Khandi Alexander

Khandi Alexander, born on September fourth, nineteen fifty-seven, is a multifaceted American talent known for her work as a dancer, choreographer, and actress. She began her artistic journey in the 1980s, making a significant mark as a choreographer for Whitney Houston's world tours from nineteen eighty-eight to nineteen ninety-two, showcasing her exceptional skills in movement and performance.

Throughout the 1990s, Alexander transitioned into film, appearing in notable productions such as CB4, What's Love Got to Do with It, Sugar Hill, and There's Something About Mary. Her television career flourished as she took on the role of Catherine Duke in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio from nineteen ninety-five to nineteen ninety-eight, and later portrayed Jackie Robbins, the sister of Dr. Peter Benton, in the acclaimed medical drama ER from nineteen ninety-five to two thousand one.

In two thousand, Alexander garnered critical acclaim for her leading role in the HBO miniseries The Corner, further solidifying her reputation as a talented actress. She continued to captivate audiences as Dr. Alexx Woods in the CBS police procedural series CSI: Miami from two thousand two to two thousand nine, and later as LaDonna Batiste-Williams in the HBO drama Treme from two thousand ten to two thousand thirteen.

In two thousand thirteen, she joined the cast of the ABC drama Scandal as Maya Lewis, Olivia Pope's mother, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in two thousand fifteen for her compelling performance. Additionally, she received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for her portrayal of Bessie Smith's sister Viola in the HBO film Bessie, showcasing her versatility and depth as an actress.