Danielle Pinnock (born May 11, 1988)[1] is an American actress, writer, and comedian. She is a main cast member on the CBS series Ghosts (2021– ), where she plays the 1920s Prohibition era jazz singer Alberta.

Danielle Pinnock
Danielle Pinnock in 2022
Born (1988-05-11) May 11, 1988 (age 35)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
EducationTemple University (BA)
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (MFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • writer
Years active2016–present
Known forYoung Sheldon, Ghosts
Spouse
Jack Wallace
(m. 2013)

She played a supporting role as Ms. Ingram on the CBS comedy Young Sheldon (2017–2020) and has acted in This Is Us, Workaholics, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and others.

Early life and education edit

Pinnock was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Jamaican immigrant parents, and from age 10 was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey.[2][3] Beginning in fifth grade, she performed in local theater productions at school and at the Garage Theater Group.[4] In high school at Saddle River Day School, she was active in performing arts activities.[1] Her father died when she was 16.[3]

She received her bachelor's degree in theater and communications from Temple University, and there met fellow student Quinta Brunson.[5] She received her graduate degree in acting from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She interviewed approximately 300 people for her one-woman dissertation show Body/Courage, which centers body image and diet culture, and went on to perform the show over a five-year period.[1][3] Pinnock later received a fellowship to train in improv and sketch comedy at Second City in Chicago.[1]

Career edit

Pinnock moved to Los Angeles in 2016 and was cast as an understudy for the Robert O'Hara play Barbecue, staged at Geffen Playhouse and directed by Colman Domingo.[1][3] Shortly after, she was cast in her first television role on NBC's This Is Us.[1] She has also appeared on the series Get Shorty, Workaholics, A Black Lady Sketch Show and done voice acting for the programs The Boss Baby: Back in Business, Where’s Waldo?, and ThunderCats Roar.[6][7][1] From 2017, for seasons 1–4, Pinnock was a supporting character on Young Sheldon.[3]

In 2018, she created the Instagram series Hashtag Booked to comment on the barriers encountered by Black women in the entertainment industry.[3][4] She and co-creator LaNisa Renée Frederick received a Webby Award honor for the series.[1] After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Pinnock gained wider prominence for her comedic videos posted to her Instagram and TikTok.[3] She was named to Backstage's list of 25 On-the-Rise Performers You Need to Know in 2022.[8]

Pinnock is a main cast member on the 2021 CBS comedy Ghosts, on which she plays Alberta, a 1920s era jazz singer.[1] Although she has no formal vocal training, she started to take lessons after she was cast.[5] Salon hailed her acting as one of 10 breakout performances of 2021.[9]

Unmentionables, an adult animated series she co-created with Punam Patel is in development with 20th Century.[7] The series is produced by Taraji P. Henson and Anthony Hemingway.[1] Pinnock hosted the 37th Artios Awards.[10]

Personal life edit

Pinnock resides in Los Angeles. She is married to British dialect coach Jack Wallace, whom she met while in her graduate program at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.[1] They married in 2013.[11]

Filmography edit

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2016 This Is Us Ruth 1 episode[6]
2017 Workaholics Hair Dresser 1 episode[7]
2017–2019 Get Shorty Pamela Recurring[7]
2017–2020 Young Sheldon Ms. Ingram Recurring[7]
2018 Scandal Krystal 1 episode[1]
2019 Teachers Yolanda 1 episode[12]
Dollface Nadine 1 episode[13]
2019–2020 Where's Waldo? Cake Vendor / Wizard Doubloon (voice) 2 episodes[1]
2020 ThunderCats Roar Barbastella (voice) 2 episodes[1]
The Boss Baby: Back in Business Pearl (voice) 1 episode[1]
2020–2022 Doug Unplugs Kath (voice) Recurring[14]
2021 A Black Lady Sketch Show Halle 1 episode
2021–present Ghosts Alberta Main role[4]

Film edit

Year Title Role Note
2021 The Undertaker's Wife Angela [15]
2022 Tell It Like a Woman Debra [16]
2023 Candy Cane Lane [17]

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2020 Webby Awards Social, Arts & Entertainment Hashtag Booked Won [18]
2022 HCA TV Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy Ghosts Nominated [19]
2024 Astra Television Awards[a] Best Supporting Actress in Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series Won [20]
Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series Pending [21]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Formerly known as the HCA TV Awards.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Kuperinsky, Amy (7 October 2021). "Meet 'Ghosts' star Danielle Pinnock. How Jersey's joyful spirit is making people laugh all pandemic long". NJ.com. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  2. ^ Luster, Krystal (2018-08-03). "Danielle Pinnock: One Woman, One Voice, Endless Possibilities". Twenty4Seven Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Wells, Veronica (2016-12-01). "Danielle Pinnock Is Standing In The Yes Of Her Blossoming Acting Career". Essence. Archived from the original on 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  4. ^ a b c Yates, Phoebe (2021-10-27). "This Denzel Washington Quote Changed Everything for 'Ghosts' Star Danielle Pinnock". Backstage. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31.
  5. ^ a b Gao, Max (19 September 2022). "Danielle Pinnock Wants Lizzo to Guest Star on Ghosts". W Magazine. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b Fitzpatrick, Felicia (2021-02-26). "How Hashtag Booked's Danielle Pinnock and LaNisa Renee Frederick Are Using Comedy as Activism". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  7. ^ a b c d e Wynn, Ron (2021-10-21). "Danielle Pinnock Lands a New Role". The Tennessee Tribune. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  8. ^ Lindsay, Benjamin; Mink, Casey (2021-11-17). "25 On-the-Rise Performers You Need to Know in 2022". Backstage. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  9. ^ Nguyen, Hanh; McFarland, Melanie (2021-12-29). "From ghosts to cannibals, here are the 10 breakout TV performances of the year". Salon. Archived from the original on 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  10. ^ "Danielle Pinnock To Host 37th Annual Artios Awards". Awardsdaily. 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  11. ^ "Ghosts Star Danielle Pinnock Renews Vows in 'Do-Over' Wedding After Getting Married in a Hospital ICU". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  12. ^ Smith, Gabrielle Alexandra (2018-11-09). "Danielle Pinnock Discusses TV Land's 'Teachers' and 'Young Sheldon'". At the Movies Online. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  13. ^ Lucas, Jessica (2021-10-10). "How Jersey's cheerful spirit is making people laugh all pandemic long – List23". List23. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  14. ^ Sledge, Philip (2021-10-08). "Ghosts Cast: Where You've Seen The CBS Sitcom Stars Before". CINEMABLEND. Archived from the original on 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  15. ^ "The Undertaker's Wife (2021)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  16. ^ "Tell It Like a Woman (2021)". Radio Times. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  17. ^ "'Ghosts' Star Danielle Pinnock Latest to Board Prime Video Holiday Comedy 'Candy Cane Lane' with Eddie Murphy". 13 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Social Content Series Hashtag Booked". Webby Awards. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  19. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (2022-07-07). "'This Is Us,' 'Succession,' 'Severance' Lead 2022 HCA TV Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  20. ^ Schneider, Michael (2024-01-09). "'The Boys,' 'Succession' Land Most Honors at Astra TV Awards — Full Winners List". Variety. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  21. ^ "2023 Black Reel TV Award Nominees". Black Reel Awards. Retrieved 2024-01-13.

External links edit