KJ Smith-Black
Born
Khaneshia JaNea Smith[1]

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present
SpouseSkyh Black (m.2023)

Khaneshia Smith,[2] known professionally as KJ Smith, is an American actress, known for her roles as Sasha Duncan in the BET drama series, The Family Business, and as Andrea "Andi" Barnes in the comedy-drama, Sistas.

Early life

Smith was born in Tallahassee, Florida.[3] She was a cheerleader and softball player in high school.[1] She studied Business Marketing at Florida State University. where she earned her bachelor's degree and later went on to work in corporate America. Smith later went back to further her education at Florida A&M University where she studied journalism.[2]

Career

Smith began her acting career in 2009 with appearing in short films and small parts in television comedies include Conan, Real Husbands of Hollywood, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Comedy Bang! Bang!. She also guest-starred in a number of sitcoms such as Survivor's Remorse, Mann & Wife, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Black-ish.[4] She played secondary role in the 2015 made-for-television movie Whitney and the following year had a recurring role in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Queen Sugar.[5]

Smith in 2016

In 2017, Smith had a recurring role during the first season of the CW comedy-drama series, Dynasty,[6] and guest-starred on Being Mary Jane, Saints & Sinners and Ozark. In 2018, she co-starred in the web drama series, Giants produced by Issa Rae. Smith also made guest appearances on NCIS: Los Angeles, The Fosters, Lethal Weapon, Fuller House, Family Reunion, All Rise and BlackAF.[7] From 2015 to 2018, she had a recurring role on Bounce TV sitcom Family Time and in 2019 had a recurring role in short-lived ABC legal drama, The Fix, [8] In 2019, she co-starred in the comedy film A Madea Family Funeral and the following year appeared in psychological thriller Fatal Affair for Netflix.[9][10][11] Smith also played the lead role in the drama film The Available Wife (2020).[12]

From 2019 to 2021, Smith starred in the BET family drama series, The Family Business. In 2019 she landed her breakthrough role as Andrea "Andi" Barnes in the BET comedy-drama series, Sistas opposite Ebony Obsidian, Novi Brown and Mignon Von.[13][14] [15] In 2022, she also had a recurring role in season two of the Power prequel series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, on STARZ.[16][17]

Personal life

Smith is married to actor and Sistas co-star Skyh Alvester Black.[18][19][20]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Talent Waitress Short
2010 Dogs Are a Woman's Best Friend Jasmin Short
The City - Short
Cocoa Love Funeral Attendee Short
2011 Hope Arissa Short
Sex/Absurd Whitney
Hot Girls on the Beach Bianca Video
2012 One Call Away Restaurant Patron #1 Short
2015 Whitney Girl with Steve Television film
2017 Baker's Man Naomi
Love at the Shore Maureen Television film
Caravaggio and My Mother the Pope Gospel Nurse
2018 Throwback Holiday Kimberly Wiggins
2019 A Madea Family Funeral Carol
I Got the Hook Up 2 Lieutenant Moore
I Left My Girlfriend for Regina Jones Denise
2020 Fatal Affair Deborah Lee
The Available Wife Nicole

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Make Love Not War Tracy Stoudimire
All My Children Gloria the Resort Waitress Episode: "Episode #1.10632"
1000 Ways to Die Sorority Girl Episode: "Death, the New Black"
2012 Conan Comedy Sketch Player Episode: "Episode #2.54" & "#2.120"
2013 The Therapist Dr. Monica Knight Recurring cast: Season 2
Jacked Up Ashley Main Cast
Real Husbands of Hollywood Young Woman #1 Episode: "Frauditions" & "The Bump Stops Here"
2014 Friday: The Web Series Mrs. Parker Episode: "Deebo Ditch"
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Sketch Artist Episode: "Eva Longoria/Wiz Khalifa"
Survivor's Remorse Kiara Episode: "On the Carpet"
2014–15 Black Boots Blair Recurring cast: Season 1
2015 Almost 30 Cute Upbeat Girl Episode: "Almost Roommates"
Mann & Wife Avery Episode: "Mann's Bodyguard"
Comedy Bang! Bang! Female Witchbuster Episode: "Weird Al Yankovic Wears a Different Hawaiian Shirt"
2015–18 Family Time Melinda Recurring cast: Seasons 3–6
2016 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Sequoia Episode: "Frank Falls Out the Window"
Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn Miss Jody Episode: "Ballet and the Beasts"
Queen Sugar Lena Recurring cast: Season 1
2017 Being Mary Jane Sunitha Rashad Episode: "Getting Judged"
Saints & Sinners Marlene Episode: "This Union Will Be the Death of Me"
Ozark Stripper Episode: "Tonight We Improvise"
Dynasty Kori Rucks Recurring cast: Season 1
2018 Giants Bianca Recurring Cast: Season 2
The Inspectors Gabby Episode: "Stop the Presses"
NCIS: Los Angeles Chelsea Parker Episode: "Reentry"
Black-ish Linda Episode: "Collateral Damage"
The Fosters Angela Episode: "Where the Heart Is"
Lethal Weapon Beth Episode: "Leo Getz Justice"
Fuller House Producer Episode: "President Fuller"
2019 The Fix Charlie Recurring cast
Family Reunion Coach Wilson Episode: "Remember the First Day of School?"
All Rise Cassie Lange Episode: "Fool for Liv"
Tales Billie Episode: "Ex-Factor"
2019–21 The Family Business Sasha Duncan Main cast: Seasons 1–2, Guest: Season 3
2019– Sistas Andrea "Andi" Barnes Main cast
2020 BlackAF Tischina Episode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"
2022 Power Book III: Raising Kanan Palomar Recurring cast: Season 2

References

  1. ^ a b "KJ Smith". TVGuide.com.
  2. ^ a b Lofton, Jamari (March 27, 2017). "FAMU grad breaks down boundaries". The FAMUAN. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Tracy, Brianne (July 23, 2020). "Sistas' KJ Smith Says She Was 'Nervous' to Return to Set amid COVID-19 but Is 'Happy to Be Back'". People. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Brockington, Ariana (October 2, 2019). "There Are So Many Celebs In 'blackAF'". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "Tallahassee native KJ Smith finds her niche in Hollywood – Capital Outlook". Archived from the original on June 21, 2019.
  6. ^ TV, AfterBuzz (November 20, 2021). "Our EXCLUSIVE Interview with KJ Smith from Dynasty - CW Weekly". AfterBuzz TV. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Hough, Quinn (April 19, 2020). "Every Celebrity Cameo in #blackAF Season 1". ScreenRant. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (August 29, 2018). "The Fix Casts KJ Smith; Chivonne Michelle Joins Jett". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  9. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (November 6, 2019). "Stephen Lang Joins 'Death in Texas'; KJ Smith Cast In 'Fatal Affair'; Oliver Cooper In 'Ghostbusters'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Lawrence, Gregory (July 1, 2020). "The Trailer for Netflix's 'Fatal Affair' Delivers Cheesy Domestic Thriller Realness". Collider. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Scott, A. O. (March 1, 2019). "Review: 'A Madea Family Funeral' Is No Cause for Tears". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  12. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (April 24, 2019). "Poorna Jagannathan, Nikohl Boosheri to Topline Alia's Birth; KJ Smith, Roger Guenveur Smith Co-Star in The Available Wife". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  13. ^ Throne, Will (August 1, 2019). "Tyler Perry Comedy Sistas Ordered at BET". Variety. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (August 1, 2019). "BET Greenlights Tyler Perry Drama Series Sistas, Sets Main cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  15. ^ Holmes, Martin (October 21, 2021). "'Tyler Perry's Sistas': BET Renews Show For Fourth Season". TV Insider. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (October 5, 2021). "'Power Book III: Raising Kanan': KJ Smith Joins Prequel Series As Recurring". Deadline. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Toby, Mekeisha Madden (October 6, 2021). "Power Book III: Raising Kanan Adds Sistas' KJ Smith to Season 2 Cast". TVLine. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Uwumarogie, Victoria (December 29, 2021). "'Sistas' Stars KJ Smith And Skyh Alvester Black Are Engaged!". Essence.
  19. ^ "Congratulations! 'Sistas' Stars KJ Smith And Skyh Alvester Black Are Engaged". BET. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  20. ^ "'Sistas' Stars KJ Smith And Skyh Alvester Black Engaged Over Christmas!". HelloBeautiful. December 26, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2023.

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