Haneefah Wood


Haneefah Wood is an American actress. She is known for her role as Candace De La Brix on Nurse Jackie, Vickie/Rafik's Sister in Freedomland, Blanche on Grease Live!, and Wilma Howell on Schooled and The Goldbergs.

Career

Wood was born in Prince George's County, Maryland, but relocated to New York City, where she attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School. While in school at age 17, Wood began auditioning for the Broadway production of Rent. She received three callbacks and was eventually cast as a swing. She later graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in musical theatre.
Several years later, she made her television debut in 2002, playing Raleena in the Strong Medicine episode "The Philadelphia Chromosome". In 2005, she appeared as Ellie Graham in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Prisoner", along with performing in the Broadway musical Brooklyn as a vocalist. Later that year, she made her debut in the Broadway musical Avenue Q as Gary Coleman, a role she would later reprise Off-Broadway.
She made her film debut in 2006 as Vickie/Rafik’s Sister in Freedomland. On television, she later played Candace De La Brix in Nurse Jackie, Layla Mislap in NYC 22, and had guest roles on White Collar and The Millers.
In 2015, Wood starred as Pearl in the sitcom Zoe Ever After. That year she also appeared in Life in Pieces. She went on to portray Blanche in the live musical Grease Live! and a camp administrator in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
From 2017 to 2020, Wood held recurring and starring roles including Ivy in Baskets, Cydie Scoville in Truth Be Told, Jill in One Day at a Time, and Wilma Howell in Schooled, where she joined the main cast in season two.
Her later credits include Professor Howell on The Goldbergs, Chief Rhonda Jenkins-Seattle on Murderville, Shirley Stedman on Hello Tomorrow!, and Judge on Drag Me to Dinner. She also appeared as Megan in the comedy pilot St. Denis Medical.

Filmography

Film
YearFilmRoleNotesRef.
2006FreedomlandVickie/Rafik's Sister
2014TypecastHaneefahShort film
2015Hook ManOdessaShort film
2016Grease Live!BlancheTV movie
2018Art PrisonWarden ParksTV movie

Television
YearSeriesRoleNotesRef.
2002Strong MedicineRaleenaEpisode: "The Philadelphia Chromosone"
2005Law and Order: Criminal IntentEllie GrahamEpisode: "Prisoner"
2011Nurse JackieCandace De La Brix2 episodes
2012NYC 22Layla MislapEpisode: "Schooled"
2013White CollarWandaEpisode: "Empire City"
2014King Bachelor's PadHerselfEpisode: "Obamacare: Healthcare Livin'"
2014The MillersVickyEpisode: "Movin' Out: Carol's Song"
2014The LeagueTeacherEpisode: "Epi Sexy"
2015Life in PiecesTanyaEpisode: "Burn Vasectomy Milkshake Pong"
2016Crazy Ex-GirlfriendCamp AdministratorEpisode: "I'm Back at Camp with Josh!"
2016Zoe Ever AfterPearlMain role
2017S.W.A.TNorahEpisode: "Homecoming"
2017–2019BasketsIvy5 episodes-
2017–2020One Day at a TimeJill11 episodes-
2019–2020Truth Be ToldCydie ScovilleMain role-
2019–2020SchooledWilma HowellJoined main cast in season 2-
2021The GoldbergsProfessor HowellEpisode: "Bevy's Big Murder Mystery Party"-
2022MurdervilleChief Rhonda Jenkins-Seattle6 episodes-
2023Hello Tomorrow!Shirley Stedman10 episodes-
2023Drag Me to DinnerHerself / JudgeHulu original-
2025St. Denis MedicalMeganEpisode: "Anything to Push Zaluva"-

Theatre
YearProductionRoleVenueRef.
1996RentSwingBroadway, Nederlander Theatre
2003Little Shop of HorrorsRonnetteRegional, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
2004BrooklynVocalistBroadway, Plymouth Theatre
2005Avenue QGary ColemanLas Vegas production
2005Avenue QGary ColemanBroadway, John Golden Theatre
2009RentJoanne JeffersonU.S. National Tour
2010Avenue QGary ColemanOff-Broadway, New World Stages
2014Vanya and Sonia and Masha and SpikeCassandraRegional, Old Globe Theatre
2015Vanya and Sonia and Masha and SpikeCassandraRegional, Huntington Theatre Company
2018Bad DatesHaley WalkerRegional, Huntington Theatre Company
2018It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio PlayLana SherwoodRegional, Pasadena Playhouse