Regina King’s acting career spans decades of critically acclaimed movies and TV shows. From her early days in 227 to her Emmy-winning turn in American Crime and recurring roles on The Strain and Shameless, the actress can be seen as diverse characters across genres.
From teen comedies to the Academy Award-nominated biopic Ray, this filmography looks at the best of King’s work.
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Regina King’s film career exploded after this iconic urban coming-of-age drama. This movie marks her first starring role and features rapper Ice Cube in his acting debut.
King’s character Rhonda has more grit and sass than any modern-day fairy godmother could muster up. She’s Sam’s moral support and brings a whole lot of attitude to her part. The movie also starred Tyra Ferrell, Morris Chestnut and Laurence Fishburne. The film was directed by John Singleton in his directorial debut. The film was a massive box office hit.
Poetic Justice (1993)
After the murder of her boyfriend, Justice becomes withdrawn, living alone and spending her days writing poetry. Her tough exterior masks her deep depression, but she slowly realizes that she is not alone when she meets Lucky.
While not as intense as Boyz N the Hood, John Singleton’s Poetic Justice offers a more positive look at relationships in South Central. The movie also showcases King’s lyrical talent in the film’s montages that feature her reading her poems over b-roll of destroyed lots and damaged buildings. This film launched her into stardom.
Higher Learning (1995)
Regina King first gained widespread recognition for her role in the television series 227 (1985-90). She later appeared in the film Friday and the crime television series Southland.
She has since won multiple accolades for her performances, including an Academy Award and four Primetime Emmy Awards. Most recently, she co starred with Idris Elba in the Netflix western The Harder They Fall and received critical praise for her performance as Tish in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. King has also directed several episodes of TV shows and made her feature directorial debut with One Night in Miami (2020)..
Friday (1995)
The film that first brought Regina King mainstream recognition. She portrayed Marcee Tidwell, the wife of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s character.
Set in South Central LA, the film follows Craig Jones (Ice Cube) and his friend Smokey through a day of tribulations. They have to pay off their drug dealer Big Worm, they deal with the local bully Deebo, and more. The film is a stoner comedy with a cult following and inspired the sequels Next Friday (2000) and Friday After Next (2002). It also garnered Regina a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
After appearing in the TV show 227 and John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood, King gained mainstream recognition in Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire. She portrayed Marcee Tidwell, the wife of Cuba Gooding Jr’s character. She brought a sense of strength and authenticity to the film. King also starred in the comedy Down to Earth (2000) and in the short-lived sitcom Leap of Faith (2002).
She continued to appear on television, including the crime series Southland (2009-2013). She earned a Primetime Emmy award for her role in 2018. She is currently starring in the Netflix limited series Seven Seconds (2018).
Enemy of the State (1998)
The John Singleton urban coming-of-age drama gave King her first big-screen break. She earned praise for her supporting role as Shalika Gerald, the supportive girlfriend of Tre Styles. This political thriller about a Washington lawyer facing a treacherous NSA official has King proving she’s more than just an action actress.
King gained wider recognition after this cineb net film as Cuba Gooding Jr.’s wife. She continued her acting career with a range of films and TV shows, including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and the police drama Southland (2009-2013). She provided the voices for the characters Huey and Riley Freeman in the animated television series The Boondocks.
Love and Action in Chicago (1999)
King’s film career took off after this urban coming-of-age drama. Her portrayal of Shalika Gerald earned her critical acclaim and mainstream recognition. In this movie, King shines as Kim Hinton, the supportive and hilarious wife of Charlie (Eddie Murphy). Her comedy timing and charm adds an essential element to this family-friendly flick.
Regina King brought depth and versatility to her role as Margie Hendricks, a backup singer for Ray Charles in this critically acclaimed biopic. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination. She also directed the films One Night in Miami… and If Beale Street Could Talk.
Down to Earth (2000)
Regina King broke through to a wider audience with her role as Shalika Gerald in this urban coming-of-age drama. She adds depth to this John Singleton film as a character who supports her boyfriend Tre Styles in his tough neighborhood.
She continued to act in movies, including Legally Blonde 2 and Miss Congeniality 2. During this time she also starred in the television series 24 and won critical acclaim for her recurring roles on Shameless and The Leftovers. In addition, she made her directorial debut with the historical film One Night in Miami.
Leap of Faith (2002)
In this lyrical cinematic essay about The Exorcist, veteran pop-culture documentary filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe focuses on one feisty subject: Faith Wardwell. There’s Patty, Faith’s free-spirited single friend who’s always on the lookout for Mr. Right Now; Cynthia, her no-nonsense married neighbor who speaks her mind on all issues, whether relevant to the topic or not.
Jenny Bicks packs her Sex and the City sensibilities for network television, but the result is less engaging and much less funny. King is luminous, though. Her turn as the sassy singer Margie Hendricks in the film Ray is also memorable.
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
King shatters stereotypes as an alcoholic woman in this gritty drama that features Maya Angelou’s poetry. She received critical praise and awards season buzz for her portrayal. King also starred in John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood and Poetic Justice, and has appeared on television shows like The Boondocks and Southland.
The sequel to the popular first film has all the trimmings of a sleeper snoozer. While Reese Witherspoon is as charming as ever, the film suffers from sequel-itis and a predictable plot. Parents will want to skip this one.
