Beloved Actors of the 'Moesha' Show Then and Now
"Moesha" first debuted on air in 1996 and became a favorite show, which will soon be revived. Here's a look at the stars who portrayed the famous characters.
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"Moesha" is a sitcom revolving around a teenage girl and her immediate circle, but it didn't shy away from exploring critical issues of our times. This, in addition to a great cast, made the show a classic.
The show premiered in 1996 and went on for six seasons before its cancellation in 2001. Now it's coming back to our screens. So what better moment to revisit what these performers have been doing since they left their roles in the series behind?
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
BRANDY NORWOOD
The 40-year-old actress played Moesha Denise Mitchell, the series focus character, a teenager from an upper-middle-class African-American family that faces the challenges of coming of age.
However, Norwood's leading career has been in music, like a singer that has released several albums since debuting in 1994. She has always doubled as an actress, and "Moesha" really put her on the TV and film industry map.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
She went on to land roles in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (2002), "Reba" (2002), "One on One" (2006), "90210" (2011), "Drop Dead Diva" (2011-2012), "The Game" (2012-2015), "Zoe Ever After" (2016) and "Star" (2018-2019).
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THE STAR TODAY
Brandy Norwood has been super busy in the last two decades. She launched the Slayana World Tour in 2016, traveling to Europe during June and July. She released the single "Beggin' and Pleadin'" early this year.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
Brandy released her last studio album in 2012, "Two Eleven" (her birthday, Feb. 11). She co-starred on "The Game" for three seasons, and she starred in "Zoe Ever After" on BET this year. Of course, she even had her turn on Broadway, as Roxie Hart in "Chicago," in 2015.
WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG
William Allen Young, 65, played Franklin "Frank" Mitchell, Moesha's father. He was a car dealer who lost his wife, with whom he shared two children, and married his children's high school principal.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
After the series ended, Young was cast as a regular in "Any Day Now" (2001-2002), "CSI: Miami" (2004-2006), and "CSI" (2005-2007).
He also starred in "The Game" (2013), "Good Luck Charlie" (2011-20149 "Code Black" (2015-2018) "General Hospital" (2014-2019).
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Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
His other appearances were in "Commander in Chief" (2006), "Saving Grace" (2007), "The Mentalist" (2008), "NCIS" (2009), "Castle" (2010), and more recently "This Is Us" (2019) and in 2009 he had a prominent role in the Sci-Fi film "District 9."
SHERYL LEE RALPH
Sheryl Lee Ralph, a 62-year-old actress, played Deirdre "Dee" Mitchell, Moesha's high school principal who also becomes her stepmother when she marries Frank -- to Moesha's discomfort.
Image source: Getty Images
Image source: Getty Images
Following the series, Ralph did a lot of voice acting for different animated characters. Such as "Justice League," "The Proud Family" (2002), "Static Shock" (2002-2003), "Justice League Unlimited," and more recently "Young Justice" (2011-2019).
Apart from playing supportive roles in some films and TV movies, she has regularly starred in series like "Barbershop" (2005), "One Love" (2014), "Instant Mom" (2013-2015), "One Mississippi" (2017), and "Ray Donovan" (2013-2019).
Image source: Getty Images
Image source: Getty Images
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COUNTESS VAUGHN
Countess Vaughn played Kimberly "Kim" Parker, Moesha's best friend from high school who is obsessed with boys. Since leaving the series, Vaughn starred in the spinoff "The Parkers," teaming up with singer Mo'Nique.
Mo played her mother for the five seasons that the show lasted. Then she appeared in several TV movies in 2006. In 2014, she was cast in "According to Him + Her," and her last role in a film to date was in "The White Sistas" (2017).
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
MARCUS T. PAULK
Marcus Paulk played Miles Mitchell, Moesha's younger brother, who has fun pulling pranks on his older sister at the beginning of the series. Paulk has continued landing roles in series and movies since his work in "Moesha," and like Ralph, he did voice work in "The Proud Family" (2001-2004).
He acted in "Take the Lead" (2006), "Extreme Movie" (2008), "The Rig" (2010), "Red Tails" (2012), "Sister Code" (2015), "90 Minutes of the Fever" (2016). These were all movies that would shape her career and leave her mark on the industry.
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Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
SHAR JACKSON
Shar Jackson, 43, played Denise "Niecy" Jackson, another of Moesha's best friends who became her roommate when the latter leaves home in Season 5. Jackson continued to be an actress, and from 2008 she mostly played supportive roles on the big screen.
This was starting with "Toxic," followed by "The House That Jack Built" (2009), "Steppin: The Movie" (2009), and more recently "Take a Stan" (2019). This was how the actress created a name for herself and is remembered for it.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
FREDRO STARR
The 48-year-old actor played Quinton "Q" Brooks, a New York City rapper that goes as far into a relationship with Moesha as proposing her to marry him, which she accepts, only to call the engagement off later when he disappoints her.
Starr has continued making regular appearances in both film and TV, with roles in "NYPD Blue" (1998-2002), "The Wire" (2002-2003), "Darling Nikki: The Movie" (2008), "My Brother" (2006) Vegas Vampires" (2007) "The Next Hit" (2008), "A Day in the Life" (2009) and "CSI: NY" (2009).
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Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
Since 1988, Starr has been part of the pioneering hip hop group from New York City, "Onyx," whose latest album, "SnowMads," collaborated with Snowgoons.
THE BELOVED SERIES IS COMING BACK
"Moesha" was a family favorite in many homes when the show aired in 1994. It revolved around Moesha, played by R&B singer Norwood, a teenage girl juggling school, romance, and friendship.
Image source: Getty Images
Image source: Getty Images
The show's fans may remember the show left off on a cliffhanger when it was abruptly canceled in 2001. When asked by her TV stepmom, Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dee Mitchell), if she wants to do a "Moesha" reboot, Brandy responded by saying yes.
"Moesha" has won two NAACP awards, one for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Countess Vaughn, who played as Moesha's best friend in the show, and the other for Norwood who won, Outstanding Youth Actress.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
Although fans are totally here for a reboot of the nostalgic show, fans can't help but remember the late Bernie Mac, Yvette Wilson, and Lamont Bentley.
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The new version of "Moesha," which does not have an exact release date, follows a cast reunion on "The Real" in 2017. Most of the cast appeared, but that did not include late co-stars Bernie Mac.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
Although fans are totally here for a reboot of the nostalgic show, fans can't help but remember the late Bernie Mac, Yvette Wilson, and Lamont Bentley.
The new version of "Moesha," which does not have an exact release date, follows a cast reunion on "The Real" in 2017. Most of the cast appeared, but that did not include late co-stars Bernie Mac.
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