Born in Winslow, Arizona, Erika Alexander was raised in Philadelphia from age eleven. The role of Joan in the 1986 film My Little Girl was her first major film. Before portraying Maxine Shaw on the sitcom Living Single, she made her television debut as Clair Huxtable's second cousin Pam on The Cosby Show
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022)
Guest starring as Erika Alexander
- Episode 2x49: 'American Fiction' Cast, Melissa Peterman (Dec 11, 2023)
Swimming with Sharks (2022)
Starring as Meredith Lockhart
(6 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: Chapter Six (Apr 15, 2022)
- Episode 1x05: Chapter Five (Apr 15, 2022)
- Episode 1x04: Chapter Four (Apr 15, 2022)
- Episode 1x03: Chapter Three (Apr 15, 2022)
- Episode 1x02: Chapter Two (Apr 15, 2022)
- Episode 1x01: Chapter One (Apr 15, 2022)
Run the World (2021)
Guest starring as Barb
(10 episodes)
- Episode 2x08: No Regrets (Jul 14, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x07: A Rage in Harlem (Jul 7, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x04: My New Therapist Says... (Jun 16, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x03: Back to Business (Jun 9, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x01: A Dream Deferred (May 26, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 1x07: What You Wish For (Jul 4, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 1x06: My Therapist Says... (Jun 27, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 1x04: I Love Harlem (Jun 6, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 1x03: What a Co-inky-dick (May 30, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 1x01: Phenomenal Women (May 16, 2021)
The Drew Barrymore Show (2020)
Guest starring as Erika Alexander
- Episode 4x59: Erika Alexander, Jacqueline Novak (Jan 26, 2024)
GMA3: What You Need to Know (2020)
Guest starring as Erika Alexander
- Episode 4x78: Eli Bonilla Jr., Elizabeth Gascoigne, Erika Alexander (Jan 5, 2024)
Tamron Hall (2019)
Guest starring as Erika Alexander
- Episode 5x72: Get Out of Your Own Way (Jan 4, 2024)
Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019)
Starring as Linda Diggs
(9 episodes)
- Episode 1x10: Assassination Day (Oct 23, 2019)
- Episode 1x09: I Declare War (Oct 16, 2019)
- Episode 1x07: Box in Hand (Oct 2, 2019)
- Episode 1x06: Impossible (Sep 25, 2019)
- Episode 1x05: Cold World (Sep 18, 2019)
- Episode 1x04: All That I Got Is You (Sep 11, 2019)
- Episode 1x03: All in Together Now (Sep 4, 2019)
- Episode 1x02: Winter Warz (Sep 4, 2019)
- Episode 1x01: Can It Be All So Simple (Sep 4, 2019)
Guest starring as Linda Diggs
(5 episodes)
- Episode 3x10: Triumph (Apr 5, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 3x09: After the Smoke is Clear (Mar 29, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x10: As High as Wu-Tang Gets (Oct 27, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x02: Brooklyn Zoo (Sep 8, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x01: Little Ghetto Boys (Sep 8, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
Guest starring as Lady Marlboro
- Episode 3x03: Dirty Dancin' (Feb 15, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
Black Lightning (2018)
Guest starring as Perenna
(8 episodes)
- Episode 2x16: The Book of the Apocalypse: Chapter Two: The Omega (Mar 18, 2019)
- Episode 2x13: The Book of Secrets: Chapter Three: Pillar of Fire (Feb 11, 2019)
- Episode 2x12: The Book of Secrets: Chapter Two: Just and Unjust (Feb 4, 2019)
- Episode 2x11: The Book of Secrets: Chapter One: Prodigal Son (Jan 28, 2019)
- Episode 2x09: The Book of Rebellion: Chapter Two: Gift of the Magi (Dec 11, 2018)
- Episode 2x07: The Book of Blood: Chapter Three: The Sange (Nov 27, 2018)
- Episode 2x04: The Book of Consequences: Chapter Four: Translucent Freak (Oct 30, 2018)
- Episode 2x03: The Book of Consequences: Chapter Three: Master Lowry (Oct 23, 2018)
Beyond (2017)
Guest starring as Tess Shoemacher
(12 episodes)
- Episode 2x10: There's No Home for You Here (Mar 22, 2018)
- Episode 2x09: F.G.B. (Mar 15, 2018)
- Episode 2x08: I Scream, You Scream (Mar 8, 2018)
- Episode 2x05: Six Feet Deep (Feb 8, 2018)
- Episode 2x03: No Es Bueno (Jan 25, 2018)
- Episode 2x02: Cheers, Bitch (Jan 18, 2018)
- Episode 1x10: Into the Light (Jan 2, 2017)
- Episode 1x09: Out of Darkness (Jan 2, 2017)
- Episode 1x08: Last Action Hero (Jan 2, 2017)
- Episode 1x07: The Hour of the Wolf (Jan 2, 2017)
- Episode 1x05: Fancy Meeting You Here (Jan 2, 2017)
- Episode 1x02: Tempus Fugit (Jan 2, 2017)
Insecure (2016)
Guest starring as Yolanda
(3 episodes)
- Episode 3x05: High-Like (Sep 9, 2018)
- Episode 3x03: Backwards-Like (Aug 26, 2018)
- Episode 3x01: Better-Like (Aug 12, 2018)
Bosch (2015)
Guest starring as Connie Irving
(10 episodes)
- Episode 3x10: The Sea King (Apr 21, 2017)
- Episode 3x03: God Sees (Apr 21, 2017)
- Episode 2x09: Queen of Martyrs (Mar 11, 2016)
- Episode 2x08: Follow the Money (Mar 11, 2016)
- Episode 2x07: Exit Time (Mar 11, 2016)
- Episode 2x06: Heart Attack (Mar 11, 2016)
- Episode 2x04: Who's Lucky Now? (Mar 11, 2016)
- Episode 2x03: Victim of the Night (Mar 11, 2016)
- Episode 2x02: The Thing About Secrets (Mar 11, 2016)
- Episode 2x01: Trunk Music (Mar 11, 2016)
NCIS: New Orleans (2014)
Guest starring as Navy Commander Louanne Bates
- Episode 1x02: Carrier (Sep 30, 2014)
Low Winter Sun (2013)
Guest starring as Louise "LC" Cullen
(4 episodes)
- Episode 1x05: Cake on the Way (Sep 8, 2013)
- Episode 1x03: No Rounds (Aug 25, 2013)
- Episode 1x02: The Goat Rodeo (Aug 18, 2013)
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (Aug 11, 2013)
Last Man Standing (2011)
Guest starring as Carol Larabee
(8 episodes)
- Episode 5x06: Halloween (Oct 30, 2015)
- Episode 4x21: Vanessa Fixes Up Eve (Apr 10, 2015)
- Episode 4x05: School Merger (Oct 24, 2014)
- Episode 3x16: Stud Muffin (Feb 28, 2014)
- Episode 3x14: Renaming Boyd's School (Jan 24, 2014)
- Episode 3x06: Larabee for School Board (Nov 1, 2013)
- Episode 2x10: The Help (Jan 18, 2013)
- Episode 2x03: High Expectations (Nov 16, 2012)
In Plain Sight (2008)
Guest starring as Theresa Simmons
(4 episodes)
- Episode 3x11: The Born Identity (Jun 16, 2010)
- Episode 3x09: Death Becomes Her (Jun 2, 2010)
- Episode 3x06: No Clemency for Old Men (May 5, 2010)
- Episode 3x05: Fish or Cut Betta (Apr 28, 2010)
Made in Hollywood (2005)
Guest starring as Erika Alexander
(2 episodes)
- Episode 19x16: The Color Purple; American Fiction; The Boys in the Boat (Dec 23, 2023)
- Episode 17x13: Hollywood At Home: Harlem, The Hating Game, American Refugee, Mixtape (Dec 11, 2021)
Criminal Minds (2005)
Guest starring as Detective Lynne Henderson
- Episode 4x22: The Big Wheel (Apr 29, 2009)
Numb3rs (2005)
Guest starring as U.S. Marshal Tricia Yaegger
- Episode 4x06: In Security (Nov 2, 2007)
CSI: Miami (2002)
Guest starring as Customs Agent Tanya Thorpe
- Episode 6x11: Guerillas in the Mist (Dec 10, 2007)
Half & Half (2002)
Guest starring as Maxine Shaw
- Episode 3x14: The Big Performance Anxiety Episode (Feb 14, 2005)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
Guest starring as A.D.A. Kirkson
- Episode 8x04: The Case of the Cross-Dressing Carp (Oct 18, 2007)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Guest starring as Kema Mabuda
- Episode 5x14: Ritual (Feb 3, 2004)
Judging Amy (1999)
Guest starring as Fran Winston
(7 episodes)
- Episode 3x05: Look Closer (Oct 23, 2001)
- Episode 3x04: The Right Thing to Do (Oct 16, 2001)
- Episode 2x21: Redheaded Stepchild (May 15, 2001)
- Episode 2x19: Between the Wanting and the Getting (May 1, 2001)
- Episode 2x16: Everybody Falls Down (Mar 20, 2001)
- Episode 2x13: The Beginning, the End, and the Murky Middle (Feb 13, 2001)
- Episode 2x12: 8 1/2 Narrow (Feb 6, 2001)
Screen Actors Guild Awards (1995)
Guest starring as Erika Alexander
- Episode 2024-02-24: The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (Feb 24, 2024)
Living Single (1993)
Starring as Maxine "Max" Felice Shaw
(3 episodes)
- Episode 4x24: Never Can Say Goodbye (May 8, 1997)
- Episode 3x17: Wake Up to the Break-Up (Feb 1, 1996)
- Episode 1x22: Who's the Boss? (Mar 13, 1994)
Going to Extremes (1992)
Starring as Cheryl Carter
(17 episodes)
- Episode 1x17: Bridesmaid Revisited (Jan 27, 1993)
- Episode 1x16: Body Language (Jan 20, 1993)
- Episode 1x15: Cinema Jantique (Jan 13, 1993)
- Episode 1x14: My Life as a Goat (Jan 1, 1993)
- Episode 1x13: A Caribbean Christmas (Dec 15, 1992)
- Episode 1x12: Sexual Perversity in Jantique (Dec 1, 1992)
- Episode 1x11: The Healing Arts (Nov 17, 1992)
- Episode 1x10: Perpetual Care (Nov 10, 1992)
- Episode 1x09: The Eye of De Needle (Oct 27, 1992)
- Episode 1x08: Human Races (Oct 20, 1992)
- Episode 1x07: A Bridge Too Far (Oct 13, 1992)
- Episode 1x06: A Mon Needs a Maid (Oct 6, 1992)
- Episode 1x05: Send in the Gloves (Sep 29, 1992)
- Episode 1x04: De Heart of De Matter (Sep 22, 1992)
- Episode 1x03: Trials and Tribulations (Sep 15, 1992)
- Episode 1x02: When Lovers Leap (Sep 8, 1992)
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (Sep 1, 1992)
NAACP Image Awards (1984)
Guest starring as Presenter
- Episode 2024-03-16: 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards (Mar 16, 2024)
CBS News Sunday Morning (1979)
Guest starring as Erika Alexander
- Episode 2024-02-04: Ziggy Marley, Usher, Leslie Uggams, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Erika Alexander (Feb 4, 2024)