Ellia English

Ellia English is an American actress, singer, and dancer whose career spans Broadway, television, and film. She appeared on Broadway in 1984 and has credits that include André DeShields' Haarlem Nocturne and Annie Warbucks. Her stage work also encompasses productions of Ain't Misbehavin', Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Dreamgirls, Show Boat, Barnum, Nunsense, One Mo' Time, Colored Museum, Spunk, Romeo and Juliet, and Love in the Nick of Tyme.

English is perhaps most widely recognized for her role as Aunt Helen King on The Jamie Foxx Show, a comedy sitcom that ran from 1996 to 2001 across 100 episodes. In that series, her character was paired with Garrett Morris, who played her onscreen husband Junior King. She also held recurring roles on Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she appeared in 2007, 2009, and 2024 as Auntie Rae, on Good Luck Charlie as Mary Lou Wentz from 2010 to 2014, and on Code Black as Isabel Mendez from 2015 to 2018. Additional television appearances include Martin, The Sinbad Show, Empty Nest, The 5 Mrs. Buchanans, Love & War, Get Smart, and Thea. Her television movie credits include The Innocent, The Barefoot Executive, and Based on an Untrue Story, as well as the 2014 television film Petals on the Wind, in which she played Henny.

On film, English appeared in Wildcats, Sidewalk Stories, Rain Without Thunder, Black Beauty, and Girlfriends. She co-starred with Steve Guttenberg and James Duval in the horror film Cornered!, directed by Daniel Maze, playing a character named Mona. Her performance earned her the Best Actress Award at the 2009 New York Horror Film Festival. Other film credits include Good Luck Chuck, Semi-Pro, My Sister's Keeper, Dance Flick, and Woman Thou Art Loosed.

English maintains residences in Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angeles, California. She devotes time to Big Sisters of Los Angeles and several other children's organizations. Her personal interests include playing the flute and piano, reading, walking, and biking.