Cocoa Brown

Cocoa Brown
Born
Farah Brown

(1974-10-09) October 9, 1974 (age 50)
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present
Children1

Farah "Cocoa" Brown (born October 9, 1974) is an American actress, writer and comedian. She is best known for playing Jennifer in For Better or Worse and Lytia in The Single Moms Club.

Early life, education

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Brown was born as Farah Brown in Newport News, Virginia.[1][2] She attended and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also has a Master of Science degree from The University of Phoenix in Secondary Education.[3]

Career

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Brown has performed in many different comedy stage shows including BET's ComicView and One Mic Stand and Showtime at the Apollo.[2] She later began appearing on television, playing guest starring roles on ER and Breaking Bad.

In 2011, Brown was cast in the Oprah Winfrey Network comedy series Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse playing the role of Jennifer, Tasha Smith's character best friend.[2] The series ran for six seasons. In 2014, she played the leading role alongside Nia Long, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Zulay Henao and Amy Smart in the comedy-drama film The Single Moms Club. She received positive reviews for her performance.[4][5] The following year, she appeared in an supporting role in a comedy film Ted 2.[6][7]

In 2016, Brown played juror Jeanette "Queen B" Harris in the FX drama series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story produced by Ryan Murphy.[8] In 2018, she worked again with Ryan Murphy, playing the recurring role of Carla Price opposite Connie Britton and Mariette Hartley in the Fox drama series 9-1-1.

Personal life

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Brown has a son, Phoenix Zion, who was born in 2012.

On February 18, 2024, Brown's house in Fayetteville, Georgia burned down. Tyler Perry gave her $400,000 to help buy a new home.[9]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
2003 Blue Moon M.C. Short film
2006 Mahoghany Blues Lawanza Short film
2008 Attitude for Destruction Sexy Reporter Direct-to-video
2008 Lakeview Terrace Bartender
2008 An American Carol Airport Security Guard 1
2009 Robbin' in da Hood Mae Mae Direct-to-video
2009 Dukes and the Dutchess Raven Dukes
2010 Friendship! Polizistin
2010 Dad's Home Crossing Guard Television film
2010 I Want Candy Chantelle Short film
2014 The Single Moms Club Lytia
2015 Ted 2 Joy
2017 Chi Nu Legacy Professor Stewart
2018 The Other Side Wedding Planner
2019 His, Hers & the Truth Mrs. Smith
2019 Happy Thanksgiving Claudia
2020 Lethal Procedures Beverly Smith
2020 Brother's Grim Grace
2020 Fruits of the Heart Ms. Woods
2023 Praise This Cora

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Young and the Restless Woman #4 1 episode
2004 Las Vegas Lady Behind The Counter Episode: "Tainted Love"
2007 America's Got Talent Herself (Contestant) 2 episodes
2007 ER Judy Episode: "From Here to Paternity Esinam"
2009 Breaking Bad Mail Lady Episode: "Peekaboo"
2009 Secret Girlfriend Jamilla Episode: "You Try to Make Some Internet Cash"
2011 Victorious Nurse Episode: "Tori Gets Stuck"
2011 2 Broke Girls Woman Episode: "Pilot"
2012 Austin & Ally Security Guard Episode: "Rockers & Writers"
2011–2017 Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse Jennifer Series regular, 162 episodes
2012 GCB Chardonnay Episode: "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
2012 The Soul Man Sister Williams Episode: "Lost in the Move"
2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Female Neighbor Episode: "The Scarlet Neighbor..."
2013 Mr. Box Office Midge Episode: "The Golden Apple"
2013 Psych Big Wendy Episode: "Deez Nups
2015 K.C. Undercover Big Ange Episode: "Operation Other Side Part 1"
2016 American Crime Story Jeanette "Queen B" Harris Recurring role, 5 episodes
2017 Marlon Nurse Patrice Episode: "Hospital Party"
2018–present 9-1-1 Carla Price Recurring role, 11 episodes
2019 The Neighborhood Regina Episode: "Welcome to Bowling"
2020–2023 Never Have I Ever Principal Grubbs Recurring role; 14 episodes
2023-present The Big Door Prize Principal Pat Recurring role
2024 Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall Call Center Manager TV movie

References

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  1. ^ "Biography — Cocoa Brown". cocoabrown4life.com. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "OWN Profile". oprah.com.
  3. ^ "DP List: Top comedians with roots in Hampton Roads". dailypress.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  4. ^ Nicholson, Amy (14 March 2014). "Tyler Perry's Single Moms Club Isn't Bad if you Bring a Bullshit Detector". Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  5. ^ Rapold, Nicolas (14 March 2014). "Motley Group Vents in 'Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club'". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 February 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ "Cocoa Brown Drops Off Laughs In 'Ted 2' - ComedyHype.Com - Social Comedy Network". 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. ^ The Real Daytime (12 December 2014). "Cocoa Brown Talks 'Ted 2' & Working with Seth MacFarlane". Retrieved 11 February 2018 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Holtzclaw, Mike (23 February 2016). "Comedian from Newport News takes dramatic turn on 'The People vs. O.J. Simpson'". Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Tyler Perry reportedly offers $400K to Cocoa Brown after she lost home to fire". FOX 5 Atlanta. 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
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