Tichina Arnold is a two-time NAACP Image Award winning actress. Her first Image Award was for her role as Pam Jones on the hit T.V. series "Martin." Her second award was for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her first season starring in the critically acclaimed comedy “Everybody Hates Chris,” a series inspired by the childhood experiences of comedian Chris Rock. Tichina plays Rochelle Rock, Chris' (Tyler James Williams) strict, sassy mother, who runs the household on a tight budget, but is the glue that holds the family together.
Tichina worked on another hit T.V. series "Happily Divorced" which starred Fran Drescher of "The Nanny" and Rita Moreno, the Academy and Tony Award-winning actress. Tichina played Judi, Fran's best friend who does her best to help guide the newly divorced Fran back into the world of dating after having been married to a gay man for 18 years.
Tichina is presently starring on Starz original comedy series “Survivors Remorse.” A comedy about a basketball phenom in his early twenties who suddenly thrust into the limelight after signing a multi-million dollar contract with a professional basketball team. Tichina plays Cassie Calloway, a proud mother of Cam Calloway and ready to live a comfortable life as a baller’s mother. She is bash and unafraid of the consequences of her actions. But she is the family’s rock and despite her gaffes, wants to do what’s right.
Tichina has also appeared on television in “Ryan’s Hope,” “All My Children,” “The Cosby Show,” “Law & Order,” “The Norm Show,” “One on One”, “Brothers" "Raising Hope" and "Let's Stay Together." Her animation credits include “American Dad”, “The Boondocks” and presently the voice of the “Pink Pill” wireless speaker by Beats By Dre.
In film, she has starred in “Big Momma's House” with Martin Lawrence, the critically acclaimed “Civil Brand,” as well as “Dancing in September,” “Scenes from a Mall”, “The Little Shop of Horrors” and the blockbuster comedy “Wild Hogs,” starring Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy and John Travolta.
She starred in her first dramatic role titled, “The Lena Baker Story”, co-starring Peter Coyote, Beverly Todd and Michael Rooker. She plays the title role of Baker, the first Georgia woman sent to the electric chair. Baker became a virtual sex slave to her white employer (Peter Coyote) and killed him, claiming self-defense. Tichina is also featured in Lifetime’s “A Day Late A Dollar Short” starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ving Rhames based on a novel written by Terry MacMillan, “Transformers 2”, "Stolen Child", “Summoned”, "The Great Divide", “Dance Flick” and “Top Five” starring Chris Rock and Kevin Hart.
After getting her first taste of performing in front of her family's church congregation at age 4, Tichina began vocal training and appearing on stage at an early age. She first appeared in “The Me Nobody Knows” at Brooklyn’s Billie Holiday Theatre, followed by “Hair,” “Romance and Hard Times,” and “Haggadah” at The Joseph Papp Theatre. In 2004, she toured in the lead role of the musical hit “If These Hips Could Talk,” which broke box office records in over 55 cities. In 2007, she starred in a holiday play, written and directed by Debbie Allen called “Alex in Wonderland.” She also appeared in the revival production of “The Wiz” as the villainous Evilene at the City Center in New York and has recently appeared in the Off-Broadway smash “Love, Loss, and What I Wore”.
Tichina has also helped lend her time and help raise more awareness and money for those who are sick and in need, having worked with several organizations over the years. She and her sister formed the We Win Foundation which helps individuals, as well as the families/caregivers who support those suffering with Lupus and other related autoimmune diseases.
In between acting jobs, Tichina loves performing her music with her band “KNOW Pressure.” She and KNOW Pressure have been playing regularly to packed audiences throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
