When you hear the word Hollywood, what immediately comes to mind is the lifestyle of the rich and famous. However, this is not always the case, as can be seen in the life of Paula Jai Parker. Parker is an African American actress who has had a thriving career, appearing in numerous films and television series. However, she shocked the world in 2014 when she revealed that she lacked a home of her own and even relied on social welfare at times. So what happened? Find out below…
Paula Jai Parker Bio
Paula Jai Parker was born on the 19th of August 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio. The actress spent her formative years in Cleveland, where she completed her elementary and high school education. She then moved to Washington DC to attend Howard University. When Paula Jia Parker graduated from college in 1991, she traveled to New York to kickstart her showbiz career. In the Big Apple she initially pursued her passion for music and performed in various clubs. Multi-talented Parker also used her comic talent to land her first TV gig. This was on the syndicated show, The Apollo Comedy Lesson After two successful years on Apollo, the Cleveland native joined another sketch comedy TV show. Townsend televisionin 1993.
Movies and TV Shows
Since her debut in 1992, Paula Jai Parker has acted in numerous films and TV series. She’s appeared on the big screen Friday, Get on the bus, Riot, Woo, why do you fool? Fall in Love, 30 Years to Live, Telephone Booth, Love Chronicles, My Baby’s Daddy, She Hates Me, Ray, Hustle & Flow, Idlewild , Life of a King, Patterns of Attraction and Bouncy.
Bouncy is a 1997 comedy about two couples; dasSexy gold digger Adina with her flamboyant boyfriend Clyde and shy Brandy with her introverted boyfriend Montel. While Adina and Clyde quickly crash and burn themselves, Brandy and Montel find true happiness from the envy of their friends.
The film starred Tisha Campbell and Joe Torry, while Parker played the role of Adina. Her portrayal of the loud and hard-edged Adina, along with her unforgettable one-liners, remains one of the funniest characters ever in a black film.
Paula Jai Parker has received multiple awards throughout her career. They include Best Actress in a Dramatic Series at the 1995 CableAce Awards, Best Comedic Performance at the 2005 Women Film Critics Circle Awards, and Best Cast at the 2016 Laughlin International Film Festival.
Paula Jai Parker’s Net Worth (Income and Earnings)
Paula Jai Parker has an estimated net worth of $200,000. In a 2014 episode of Hollywood Divas , the actress boldly revealed that she was once homeless and had to live in a hotel room. She also revealed that at one point she even had to rely on food stamps. These revelations came as a shock to many and in a subsequent interview with Wesen , Parker revealed that her situation was due to the fact that she had been blacked out by Hollywood. As a result, she had a hard time finding regular work and had to resort to indie productions that didn’t cost much. Since her unveiling, Parker has landed parts in popular television series such asTrue Bloods, NCIS: Los Angeles and How to Get Away with Murder. There is no doubt that her financial situation must have improved.
Paula Jai Parker’s husband
The actress enjoys marital bliss with her husband of more than 15 years – Forrest Martin. Parker met Martin on the set of the film in 2004. Hustle & Flow . She had a supporting role in the film.Martin worked as an intern/production assistant after receiving his MFA. During filming, the two talked and eventually formed a relationship. They later tied the knot that same year.
The couple have one child together; a son named Onederful Vanglorious Jaxon N’Krumah Martin. Parker and her husband are both cast members of Hollywood divas . This is a reality television series that explores the lives, careers, family and love lives of five African American actresses. The show also features stars like Golden Brooks, Countess Vaughn, Lisa Wu, Elise Neal and Malika Haqq.