Anna Maria Horsford

American actress (born 1948)

Anna Maria Horsford

Born|

New York City, U.S.

Education| High School of Performing Arts
Occupation| Actress
Years active| 1968-present

Anna Maria Horsford is an American actress, known for her performances in television comedies.

Horsford is best known for her roles as Thelma Frye on the NBC sitcom Amen (1986–91), and as Dee Baxter on the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. (1995–99). She had dramatic roles on the FX crime drama The Shield playing A.D.A. Beth Encardi, and CBS daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Vivienne Avant, for which she was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series in 2016 and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2017.

Horsford appeared in a number of movies, most notable as Craig Jones' mother Betty in 1995 comedy film Friday and its sequel Friday After Next (2002). Her other film credits include Times Square (1980), The Fan (1981), Presumed Innocent (1990), Set It Off (1996), Along Came a Spider (2001), Our Family Wedding (2010), and A Madea Christmas (2013).

## Early life[edit]

Horsford was born in Harlem, New York City in 1948 to Victor Horsford, an investment real estate broker originally from Barbuda and Lillian Agatha (née Richardson) Horsford, who emigrated from Antigua and Barbuda in the 1940s.[1] She grew up in a family of five children.[2]

Horsford attended Wadleigh Junior High School[3] and the High School of Performing Arts.[4] After high school, she got into acting through the Harlem Youth for Change program.[2]

Her first job out of high school was with the Joe Papp’s Public Theater, a part in Coriolanus at the Delacorte in Central Park.[5]

According to a DNA analysis, she has maternal ancestry from the Limba people of Sierra Leone.[6]

## Career[edit]

Her first major role in television was as a producer for the PBS show Soul!, hosted by Ellis Haizlip, which aired between 1968 and 1973. One of her first TV appearances was in 1973 on the first run syndication game show of To Tell the Truth where she was an imposter for Laura Livingston, one of the first female military police. Horsford made guest appearances on such sitcoms as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sparks, Moesha, The Bernie Mac Show, The Shield, Girlfriends, and Everybody Hates Chris. She had main roles on the sitcoms The Wayans Bros. as "Dee Baxter" and "Thelma Frye" on Amen. She appeared on the drama Judging Amy.

More recently, she was seen in the first season of Grey's Anatomy. She returned to the big screen in the 2013 film A Madea Christmas. She portrayed Helen on the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines.

Horsford currently has a recurring role as Vivienne Avant on The Bold and the Beautiful. For the role, she was nominated for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series in the 43rd Daytime Emmy Awards.[7]

She began playing a recurring role on B Positive in the show's second-season premiere.[8]

She also has appeared in the TBS sitcom The Last O.G. featuring Tracy Morgan, as a recurring character (Tray's mother).

## Personal life[edit]

On October 29, 2011, Horsford was awarded the title of Ambassador of Tourism of Antigua.[1] She is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.[9]

## Filmography[edit]

### Film[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1979  | An Almost Perfect Affair | Amy Zon  |
Hollow Image | Monica  | TV movie
1980  | Times Square | Rosie Washington  |
1981  | The Fan | Emily Stolz  |
Bill | Ms. Marge Keating  | TV movie
1982  | Muggable Mary, Street Cop | Kathy Thomas  | TV movie
Benny's Place | Charmaine  | TV movie
Love Child | Mara  | [10]
1983  | Class | Maggie  |
1984  | Crackers | Slam Dunk  |
A Doctor's Story | Leigh Williams  | TV movie [11]
1985  | St. Elmo's Fire | Naomi  |
Stone Pillow | Collins  | TV movie [12]
1986  | Nobody's Child | Nurse Betty  | TV movie [13]
A Case of Deadly Force | Virginia Cates  | TV movie
Permanent Wave | Eva  | Short
Heartburn | Della  |
C.A.T. Squad | Mrs. Raines  | TV movie
1987  | Street Smart | Harriett  |
If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium | \-  | TV movie
1988  | Who Gets the Friends | Hillary Adams  | TV movie
1989  | Taken Away | Mrs. Pierson  | TV movie
1990  | Presumed Innocent | Eugenia  |
A Killer Among Us | Barbara Evans  | TV movie
1992  | Murder without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story | Veronica Perry  | TV movie [14]
1993  | Mr. Jones | Judge Harris  |
1994  | Baby Brokers | Randi  | TV movie
1995  | Friday | Betty Jones  | [15]
Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored | Miss Annie  |
1996  | Widow's Kiss | Lavanda Harrison  | TV movie
Dear God | Lucille Barnett  | [16]
Set It Off | Ms. Wells  | [17]
One Fine Day | Evelyn  |
Circle of Pain | \-  | TV movie [18]
1997  | Kiss the Girls | Vickie Cross  |
1999  | At Face Value | Mosetta  | Short
2000  | Dancing in September | Sitcom Mom  |
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps | Denise's Mother  |
Lockdown | Saunders  |
Masquerade | Mrs. Scott  | TV movie
2001  | Along Came a Spider | Vickie  | [19]
Jacked | Thelma Barnes  |
How High | Mamma King  |
2002  | Minority Report | Casey  |
Friday After Next | Betty Jones  |
2004  | Justice | Chief Public Defender Poole  |
Guarding Eddy | Carol  |
2005  | My Big Phat Hip Hop Family | Mamma Pearl  |
Ganked | Mrs. Barry  | Video
2006  | Gridiron Gang | Sharon Weathers  |
Broken Bridges | Loretta  |
2007  | Trade | Detective Martinez  |
I Tried | Milly  |
2010  | Our Family Wedding | Diane Boyd  |
Wigger | Ruth  |
2012  | C'mon Man | Mrs. Woods  |
2013  | Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas | Elieen Murphy  | [20]
2017  | Gladys Brown | Gladys Brown  | Short
Chasing the Blues | Mrs. Walker  |
A Kindred Soul | Claudia  | Short
2018  | The Choir Director | Deaconess Moss  |
Single AF | Jane  |
2021  | Vacation Friends | Nancy  |
The Bitch Who Stole Christmas | Mayor Coont  | TV movie
2022  | Me Time | Connie  |

### Television[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1977  | The Doctors | Group Therapy Patient  | Episode: "Episode #1.3844 & #1.3850"
1978  | NBC Special Treat | Ginnie Sheridan  | Episode: "The Tap Dance Kid"
1979  | Guiding Light | Clara Jones  | Regular Cast
1980  | 3-2-1 Contact | Officer Dobbs  | Recurring Cast: Season 1
1981  | ABC Afterschool Specials | Jessica  | Episode: "Starstruck"
1982  | Nurse | Joleen  | Episode: "The Store"
All My Children | Jesse's Attorney Mrs. Matthews | Episode: "Episode dated 4 October 1982"
1983  | The Firm | Sergeant Johnson  | Episode: "Pilot"
1984  | ABC Afterschool Specials | Stephanie Marshak  | Episode: "Summer Switch"
1985  | American Playhouse | Hannah  | Episode: "Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom"
1986-91  | Amen | Thelma Frye  | Main Cast
1987  | The Bronx Zoo | Mrs. Devlin  | Episode: "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City"
1991  | Baby Talk | Cynthia Willoughby  | Episode: "Womb with a View"
L.A. Law | Judge Olga Winbush  | Episode: "Do the Spike Thing"
1992  | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Karen Carruthers  | Episode: "Geoffrey Cleans Up"
1992-93  | Rhythm & Blues | Veronica Washington  | Main Cast
The Addams Family | Additional Voices (voice)  | Recurring Cast
1993  | Tall Hopes | Lainie Harris  | Main Cast
1995-99  | The Wayans Bros. | Deidre "Dee" Baxter  | Main Cast: Season 2-5
1996  | Sparks | Wilma's Aunt  | Episode: "How Papa Got His Groove Back"
1997  | Good News | \-  | Episode: "Pilot"
1998  | L.A. Doctors | Angela Daly  | Episode: "Pilot" & "Under the Radar"
7th Heaven | Joyce  | Episode: "Here Comes Santa Claus"
1999  | The Wild Thornberrys | Gola's Mother (voice)  | Episode: "Chimp off the Block"
Judging Amy | Defense Attorney Charles  | Episode: "Crowed House"
2000  | Moesha | Diane Henderson  | Episode: "The Candidate"
2002  | The Chronicle | Jolene Freewald  | Episode: "Touched by an Alien"
2004  | The Bernie Mac Show | Aunt Sis  | Episode: "Family Reunion"
The District | Yates  | Recurring Cast: Season 4
Method & Red | Dorothea  | Main Cast
2005-06  | Entourage | Saigon's Mother  | Guest Cast: Season 1-2
2005-07  | Grey's Anatomy | Elizabeth Fallon  | Guest Cast: Season 1 & 3
2005-08  | The Shield | A.D.A Beth Encardi  | Recurring Cast: Season 4 & 7
2006  | Heist | Wanda Evans  | Episode: "How Billy Got His Groove Back"
2007  | All of Us | \-  | Episode: "Everything Happens for a Reason"
2008  | Las Vegas | Aunt Vonice  | Episode: "Three Weddings and a Funeral Part 2"
Everybody Hates Chris | Hattie Mitchell  | Episode: "Everybody Hates Easter" & "Everybody Hates the BFD"
2009  | Cold Case | Geraldine Watkins '09  | Episode: "Soul"
2010  | American Dad! | Female Juror (voice)  | Episode: "The People vs. Martin Sugar"
2011  | Funny or Die Presents | Anna Maria  | Episode: "Episode #2.6"
Let's Stay Together | Jacqueline/Raynelle  | Episodes: "The Wedding Planner" & "Your Arm's Too Short to Box with Grandparents"
2011-15  | Reed Between the Lines | Helen Wilson  | Main Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2012  | Key and Peele | Maid  | Episode: "Dueling Magical Negros"
The League | Trina Richardson  | Episode: "Training Camp"
New Girl | Charmaine  | Episode: "Katie"
2015  | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Janet Barrett  | Episode: "The Gang Goes on Family Fight"
The Soul Man | Ceci  | Episode: "Mo Momma, Mo Problems"
2015-18 | The Bold and The Beautiful | Vivienne Avant  | Regular Cast
2017  | New Girl | Charmaine  | Episode: "Misery"
2018  | I Feel Bad | Norman's Mom  | Episode: "My Kid Has to Grow Up"
2018-19  | Mom | Ms. Ferguson  | Guest Cast: Season 6-7
2019-21  | The Last O.G. | Roberta Barker  | Recurring Cast: Season 1–3, Main Cast: Season 4
2020  | Sunnyside Up | Aunt Deedee  | Recurring Cast
The Conners | Nicole  | Episode: "Plastics, Trash Talk & Darlene Antoinette"
Ghost Tape | Gramma Missy  | Recurring Cast
2020-22  | Studio City | Jolene Hernandez  | Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2021  | Hacks | Francine  | Episode: "1.69 Million"
Pose | Charlene  | Recurring Cast: Season 3
2021-22  | B Positive | Althea Ludlum  | Recurring Cast: Season 2
2022  | The Guardians of Justice | Serena Lyle  | Main Cast
2023  | History of the World, Part II | Mother Mary  | Episode: "II"
Bel-Air | Nita Banks  | Episode: "Let the Best Man Win"

## Live performances[edit]

### Theater[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1995  | "Dancing on Moonlight"  | Neptune  | Keith Glover, playwright. Marion McClinton, director. The eight-member ensemble included Terry Alexander, André de Shields, Kevin Jackson and Horsford. The play opened at the Joseph Papp Public Theater.[21][22]
|  |  |

## Awards and nominations[edit]

List of acting awards and nominations  Year  | Award  | Category  | Title  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

1988

| Image Awards (NAACP)  | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series  | Amen | Nominated  | [23]

2005

| Black Reel Award | Best Actress – Network/Cable Television | Justice | Nominated  |

2016

| Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series | The Bold and the Beautiful | Nominated  |

[24]

2017

| Daytime Emmy Award  | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | The Bold and the Beautiful | Nominated  |

[25]

2021

| Daytime Emmy Award  | Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Fiction Program  | Studio City | Nominated  | [26]

## In popular culture[edit]

Horsford has been featured on the cover of several magazines, including:

* TV Guide, August 29 – September 4, 1987, issue #1796. Cover photograph featured Sherman Hemsley and Anna Maria Horsford of NBC's Amen.[27]
* Jet Magazine, November 23, 1987. Cast members, including Horsford, are featured on the cover. Article titled "Fun-filled Amen still one of hottest TV shows”.[28]
* TV Guide, February 3, 1990, Four television shows are featured including Amen with photo of Horsford and Clifton Davis. Article titled "Oh, what a week! February is off with a bang."[29]
* Jet Magazine, February 5, 1990. Cover photo and article: "Clifton Davis and Anna Maria Horsford Tie Knot on TV's Amen"[30]
* Jet Magazine, May 13, 1991, Photo and cover article feature Clifton Davis and Horsford. Article titled "New baby and guest star James Brown climax fifth season of TV’s Amen."[31]
* Solo Magazine, 2011 Holiday Issue. Cover photograph and article: Anna Maria Horsford: Brings the Laughs and Drama to new BET Show.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Staff, ed. (October 26, 2011). "New Tourism Ambassador for Antigua". Carib Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
2. ^ a b Gramel, Marion (26 Jul 1993). "Anna Marie Horsford has "Tall Hopes"". Indianapolis News at Newspapers.com. p. 13. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
3. ^ "Anna Maria Horsford Speaks". OurTimePress.com. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
4. ^ "Filmmaker Anna Maria Horsford". The Skin You're In. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
5. ^ "ANNA MARIA HORSFORD SPEAKS Pt. 2". OurTimePress.com. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
6. ^ Anna Marie Horsford Ancestry Reveal on YouTube
7. ^ Variety Staff (May 2, 2016). "Daytime Emmy Winners: Complete List". Retrieved February 7, 2017.
8. ^ "What's on TV Thursday: 'Big Sky' on ABC; 'B Positive,' 'Ghosts' and 'Young Sheldon' on CBS". Los Angeles Times. 14 October 2021.
9. ^ "EE-Yip! 10 Celebrities Who Rep Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority". madamenoire. October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
10. ^ Maslin, Janet (1982-10-15). "BEAU BRIDGES IN 'LOVE CHILD'". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
11. ^ Maslin, Janet (1984-04-23). "TV REVIEW; 'A DOCTOR'S STORY,' WITH ART CARNEY". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
12. ^ "Ball's last movie was "Stone Pillow"". Santa Maria Times. 25 Jan 1998. p. 22. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
13. ^ O'Connor, John J. (1986-04-04). "MARLO THOMAS AS FORMER MENTAL-HOSPITAL PATIENT". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
14. ^ O'Connor, John J. (1992-01-06). "Review/Television; A Bright if Problematic Future Fouled by Tragedy". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
15. ^ James, Caryn (1995-04-26). "FILM REVIEW; Replacing Rap's Anger With a Sense of Humor". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
16. ^ Maslin, Janet (1996-11-01). "Where Do Dead Letters Go? Heaven". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
17. ^ Holden, Stephen (1996-11-06). "Just Trying to Get Even While They Get Rich". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
18. ^ "Bridges returns to acting". Jet Magazine. Johnson Publishing Company: 64. 1996-03-11. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
19. ^ Mitchell, Elvis (2001-04-06). "FILM REVIEW; Weaving an Intricate Web To Trap a Wily Kidnapper". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
20. ^ Rapold, Nicolas (2013-12-13). "Special Matriarchal Lessons". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
21. ^ Harris, William (16 April 1995). "THEATER; A Playwright-Actor Welcomes His Karma". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
22. ^ "Dancing on Moonlight". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
23. ^ Snow, Shauna (1988-11-11). "Nominees for 21st Image Awards Announced". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
24. ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York, New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
25. ^ "The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York City: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
26. ^ "Hollywood Reporter Lands Daytime Emmy Nomination for Roundtable Series". The Hollywood Reporter. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
27. ^ "Amen's Sherman Hemsley: He Feared His Career Might Be Over Life Without Cable? No Way!". www.tvguidemagazine.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
28. ^ "Fun-filled Amen still one of the hottest TV shows". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1987-11-23. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
29. ^ "Oh, What a Week!". www.tvguidemagazine.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
30. ^ "Clifton Davis and Anna Maria Horsford Tie Know on TV's Amen". Jet Magazine. Johnson Publishing Company. 1990-02-05. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
31. ^ "New baby and guest star James Brown climax fifth season of TV's Amen". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1991-05-13. Retrieved 30 June 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Anna Maria Horsford at IMDb
* Anna Maria Horsford at the Internet Off-Broadway Database

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

*[Ref.]: References