeared as a celebrity contestant on GSN's The Pyramid with her Community co-star Danny Pudi.

In 2014, it was reported that Brown was set to recur on the USA Network series Benched. Shortly after her exit of Community, Brown's role of Dani on the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple was upgraded to series regular. She has been a regular guest on AMC's Talking Dead. She hosts Syfy cosplay series Cosplay Melee.

In July 2018, Brown temporarily replaced Chris Hardwick as the host of Talking Dead and served as moderator for The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead panels at the San Diego Comic-Con during Hardwick's suspension.

Brown has had a recurring role as Judge Anita Harper on the HBO series A Black Lady Sketch Show which earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2019, Brown wrote the independent romantic comedy feature Always a Bridesmaid.

In 2023, Brown voiced KRS, a robotic assistant, and recurring character in My Dad the Bounty Hunter.

Personal life

Brown was inducted into Warrensville Heights High School's hall of fame in 2009. Brown served on the SAG-AFTRA 2019–2021 National Board.

Politics

Elizabeth Warren & Yvette Nicole Brown (49548977053)
Brown (right) campaigning with Elizabeth Warren

Brown endorsed and campaigned for Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

During the 2020 general election, Brown, along with several of her Community castmates, made a campaign video in support of Joe Biden, entitled "Human Beings For Biden."

In 2022, Brown worked with VoteRiders on a campaign to help educate people about local voter ID requirements so that eligible voters would not be turned away at the polls.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 His Woman, His Wife Renee Video
2003 180 Miles Away Other Woman Short
2004 Little Black Book Production Assistant
2005 Island, TheThe Island Harvest Nurse
Kid & I, TheThe Kid & I Bunny
2006 Dreamgirls Curtis' Secretary
2007 Neighbor, TheThe Neighbor Nurse
2008 Meet Dave Old Navy Saleswoman
Tropic Thunder Peck's Assistant – Peck's Office
Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh Helen Dubois TV movie
2009 Hotel for Dogs Ms. Camwell
500 Days of Summer New Secretary
Ugly Truth, TheThe Ugly Truth Dori Coleman
N.C.B.S Flashback Wife Short
2010 Repo Men Rhodesia
2012 Community: Abed's Master Key Shirley Bennett (voice) Short
2013 Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Gray Sister #2
Community: Miracle on Jeff's Street Shirley Bennett (voice) Short
2014 Yellowbird Ladybug (voice)
2015 Don't Be a Drip Store Clerk Short
2016 Cuddle Party Allison Short
DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High Amanda Waller (voice) Video
DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year Amanda Waller (voice) Video
2017 Lemonade Mafia Kendra Anderson Short
DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games Amanda Waller (voice) Video
Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain Amanda Waller (voice) Video
Smartass Officer Neesy
2018 Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High Amanda Waller (voice) Video
Lego Marvel Super Heroes – Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda Okoye (voice) Short
DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis Amanda Waller (voice) Video
The Last Days of TJ Staggs Executive Short
2019 Avengers: Endgame Phyllis Jenkins, S.H.I.E.L.D Agent
Always a Bridesmaid Pastor Althea Brody
Lady and the Tramp Aunt Sarah
2020 Spider-Man: Maximum Venom Head Administrator (voice) Short
2021 Broken Diamonds Cookie
Muppets Haunted Mansion The Driver Video
Beebo Saves Christmas Turbo (voice) Video
2022 DC League of Super-Pets Patty (voice)
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed Grande (voice) Video
Lego Star Wars: Summer Vacation Colvett Valeria (voice) Video
Disenchanted Rosaleen
2023 Wish Porcupine (voice) Uncredited

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2002 For the People Server Episode: "Lonely Hearts"
Do Over Woman Episode: "Investing in the Future"
2003 Girlfriends Sherri Childs Recurring Cast: Season 3
2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Stewardess Episode: "Opening Night"
Big House, TheThe Big House Eartha Cleveland Main Cast
Two and a Half Men Mandy Episode: "Just Like Buffalo"
7th Heaven Leah Morris Episode: "Gratitude"
2004–07 Drake & Josh Helen Dubois Recurring Cast: Season 2–4
2005 Fat Actress Woman in Restaurant Episode: "Big Butts"
That's So Raven Monica Episode: "Too Much Pressure"
That '70s Show Sgt. Davis Episode: "You're My Best Friend"
Hot Properties Oprah-Head Episode: "Waiting for Oprah"
2006 Malcolm in the Middle Female Security Agent #2 Episode: "Bride of Ida"
House Ellen Stambler 1 episode
War at Home, TheThe War at Home Airport Security Episode: "The West Palm Beach Story"
Half & Half Ceci Recurring Cast: Season 4
Pepper Dennis Angela Howell Episode: "Pepper Dennis Behind Bars"
Sleeper Cell Fatima Recurring Cast: Season 2
2007 Office, TheThe Office Paris Episode: "The Return"
Loop, TheThe Loop Agent Isabelle Episode: "Yeah, Presents"
American Body Shop Ms. Durant Episode: "Pilot"
Entourage Daily Variety Agent Episode: "Gary's Desk"
Boston Legal Doris Thumper Recurring Cast: Season 4
2008 'Til Death Roxie Episode: "Raisinette in the Sun"
Privileged Pam Episode: "All About the Haves and the Have-Nots"
2009 Kath & Kim Clerk #1 Episode: "Competition"
True Jackson, VP Coral Barns Episode: "Company Retreat"
Rules of Engagement Mrs. Alberts Episode: "Voluntary Commitment"
Roommates Madam Saphire Episode: "The Tarot"
iCarly Art Student Episode: "iMust Have Locker 239"
Sherri Church Lady Episode: "There Is No 'I' in Church"
2009–15 Community Shirley Bennett Main Cast: Season 1–5, Guest: Season 6
2010–13 Pound Puppies Cookie (voice) Main Cast
2011 Life After Herself Episode: "Kim Coles: Life After 'Living Single'"
Bandwagon: The Series Yvette Recurring Cast: Season 2
Victorious Helen Dubois Episode: "Helen Back Again"
CollegeHumor Originals Shirley Bennett Episode: "Save Greendale"
Chuck Buy More Employee Episode: "Chuck Versus the Hack Off"
2011–21 Family Guy Additional Voices (voice) Recurring Guest
2012 Pyramid Herself/Celebrity Contestant Recurring Guest
2012–16 Soul Man, TheThe Soul Man Robyn Guest Cast: Season 1–3 & 5
2012–18 Match Game Herself/Celebrity Panelist Recurring Guest
2012–21 Talking Dead Herself Recurring Guest
2013 The Jeff Probst Show Herself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
Deal with It Herself Episode: "RC Chaos in Hotel"
Shake It Up Madame Tiffany Episode: "Psych It Up"
Once Upon a Time Ursula (voice) Episode: "Ariel"
2013–20 Hollywood Game Night Herself/Celebrity Player Recurring Guest
2014 Psych Hazel Lazarus Episode: "A Touch of Sweevil"
Melissa & Joey Calista Episode: "I'll Cut You"
BoJack Horseman Beyoncé/Pedestrian (voice) Episode: "Our A-Story is a 'D' Story"
Benched Donna Episode: "Brief Encounters"
2014–17 Celebrity Name Game Herself/Celebrity Player Recurring Guest
2015 Hot in Cleveland Lily Episode: "Cleveland Calendar Girls"
Harvey Beaks M.O.M. (voice) Episode: "Randl's Scandl"
Last Man Standing Movie-Goer Episode: "Free Range Parents"
Game Shakers Helen Episode: "Tiny Pickles"
2015–17 Odd Couple, TheThe Odd Couple Danielle "Dani" Duncan Main Cast
2015–18 DC Super Hero Girls Amanda Waller (voice) Main Cast
2016 It's Not You, It's Men Herself Episode: "Modern Romance"
First Impressions with Dana Carvey Herself Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown"
Whose Line Is It Anyway? Herself Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown"
Cupcake Wars Herself/Contestant Episode: "Celebrity: Medieval Cupcakes"
To Tell the Truth Herself/Panelist Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown"
Rizzoli & Isles U.S. Postal Inspector CJ Prescott Episode: "Post Mortem"
Star vs. the Forces of Evil Brigid (voice) Episode: "Star vs. Echo Creek"
2016–20 Elena of Avalor Luna (voice) Recurring Cast
2016–23 The $100,000 Pyramid Herself/Celebrity Player Recurring Guest
2017 Cosplay Melee Herself/Host Main Host
Celebrity Family Feud Herself Episode: "Eva Longoria vs. George Lopez and Yvette Nicole Brown vs. Ashley Graham"
Regular Show The Seer (voice) Episode: "Meet The Seer"
Dr. Ken Amy Episode: "A Day In The Life"
The New Edition Story Shirley Bivins Main Cast
The Tom and Jerry Show Momma Mockingbird (voice) Episode: "To Kill A Mockingbird"
Lego DC Super Hero Girls Amanda Waller (voice) Recurring Cast
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Judge Connie Monroe (voice) Episode: "The People vs. Fred Jones"
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Boat Maria (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 2
Bunnicula Mrs. Varney (voice) Episode: "Lucky Vampire's Foot"
Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Lieutenant Valeria (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 2
Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Captain Jackson #7 Episode: "Freezed"
2017–18 The Mayor Dina Rose Main Cast
Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters Quick Charge/Sarah Kamen(voice) Episode: "Fast Times" & "The Breakout"
Puppy Dog Pals Daisy (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2017–19 SuperMansion Portia Jones/Zenith (voice) Main Cast: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2
2018 To Tell the Truth Herself/Panelist Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown, Laverne Cox, Tony Hale, Jalen Rose"
Sofia the First Sugar Plum Fairy (voice) Episode: "The Mystic Isles: Undercover Fairies"
Unsolved Lois Episode: "Tupac Amaru Shakur"
Lego Star Wars: All-Stars Lieutenant Valeria (voice) Episode: "From Trenches to Wrenches: The Roger Story"
2018–19 Mom Nora Rogers Recurring Cast: Season 5-6
2018–20 New Looney Tunes Rhoda Roundhouse (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 2–3
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "Roast in Peace"
Critical Role Herself Episode: "The Favor"
Weird City Glail Episode: "Below"
What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage Herself Episode: "Family"
Dear White People Evelyn Conners Episode: "Volume 3: Chapter V"
2019–22 The Loud House Mayor Davis (voice) Guest Cast: Season 3–6
2019–23 A Black Lady Sketch Show Judge Anita Harper Recurring Cast
2020 The Masked Singer Herself/Guest Panelist Episode: "The Mother Of All Final Face Offs, Part 1"
The Big Fib Herself/Host Main Host
Gentefied Doctor Macer Episode: "Delfina"
Will & Grace Ru Episode: "New Crib"
The Rocketeer Chantel D'Avio (voice) Recurring Cast
Spider-Man Head Administrator (voice) Episode: "Spider-Man Unmasked"
T.O.T.S. Cora Beakman (voice) Episode: "The Ring Bear/Bull of Energy"
It's Pony Teacher (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 1
2020–21 Crossing Swords Sgt. Meghan (voice) Recurring Cast
2020–22 I Can See Your Voice Herself/Panelist Recurring Guest
2021 Earth to Ned Herself Episode: "Trancendental Neditation"
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Herself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "Constance Zimmer, Maria Menounos & Yvette Nicole Brown"
Nickelodeon's Unfiltered Herself Episode: "As Seen On Burrito"
The Real Housewives of Atlanta Herself Episode: "A Whole Lot of Mess"
Celebrity Game Face Herself/Contestant Episode: "Go Biggs or Go Home"
The Real Housewives of Potomac Herself Episode: "Secrets Revealed"
Disney's Holiday Magic Quest Herself/Host Main Host
Call Me Kat Marlene Episode: "Business Council"
Ridley Jones Thoebe the Sphinx (voice) Episode: "Ridley's Babysitter Club/Riddle Me This"
2021–22 The Chicken Squad Captain Tully (voice) Main Cast
Fairfax Trini (voice) Recurring Cast
American Dad! Additional Voices (voice) Recurring Guest
Big Shot Sherilyn Thomas Main Cast
Central Park Gina Tracker (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 2–3
2021–23 The Ghost and Molly McGee Dianne (voice) Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2
2022 Art Directors Guild Awards Herself/Host Main Host
American Rescue Dog Show Herself/Judge Main Judge
Disney Summer Magic Quest Herself/Host Main Host
Password Herself Episode: "Yvette Nicole Brown, Joel McHale, Chrissy Metz & Jimmy Fallon"
Dogs in Space Clawdia (voice) Episode: "Barking Up the Wrong Tree"
Home Economics Donna Episode: "Mickey Ears, $19.99"
The Walking Dead Commonwealth Soldier (voice) Episode: "Outpost 22"
Slumberkins Yak Mom (voice) Recurring Cast
2022–23 Firebuds Chief Faye Fireson (voice) Recurring Cast
Alice's Wonderland Bakery Mama Rabbit (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2023 Annual Art Directors Guild Awards Herself/Host Main Host
Mickey Mouse Funhouse Pepper Lemon (voice) Episode: "Salty vs. Pepper"
General Hospital Nurse Episode: "Episode #1.15251"
Rugrats Miss Mellie/Narrator (voice) Episode: "Tot Springs Showdown"
Frog and Toad Rabbit (voice) Main Cast
Act Your Age Angela Martin Main Cast
Strange Planet Lifegiver (voice) Episode: "The Big Wet"
My Dad the Bounty Hunter KRS (voice) Recurring Cast
Krapopolis Herophile (voice) Episode: "Wife Swamp"
Pupstruction Mayor Gilmore (voice) Recurring Cast
Shape Island Herself/Narrator (voice) Main Narrator

Video games

Year Title Voice role
2011 Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse Additional Voices
2016 Minecraft: Story Mode Harper
2018 Lego DC Super-Villains Amanda Waller

Podcasts

Year Title Voice role Notes
2020 Listen Out Loud Podcast Mayor Davis (voice) Episode: "Pet Adoption Day with Lana Loud"
2021 Dark Air with Terry Carnation Dr. Lizzie (voice) Main Cast

See also

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