Essence Atkins

ESSENCE ATKINS

Date of Birth: February 7, 1972

A consistent actress since the early '90s, Essence Atkins has firmly established a place on the small screen.

She had a starring role as the big sister the Disney Channel's Smart Guy from 1997 to 1999, then starred on the CBS sitcom Half and Half as Dee Dee Thorne from 2002 to 2006. Her guest appearances include The Cosby Show, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sister, Sister and House. From 2010 to 2012 she starred in the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet? with Ice Cube and has a recurring role on Mr. Box Office (2012 to 2013) starring Bill Bellamy.

With a successful television career under her belt, Atkins is slowly starting to make a name for herself on the big screen as well. She has played roles in feature films such as How High, Dance Flick and Deliver Us From Eva which also starred Gabrielle Union.

Her most recent big screen effort was starring alongside Marlon Waynes in his newest parody of horror movies, A Haunted House, as a new homeowner who becomes possessed by a demonic spirit.

Atkins's fame is on the rise and she is consistently working on more and more film and television projects despite having recently become a first time mom to a son, Varro Blair Mendez with her husband, Jaime Mendez.

Filmography:

A Haunted House (2013)
Dance Flick (2009)
Deliver Us From Eva (2003)
How High (2001)