Erika Alexander, the exotic looking actress with an enviable physique became a popular name when she was featured as Pam Tucker in The Cosby Show. Although her character fetched mixed receptions, the fact that she was a part of a show which was termed as the biggest hit of the 1980s earned her a lot of popularity. Erika Alexander lives in Arizona and appears in various roles across TV and feature films.
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PERSONAL LIFE:
Erika was born in Winslow, Arizona to Robert Alexander and Sammie Alexander. Erika Alexander studied at the Philadelphia Girls High School. After Graduation, Erika joined Freedom Theater located in Philadelphiato learn acting and theatre.She started her carrier by featuring in a lot of theatre and musicals. She slowly ventured her way into TV and eventually feature films.
Erika is married to artist and screenwriter, Tony Puryear. They got married after few years of datingsince1997, and they have been together for the past 20 years. Erika openly calls herself a Democrat and actively participated and campaigned for Hillary Clinton in therun up to the 2008 Democratic elections. When she is not working, Erika loves to travel and listen to music. She co-writes a science fiction graphic novel with her husband, Tony Puryear.
CAREER:
Erika has appeared in a multitude of theatre productions, the most notable one being Peter Brook’s masterpiece, The Mahabharata, She played the role of Hidimbaa Rakshasa or Man-eater Princess. She made her film debut with the 1986 movie film My Little Girl.Her biggest break was when she played the role of Pam tucker in NBC sitcom, the Cosby Show. She reprised her role for 21 episodes.
Next she featured alongside Whoppi in the Long Walk Home which was a political drama centered on Civil Rights. Her most notable work till date has to be the role in which she played Maxine Shaw in Living Single, as ahot headed attorney with a caustic tongue. Erika reprised this role for five years.For this role, she received the NAACP Award twice, once in 1996and again in 1998 for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. The NAACP is an annual awards ceremony presented by the NAACP to recognize people of color who have proven outstanding achievement in film, television, music, and literature.
Her other major noteworthy appearances include her roles in Judging Amy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Street Time Low Winter Sun, Let's Stay Together and Grey's Anatomy. Erika is also a voice over artist and she has done a voiceover in ‘The Bible Experience’ which is an audio version of the Bible It is published by Zondervan..
Last Modified: Mar 7, 2020
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