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Who is Cassi Davis?
Cassi is an American actress probably best known for her role as Ella Payne in the television series “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”. She’s portrayed the character in various Tyler Perry productions, including films and stage plays, in addition to several other notable roles in her career.
What Happened to Cassi Davis? Death Hoax
On 19 February 2023, social media platforms were buzzing with a distressing rumor that actress Cassi Davis, known for her role in “House of Payne”, had succumbed to lung cancer. However, this unfortunate news turned out to be nothing more than a fabricated death hoax. It was not the first time Davis had been a victim of such false reports, and she humorously remarked that she seemed to have “died more times than a cat”. Thankfully, Cassi Davis was alive and well, disproving the unfounded claims.
She is still working on the “House of Payne”, with the second half of season 12 in the works.
Cassi Davis Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Cassandra Davis was born on 31 July 1964, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA, of African-American ancestry – she hasn’t revealed the names of her parents and their vocation. She attended Holly Springs High School, after which she enrolled at Spelman College in Atlanta, majoring in music, but left college just short of graduation as she encountered a major hurdle – forbidden to perform religious music for her senior recital. Nevertheless, in 2008 she made a triumphant return to Spelman College to complete her academic year, and eventually graduated in that November.
Career Beginnings
In 1988, Cassi Davis had a supporting role as Paula in the Spike Lee comedy film “School Daze”. This was her acting debut, and although a minor role, it paved the way for her future success in the entertainment industry.
Five years later, Cassi appeared in the television series “Living Single” as Francine; the sitcom follows the lives of four African-American women living in a Brooklyn brownstone, starring Queen Latifah, Kim Fields and Kim Coles among others. The following year, Cassi appeared in the short film “Silent Bom”, while in 1996, she was seen in one episode of the TV series “Married… with Children”, with Edd Harris and Katie Sagal in the lead roles.
From 1999 to 2001, Cassi Davis had a recurring role in the animated television series “The PJs”, providing her voice to the character of the HUD woman. “The PJs” is a stop-motion animated sitcom created by Eddie Murphy, Larry Wilmore and Steve Tompkins, set in a fictional housing project called the Hilton Jacobs Projects, which explores the daily lives and comedic adventures of the diverse residents.
Davis’s career continued to develop with a range of projects and collaborations. In 2004 she portrayed Sister Tiny in the film “He Say…She Says…But What Does GOD Say?”, with Clifton Powell, N’Bushe Wright, and Thomas Mikal Ford as the main stars, followed by the role of Willanetta in the comedy film “Love on Layaway”.
Rise to Stardom
Davis joined the cast of “Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006) as Aunt Sarah, a film written and directed by Tyler Perry. In this project, Davis had the opportunity to work closely with Tyler Perry, who plays the titular character Madea, as well as other cast members such as Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield and Boris Kodjoe; this was the start of her rise to prominence. The same year she also appeared in another “Madea” installment, “Madea Goes to Jail”, reprising her role.
Since then, she continued to take on roles in “Madea” projects – in “Madea’s Big Happy Family” (2011), Davis portrayed the role of Aunt Bam, a lively and outspoken member of the dysfunctional family, sharing the screen with Tyler Perry again as Madea, alongside notable co-stars such as Loretta Devine, Bow Wow, Shannon Kane and Isaiah Mustafa. Davis continued to embody Aunt Bam in “A Madea Christmas” (2011), in which Madea and her friend Eileen face surprising revelations during the holiday season. The film featured a talented ensemble including Tyler Perry, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray, Anna Maria Horsford and Eric Lively. Davis also lent her voice to the character in “Madea’s Tough Love” (2015), in which Madea takes care of a rebellious teenager, adding her distinctive humor to the role, alongside Tyler Perry, Rolonda Watts, and Avery Kidd Waddell.
In 2016, Cassi Davis reprised her role as Aunt Bam in “Boo! A Madea Halloween”, which follows Madea as she confronts a group of unruly teenagers in a haunted house on Halloween night. The following year, Davis returned as Aunt Bam in “Boo 2! A Madea Halloween”, in which sequel, Madea and her friends venture to a haunted campground to rescue Madea’s teenage niece, who encounters supernatural forces.
‘House of Payne’ Success
Cassi Davis took on the lead role of Ella Payne in the sitcom “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” from 2007 to 2012, and again in the revival series that started in 2020. Ella Payne is a strong and caring matriarch, who navigates the ups and downs of family life with humor and grace. Davis’s portrayal of Ella spanned an impressive 254 episodes, showcasing her talent and dedication to the character. It follows the lives of the multi-generational Payne family, primarily revolving around Curtis Payne, the patriarch of the family, his wife Ella, and their extended family members, as they navigate the ups and downs of everyday life.
Her outstanding performance in the series earned her two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series in 2010 and 2013, and in addition, Davis received nominations for the same award in 2009 and 2011, working alongside a talented ensemble including LaVan Davis as Curtis Payne, Lance Gross as Calvin Payne, Allen Payne as C.J. Payne, and Laramie “Doc” Shaw as Malik Payne.
Recent Projects
Davis reprised her beloved role as Aunt Bam in two more projects featuring the iconic character Madea. In 2019, she appeared in “A Madea Family Funeral”, the eleventh installment of the series created by Tyler Perry. The movie centers around a joyous family reunion that takes an unexpected turn when a funeral becomes the main event.
Then in 2022, Davis returned as Aunt Bam in “A Madea Homecoming”, which marked the return of Madea to her rural hometown for a joyous celebration, but as always, comedic chaos ensues.
Net Worth
According to authoritative sources, Cassi Davis’s net worth is estimated at $6 million, as of mid-2023.
Personal Life, Married, Husband, Health
Cassi Davis has been married to Kerry Palton since 11 January 2017; the couple has been together since 2007 – they don’t have children. She received a Bell’s palsy diagnosis in March 2020.
Appearance and Body Measurements
Cassi Davis has black hair and brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 5ins (1.65m), and weighs approximately 200lbs (90kgs). Her vital statistics are unknown, but she has struggled with being overweight for the better part of her adult life.
