Penny Johnson Jerald Biography

Fast Facts

• She received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2003 for "24․"
• Was nominated for the Image Award's Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for "The Larry Sanders Show" in 1998
• Co-founded the Outreach Christina Theater Company, where she produces, directs and teaches acting workshops
• Studied acting at the Juilliard School in New York City
• Made her motion picture debut in the 1984 comedy-drama "Swing Shift․"
• Made her professional acting debut on a 1983 episode of the anthology TV series "American Playhouse․"
• Quote: "I don't believe in skinny, lollipop type people, nor do I believe in people who are so big, they can't walk up the stairs․ I believe there is a body type for each of us and it's an individual thing․"
• Quote: "I've been blessed to have all these different roles, that in real life, would be almost impossible for a person of color to have․"
• Quote: "(On communicating with fans using social media) "There's a lot of sweetness․ You say something nice to fans․․․they say something nice to you․ It's a way to send someone a kind message to make them feel good for the day․""
• Has twice portrayed politician Condoleezza Rice, once in 2003's "DC 9/11: Time of Crisis" and again in 2006's "The Path to 9/11․"
• Her father and her grandfather were professional boxer, which has contributed to her unwavering passion for the sport
• She is a natural athlete and runs a fitness program to help people find their own level of fitness