Lark Voorhies































Lark Voorhies

Lark Voorhies.jpg
Voorhies, 2008.

Born
Lark Holloway


(1974-03-25) March 25, 1974 (age 44)[1][2]

Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

Occupation

  • Actress

  • singer

  • spokeswoman

  • model

Years active 1987–2012
Known for Lisa Turtle – Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell
Spouse(s)
Miguel Coleman
(m. 1996; div. 2004)


Jimmy Green
(m. 2015; div. 2015)

Partner(s)
Martin Lawrence
(1993–1994)

Lark Voorhies (born Lark Holloway; March 25, 1974[3]) is an American actress, singer, spokeswoman and model. Voorhies rose to fame playing Lisa Marie Turtle on NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell (1989–1993). Voorhies was nominated for the Young Artist Award six times, winning in 1990 and 1993 for her work on the show.




Contents






  • 1 Early life


  • 2 Entertainment career


    • 2.1 Acting


    • 2.2 Music


    • 2.3 Writing




  • 3 Personal life


    • 3.1 Dealings with media




  • 4 Books authored


  • 5 Filmography


    • 5.1 Television


    • 5.2 Film




  • 6 Awards and nominations


  • 7 References


  • 8 External links





Early life


Born Lark Holloway to Wayne and Tricia Holloway[4] in Nashville, Tennessee, She later adopted "Voorhies" as a stage name.[5][6] Her mother named her "Lark" after the character in the 1972 film Cool Breeze, played by Margaret Avery.[7] By the time Voorhies was two years old, the family had moved to Pasadena, California. At this time, her mother took her to a talent agent, because "she was a natural-born ham."[8] However, her first audition did not go well—she froze.[8] She appeared in a national television commercial for Universal Studios Tour at age 12 advertising its upcoming King Kong attraction: "I was on this tram screaming with all these other people. I had such a great time doing that."[7][9]



Entertainment career



Acting


Voorhies made her acting debut at the age of two. Though photogenic, she was shy, and her mother put Voorhies' acting career on hold until she was more comfortable in front of the cameras. Later, at the age of fourteen, Voorhies reappeared on an episode of Small Wonder in 1988. In June of that same year, she landed the recurring role of Lisa Turtle in Disney Channel's television series Good Morning, Miss Bliss[10] and appeared in thirteen episodes from 1988 to 1989. She remained as the same character, as did Zack, Screech, and Mr. Belding, after Disney dropped the series and it was picked-up and re-tooled by NBC and renamed Saved by the Bell.


Voorhies has since appeared in several television sitcoms and soap operas. She played the role of single mom Wendy Reardon on Days of Our Lives in 1993.[11][12] On The Bold and the Beautiful Voorhies played the role of amiable intern fashion-designer, Jasmine Malone beginning in September 1995. She was released from her contract in November 1996 when her role required her to act in sex scenes, which the actress refused to do citing her religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness.[citation needed] She returned in April 2004 when Jasmine Malone returns to LA when Eric and Stephanie hire her to work as a designer in the basement at Forrester Creations. She decided to renew her contract when the show offered to sign her to a one-year deal and departed the show again in July 2004 when her character Jasmine took a job at Forrester International in Europe, courtesy of Eric Forrester.


In 1995, Voorhies guest-starred in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Life Support". During the same year, Voorhies guest-starred in the Family Matters season six episode "Home Sweet Home", as Eddie's upstairs dream girl. She has continued to act in various roles since then, such as In the House, in which she played the girlfriend-turned-wife of Alfonso Ribeiro’s character, Dr. Max Stanton. Previously, she played Ribeiro's love interest twice on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Besides sitcoms, Voorhies also appeared in movies and direct-to-video films. In 2001, Voorhies played a major role in the film How High as Lauren, a Harvard student. She was involved in a 1990 movie adaptation of the book The Black Man's Guide to Understanding Black Women[13] and played Ana Smith in the 2008 movie The Next Hit.[12] Although she only has two acting credits since 2008, and none since 2012, Voorhies' representatives cited a busy work schedule when she did not appear in a SBTB-based mini-reunion sketch on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" alongside Gosselaar, Lopez, Thiessen, and Dennis Haskins (Dustin Diamond also didn't appear but disclosed that he wasn't invited to be part of the sketch and wasn't insulted by the non-invite).



Music


Voorhies has appeared in several music videos. She plays Kenny Lattimore's love interest in his debut video "Never Too Busy", from his 1996 self-titled debut album. In Boyz II Men's music video "On Bended Knee", she plays Wanya's girlfriend. She is featured in Montell Jordan's "Somethin' for the Honeyz" and in Dru Hill's "These Are the Times". In 1994, Voorhies was in a group originally called the X-Girls (now known as Geneva) with Stacee and Yashi Brown (the daughters of singer and oldest Jackson family sibling, Rebbie Jackson). Voorhies founded and was the lead singer in Third Degree, an alternative band.[citation needed]



Writing


Since 2010, Voorhies has written three books (all self-published): Reciprocity, Trek of the Cheshire, and A True Light.[14][15][16][17]



Personal life


Voorhies dated her Saved by the Bell co-star Mark Paul Gosselaar during the duration of the show. Voorhies was engaged to actor Martin Lawrence from 1993 but it was later called off in 1994.[18] Voorhies married Miguel Coleman in 1996. They separated in 2001, and divorced in 2004.[19][20] Voorhies met music engineer Jimmy Green at a networking event in 2014. After a year of dating, Voorhies and Green married on April 30, 2015, at a chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.[21] Voorhies filed for divorce in October 2015 after six months of marriage.[22]



Dealings with media


On May 30, 2006, Voorhies filed a lawsuit against The National Enquirer for libel over an article that included claims published in June 2005 that she had a drug problem.[23] The case was dropped in less than two months.[24]



Books authored




  • Voorhies, Lark (2010). Reciprocity. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450200660..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  • Voorhies, Lark (2011). True Light. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450243544.


  • Voorhies, Lark (2011). Trek of the Cheshire. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1462025985.



Filmography



Television











































































































































































Year
Title
Role
Notes
1988–89

Good Morning, Miss Bliss

Lisa Turtle
13 episodes
1988,
1989

Small Wonder
Brandie Ross
Binky
"When You Hear the Beep"
"The Tattletale"
1989

The Robert Guillaume Show
Danica
Episode: "Educating Ann"
1989–93

Saved by the Bell

Lisa Turtle
86 episodes
1992

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Cindy
Episode: "Mama's Baby, Carlton's Maybe"
1992

Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style

Lisa Turtle

TV movie
1993

Martin
Nicole
Episodes: "The Break Up" (Parts 2 & 3)
1993

Getting By
Tasha
Episodes: "Men Don't Dance", "Turnabout Dance"
1993–94

Days of Our Lives
Wendy Reardon

1994

Saved by the Bell: The College Years

Lisa Turtle
Episode: "Wedding Plans"
1994

Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas

Lisa Turtle
Movie
1994

Me and the Boys
Denise
Episode: "Talent Show"
1994

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

Lisa Turtle
Episode: "Goodbye Bayside" (Part 2)
1995

CBS Schoolbreak Special
Breena Black
Episode: "What About Your Friends"
1995

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Leanne
Episode: "Life Support"
1995

Family Matters
Dream Girl
Episode: "Home Sweet Home"
1995–96,
2004

The Bold and the Beautiful
Jasmine Malone
Originated the role (Jan. 1995 – Nov. 1996); reprised in April 2004 – June 2004; again in July 2004
1997

Malcolm & Eddie
Lydia
Episode: "Club Story"
1997

The Last Don
Tiffany

Miniseries
1997–99

In the House
Mercedes Langford
18 episodes
1998

The Love Boat: The Next Wave
Johari Mayfield
Episode: "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"
1999

Mutiny

Movie
1999

The Parkers
Chandra
2 episodes
2000

Grown Ups
Stacy
Episode: "J's Pet Peeve"
2001

Fire & Ice
Holly Aimes
Movie
2002

Widows

Miniseries
2008

Robot Chicken

Lisa Turtle / Betty Childs / Borg Queen (voice)
Episode: "Boo Cocky"


Film

























































Year
Title
Role
Notes
1997

Def Jam's How to Be a Player
Lisa

2000

Longshot
Woman at Bar
Alternative title: Jack of All Trades
2001

How High
Lauren

2002

Civil Brand
Lil' Momma

2008

The Next Hit
Ana Smith

2009
"Mimi's Place"
Sydney

Short film
2011

Measure of Faith
Kim

Direct-to-video
2012

Little Creeps
The Dean
Direct-to-video


Awards and nominations


[citation needed]















































Year
Association
Category
Nominated work
Result
1989

Young Artist Awards

Best Young Actress in a Cable Family Series

Good Morning, Miss Bliss
Nominated
1990

Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast

Good Morning, Miss Bliss
Nominated
1990

Best Young Actress Starring

Good Morning, Miss Bliss
Won
1991

Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series

Saved by the Bell
Nominated
1992

Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series

Saved by the Bell
Nominated
1993

Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series

Saved by the Bell
Won


References





  1. ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (1 December 2012). "Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events". Visible Ink Press – via Google Books.


  2. ^ Riggs, Thomas (1 June 2007). "Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television". Cengage Gale – via Google Books.


  3. ^ McCann, Bob (26 September 2017). "Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television". McFarland & Company – via Google Books.


  4. ^ Kirby, Iona (October 3, 2012). "Saved By The Bell star Lark Voorhies battling bipolar disorder: Mother says the actress is mentally ill". Daily Mail. Retrieved October 19, 2012.


  5. ^ Baldwin, Suzy (March 25, 2005). "Signposts". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 30.


  6. ^ Diamond, Dustin (2009). Behind the Bell. Transit Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 0981239692.


  7. ^ ab Reichardt, Nancy M. (November 27, 1995). "Voorhies Boldly Jumps Into Daytime Drama". Palm Beach Post. p. 2D.


  8. ^ ab Novakovich, Lilana (October 20, 1996). "Soap star had long climb to Another World". Calgary Herald. p. C7.


  9. ^ Wilson, John M. (December 22, 1985). "Monkey Breath". Los Angeles Times. p. 35. Retrieved October 19, 2012.


  10. ^ Bark, Ed (June 3, 1989). "Shakeup set for Saturday morning TV". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C. NBC also is experimenting with the first Saturday morning situation comedy. Saved By the Bell keeps track of six mischievous, adventurous teens played by flesh-and-blood actors you've never heard of unless you're one of their parents. Fave name: Lark Voorhies.


  11. ^ "Lark Voorhies Cast on "Days of Our Lives"". Tulsa World. April 1, 1993. p. C3.


  12. ^ ab Lark Voorhies on IMDb


  13. ^ "Then/Now: 'Saved By the Bell'". FoxNews. Retrieved 10 November 2012.


  14. ^ Lark Voorhies as author at Amazon.com


  15. ^ Voorhies, Lark (2010). Reciprocity. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450200660.


  16. ^ Voorhies, Lark (2011). True Light. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450243544.


  17. ^ Voorhies, Lark (2011). Trek of the Cheshire. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1462025985.


  18. ^ Brown, Jamie Foster (26 September 1994). "S2S Magazine". Jamie Foster Brown – via Google Books.


  19. ^ Aradillas, Elaine (October 15, 2012). "A Saved by the Bell Star's Sad Spiral". People. Retrieved June 13, 2015.


  20. ^ "Lark Voorhies' husband wanted by police". Washington Post. June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.


  21. ^ Saad, Nardine (June 12, 2015). "Lark Voorhies of 'Saved by the Bell' is a married woman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2015.


  22. ^ "Saved by the Bell Star Slams Ex-Husband on Instagram".


  23. ^ "'Saved By the Bell' actress sues tabloid". USA Today. Los Angeles. Associated Press. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2015.


  24. ^ "'Bell' Star Drops Cocaine Story Lawsuit". TMZ.com. 28 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2015.




External links




  • Lark Voorhies on IMDb








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