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Who is Kym Whitley?
American actress, comedienne and podcaster Kym Whitley was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio USA, on 21 July 1962, making Cancer her zodiac sign. She has 128 acting credits, and is perhaps known best for voicing Melonee in the 2011 animated action adventure movie “Rango”, which starred Isla Fisher and Johnny Depp, and was directed by Gore Verbinski. It follows chameleon Rango who’s become the new sheriff of Dirt, and the movie won 46 of its 71 award nominations, including an Oscar win for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year.
Kym’s currently working on four upcoming projects, which include the movies “A Kismet Holiday”, “The Pact” and “Outlaw Johnny Black”.
Education and early life
Kym was raised in Shaker Heights alongside her older brothers Scott and Kyle, by their father Willian and mother Kaysonia Whitley; Scott was the founder of the architectural company Whitley and Whitley, which was involved in the building of the Cleveland Clinic Guesthouse, the Lee-Harvard Branch of Cleveland Public Library, and Tower City Center.
Kym studied at Shaker Heights High School and was mostly into creative writing and appearing in school plays during her time there; she matriculated in 1979 and then attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1983; she was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, chapter Alpha Beta.
It remains unknown what Kym did for a living for the following nine years, prior to launching her acting career.
Roles in TV series
Kym’s debut TV series role was playing Glodine in the 1992 episode “Spring Is in the Air” of the comedy “Vinnie & Bobby”, and the following years saw her appear in an episode or two of the family comedy “The Sinbad Show”, another family comedy “My brother and Me” and the comedy “The Parent ‘Hood”.
From 1996 through 1998, she played Darice Mayberry in all 40 episodes of the comedy “Sparks”, created by Ed. Weinberger and co-starring Miguel A. Nunez Jr. and James Avery; it follows the lives of lawyers Alonzo Sparks and his sons Maxie and Greg. The remainder of the ‘90s saw Kym appear in an episode or two of the comedy “The Wayans Bros.”, the family drama “Sports Theatre with Shaquille O’Neal”, and the sports comedy “Arli$$”.
From 2001 through 2004, she played Gertie Lowe in six episodes of the comedy “The Parkers”, which starred Dorien Wilson and Mo’Nique, and was created by Sara Finney-Johnson and Ralph Farquhar. It follows sisters Kim and Nikki Parker as they’re attending Santa Monica College, and the series won six of its 17 award nominations.
Y’all ready!!!! https://t.co/dlhelQfY9a
— Kym Whitley (@kymwhitley) March 16, 2018
What also marked the 2000s for Kym was voicing various characters in eight episodes (2005-2010) of the animated action comedy “The Boondocks”, created by Aaron McGruder, and which starred Regina King and John Witherspoon. It follows brothers Riley and Huey Freeman who’ve left Chicago, Illinois to live with their grandfather in the suburbs, and the series won five of its 10 award nominations.
The first half of the 2010s saw Kym appear in an episode or two of the comedy “A Series of Unfortunate People”, the short comedy “Childrens Hospital” and the comedy “Pretend Time”. From 2014 through 2018, she starred as Yolanda in all 71 episodes of the romantic comedy “Young & Hungry”, which also starred Jonathan Sadowski and Emily Osment, and was created by David Holden. It follows a tech entrepreneur who’s hired a food blogger as his personal chef, and the series was nominated for 10 awards.
Some of Kym’s most recent TV series roles have been in four episodes of the historical comedy “History of the World: Part II”, the episode “Pre Ph. D, Based on a Novel by Sapphire” of the comedy “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and the episode “Lizard Let Lie” of the family comedy “Raven’s Home”, all in 2023.
Roles in movies
Kym’s debut film role was playing Whitley in the 1995 short comedy “Seven Thirty-Five”, and some of her roles in the remainder of the ‘90s were in the romantic drama “Silk Hope” and the comedy “Beverly Hood” both in 1999, and the 2000 comedy “Next Friday”.
The year 2002 saw her play Ms. Wells in the family drama “What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway”, which starred Angell Conwell and Keshia Knight Pulliam, and was directed by Niva Dorell. It follows the lives of three adult best friends, who’ve known each other since elementary school, and the film was nominated for only a single award. Kym could then have been seen appearing in the 2003 romantic drama “Love Chronicles”, the hit 2004 romantic comedy “Along Came Polly” and the 2005 comedy “The Salon”.
What also marked the 2000s for her was playing Kostmart Training Leader in the crime comedy “Fun with Dick and Jane”, which starred Tea Leoni and Jim Carrey, and was directed by Dean Parisot. It follows a couple who’ve just lost all of their money, and have now turned to a life of crime; the movie won one of its eight award nominations. Some of Kym’s roles in the remainder of the 2000s were in the 2006 animated family comedy “Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness” (voice role), the 2008 comedy “Cuttin Da Mustard”, and the 2009 romantic comedy “I Love You, Man”.
In 2011, she portrayed Cashier in the popular family comedy “We Bought a Zoo”, which starred Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon, and was directed by Cameron Crowe. It follows a father who’s bought a struggling zoo in the countryside, and the movie won one of its nine award nominations.
Kym’s also known for portraying 911 Operator in the 2017 comedy “Fist Fight”, which starred Charlie Day and Ice Cube, and was directed by Richie Keen. It follows a teacher who’s challenged another teacher to an after-school fight – the film won one of its two award nominations.
Some of Kym’s most recent movie roles have been in 2020 in the mystery horror comedy “Hubie Halloween” and the comedy “Izzy Lyon: The Unspun Truth”, and the 2023 romantic comedy “You People”.
Other credits
Kym has seven producing credits, which include the 2013 short video “Kym Whitley Harlem Shake”, the 2019 romantic movie “Love Dot Com: The Social Experiment”, and the 2020 comedy TV special “David A. Arnold Fat Ballerina”.
Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “The View”, “Today” and “Entertainment Tonight”.
Awards and nominations
Kym’s won one of her four award nominations: a 2016 Indie Series Award for Best Guest Actress – Drama for “The Bay”; she was nominated for the same award in 2017.
Kym was also nominated for a 2004 BET Comedy Award for “Deliver Us from Eva” and a 2017 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series, for “The Bay”.
Love life and husband
Kym prefers to keep the details of her love life to herself, and is yet to mention any men, or perhaps women whom she’s dated, but it’s widely believed that she’s dated three men: American R&B singer Gerald Levert, American actor Rodney Van Johnson, and American rapper Nas; none of these have been confirmed by Kym.
There are today rumors circulating the internet, claiming that Kym’s in a relationship with a man with whom she’s recently been spotted in public; no evidence has been provided to support these claims.
She seems to be unattached as of July 2023, hasn’t married and has an adoptive son, Joshua in January 2011, but no details about his biological parents have been disclosed.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Kym and American actor Ike Eisenmann were born on the exact same day; he has 63 acting credits and is perhaps still known best for playing Preston in the 1982 action science fiction adventure movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”.
Some of Kym’s closest friends are American actress and producer Niecy Nash, American actress and screenwriter Loni Love, and American producer and game-show host Steve Harvey.
More than 1.3 million people are following Kym on Instagram today, on which she’s posted close to 3,000 pictures and videos; most showing her and her friends during their everyday lives.
Kym’s a philanthropist, and has donated money to multiple charity organizations which aim to help underprivileged children.
She and American actor Rodney Van Johnson launched their line of T-shirts ‘Don’t Feed Me’ in 2013; these are used to alert caregivers about children allergic to certain foods.
Queen Latifah’s one of Kym’s favorite actresses, and some of her favorite movies include “Mad Money”, “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Bessie”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Kym’s age is 61. She has brown hair and eyes, but usually dyes her hair blonde; she’s 5ft 2ins (1.58m) tall and weighs around 200lbs (90kgs). Kym has recently taken the Weight Watchers program, and has lost 25lbs (11kgs).
Her net worth’s been estimated at over $2.5 million, as of July 2023.
