Lisa Arrindell (born March 24, 1969), also credited as Lisa Arrindell Anderson, is an American actress. Beginning her career in the early 1990s, Arrindell is most known for her role as Vanessa Breaux-Henderson in Madea's Family Reunion (2006), Heather Comstock in the series In the House (1995), and Toynelle Davis in Livin' Large (1991).
Lisa Arrindell | |
|---|---|
 Arrindell at Evidence Dance Company's Winter Gala at the Hudson Theater in 2008 | |
| Born | March 24, 1969 (age 54) |
| Education | The Juilliard School |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse |
Basil Anderson
(m. 1993; div. 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and education
editLisa Arrindell was born in the Bronx on March 24, 1969[1] and brought straight home to Brooklyn, where she grew up. Arrindell attended the High School of Performing Arts, now called Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. Arrindell earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre from The Juilliard School in New York City.[2]
Career
editArrindell made her film debut in Walt Disney's One Good Cop alongside Michael Keaton in 1991. That same year, she played the lead in the comedy Livin' Large. She later appeared in Trial by Jury (1994) and Spike Lee's Clockers (1995). Arrindell was a series regular in the NBC sitcom, In the House in 1995. She co-starred in several made-for-television movies, including A Lesson Before Dying (1999) alongside Don Cheadle and Cicely Tyson, and Disappearing Acts (2000) starring Sanaa Lathan. In 2006, Arrindell appeared in three films, Big Momma's House 2, The Second Chance, and Madea's Family Reunion. In 2010, she appeared in The Wronged Man with Julia Ormond and Mahershala Ali. Arrindell appeared opposite Isaiah Washington in the thriller The Sin Seer (2015), The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017), starring Oprah Winfrey. She also had guest starring roles on The Cosby Show, The Practice, The Steve Harvey Show, Drop Dead Diva, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Elementary. In 2017, she had a recurring role in the Bounce TV prime-time soap opera Saints & Sinners. She also appeared in Fox's Our Kind of People in 2022.
Arrindell recently starred in the film 12 Angry Men And...Women on Apple TV with Wendell Pierce and BET's Favorite Son (2021). Arrindell opened the revival of Law & Order (2022) in its first episode as Veronica King. Arrindell has guest starred on several other network series, including Random Acts of Flyness, Bull, Elementary, Madam Secretary, Law & Order SVU, and Notorious. Some of her stage performances include the Broadway revival of Cat On a Hot Tin Roof with James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad, Jubilee (Arena Stage), Reparations (Billie Holiday Theatre), Richard III (Delacorte Theater), Heliotrope Bouquet (Playwrights Horizons), and Earth & Sky (Second Stage).
Personal life
editArrindell married Basil Anderson in 1993. Together, they have two children. The couple divorced in 2015, and she reverted to her maiden name. Arrindell currently resides in New York City.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | One Good Cop | Raisa | |
| Livin' Large | Toynelle Davis | ||
| 1994 | Trial by Jury | Eleanor Lyons | |
| 1995 | Clockers | Sharon Dunham | |
| 1999 | Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years | Young Sadie | TV movie |
| A Lesson Before Dying | Vivian Baptiste | ||
| 2000 | Disappearing Acts | Claudette | |
| 2006 | Big Momma's House 2 | Danielle | |
| The Second Chance | Amanda Sanders | ||
| Madea's Family Reunion | Vanessa Breaux-Henderson | ||
| 2010 | The Wronged Man | Michelle Willis | TV movie |
| 2012 | Probable Cause | Captain | |
| 2013 | A Christmas Blessing | Pamela | TV movie |
| 2014 | First Impression | Imani Townsend | |
| Drumline: A New Beat | Lois Raymond | TV movie | |
| Christmas Wedding Baby | Lori | ||
| 2015 | The Sin Seer | Rose Ricard | |
| 2017 | The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks | Ethel | TV movie |
| 2018 | One Last Thing | Margo | |
| Turtle vs. Octopus | Sage | Short | |
| 2021 | Favorite Son | First Lady Wilson | |
| 2022 | Tyson's Run | Dr. Wyatt | |
| The Christmas Clapback | Brandy | ||
| 2023 | Once Upon A Time in the District | Mayor Sharp | |
| Favorite Son Christmas | Lady Rita | TV movie | |
| 2024 | Albany Road | Carol | |
| Betty & Blue | The Announcer | Short | |
| An Extraordinary Life | Adrienne Herndon | Short |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Cosby Show | Imani Baker | Episode: "Theo and the Kids: Part 1" |
| 1992 | ScreenPlay | Joanne Matheson | Episode: "Buying a Landslide" |
| 1992-93 | Ghostwriter | Special Agent Norma | Episode: "Into the Comics: Part 1 & 4" |
| 1995 | In the House | Heather Comstock | Recurring Cast: Season 1-2 |
| 1997 | The Practice | Andrea Wilton | Episode: "The Means" |
| 1997-98 | The Steve Harvey Show | Rachel | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2007 | K-Ville | Maya Beaulieu | Episode: "Boulet in a China Shop" |
| 2008 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Dr. Lynn Gilcrest | Episode: "Play on Playa" |
| 2009-10 | Meet the Browns | Karen | Guest Cast: Season 1 & 3-4 |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Cara Raleigh | Episode: "Disabled" |
| 2010-11 | Drop Dead Diva | Pacific Holdings Lawyer | Guest Cast: Season 2-3 |
| 2016 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Robin Daughtry | Episode: "Sheltered Outcasts" |
| Notorious | Sergeant Betsy Powell | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2017 | The Quad | - | Episode: "#MuleBone" |
| Saints & Sinners | Rebecca Jourdan | Main Cast: Season 2 | |
| 2018 | Madam Secretary | Judge Tamara Pollard | Episode: "Family Separation: Part 1" |
| 2019 | Elementary | Ethiopian Consul | Episode: "The Price of Admission" |
| Bull | Dr. Linsey Allendale | Episode: "Into the Mystic" | |
| 2021-22 | Our Kind of People | Giselle Hilgard | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2022 | Law & Order | Veronica King | Episode: "The Right Thing" |
Accolades
edit| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Black Reel Awards | Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series | "A Lesson Before Dying" | Nominated |
| 2001 | Black Reel Awards | Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series | "Disappearing Acts" | Nominated |
| 2015 | American Black Film Festival | American Black Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Best Actress | "The Sin Seer" | Won |