Quick Facts
Biography
Erika Alexander (born Erika Rose Alexander; November 19, 1969) is an American actress, best known for her roles as Pam Tucker on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1990-1992), and as the strong-willed attorney Maxine Shaw on the FOX sitcom Living Single (1993-1998). She has won numerous awards for her work on Living Single, including two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.
Career
Alexander got her big break as Pam Tucker on the critically acclaimed NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. She later starred alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the 1990 civil rights epic The Long Walk Home. Perhaps her most memorable role was as acid-tongued attorney Maxine 'Max' Shaw on the FOX sitcom Living Single, a role she played for five years. She is the co-creator and co-writer of 'Concrete Park,' a science-fiction graphic novel.
In 1992, she appeared in the short-lived sitcom Going to Extremes, which centered on a group of American students at a medical school on a fictitious Caribbean island named Jantique. In 2002, she played probation officer Dee Mulhern in the Showtime series Street Time, which ran for two seasons. In international cinema, Alexander played the role of Hidimbi in Peter Brook's adaptation of The Mahabharata. She also played a young Flora in the TV miniseries Mama Flora's Family.
Her voice is featured on The Bible Experience. She shares her birthday with Living Single co-star TC Carson and also appeared in Toni Braxton's music video for "You're Makin' Me High." In 2009, she appeared in Criminal Minds in the Season 4 episode, "The Big Wheel" as Detective Lynne Henderson who requests the BAU's help in investigating a serial killer in Buffalo, New York She also appeared in the 2009 film La Mission opposite Benjamin Bratt. In 2011, she appeared in season 7, episode 13 of House M.D. where she played the character Ms. Fields.
Personal life
Alexander was born in Winslow, Arizona. She is one of six children born to Shaun Alexander and school teacher and children's book author, Sammie Alexander.
She is married to artist/screenwriter Tony Puryear. She actively campaigned for Hillary Clinton and toured college campuses with Chelsea Clinton, during the 2008 Democratic primary.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | My Little Girl | Joan | |
| 1989 | The Mahabharata | Madri, Hidimbaa | |
| 1990 | Long Walk Home, TheThe Long Walk Home | Selma Cotter | |
| 1991 | He Said, She Said | Rita | |
| 1992 | Fathers & Sons | Venell | |
| 1998 | 54 | Ciel | |
| 2001 | 30 Years to Life | Joy | |
| 2002 | Love Liza | Brenda | |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Lucy | |
| 2004 | Tricks | Laurel | |
| 2006 | Déjà Vu | Shanti | |
| 2009 | La Mission | Lena | |
| 2014 | Elsa & Fred | Laverne | |
| 2014 | Magic City, TheThe Magic City | Ms. Fletcher | Post-production |
| 2017 | Get Out | Detective Latoya |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation | Oney | TV film |
| 1989 | Mahabharata, TheThe Mahabharata | Madri / Hidimbi | TV miniseries |
| 1990 | Common Ground | Cassandra Twymon | TV film |
| 1990 | Last Best Year, TheThe Last Best Year | Amy | TV film |
| 1990 | Law & Order | Doris Carver | Episode: "Poison Ivy" |
| 1990–1992 | Cosby Show, TheThe Cosby Show | Pam Tucker | Regular role (21 episodes) |
| 1992–1993 | Going to Extremes | Cheryl Carter | Main role (17 episodes) |
| 1993–1998 | Living Single | Maxine Felice "Max" Shaw | Main role (118 episodes) |
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family | Young Flora | TV miniseries |
| 1999 | KnitWits Revisited | Amina | TV film |
| 2001 | Judging Amy | Fran Winston | Recurring role (7 episodes) |
| 2001 | Zeta Project, TheThe Zeta Project | Agent Rush (voice) | Episodes: "Ro's Reunion", "Absolute Zero" |
| 2002–2003 | Street Time | Dee Mulhern | Main role (20 episodes) |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Kema Mabuda | Episode: "Ritual" |
| 2004 | LAX | Allison | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
| 2005 | Half & Half | Maxine Shaw | Episode: "The Big Performance Anxiety Episode" |
| 2005 | 7th Heaven | Lynn Miles | Episode: "Leaps of Faith" |
| 2006 | Sixty Minute Man | Jane | TV film |
| 2006 | In Justice | Alyssa Hill | Episode: "The Ten Percenter" |
| 2006 | Heist | Saundra Johnson | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2006 | ER | Vatima Abika | Episode: "No Place to Hide" |
| 2007 | Side Order of Life | Colette | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | A.D.A. Kirkson | Episode: "The Case of the Cross-Dressing Carp" |
| 2007 | Numb3rs | U.S. Marshal Tricia Yaegger | Episode: "In Security" |
| 2007 | CSI: Miami | Tanya Thorpe | Episode: "Guerillas in the Mist" |
| 2009 | Criminal Minds | Det. Lynne Henderson | Episode: "The Big Wheel" |
| 2010 | In Plain Sight | Theresa Simmons | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2011 | House | Ms. Fields | Episode: "Two Stories" |
| 2012 | Suburgatory | Gloria | Episode: "The Motherload" |
| 2012 | Suits | Sarah Leighton | Episode: "Discovery" |
| 2012–present | Last Man Standing | Carol Larabee | Recurring role |
| 2013 | Low Winter Sun | Louise "LC" Cullen | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2014 | Let's Stay Together | Blanche | Recurring role (3 episodes) |
| 2014 | NCIS: New Orleans | Navy Commander Louanne Bates | Episode: "Carrier" |
| 2015 | Grey's Anatomy | Mother | Episode: "Crazy Love" |
| 2016 | Queen Sugar | Leann | Episode: "By Any Chance" |
| 2017 | Beyond | Tess Shoemaker | Recurring Role (6 episodes) |