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Telma Hopkins

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Telma Hopkins
Hopkins in 2008
Born
Telma Louise Hopkins

(1948-10-28) October 28, 1948 (age 76)[1]
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1967–present
Known forBosom Buddies
Gimme a Break!
Family Matters
Half & Half
Spouse
Donald B. Allen
​
​
(m. 1970; div. 1977)​
Children1

Telma Louise Hopkins (born October 28, 1948)[1] is an American actress and pop singer. Hopkins rose to prominence as a member of the pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, who had several number-one songs.[2] She also performed on the CBS variety show Tony Orlando and Dawn from 1974 until 1976 along with Tony Orlando and Joyce Vincent Wilson. In the late 1970s, Hopkins began working as an actress, playing roles on various sitcoms, including Isabelle Hammond on Bosom Buddies (1980–82), Adelaide "Addy" Wilson on Gimme a Break! (1983–87) and Family Matters (1989–1997) as Rachel Baines–Crawford.

As lead actress, Hopkins starred on Getting By from 1993 to 1994. In recent years, Hopkins was a regular cast member on Half & Half (2002–06) portraying Phyllis Thorne, Are We There Yet? (2010–13), and short-lived Partners (2014). In film, Hopkins co-starred in 1984 science fiction film Trancers and in its sequels Trancers II (1991) and Trancers III (1992), as well as appearing in The Wood (1999) and The Love Guru (2008).

Early life

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Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Hopkins was raised by her grandmother in Highland Park, Michigan, a city located in the Metro Detroit area. Lacking an interest in acting during her childhood, she decided to pursue her dreams of singing.[3][4]

Career

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Music

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Hopkins (left) with Tony Orlando and Dawn, 1974.

Hopkins started her career as a background singer in Detroit, singing background on Golden World, Motown, Invictus Records, and Hot Wax Records hits. She appeared on such classics as Freda Payne's "Band of Gold" and Isaac Hayes' "Theme from Shaft" and working with legendary artists like the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye.

Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson were recruited by Tony Orlando to form the vocal group Dawn. As a recording act, Tony Orlando and Dawn would have much success throughout the second half of the 1970s, releasing 16 top-40 singles, three of which reached #1, and starring in a CBS variety show (titled Tony Orlando and Dawn) from 1974 to 1976. In 1977, Tony Orlando and Dawn announced their retirement.[2]

Television and film

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In 1979, Hopkins made her acting debut playing Daisy in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. Later that year, she co-starred alongside Eileen Brennan on the short-lived ABC sitcom A New Kind of Family. The following year, she was cast opposite Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari in another ABC sitcom, Bosom Buddies. The series was cancelled in 1982 after two seasons.

In 1983, Hopkins joined the cast of NBC sitcom Gimme a Break! starring Nell Carter.[5] She played Adelaide "Addy" Wilson, Nell's childhood friend, until the series finale in 1987.

In 1989, Hopkins began starring as Rachel Baines-Crawford in the ABC sitcom Family Matters. She left the series after four seasons as a regular cast member, to star (with Cindy Williams) as the co-lead of the sitcom Getting By which aired for two seasons (one on ABC, the other on NBC) from 1993 to 1994.[6] She later returned to Family Matters, making recurring appearances in the sixth season and guest-starring in the Season 9 Christmas episode "Deck the Malls" in 1997.

In later years, she appeared as Richard T. Jones' mother in the romantic comedy The Wood (1999), and played Romany Malco's mother in the comedy film The Love Guru (2008). She appeared in JD Lawrence's stage play The Clean Up Woman in October 2008.[7]

From 2002 to 2006, she starred in the UPN sitcom Half & Half alongside Rachel True, Essence Atkins and Valarie Pettiford. She also had recurring roles on The Hughleys and Any Day Now. From 2010 to 2013, she co-starred alongside Terry Crews and Essence Atkins in the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?.[8]

In 2014, she played Martin Lawrence's mother on the FX sitcom Partners.[9][10] In 2016, she was cast as Jerrika Hinton's mother in the ABC comedy pilot Toast, produced by ShondaLand.[11]

In May 2021, it was announced Hopkins had been cast in the role of Denise Tolliver on The Young and the Restless, reuniting her with Family Matters co-star Bryton James.[12]

Personal life and other work

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Hopkins was married to Donald B. Allen from 1970 until 1977.[6] Together, they have a son.

She often volunteers for charitable causes. She has worked with Caring for Babies with AIDS, Act on Arthritis and the Parent–teacher association. She also mentors children.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Kid with the Broken Halo Gail Desautel Television film
1984 Trancers Ruth "Ruthie" Raines
1988 Pulse Pounders Ruth "Ruthie" Raines Cameo
1990 Vital Signs Dr. Kennan
1990 How to Murder a Millionaire Teresa
1991 Trancers II Ruth "Ruthie" Raines
1992 Trancers III Ruth "Ruthie" Raines
1999 The Wood Mrs. Hightower
2001 Down to Earth Woman in Audience Cameo
2001 Rain Short film
2008 The Love Guru Lillian Roanoke
2013 Trancers: City of Lost Angels Ruth "Ruthie" Raines Short film
2015 Welcome to the Family Deborah Television film
2018 Running out of Time Dolly
2021 The Matrix Resurrections Freya
2024 Brewster's Millions: Christmas Mrs. Brewster

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1974–1976 Tony Orlando and Dawn Herself
1979 Roots: The Next Generations Daisy Miniseries
1979 Marie K.C. Jones Episode: "Pilot"
1979–1980 A New Kind of Family Jess Ashton Series regular, 5 episodes
1980–1982 Bosom Buddies Isabelle Hammond Series regular, 37 episodes
1982–1983 The New Odd Couple Frances 2 episodes
1984 Fantasy Island Doris Wilson Episode: "Bojangles and the Dancer/Deuces Are Wild"
1979–1985 The Love Boat Various 4 episodes
1983–1987 Gimme a Break! Addy Wilson Series regular, 68 episodes
1986–1987 Rosie Joanne Dele Green 3 episodes
1988 Amen Charlotte Holloway Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues"
1989–1997 Family Matters Rachel Crawford Series regular
1993–1994 Getting By Dolores Dixon Series regular
1995 Women of the House Officer Rhoda Episode: "The Conjugal Cottage"
1996 Spider-Man Ms. Farrell Voice, episode: "Rocket Racer"[14]
1997 The Nanny Lila Baker Episode: "Fran's Roots"
1998 ER Carlene Episode: "Think Warm Thoughts"
1999 Batman Beyond Mrs. Gibson Voice, episode: "Hooked Up"[14]
1999–2001 The Hughleys Paulette Williams 5 episodes
2000 Histeria! Rosa Parks Voice, episode: "Heroes of Truth and Justice"[14]
2000 Static Shock Mrs. Barnett Voice, episode: "The Breed"[14]
2000 Suddenly Susan Denise Episode: "The Reversal"
2000–2001 Any Day Now Judge Wilma Evers 4 episodes
2001 For Your Love Miss Hope Episode: "The Next Best Thing"
2002–2006 Half & Half Phyllis Thorne Series regular
2008 Psych Phylis Gaffney Episode: "There's Something About Mira"
2010–2013 Are We There Yet? Marilyn Persons Series regular
2013 Getting On Beverly Raymes Episode: "Born on the Fourth of July"
2014 Partners Ruth Jackson Series regular
2012–2014 Lab Rats Grandma Rose Dooley 3 episodes
2015 K.C. Undercover Miss Holley Episode: "Debutante Baller"
2016 2 Broke Girls Pilar Episode: "And the Rom-Commie"
2019–2022 Dead to Me Yolanda 5 episodes
2019 The Loud House Maybelle Voice, 2 episodes[14]
2019–2022 Family Reunion Maybelle Recurring role
2019–2022 The Casagrandes Maybelle Voice, recurring role[14]
2021 The Young and the Restless Denise Tolliver 5 episodes
2021 Rugrats Celeste Voice, episode: "Goodbye Reptar"
2023 Not Dead Yet Susie Irving Episode: "Not Well Yet"
2024 That Girl Lay Lay G-Ma Marguerite Episode: "Granny Fae Fae's Back to Play Play"

References

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  1. ^ a b McCann, Bob (December 21, 2009). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5804-2. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Steve Huey. "Dawn". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  3. ^ Villasenor, Ann (January 23, 1994). "WITH AN EYE ON ... : Telma Hopkins, the accidental actress with a message to tell". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Barrow, Genoa (December 5, 2002). "Entertainment veteran Telma Hopkins serves children, needy in hands-on manner". New York Amsterdam News. 93 (49): 47.
  5. ^ "Losing Job Was Her Best Break Telma Hopkins Has Made The Switch From Singer To Actress". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "WITH AN EYE ON ... : Telma Hopkins, the accidental actress with a message to tell". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1994. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  7. ^ Parker, Karlayne (July 27, 2008). "Performing helped J.D. Lawrence with speech impediment". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  8. ^ "Are We There Yet?". TV Series Finale. August 6, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  9. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (December 16, 2013). "Telma Hopkins Set as Martin Lawrence's Mother in FX Comedy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  10. ^ "EW Community". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  11. ^ Schaefer, Megan (April 7, 2016). "'Grey's Anatomy' Cast Reunites In Set Photo From New Shonda Rhimes Comedy 'Toast'". International Business Times. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  12. ^ "See a Family Matters reunion on The Young and the Restless". Entertainment Weekly. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "Articles About Telma Hopkins". Family Matters Fansite. November 12, 2003. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Telma Hopkins (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 27, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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