Family moved to New York City's Harlem when she was 9
At 14, she landed the role of the King in an all-girls production of The King and I
Taught American History at Brooklyn Technical High School for two years
In 1987, became the first African-American to win an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Filmed a pilot for her own series, Jackee, following her success on 227; the pilot was never picked up, but aired as an episode of 227
In a 2013 episode of Celebrity Ghost Stories, she claims that when she was a child, the spirit of her late uncle saved her from an attack by a home invader
Awards
1989Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:nominated
1988Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:nominated
1987Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:winner