Lark Voorhies (born Lark Holloway; March 25, 1974)[3] is an American actress. She played Lisa Marie Turtle on the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell (1989–1993) and was nominated for the Young Artist Award six times, winning in 1990 and 1993 for her work on the show.
Lark Voorhies | |
|---|---|
 Voorhies in 2008 | |
| Born | Lark Holloway March 25, 1974[1][2] Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Lisa Turtle – Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell |
| Spouses | Miguel Coleman
(m. 1996; div. 2004)Jimmy Green
(m. 2015; div. 2015) |
| Partner(s) | Martin Lawrence (1993–1994) |
Early life
editBorn Lark Holloway to Wayne and Tricia Holloway in Nashville, Tennessee, she later adopted "Voorhies" as a stage name.[4][5] Her mother named her "Lark" after the character in the 1972 film Cool Breeze, played by Margaret Avery.[6] By the time Voorhies was two years old, the family had moved to Pasadena, California. During this period, her mother took her to a talent agent, because of her belief that Voorhies was "a natural-born ham."[7] However, her first audition ended poorly when she froze up.[7] She appeared in a national television commercial for Universal Studios Tour at age 12, advertising its upcoming King Kong attraction. She said of the experience: "I was on this tram screaming with all these other people. I had such a great time doing that."[6][8]
Entertainment career
editActing
editVoorhies made her acting debut at the age of two. Though photogenic, she was shy, and her mother put Voorhies' acting career on hold until she was more comfortable in front of the cameras. Later, at the age of fourteen, Voorhies reappeared on an episode of Small Wonder in 1988. In June of that same year, she landed the role of Lisa Turtle in Disney Channel's television series Good Morning, Miss Bliss[9] and appeared in thirteen episodes from 1988 to 1989. She remained as the same character, as did Zack, Screech, and Mr. Belding, after Disney dropped the series and it was picked up and retooled by NBC and renamed Saved by the Bell.
Voorhies has since appeared in several television sitcoms and soap operas. She played the role of single mom Wendy Reardon on Days of Our Lives in 1993.[10] On The Bold and the Beautiful Voorhies played the role of amiable intern fashion-designer, Jasmine Malone beginning in September 1995. She was released from her contract in November 1996 when her role required her to act in sex scenes, which the actress refused to do citing her religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness.[citation needed]
In 1995, Voorhies guest-starred in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Life Support". During the same year, Voorhies guest-starred in the Family Matters season six episode "Home Sweet Home", as Eddie's upstairs dream girl. She has continued to act in various roles since then, such as In the House, in which she played the girlfriend-turned-wife of Alfonso Ribeiro’s character, Dr. Max Stanton. Previously, she played Ribeiro's love interest twice on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Besides sitcoms, Voorhies also appeared in movies and direct-to-video films. In 2001, Voorhies played a major role in the film How High as Lauren, a Harvard student. She was involved in a 1990 movie adaptation of the book The Black Man's Guide to Understanding Black Women[11] and played Ana Smith in the 2008 movie The Next Hit. Although she only has two acting credits since 2008, and none since 2012, Voorhies' representatives cited a busy work schedule when she did not appear in a SBTB-based mini-reunion sketch on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" alongside Gosselaar, Lopez, Thiessen, and Dennis Haskins in 2015. Voorhies publicly stated in 2020 that she was "hurt" that she was not invited to participate in the Saved by the Bell sequel series on Peacock.[12][13] Later that year, however, NBC announced that Voorhies would in fact reprise her role as Lisa Turtle for the new show.[14]
Music
editVoorhies has appeared in several music videos. She plays Kenny Lattimore's love interest in his debut video "Never Too Busy", from his 1996 self-titled debut album. In Boyz II Men's music video "On Bended Knee", she plays Wanya's girlfriend. She is featured in Montell Jordan's "Somethin' for the Honeyz" and in Dru Hill's "These Are the Times". In 1994, Voorhies was in a group originally called the X-Girls (now known as Geneva) with Stacee and Yashi Brown (the daughters of singer and oldest Jackson family sibling, Rebbie Jackson). Voorhies founded and was the lead singer in Third Degree, an alternative band.[citation needed]
Writing
editOver 2010 and 2011, Voorhies self-published three books she authored: Reciprocity, Trek of the Cheshire, and A True Light.[15][16][17][18]
Personal life
editVoorhies dated her Saved by the Bell co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar for three years from August 1989 to August 1992[19] during the show's run. Voorhies was engaged to actor Martin Lawrence in 1993 but it was later called off in 1994.[20] Voorhies married Miguel Coleman in 1996. They separated in 2001, and divorced in 2004.[21][22]
On May 30, 2006, Voorhies filed a lawsuit against The National Enquirer for libel over an article that included claims published in June 2005 that she had a drug problem.[23] The case was dropped in less than two months.[24]
Voorhies met music engineer Jimmy Green at a networking event in 2014. After a year of dating, Voorhies and Green married on April 30, 2015, at a chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.[25] Voorhies filed for divorce in October 2015 after six months of marriage.[26]
Voorhies was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2015 and did not publicly reveal it until 2020.[27][28]
Books authored
edit- Voorhies, Lark (2010). Reciprocity. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450200660.
- Voorhies, Lark (2011). True Light. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450243544.
- Voorhies, Lark (2011). Trek of the Cheshire. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1462025985.
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1989 | Good Morning, Miss Bliss | Lisa Turtle | 13 episodes |
| 1988, 1989 | Small Wonder | Brandie Ross Binky |
"When You Hear the Beep" "The Tattletale" |
| 1989 | The Robert Guillaume Show | Danica | Episode: "Educating Ann" |
| 1989–1993 | Saved by the Bell | Lisa Turtle | 86 episodes |
| 1992 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Cindy | Episode: "Mama's Baby, Carlton's Maybe" |
| 1992 | Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style | Lisa Turtle | TV Movie |
| 1993 | Martin | Nicole | Episodes: "The Break Up" (Parts 2 & 3) |
| 1993 | Getting By | Tasha | Episodes: "Men Don't Dance", "Turnabout Dance" |
| 1993–1994 | Days of Our Lives | Wendy Reardon | |
| 1994 | Saved by the Bell: The College Years | Lisa Turtle | Episode: "Wedding Plans" |
| 1994 | Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas | Lisa Turtle | TV Movie |
| 1994 | Me and the Boys | Denise | Episode: "Talent Show" |
| 1994 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Lisa Turtle | Episode: "Goodbye Bayside" (Part 2) |
| 1995 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Breena Black | Episode: "What About Your Friends" |
| 1995 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Leanne | Episode: "Life Support" |
| 1995 | Family Matters | Dream Girl | Episode: "Home Sweet Home" |
| 1995–1996, 2004 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Jasmine Malone | Originated the role (Jan. 1995 – Nov. 1996); reprised in April 2004 – June to July 2004 |
| 1997 | Malcolm & Eddie | Lydia | Episode: "Club Story" |
| 1997 | The Last Don | Tiffany | Miniseries |
| 1997–1999 | In the House | Mercedes Langford | 18 episodes |
| 1998 | The Love Boat: The Next Wave | Johari Mayfield | Episode: "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" |
| 1999 | Mutiny | TV Movie | |
| 1999 | The Parkers | Chandra | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Grown Ups | Stacy | Episode: "J's Pet Peeve" |
| 2001 | Fire & Ice | Holly Aimes | TV Movie |
| 2002 | Widows | Miniseries | |
| 2008 | Robot Chicken | Lisa Turtle / Betty Childs / Borg Queen (voice) | Episode: "Boo Cocky" |
| 2020–2021 | Saved by the Bell | Lisa Turtle | 3 episodes |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Def Jam's How to Be a Player | Lisa | |
| 2000 | Longshot | Woman at Bar | Alternative title: Jack of All Trades |
| 2001 | How High | Lauren | |
| 2002 | Civil Brand | Lil' Momma | |
| 2008 | The Next Hit | Ana Smith | |
| 2009 | Mimi's Place | Sydney | Short film |
| 2011 | Measure of Faith | Kim | Direct-to-video |
| 2012 | Little Creeps | The Dean | Direct-to-video |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress in a Cable Family Series | Good Morning, Miss Bliss | Nominated |
| 1990 | Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast | Good Morning, Miss Bliss | Nominated | |
| 1990 | Best Young Actress Starring | Good Morning, Miss Bliss | Won | |
| 1991 | Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series | Saved by the Bell | Nominated | |
| 1992 | Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series | Saved by the Bell | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series | Saved by the Bell | Won |
References
edit- ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (1 December 2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9781578594252 – via Google Books.
- ^ Riggs, Thomas (1 June 2007). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Cengage Gale. ISBN 9780787690496 – via Google Books.
- ^ McCann, Bob (26 September 2017). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786437900 – via Google Books.
- ^ Baldwin, Suzy (March 25, 2005). "Signposts". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 30.
- ^ Diamond, Dustin (2009). Behind the Bell. Transit Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 978-0981239699.
- ^ a b Reichardt, Nancy M. (November 27, 1995). "Voorhies Boldly Jumps Into Daytime Drama". Palm Beach Post. p. 2D.
- ^ a b Novakovich, Lilana (October 20, 1996). "Soap star had long climb to Another World". Calgary Herald. p. C7.
- ^ Wilson, John M. (December 22, 1985). "Monkey Breath". Los Angeles Times. p. 35. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ Bark, Ed (June 3, 1989). "Shakeup set for Saturday morning TV". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
NBC also is experimenting with the first Saturday morning situation comedy. Saved By the Bell keeps track of six mischievous, adventurous teens played by flesh-and-blood actors you've never heard of unless you're one of their parents. Fave name: Lark Voorhies.
- ^ "Lark Voorhies Cast on "Days of Our Lives"". Tulsa World. April 1, 1993. p. C3.
- ^ "Then/Now: 'Saved By the Bell'". Fox News. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ Ali, Rasha (February 18, 2020). "'Saved by the Bell' star Lark Voorhies says she feels 'slighted and hurt' about not being a part of reboot". Usatoday.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (February 18, 2020). "Lark Voorhies Responds To Being Excluded From 'Saved By The Bell' Revival: "I Feel A Bit Slighted And Hurt"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (October 29, 2020). "Time out! Here's your first look at Lark Voorhies' surprise return in Saved by the Bell revival". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ Lark Voorhies as author at Amazon.com
- ^ Voorhies, Lark (2010). Reciprocity. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450200660.
- ^ Voorhies, Lark (2011). True Light. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450243544.
- ^ Voorhies, Lark (2011). Trek of the Cheshire. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1462025985.
- ^ Abraham, Allison (2019-10-11). "Little known behind-the-scenes facts from Saved By the Bell". University Fox. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- ^ Brown, Jamie Foster (26 September 1994). "S2S Magazine". Jamie Foster Brown – via Google Books.
- ^ Aradillas, Elaine (October 15, 2012). "A Saved by the Bell Star's Sad Spiral". People. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ "Lark Voorhies' husband wanted by police". Washington Post. June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ "'Saved By the Bell' actress sues tabloid". USA Today. Los Angeles. Associated Press. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "'Bell' Star Drops Cocaine Story Lawsuit". TMZ.com. 28 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ Saad, Nardine (June 12, 2015). "Lark Voorhies of 'Saved by the Bell' is a married woman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ "Saved by the Bell Star Slams Ex-Husband on Instagram". 30 November 2015.
- ^ Ali, Rasha (February 18, 2020). "'Saved by the Bell' star Lark Voorhies opens up about her mental illness, series reboot snub". Chicago Sun Times.
- ^ Hughley, D.L. (February 24, 2020). "Lark Discusses Mental Health on Dr. Oz". WZAK Cleveland.
