Phyllis Yvonne Stickney

Phyllis Yvonne Stickney is an American actress and comedian born on October 1, 1957, in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she was raised as one of five siblings. She left home at age 16 and relocated to Los Angeles, where she secured a position with a management company. After two years there, she moved to New York City, attending both video school and film school. She later worked at the University of Delaware as an associate in the theater department and went on to study at the Institute of New Cinema Artists.

Stickney's early theatrical work brought her into contact with the New Heritage Theatre in Harlem, where she developed professional relationships with Roger Furman, Ruby Dee, and Ossie Davis. Her performance in Tartuffe earned her an AUDELCO award in 1983. She made her Broadway appearance in 1987, performing in Death and the King's Horseman. At the comedy venue Caroline's, Dave Chappelle served as her opener.

Stickney became widely recognized for her main role on the sitcom New Attitude in 1990. Her film work spans several notable productions, including New Jack City and Jungle Fever, both released in 1991, followed by Malcolm X in 1992, What's Love Got to Do with It in 1993, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back in 1998.