What Is Erika Alexander's Net Worth?
Erika Alexander is an American actress, producer, and writer who has a net worth of $3 million. She is renowned for her roles as Pam Tucker on NBC's "The Cosby Show" (1990–1992) and Maxine Shaw on Fox's "Living Single" (1993–1998). With over 60 acting credits, her notable works include the films '54' (1998), '30 Years to Life' (2001), 'Love Liza' (2002), 'Get Out' (2017), and 'I See You' (2019). She also had significant roles in TV series like 'Going to Extremes' (1992–1993), 'Judging Amy' (2001), 'Street Time' (2002–2003), 'In Plain Sight' (2010), 'Last Man Standing' (2012–2015), 'Low Winter Sun' (2013), 'Bosch' (2016–2017), 'Beyond' (2017–2018), 'Insecure' (2018), 'Black Lightning' (2018–2019), 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga' (2019–present), 'Run The World' (2021–present), 'Swimming with Sharks' (2022), and 'Shining Girls' (2022). Erika produced the acclaimed documentary 'John Lewis: Good Trouble' (2020) and launched the true crime podcast 'Finding Tamika' in 2022. She has also co-written graphic novels like 'Concrete Park' (2012) and 'Giles' from the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' series (2018).
Early Life
Born Erika Rose Alexander on November 19, 1969, in Winslow, Arizona, Erika was raised in Flagstaff before moving to Pennsylvania at age 11. She attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls, influenced by her mother Sammie, a children's book author, and her father Robert.
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Career
Erika's acting journey began after studying at the New Freedom Theatre, landing her first film role in 'My Little Girl' (1986). She then appeared in multiple TV movies and series, eventually securing her breakthrough as Pam Tucker on 'The Cosby Show.' She gained widespread recognition playing Maxine Shaw on 'Living Single,' winning two NAACP Image Awards. Her 1990s career included films like 'He Said, She Said' (1991), 'Fathers & Sons' (1992), the miniseries 'Mama Flora’s Family' (1998), and the film '54' (1998). Erika continued to excel with roles in TV dramas such as 'Judging Amy' and 'Street Time' and guest appearances on popular series like 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Minds.'
Erika's versatility shone with recurring roles in 'Heist,' 'In Plain Sight,' 'Last Man Standing,' 'Bosch,' 'Insecure,' 'Black Lightning,' and leading roles in 'Run The World' and 'Shining Girls.' Her film portfolio includes 'Elsa & Fred' (2014), 'Secrets of the Magic City' (2014), 'Brave New Jersey' (2016), 'I See You' (2019), and the critical and commercial hit 'Get Out' (2017), which grossed $255.4 million globally. In 2022, she appeared in 'Swimming with Sharks' and continued her role in 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga.'
Personal Life
Erika married artist and screenwriter Tony Puryear in 1997, with whom she co-wrote the graphic novel 'Concrete Park.' The couple divorced in 2017 after 20 years of marriage. Passionate about social causes, Erika campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic Party primary. She co-founded Color Farm Media, focusing on promoting diversity and inclusion in media, and produced the award-winning documentary 'John Lewis: Good Trouble' (2020).
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Awards and Nominations
Erika Alexander has received significant recognition, including five NAACP Image Award nominations, winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Living Single' in 1996 and 1998. She also earned Black Reel Awards for her work in '30 Years to Life' and 'Run the World.' Additionally, Erika shared a Best Ensemble Acting award at the Phoenix Film Festival for 'Brave New Jersey' and received a BAM Award nomination for 'Get Out.' In 2021, she and her Color Farm Media co-founder Ben Arnon were nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy Award for 'John Lewis: Good Trouble.'
