Paula Jai Parker

Paula Jai Parker is an American actress, comedian and director. In 1995, Parker has made her film debut in the F. Gary Gray urban comedy "Friday." In same year, she earned a Cable ACE Award for her role in the HBO anthology presentation, "Cosmic Slop." Later that year, Parker returned to television in the WB sitcom, "The Wayans Bros." opposite Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in several short-lived shows, including CBS sitcom "The Weird Al Show," and David E. Kelley's ABC comedy-drama, "Snoops."

During 1990s, Parker had supporting roles in a number of films. She has appeared in the 1995 horror anthology "Tales from the Hood," Spike Lee's Million Man March drama "Get on the Bus," the urban comedy "Sprung," Jada Pinkett Smith starring romantic comedy "Woo," the Frankie Lymon biography, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love." In the early 2000s, Parker co-starred in "30 Years to Life," "High Crimes," "Phone Booth," and "My Baby's Daddy." In 2004, she played the lesbian woman in the LGBT comedy-drama, "She Hate Me," and appeared as Ruth Brown in biographical film "Ray." Her breakthrough happened in the 2005 independent drama "Hustle & Flow" starring Terrence Howard. She later was cast opposite Howard in musical film "Idlewild."

From 2001 to 2005, Parker voiced the sophisticated matriarch Trudy Proud in the Disney Channel animated comedy series, "The Proud Family." She also voiced her role in the 2005 film "The Proud Family Movie." She also played the role of Billie Holiday on the episode of "Touched by an Angel" in 2000, and later guest starred on "The Shield," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "My Name Is Earl," and "The Mentalist." She co-starred in the 2007 thriller film "Cover" starring Aunjanue Ellis, and in later years worked in low-profile independent movies.

From 2013 to 2014, Parker had the recurring role in the HBO series, "True Blood" during the show's seventh and final season. In 2014, she was cast as one of five leads on the TV One reality series, "Hollywood Divas." In 2015, Parker was cast in the recurring roles on the Amazon drama "Hand of God," and Freeform series, "Recovery Road."