Cassi Davis
| Cassi Davis | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Cassandra Davis July 31, 1964 Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Cassandra "Cassi" Davis (born July 31, 1964) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Ella Payne on Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Davis has done extensive work with director and writer Tyler Perry, and has played many roles in his various productions. She also has appeared in several stage plays.[1]
Life and career
Born in Holly Springs, Mississippi,[1][2] Davis' acting career began in 1988 with her role in the Spike Lee film School Daze. Her early television credits include appearances on Living Single, Married... with Children, Kenan & Kel, Boycott, and The PJ's. She established her acting career by appearing in Tyler Perry productions such as Madea's Family Reunion, Madea Goes to Jail, Daddy's Little Girls, and Tyler Perry's House of Payne.[3]
Davis attended Spelman College in Atlanta and majored in music. She left the college one credit short of graduation, because she was not allowed to perform religious music during her senior recital. Davis returned to Spelman in 2008 to complete her degree, graduating in November of that year.[4]
She has credited her devout, born-again Christian faith as the main reason behind her professional success.[5]
Filmography
| Film & Plays | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | School Daze | Paula | |
| 1994 | Silent Bomb | Kate | short |
| 2004 | He Says...She Says...But What Does GOD Say | Sister Tiny | |
| 2005 | Love On Layaway | Wilanetta | |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Aunt Sarah | |
| 2006 | "Madea Goes To Jail | Ella Cincaid | |
| 2010 | "Madea's Big Happy Family (play) | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2011 | Madea's Big Happy Family | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2011 | A Madea Christmas (play) | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2011 | "Aunt Bam's Place" | Betty Ann " Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2014 | Madea's Neighbors From Hell | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2014 | Hamelt & Hutch | Jenice | |
| 2015 | "Madea on the run" (play) | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2015 | Madea's Tough Love | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| 2016 | Boo! A Madea Halloween | Betty Ann "Aunt Bam" Murphy | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Living Single | Francine | Episode: "In The Black It's Beautiful" |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope | Nurse #1 | Episode: "Food Chains" |
| 1996 | Moesha | ||
| 1996 | Married... with Children | Patty | Episode: "Crimes Against Obesity" |
| 1999 | Kenan & Kel | Kitty | Episode: "He Got Job" |
| 1999–2001 | The PJs | HUD woman (Voice) | Recurring Role; 26 episodes |
| 2000 | The Parkers | Big Woman | |
| 2001 | Boycott | Cook | Television movie |
| 2006–2012 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Ella Williams-Payne/Ella Payne | Series Regular; 108 episodes
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2010) |
| 2009 | Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns | Ella Williams-Payne/Ella Payne | Episode: "Meet the Christmas Spirit" |
References
- 1 2 "Cassi Davis Biography". tbs.com. Archived from the original on 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ↑ "Holly Springs Star!! Cassandra "Cassi" Davis". Visit Holly Springs. August 21, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ↑ "The Cast of Tyler Perry's House of Payne". Jet. June 2007.
- ↑ House of Payne' Star Cassi Davis Graduating From College—25 Years Later
- ↑ The 700 Club - Cassi Davis: House of Grace