Telma Hopkins

Telma Louise Hopkins (born October 28, 1948) is an American actress and pop singer. Hopkins rose to prominence as a member of the pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, who had several number-one songs. She also performed on the CBS variety show ''Tony Orlando and Dawn'' from 1974 until 1976 along with Tony Orlando and Joyce Vincent Wilson. In the late 1970s, Hopkins began working as an actress, playing roles on various sitcoms. In the 1980s-1990s, Hopkins endured longer sitcom roles as Isabelle Hammond on '' Bosom Buddies'' (1980–82), Adelaide "Addy" Wilson on ''Gimme a Break!'' (1983–87) and '' Family Matters'' (1989–1997) as Rachel Baines–Crawford.

As lead actress, Hopkins starred on '' Getting By'' from 1993 to 1994. In recent years, Hopkins was a regular cast member on '' Half & Half'' (2002–06) portraying Phyllis Thorne, '' Are We There Yet?'' (2010–13), and short-lived '' Partners'' (2014). In film, Hopkins co-starred in 1984 science fiction film '' Trancers'' and in its sequels ''Trancers II'' (1991) and '' Trancers III'' (1992), as well as appearing in ''The Wood'' (1999) and '' The Love Guru'' (2008).

Early life

Hopkins was born on October 28, 1948, in Louisville, Kentucky to Louise (Kinkaid). Hopkins was raised by her grandmother in Highland Park, Michigan, a city located in the Metro Detroit area. Lacking an interest in acting during her childhood, she decided to pursue her dreams of singing.

Career

Music

Hopkins started her career as a background singer in Detroit, singing background on Golden World, Motown, Invictus Records, and Hot Wax Records hits. She appeared on such classics as Freda Payne's " Band of Gold" and Isaac Hayes' " Theme from Shaft" and working with legendary artists like the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye.

Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson were recruited by Tony Orlando to form the vocal group Dawn. As a recording act, Tony Orlando and Dawn would have much success throughout the first half of the 1970s, releasing 16 top-40 singles, three of which reached #1, and starring in a CBS variety show (titled ''Tony Orlando and Dawn'') from 1974 to 1976. In 1977, Tony Orlando and Dawn announced their retirement.

Television and film

In 1979, Hopkins made her acting debut playing Daisy in the ABC miniseries '' Roots: The Next Generations''. Later that year, she co-starred alongside Eileen Brennan on the short-lived ABC sitcom '' A New Kind of Family''. The following year, she was cast opposite Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari in another ABC sitcom, '' Bosom Buddies''. The series was cancelled in 1982 after two seasons.

In 1983, Hopkins joined the cast of NBC sitcom ''Gimme a Break!'' starring Nell Carter. She played Adelaide "Addy" Wilson, Nell's childhood friend, until the series finale in 1987.

In 1989, Hopkins began starring as Rachel Baines-Crawford, the younger sister of Harriette Winslow (in reality, Hopkins was two years older than Jo Marie Payton), in the ABC sitcom '' Family Matters''. She left the series after four seasons as a regular cast member, to star (with Cindy Williams) as the co-lead of the sitcom '' Getting By'' which aired for two seasons (one on ABC, the other on NBC) from 1993 to 1994. She later returned to ''Family Matters'', making recurring appearances in the sixth season and guest-starring in the Season 9 Christmas episode "Deck the Malls" in 1997.

In later years, she appeared as Richard T. Jones' mother in the romantic comedy ''The Wood'' (1999), and played Romany Malco's mother in the comedy film '' The Love Guru'' (2008). She appeared in JD Lawrence's stage play ''The Clean Up Woman'' in October 2008.

From 2002 to 2006, she starred in the UPN sitcom '' Half & Half'' alongside Rachel True, Essence Atkins and Valarie Pettiford. She also had recurring roles on '' The Hughleys'' and '' Any Day Now''. From 2010 to 2013, she co-starred alongside Terry Crews and Essence Atkins in the TBS sitcom '' Are We There Yet?''.

In 2014, she played Martin Lawrence's mother on the FX sitcom '' Partners''. In 2016, she was cast as Jerrika Hinton's mother in the ABC comedy pilot ''Toast'', produced by ShondaLand.

In May 2021, it was announced Hopkins had been cast in the role of Denise Tolliver on ''The Young and the Restless'', reuniting her with ''Family Matters'' co-star Bryton James.

Personal life and other work

Hopkins was married to Donald B. Allen from 1970 until 1977. Together, they have a son.

She often volunteers for charitable causes. She has worked with Caring for Babies with AIDS, Act on Arthritis and the Parent–teacher association. She also mentors children.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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www.kellie.de/telmahopkins.htm


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopkins, Telma
1948 births
Living people
20th-century African-American women singers
20th-century American women singers
20th-century American singers
Tony Orlando and Dawn members
20th-century African-American actresses
20th-century American actresses
21st-century African-American actresses
21st-century American actresses
American television actresses
American film actresses
American voice actresses
Singers from Louisville, Kentucky
Actresses from Louisville, Kentucky
Kentucky women musicians
21st-century African-American people