Sharon Brown
Born
Sharon Catherine Brown

(1962-01-11) January 11, 1962
New York City, U.S.
Other namesSharon Blanks
OccupationActress
SpouseBilly Blanks Jr. (div.)
Children1
Parent

Sharon Catherine Brown (born January 11, 1962), also known as Sharon Catherine Blanks, is an American actress of stage, film, and television.

Early life

She was born in New York City and is the daughter of actor Johnny Brown, who portrayed Nathan Bookman on the 1970s sitcom Good Times. Her mother, June Brown, was a studio manager. Sharon graduated from Hollywood High School where she played Mame Dennis in the musical Mame and Ruth Sherwood in Wonderful Town.[1] She has a brother, John Brown Jr.[2]

Career

Brown has worked frequently as a stage actress, including roles as Effie in both Broadway and touring productions of the musical Dreamgirls; as Violet in the musical Maggie Flynn; and as the narrator in versions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.[3] She has also toured with productions of The Wiz, Rent and Jekyll & Hyde. Brown was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award in 1987 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production for her role in the touring version of Dreamgirls.[4]

Film credits include A Chorus Line (1985), For Keeps (1988), Sister Act 2 (1993), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999). On television, Brown played the character Daisy on the CBS soap opera Love of Life in 1971, and she originated the role of Chantel on the NBC soap Generations from 1989 to 1990. She portrayed a young Louise in a 1981 flashback episode of The Jeffersons titled "And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds". Other episodic television credits include Good Times, A Different World and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Personal life

She married Billy Blanks Jr., the son of Tae Bo fitness personality Billy Blanks. They taught at fitness studios in Sherman Oaks, California, and developed a series of fitness videos.[5][6] In 2014, Blanks pitched the program to Shark Tank and accepted a deal.[7][8][9] They have an adopted son named Elijah. They are divorced.[10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Dozens Star
1985 Legend Faerie Firelight Dancer
1985 A Chorus Line Kim
1988 For Keeps Lila
1991 Missing Pieces Bernice
1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Vegas Backup Singer #3
1998 Half Baked Talking Joint
1998 Blues Brothers 2000 Dancer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Good Times Fun Girl - Nancy Colton Episode: "Breaker, Breaker"
1981 The Jeffersons Teen Louise Mills Episode: "And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds"
1988 A Different World Angela Atkins Episode: "Three Girls Three"
1989–1990 Generations Chantal Marshall 73 episodes
1990 DEA Producer Episode: "Aftermath"
1990 Cop Rock D.A. Keresy 2 episodes
1992 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Cindy Episode: "Hilary Gets a Life" - Hilary calls her other friend Cindy, the woman credited as being Krista.
1995 The Crew Vancielle Episode: "The Worst Noel"
1998 Mr. Music Puppy Munchie Singer #3 Television film
1999 The Famous Jett Jackson Sea Nymph 1 Episode: "Bottoms Up"
1999 Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Etta Jones Television film
2001 Trackers Young Woman Episode: "Pilot"
2001 The Defectors Brandy Television film
2020 The Good Fight Latisha Episode: "The Gang Is Satirized and Doesn't Like It"

References

  1. ↑ Poinsettia (75 ed.). Hollywood: Hollywood High School. 1980.
  2. ↑ Smiljanich, Dorothy (April 12, 1982). "Sharon Brown Loves Show Biz". The Tampa Tribune. p. D 1. Retrieved February 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Sharon Brown credits IBDb.com. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  4. ↑ Helen Hayes Awards HelenHayes.org. Retrieved 27 May 2009
  5. ↑ Flores, Angelique (July 27, 2010). "Billy Blanks Jr. Releases First DVD". Home Media Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. ↑ Painter, Jill (January 26, 2011). "Fitness guru's son, Billy Blanks Jr., and his wife journey from the edge of homelessness to success". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  7. ↑ Bennett, Macaela J. (March 25, 2017). "Billy Blanks Jr.: From Shark Tank to southwestern Connecticut". Associated Press. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ Jones, Al (May 16, 2013). "Dance fitness instructors Billy and Sharon Blanks helped Whirlpool employees celebrate National Employee Health & Fitness Day". Mlive.com.
  9. ↑ Jones, Al (August 23, 2013). "Whirlpool offers second round of Dance It Out health events, featuring Billy Blanks Jr". Mlive.com.
  10. ↑ "How Billy Blanks Jr. Went From 'Homeless' To Fitness Guru — With The Help Of 'Shark Tank' And Mentor Paula Abdul". OK!. June 26, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
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