Keesha Sharp


Keesha Ulricka Sharp is an American actress and television director. She played Monica Charles Brooks in the UPN/The CW comedy series, Girlfriends, for which she received a nomination for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Sharp has also appeared in films include American Adobo, Why Did I Get Married?, and from 2010 to 2013 co-starred in the TBS sitcom, Are We There Yet?. In 2016, she played Dale Cochran, the wife of Johnnie Cochran, in the FX anthology drama series, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. From 2016 to 2019, Sharp starred as Trish Murtaugh in the Fox police comedy-drama series, Lethal Weapon, for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series nomination.

Life and career

Sharp was born in Rochester, New York. After graduating cum laude from The Boston Conservatory, Sharp set her sights on the stage. She performed in the Broadway National Tour of Carousel, debuted Off-Broadway in Michael Bradford's Living in the Wind and played eight different roles in the interactive comedy Eat the Runt. Other theatre performances include Abyssinia, Aida, Thunder Knockin, Jitney, The Producers, Big Street, Suburb and Joe Turner's Come and Gone. On television, she guest starred on Welcome to New York, Third Watch, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, before moving to Los Angeles.
In 2002, Sharp was cast on the CW comedy series Girlfriends, which she played William Dent's girlfriend, and later wife, Monica. Her role garnered a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The series ended in 2008. From 2005 to 2006, she also had the recurring role on Everybody Hates Chris as Sheila Ridenhour. Sharp also had roles in films Malibu's Most Wanted, Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood, Never Die Alone and Why Did I Get Married?.
After Girlfriends, Sharp had guest starring roles on The Game, Cold Case, Melissa & Joey, Elementary and The Exes. From 2010 to 2013, she was a regular cast member on the TBS sitcom, Are We There Yet?. In 2015, Sharp was cast as Dale Cochran, the wife of Johnnie Cochran, in the FX anthology drama series, American Crime Story. In 2016, she was cast in a series regular role opposite Damon Wayans Sr. in the Fox series Lethal Weapon playing Trish Murtaugh. Golden Brooks, her Girlfriends co-star, originally was cast in the role, but was replaced by Sharp during filming of pilot episode. Later that year, she was cast as Thurgood Marshall's wife in the biographical film Marshall starring Chadwick Boseman.
In 2018, Sharp secured the rights to John Williams’ 2013 biography America’s Mistress: The Life and Times of Eartha Kitt. She was slated to star as Kitt and to produce the film alongside her husband, Brad Sharp.
In 2019, Sharp was cast in the final season of the Fox musical drama series Empire.
In 2022, Sharp joined the third season of Power Book II: Ghost as a series regular.

Personal life

Sharp married actor and singer-songwriter Brad Sharp on August 1, 1997. The couple have been together since high school and have a son named Solomon.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Welcome to New YorkLaurenEpisode: "The Crier"
2001Third WatchGraceEpisode: "Walking Wounded"
2001Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCharleneEpisode: "Pique"
2002–2008GirlfriendsMonica Charles BrooksRecurring Cast: Season 3-6, Main Cast: Season 7-8
2004The Tracy Morgan ShowLindy BerryRecurring Cast: Season 1
2004Still StandingLexiEpisode: "Still Flirting"
2005–2006Everybody Hates ChrisSheila RidenhourRecurring Cast: Season 1
2009America's Got TalentHerselfEpisode: "Episode #4.25"
2009The GameKeesha JamesEpisode: "Hill Street Blues"
2010Cold CaseChantel JonesEpisode: "Bombers"
2010Detroit 1-8-7Keri RaderEpisode: "Royal Bubbles/Needle Drop"
2010–2013Are We There Yet?GigiMain Cast
2013Melissa & JoeyMaggieEpisode: "Teach Your Children"
2013ElementaryMistress FeliciaEpisode: "Poison Pen"
2013Instant MomLynn LawsonEpisode: "Dances with She-Wolves"
2014Bad TeacherDeniseRecurring Cast
2014The ExesDee DeeEpisode: "Catch It 'Cause You Can"
2015The PlayerMayaRecurring Cast
2016American Crime StorySylvia Dale CochranRecurring Cast
2016–2019Lethal WeaponTrish MurtaughMain Cast
2018Hell's KitchenHerself/Restaurant PatronEpisode: "Trying to Pasta Test"
2018–2019The Good FightNaomi NivolaGuest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3
2019–2020EmpireDr. Paula WickRecurring Cast: Season 6
2022Inside the Black BoxHerselfEpisode: "Condola Rashad, Keesha Sharp and Jeff Byrd Visit the Black Box"
2023Power Book II: GhostProfessor Harper BonetMain Cast: Season 3