ALEXANDER, Erika 1969–

PERSONAL

Born November 19, 1969, in Winslow, AZ; father, a preacher; married Tony Puryear (a screenwriter), September 27, 1997. Education: Attended New York University; studied acting at Philadelphia's Freedom Theater.

Addresses: Agent— Innovative Artists, 1505 Tenth St., Santa Monica, CA 90401. Manager— Untitled Entertainment, 8436 West Third St., Suite 650, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Publicist— PMK/HBH, 8500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Career: Actress. Two Hands and a Mouthful (a production company), founder, 1993; Cimarron Entertainment (a production company), founder; manager of singer Shawana Kemp.

Awards, Honors: Image Award, best lead actress in a comedy series, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1996 and 1998, Image Award nomination, best lead actress in a comedy series, 1997, all for Living Single; Black Reel Award, theatrical—best independent actor, 2003, for 30 Years to Life.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Pamela "Pam" Tucker, a recurring role, The Cosby Show, NBC, 1990–1992.

Cheryl Carter, Going to Extremes, ABC, 1992–1993.

Maxine "Max" Felice Shaw, Living Single (also known as My Girls ), Fox, 1993–1998.

Fran Winston, Judging Amy, CBS, 2001.

Dee Mulhern, Street Time, Showtime, 2002.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Oney, George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation, CBS, 1986.

Madri/Hidimbi, The Mahabharata (also known as Le mahabharata ), 1989.

Cassandra Twymon, Common Ground, CBS, 1990.

Young Mama Flora, Mama Flora's Family, CBS, 1998.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Amy, The Last Best Year (also known as The Last Best Year of My Life ), ABC, 1990.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Shawana, Override, Showtime, 1994.

Celebrity Weddings In Style, Lifetime, 1998.

(In archive footage) Herself/Pam Tucker, The Cosby Show: A Look Back, NBC, 2002.

Also appeared in "Roy's Baby," ABC After School Specials, ABC.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 27th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1996.

The 28th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1997.

The 29th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1998.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Doris Carver, "Poison Ivy," Law & Order, 1990.

Voice of Agent Rush, "Absolute Zero," The Zeta Project (animated), The WB, 2002.

Neighbor Lady, "Clifford Grows Up/Jett's Sweater," Clifford the Big Red Dog, 2002.

Kema Mabuda, "Ritual," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (also known as Law & Order: S.V.U. ), NBC, 2004.

Film Appearances:

Joan Herez, My Little Girl, 1986.

Selma Cotter, The Long Walk Home, 1990.

Rita, Al's Daughter, He Said, She Said, 1991.

Venell, Fathers & Sons, 1992.

Ciel, 54 (also known as Fifty–Four ), Miramax, 1998.

Joy, 30 Years to Life, Exodus Entertainment, 2001.

Brenda, Love Liza, Sony Pictures Classics, 2002.

Lucy, Full Frontal, Miramax, 2002.

Laurel, Tricks, 2003.

Stage Appearances:

The Mahabaharta, New York City, 1987.

(Off–Broadway debut) Loretta, The Forbidden City, Public Theatre, New York City, 1989.

Bianca, The Taming of the Shrew, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 1999.

Yvonne, The Story, Joseph Papp Public Theater/Anspacher Theatre, New York City, 2003.

Major Tours:

The Mahabaharta, international cities, 1987.

RECORDINGS

Music Videos:

Appeared in Toni Braxton's "You're Makin' Me High."