Ellia English
| Ellia English | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Ellia English March 26, 1960 Covington, Georgia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Clark Atlanta University |
| Occupation | Singer, Actress, Pianist, Dancer |
| Years active | 1982–present |
Ellia English (born March 26, 1960) is an American singer, dancer, stage and film actress. She is best known for her role as Helen "Aunt Helen" King on the comedy sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show which originally ran from 1996-2001 and as Mary Lou Wentz, the mother of Teddy's best friend Ivy on Good Luck Charlie from 2010-2014. English was featured in a central role on the former, and was paired onscreen with Garrett Morris, who plays her husband Junior King.
English was born in Covington, Georgia. After an early graduation from high school, English attended Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in Atlanta, in hopes of becoming a lawyer. However, when the head of the drama department overhead her singing and offered her one of the leading roles in their musical production, Ellia's life took a different turn. She later transferred to Georgia State University where she studied speech and drama, and soon became an ensemble player at the Alliance Theater. Thoroughly dedicated to a life of acting, the next step was to travel to New York City. There, English starred in such productions as Ain't Misbehavin', Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Colored Museum, Dreamgirls, Romeo and Juliet, Spunk, Show Boat, Barnum, Nunsense and One Mo' Time, to name a few. She also sang with the (New York) Community Choir as one of their solo recording artists.
Los Angeles was calling and English made the move. She was a series regular (as Helen King) on The Jamie Foxx Show. Other television credits include Martin, Sinbad, Empty Nest, The Five Mrs. Buchanans, Love & War, Get Smart, and Thea. She was featured in the made for television movies The Innocent, The Barefoot Executive, and Based on an Untrue Story. On the silver screen, English was featured in Wildcats, Sidewalk Stories, Rain Without Thunder, Block Beauty and Girlfriends. She maintains a home in both Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angeles, California. She currently devotes her time to Big Sisters of Los Angeles and several other children's organizations. Also, in her spare time, she enjoys playing the flute, the piano, reading, walking, biking and many other outdoor activities. English is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. She co-stars with Steve Guttenberg and James Duval in the psycho horror film Cornered!, which is directed by Daniel Maze. She is also the winner of the 2009 New York Horror Film Festival's Best Actress Award for her portrayal of Mona in Cornered.
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