Karimah Westbrook

An accomplished actress, writer and producer Karimah Westbrook stars as devoted single parent Grace James in the hit series “All American," in which her performance earned her a Black Reel nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Westbrook, a Chicago native, loved performing from an early age. She acted in school plays and later in community theater productions. Her big break came when she fearlessly crashed a Chicago audition for the feature film Save the Last Dance, despite having no appointment or representation. She landed a role in the Paramount box-office hit and never looked back, enrolling in the Academy of Dramatic Arts West and relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.

Since then, Westbrook has captured the attention of audiences with diverse roles in television, film and theater. She has guest-starred in many hit shows, including Showtime’s award-winning dramedy “Shameless” and “Masters of Sex,” Freeform’s family series “The Fosters” and AMC’s period drama “Mad Men.” She also appeared in NBC’s award-winning crime drama “Aquarius.”

On the big screen, Westbrook can be seen in After We Collided, the sequel to the box-office hit After, based on Anna Todd’s best-selling book series. She starred opposite Matt Damon and Julianne Moore in Suburbicon as the wife and mother of the first black family to move into an all-white town. Westbrook also starred in American Violet opposite Alfre Woodard, The Rum Diary with Johnny Depp and the indie feature Bolden.

On stage, Westbrook was recognized with an NAACP Theater Award nomination for her starring role in “It’s Just Sex!” She also starred in “Pieces” at the Pasadena Playhouse, “The Girls of Summer” at Avery Schreiber Playhouse, “Boys Life” at The Cast Theater and “Glengarry Glen Ross” at The Working Stage Theater. In addition, her credits include the Stella Adler Theater production of “A Black Trilogy” and Ivar Theater’s “Dawgs.”

With her talent extending behind the camera, Westbrook wrote, produced and starred in the BET short film “Best Kept Secret,” earning a Best Actress nomination from the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago. She also produced the award-winning short films “A Fire in a Dovecot,” “Watts & Volts” and “Pastor Stuart.”

Offscreen, Westbrook enjoys giving back. She has mentored at A Place Called Home, which helps at-risk youth in South Central Los Angeles develop healthy and fulfilling lives through programs in arts, education and wellness. She also volunteers at the Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row and with My Friend’s House Foundation, which provides food, clothing and services to the homeless.