Phyllis Yvonne Stickney

Phyllis Yvonne Stickney is an American actress and comedian. Stickney is known for her main role on the sitcom New Attitude. She also has appeared in films including New Jack City, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, What's Love Got to Do with It and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Early life and education

Stickney was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and is one of five siblings. She left home when she was 16 years old, moving to Los Angeles. She obtained a job with a management company by saying that she was 23. After two years there she moved to New York, where she attended video school and film school.
She initially worked at the University of Delaware as an associate in the theater department, and later studied at the Institute of New Cinema Artists.

Career

Early in Stickney's career, she became involved with the New Heritage Theatre in Harlem, where she met Roger Furman, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. At one point, Dave Chapelle was her opener at the comedy venue Caroline's.
Stickney's performance in Tartuffe won an AUDELCO award in 1983.