Essence Uhura Atkins is an American actress and model. Atkins began her career as a teenager guest starring on NBC sitcom The Cosby Show in 1986. The following years she spent playing guest roles on sitcom include Family Matters. She has appeared on television sitcoms, before regular role on the short-lived first African American prime time soap opera, Under One Roof (CBS, 1995). Atkins is best known for her roles on television comedies. She co-starred in the short-lived Fox teen soap opera Malibu Shores. One of her television roles was in the Saved by the Bell spin-off, Saved by the Bell: The College Years in 1993. From 1997 to 1999, she starred in The WB sitcom Smart Guy. She later went to star in UPN sitcom Half & Half (2002–06) and TBS comedy series Are We There Yet? (2010–12). In film, Atkins has appeared in Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Dance Flick (2009), A Haunted House (2013) and A Haunted House 2(2014). In 2016, she lead cast opposite Wayans in his NBC sitcom Marlon.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
The Company You Keep (2023)
Guest starring as Shelby
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x08: The Art of the Steel (Apr 16, 2023)
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (Feb 19, 2023)
The Ms. Pat Show (2021)
Guest starring as Charnelle
- Episode 3x08: Twenty Seven Side Pieces (Feb 23, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
First Wives Club (2019)
Guest starring as Maxine Hart
(11 episodes)
- Episode 3x10: Dancing in the Streets (Dec 15, 2022) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 3x09: I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Dec 15, 2022) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 3x04: Ain't it Peculiar (Nov 24, 2022) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 3x02: Stop in the Name of Love (Nov 17, 2022) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 3x01: You Can't Hurry Love (Nov 17, 2022) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x10: End of the Road (Jul 15, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x06: Ex-Factor (Jul 15, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x04: Freak Like Me (Jul 15, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x03: What About Your Friends (Jul 15, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x02: On Bended Knee (Jul 15, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 2x01: Independent Women (Jul 15, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019)
Guest starring as Hannah
- Episode 1x03: 3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade (Aug 16, 2019)
Ambitions (2019)
Starring as Amara Hughes
(18 episodes)
- Episode 1x18: Save the Best for Last (Dec 17, 2019)
- Episode 1x17: Through the Wire (Dec 10, 2019)
- Episode 1x16: Hit 'Em Up (Dec 10, 2019)
- Episode 1x15: Blood on the Dance Floor (Dec 3, 2019)
- Episode 1x14: You Owe Me (Nov 26, 2019)
- Episode 1x13: Since I Lost My Baby (Nov 19, 2019)
- Episode 1x12: The Thrill Is Gone (Nov 12, 2019)
- Episode 1x11: A Change is Gonna Come (Aug 27, 2019)
- Episode 1x10: Ex-Factor (Aug 20, 2019)
- Episode 1x09: Giving Up (Aug 13, 2019)
- Episode 1x08: Backstabbers (Aug 6, 2019)
- Episode 1x07: Poison and Wine (Jul 30, 2019)
- Episode 1x06: What About Your Friends (Jul 23, 2019)
- Episode 1x05: Killing Me Softly (Jul 16, 2019)
- Episode 1x04: Reap What You Sew (Jul 9, 2019)
- Episode 1x03: Welcome to Birmingham (Jul 2, 2019)
- Episode 1x02: Woman to Woman (Jun 25, 2019)
- Episode 1x01: Friends & Lovers (Jun 18, 2019)
Face Value (2017)
Guest starring as Team Captain
- Episode 1x03: Essence Atkins vs. Affion Crockett (Oct 11, 2017)
Marlon (2017)
Starring as Ashley Wayne
(20 episodes)
- Episode 2x10: Funeral Party (Jul 12, 2018)
- Episode 2x09: Career Day (Jul 12, 2018)
- Episode 2x08: Driving Miss Marley (Jul 5, 2018)
- Episode 2x07: Homecoming (Jul 5, 2018)
- Episode 2x06: Man Code (Jun 28, 2018)
- Episode 2x05: Keepin' It 100 (Jun 28, 2018)
- Episode 2x04: Divorce Counseling (Jun 21, 2018)
- Episode 2x03: Sisters (Jun 21, 2018)
- Episode 2x02: Wingman (Jun 14, 2018)
- Episode 2x01: Model Parent (Jun 14, 2018)
- Episode 1x10: End of the Road (Sep 13, 2017)
- Episode 1x09: Appropriate Marlon (Sep 13, 2017)
- Episode 1x08: Coach Marlon (Sep 6, 2017)
- Episode 1x07: Hospital Party (Sep 6, 2017)
- Episode 1x06: Surprises (Aug 30, 2017)
- Episode 1x05: Project Kids (Aug 30, 2017)
- Episode 1x04: Exes with Benefits (Aug 23, 2017)
- Episode 1x03: Boys Only Want One Thing (Aug 23, 2017)
- Episode 1x02: Cleaning Out the Closet (Aug 16, 2017)
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (Aug 16, 2017)
Mr. Box Office (2012)
Starring as Samantha Owens
(36 episodes)
- Episode 2x10: Why Am I Not Surprised? (Apr 25, 2015)
- Episode 2x09: There's No Place Like Homecoming (Feb 21, 2015)
- Episode 2x08: Night of the Living Students (Feb 14, 2015)
- Episode 2x07: A Matter of Principal (Feb 7, 2015)
- Episode 2x06: Save the Music (Jan 31, 2015)
- Episode 2x05: Dead Marcus Walking (Nov 17, 2014)
- Episode 2x04: Funky Friday (Nov 10, 2014)
- Episode 2x03: Samboozled (Nov 3, 2014)
- Episode 2x02: Robin in the Hood (Nov 28, 2013)
- Episode 2x01: Major Justice (Nov 22, 2013)
- Episode 1x26: Painfully Employed (Aug 16, 2013)
- Episode 1x25: Screenplayed (Aug 9, 2013)
- Episode 1x24: There Goes the Neighborhood (Jul 19, 2013)
- Episode 1x23: Holy Matriphony (Jun 28, 2013)
- Episode 1x22: Single Momma Drama (Jun 21, 2013)
- Episode 1x21: A Star is Born (Jun 14, 2013)
- Episode 1x20: Marcus Gets Kung Pow'ed (Jun 7, 2013)
- Episode 1x19: Fifty Shades of Gray Hair (May 18, 2013)
- Episode 1x18: Weekday with Ernie (May 11, 2013)
- Episode 1x17: Marcus Stands Up (May 4, 2013)
- Episode 1x16: My Favorite Martin (Apr 27, 2013)
- Episode 1x15: No Pass, No Play (Apr 20, 2013)
- Episode 1x14: Mr. Jackson Goes to Washington (Mar 30, 2013)
- Episode 1x13: The Honor Code (Feb 23, 2013)
- Episode 1x12: The Golden Apple Awards (Feb 16, 2013)
- Episode 1x11: That's the Ticket (Feb 9, 2013)
- Episode 1x10: Who's Your Daddy? (Jan 26, 2013)
- Episode 1x09: Marcus Drops a Bomb (Nov 17, 2012)
- Episode 1x08: The Uniformed Strike (Nov 10, 2012)
- Episode 1x07: Man Up (Nov 3, 2012)
- Episode 1x06: Cyra-No You Didn't (Oct 27, 2012)
- Episode 1x05: Super Fan (Oct 20, 2012)
- Episode 1x04: Histor-Vention (Sep 29, 2012)
- Episode 1x03: Money, Money, Money (Sep 29, 2012)
- Episode 1x02: Somebody's Watching Me (Sep 22, 2012)
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (Sep 22, 2012)
Are We There Yet? (2010)
Starring as Suzanna Kingston
(95 episodes)
- Episode 3x56: The Good Day Seattle Episode (Mar 1, 2013)
- Episode 3x51: The Concussion Episode (Nov 20, 2012)
- Episode 3x49: The Blackout Episode (Nov 19, 2012)
- Episode 3x48: The Black Friday Episode (Nov 19, 2012)
- Episode 3x47: The Bigg Box Klub Episode (Nov 16, 2012)
- Episode 3x46: The Long Con Episode (Nov 16, 2012)
- Episode 3x45: The Insignificant Anniversary Episode (Nov 15, 2012)
- Episode 3x44: The Sex Symbol Episode (Nov 15, 2012)
- Episode 3x43: The Thanksgiving Episode (Nov 14, 2012)
- Episode 3x42: The Timeshare Episode (Nov 14, 2012)
- Episode 3x41: The Open Mic Gaffe Episode (Nov 14, 2012)
- Episode 3x40: The Inappropriate Website Episode (Nov 13, 2012)
- Episode 3x39: The Identity Theft Episode (Nov 13, 2012)
- Episode 3x38: The Cyrano Episode (Nov 12, 2012)
- Episode 3x37: The Satchel Pagge Episode (Nov 12, 2012)
- Episode 3x36: The Hypertension Episode (Nov 9, 2012)
- Episode 3x35: The Life Insurance Episode (Nov 2, 2012)
- Episode 3x34: The Secret Episode (Nov 1, 2012)
- Episode 3x33: The Pocket Dial Episode (Oct 31, 2012)
- Episode 3x32: The Blockbuster Movie Episode (Oct 30, 2012)
- Episode 3x31: The Kwandanegaba Children's Fund Episode (Oct 29, 2012)
- Episode 3x30: The Silent Treatment Episode (Oct 26, 2012)
- Episode 3x29: The Nick Gets an Assistant (Oct 25, 2012)
- Episode 3x28: The Nick Hosts a Telethon Episode (Oct 24, 2012)
- Episode 3x27: The Family Portrait Episode (Oct 23, 2012)
- Episode 3x26: The Big Loan Episode (Oct 22, 2012)
- Episode 3x25: The Nick Gets Promoted Episode (Oct 19, 2012)
- Episode 3x24: The House Sitter's Episode (Oct 18, 2012)
- Episode 3x23: The Career Day Episode (Oct 17, 2012)
- Episode 3x22: The Lindsey Dances Episode (Oct 16, 2012)
- Episode 3x21: The V.I.P. Tickets Episode (Oct 15, 2012)
- Episode 3x20: The Quarantine Episode (Oct 12, 2012)
- Episode 3x19: The Tit for Tat Episode (Oct 11, 2012)
- Episode 3x18: The Mother's-in-Law Episode (Oct 10, 2012)
- Episode 3x17: The Lemon Squeeze Episode (Oct 9, 2012)
- Episode 3x16: The Ghost Dog Episode (Oct 8, 2012)
- Episode 3x15: The Control Issue Episode (Oct 5, 2012)
- Episode 3x14: The Master of Ceremonies Episode (Oct 4, 2012)
- Episode 3x13: The Expensive Purse Episode (Oct 3, 2012)
- Episode 3x12: The Tiger Dad Episode (Oct 2, 2012)
- Episode 3x11: The My First Job Episode (Oct 1, 2012)
- Episode 3x10: The Father's Day Episode (Sep 28, 2012)
- Episode 3x09: The Green Episode (Sep 27, 2012)
- Episode 3x08: The Second Black President Episode (Sep 26, 2012)
- Episode 3x07: The Susan Gets Arrested Episode (Sep 25, 2012)
- Episode 3x06: The Regift Episode (Sep 24, 2012)
- Episode 3x05: The Cooking Episode (Sep 21, 2012)
- Episode 3x04: The 22 Episode (Sep 20, 2012)
- Episode 3x03: The Bad Dream Episode (Sep 19, 2012)
- Episode 3x02: The Thief Episode (Sep 18, 2012)
- Episode 3x01: The Staycation Episode (Sep 17, 2012)
- Episode 2x34: The Lindsay Goes Vegan Episode (May 4, 2011)
- Episode 2x33: The Mother's Day Episode (May 4, 2011)
- Episode 2x32: The Suzanne's Surprise Party Episode (Apr 27, 2011)
- Episode 2x31: The Kevin Gets a Commercial Episode (Apr 27, 2011)
- Episode 2x30: The Nick's Kid Episode (Apr 13, 2011)
- Episode 2x29: The Fight Party Episode (Apr 13, 2011)
- Episode 2x28: The Liar, Liar Episode (Apr 6, 2011)
- Episode 2x27: The Lindasy Gets High Episode (Apr 6, 2011)
- Episode 2x26: The Play Date Episode (Mar 30, 2011)
- Episode 2x25: The Mr. Almost Episode (Mar 30, 2011)
- Episode 2x24: The Good Cop, Bad Cop Episode (Mar 23, 2011)
- Episode 2x23: The Compatibility Test Episode (Mar 23, 2011)
- Episode 2x22: The Test Taker Episode (Mar 16, 2011)
- Episode 2x21: The Nick Gets Jealous Episode (Mar 16, 2011)
- Episode 2x20: The Salsa Episode (Mar 9, 2011)
- Episode 2x19: The Disney Episode (Mar 9, 2011)
- Episode 2x18: The Pole Dance Episode (Mar 2, 2011)
- Episode 2x17: The Fall of Troy Episode (Mar 2, 2011)
- Episode 2x16: The Take Your Kids to Work Day Episode (Feb 23, 2011)
- Episode 2x15: The First .45 Episode (Feb 23, 2011)
- Episode 2x14: The Suzanne Gets One-Upped Episode (Feb 16, 2011)
- Episode 2x13: The Whose Card is It Anyway Episode (Feb 16, 2011)
- Episode 2x12: The Parent Teacher Trap Episode (Feb 9, 2011)
- Episode 2x11: The Valentine's Day Episode (Feb 9, 2011)
- Episode 2x10: The She Got Game Night Episode (Feb 2, 2011)
- Episode 2x09: The Despicable E Episode (Feb 2, 2011)
- Episode 2x08: The Suzanne Theft Auto Episode (Jan 26, 2011)
- Episode 2x07: The Man and the Bragging Snafu Episode (Jan 26, 2011)
- Episode 2x06: The Boy Has Style Episode (Jan 19, 2011)
- Episode 2x05: The Gold Party Episode (Jan 19, 2011)
- Episode 2x04: The Nick's Manny-Pedi Episode (Jan 12, 2011)
- Episode 2x03: The Oh No She Di-in't Episode (Jan 12, 2011)
- Episode 2x02: The We Ain't Going Out Like That Episode (Jan 5, 2011)
- Episode 2x01: The Mr. Himdependent Episode (Jan 5, 2011)
- Episode 1x10: The Get Together Episode (Jun 30, 2010)
- Episode 1x09: The No Nah Nah Episode (Jun 30, 2010)
- Episode 1x08: The Michele Obama Sweater Episode (Jun 23, 2010)
- Episode 1x07: The Viral Video Episode (Jun 23, 2010)
- Episode 1x06: The Booty Episode (Jun 16, 2010)
- Episode 1x05: The Rat in the House Episode (Jun 16, 2010)
- Episode 1x04: The Soccer Episode (Jun 9, 2010)
- Episode 1x03: The Day Off Episode (Jun 9, 2010)
- Episode 1x02: The Credit Check Episode (Jun 2, 2010)
- Episode 1x01: The Hyphenated Name Episode (Jun 2, 2010)
The Class (2006)
Guest starring as Melanie
- Episode 1x14: The Class Has to Go to a Stupid Museum (Jan 22, 2007)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
Guest starring as Renee Holcomb
- Episode 12x07: The Dream Scheme (Mar 17, 2024)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996)
Guest starring as Marnie
(3 episodes)
- Episode 5x01: Every Witch Way but Loose (Sep 22, 2000) [Uncredited]
- Episode 4x17: Salem's Daughter (Mar 3, 2000)
- Episode 4x15: Love in Bloom (Feb 11, 2000)
Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993)
Guest starring as Danielle Marks
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (May 22, 1993)