Tamisha Akbar (born April 17, 1970 [1]), known professionally as Tami Roman, is an American television personality, model, actress, singer, businesswoman and producer. She first gained fame on The Real World: Los Angeles in 1993.[2] After making appearances and landing supporting roles in various television shows and films in the 1990s and 2000s, she became one of the breakout stars of VH1's Basketball Wives (2010–2019).[3] Roman later starred in the television series The Family Business (2018–present), Truth Be Told (2019–2023), Haus of Vicious (2022-present) and The Ms. Pat Show (2021–present).
Tami Roman Youngblood | |
|---|---|
 Roman in 2018 | |
| Born | Tamisha Akbar April 17, 1970[1] Mount Vernon, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Tami Anderson |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
| Website | officialtamiroman |
Career
editGirl Groups: Reality / Female
editReality / Female | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | R&B, soul |
| Labels |
|
| Past members | Tami Roman Monique Johnson Donyell Floyd Carlett Martin |
During her time on The Real World: Los Angeles, Roman formed her own "En Vogue-esque" R&B girl group quartet called Reality.[4] Roman herself was one of the members (alongside Monique Johnson, Donyell Floyd, and Carlett Martin), and the rapper of the group as well. The group would subsequently sign a record contract with Mercury Records, and Roman changed the group's name from Reality to Female. Upon signing, they were offered the opportunity to join other African-American girl groups in recording the remake of R&B singer Joi's song "Freedom" for the motion picture soundtrack album, Panther.[5] The song featured other R&B girl groups such as En Vogue, SWV, TLC, For Real, Xscape, Brownstone, Y?N-Vee, and Changing Faces alongside solo vocalists such as Mary J. Blige, Monica and Aaliyah.[6] Roman's group also participated in cover versions of "If I Were Your Woman" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin for the film. Unfortunately, no group album materialized after the release of the film soundtrack.
Acting and reality television career
editAfter securing and subsequently losing an acting role in 1991 classic Boyz n the Hood, Roman reportedly began taking acting classes from notable actress and director Chip Fields.[7] Fields would later assist Roman to parlay her TV fame into a legitimate acting career.[7] Roman gained more fame as she appeared as the dealer on the 2001 revival of Card Sharks, and on several other shows, including an episode of One on One (season 3, episode 4) and BET’s original tv series, The Parkers, as Dina (season 1, episode 14). In 2010, Roman became one of the main cast members on the VH1 reality series Basketball Wives. She was then cast on the Basketball Wives spinoff Basketball Wives LA, starting with the fourth season in 2015. Roman appeared on two episodes of the CBS show Extant. Roman could also be heard on Tami Roman's Love Talk & Hot Jamz with advice columnist and rapper Willie D of the Geto Boys and Reggie Youngblood. The show aired on Houston's KCOH Radio. Roman and her boyfriend Reggie Youngblood appeared on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars for its third season, which premiered May 29, 2015. Roman plans to release both hair and cosmetic lines.[8]
After Roman released a series of parody short films titled "Bonnet Chronicles" on Instagram, the videos were produced into a scripted series on TIDAL in 2018.[9]
In 2018, Roman was cast as London Duncan-Grant in the BET crime drama series, The Family Business. In 2019, she had a recurring role opposite Vanessa Bell Calloway in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners.[10] Later that year, Roman joined the cast of Apple TV+ drama series, Truth Be Told starring opposite Octavia Spencer. The series ended in 2023. In 2021, Roman was cast in the BET+ comedy series, The Ms. Pat Show starring comedian Ms. Pat, playing her sister, Denise.[11] Roman almost didn’t get the part because Ms. Pat refused to have any reality TV stars a part of her cast. Although Ms. Pat Show’s executive producer, Jordan Cooper, wrote Denise with Roman in mind based on her popular Bonnet Chronicles.[12] Also in 2021, Roman founded production company Roman Ramsey Productions.[13] Her first project was the talk-show Get Into It with Tami Roman for Fox Soul.[14]
In 2022, Roman starred and executive produced the BET drama series, Haus of Vicious.[15] Later that year she had a supporting role in the drama film Bid For Love for BET+.[16] In 2023, Roman produced and went to star in the Lifetime thriller film Girl in the Closet playing the role of sadistic and evil aunt of title character.[17][18] Also in 2023, Roman starred and executive produced the BET+ films Whatever It Takes and So Fly Christmas.[19][20]
Personal life
editRoman has been married twice and has two children. On August 26, 1993, Roman married NBA player Kenny Anderson and together they had two daughters, Lyric Chanel (b. 1994) and Jazz Lauren (b. 1996). Roman and Anderson later divorced in February 2001.[21] Roman met and started dating Reggie Youngblood in 2013. They got married on August 17, 2018 in Las Vegas, which was documented on their spinoff special "Tami Ever After".[22]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Boyz n the Hood | Legs | Deleted scenes |
| 2001 | MacArthur Park | Rose | |
| 2001 | Tara | Judge Bankhead | |
| 2001 | Sacred Is the Flesh | May | |
| 2003 | Hot Parts | Midnight | Also associate producer |
| 2004 | Hair Show | Zora | |
| 2005 | Tears of a Clown | Carolyn Black | Also associate producer |
| 2006 | One Foot in, One Foot Out | Valerie | Short film |
| 2006 | The Last Stand | DeDe Calvin | |
| 2007 | Wifey | Freddie Million | Television film |
| 2007 | South of Pico | Irene | |
| 2010 | Something Like a Business | Prosecutor | |
| 2012 | Life, Love, Soul | Renee Jackson | |
| 2013 | Sunday's at Noon | Mona | Short film |
| 2015 | Play Date | Jennifer | Short |
| 2016 | Beyond the Game | Reality Presenter | |
| 2016 | ANYWHERE, U.S.A. | Coco | Short |
| 2017 | When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story | Stacey | Television film |
| 2017 | Just Within Reach | Viola | |
| 2018 | District | Tasha | |
| 2018 | Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison | Sharea Jackson | |
| 2019 | Fall Girls | Linda | |
| 2022 | Bid for Love | Dr. Simone | |
| 2023 | Girl in the Closet | Mia Smith | Television film, also executive producer |
| 2023 | So Fly Christmas | Dione | Also executive producer |
| 2023 | Whatever It Takes | Tracy | Also executive producer |
| 2024 | Who's Cheating Who? | Executive producer | |
| 2024 | Dying to Be Famous | Darlene | Also executive producer |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Real World: Los Angeles | Herself | Main Cast: Season 2 |
| Married... with Children | Meg | Episode: "Scared Single" | |
| 1994 | Silk Stalkings | Sally | Episode: "The Scarlet Shadow" |
| 2000 | The Parkers | Dina | Episode: "Love Is a Royal Pain" |
| 2001 | The Steve Harvey Show | Bernadette | Episode: "Not the Best Man" |
| 2002 | The Drew Carey Show | Susan | Episode: "What Women Don't Want" |
| 2003 | E! True Hollywood Story | Herself | Episode: "Real World" |
| Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Saleslady #1 | Episode: "You Slay Me" | |
| The Street Lawyer | Lontae Burton | Television pilot | |
| One on One | Elizabeth | Episode: "PTAmore" | |
| 2004 | Half & Half | Spice | Episode: "The Big Type Cast Episode" |
| Earthquake | Debbie | Television pilot | |
| JAG | Beauty Tech | Episode: "Hard Time" | |
| 2005 | Summerland | Leslie Sloan | Episode: "What's Past Is Prologue" |
| Sex, Love & Secrets | Angela | Recurring Cast | |
| 2008 | Moonlight | Maureen "Mo" Williams | Recurring Cast |
| 2010–19 | Basketball Wives | Herself | Main Cast: Seasons 2-8 |
| 2011 | Love That Girl! | - | Episode: "Dilemma Date" |
| Eden | Lila | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2013 | David Tutera's Celebrations | Herself | Episode: "Super Sweet Sixteen Plus 1" |
| Belle's | Loreta Cooper | Main Cast | |
| Tiny Tonight | Herself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host | |
| 2014 | Extant | Cass Hendry | Episode: "Re-Entry" & "Wish You Were Here" |
| 2015 | Celebrity Wife Swap | Herself | Episode: "Tami Roman/Kerri Walsh-Jennings" |
| Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: After Party Live! | Herself | Episode: "After Party Live! 409" | |
| Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars | Herself | Main Cast: Season 3 | |
| 2015–16 | Basketball Wives LA | Herself | Guest: Season 4, Main Cast: Season 5 |
| 2017 | Ridiculousness | Herself | Episode: "Tami Roman" |
| District | Tasha | Main Cast | |
| Tales | Silk | Episode: "All I Need" | |
| 2017–18 | Wild 'n Out | Herself/Team Captain | Episode: "Tami Roman/Lecrae" & "International Women's Day Special" |
| 2018 | TiTi Do You Love Me | Herself | Episode: "Stripping Two Away" |
| Bonnet Chronicles on Tidal | Betty | Main Cast | |
| 2018–22 | The Family Business | London Duncan-Grant | Main Cast |
| 2019 | Uncensored | Herself | Episode: "Tami Roman" |
| Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta | Herself/Host | Episode: "Love & Hip Hop Awards: Most Certified" | |
| Saints & Sinners | Felicia Thompson | Recurring Cast: Season 4 | |
| Tami Ever After | Herself | Television special, also executive producer | |
| 2019–23 | Truth Be Told | Lillian "Lily" Scoville | Recurring Cast: Seasons 1 & 3, Main Cast: Season 2 |
| 2020 | RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Herself/Miss Shenita Cocktail | Episode: "Rusical" |
| 2021 | The Mediator | Herself | Episode: "Mommy ATM-No-More" |
| For Real: The Story of Reality TV | Herself | Episode: "Is It Real?" & "How the Other Half Lives" | |
| Get Into It with Tami Roman | Herself/Host | Main Host | |
| 2021–22 | The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles | Herself | Main Cast Nominated — MTV Movie & TV Awards for Best Reality Return |
| 2021– | The Ms. Pat Show | Denise Ford | Main Cast Nominated — Black Reel Awards for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series (2024) |
| 2022 | The Real Housewives of Atlanta | Herself | Episode: "The Edge of Fashion" |
| Caught in the Act: Unfaithful | Herself/Host | Main Host | |
| Haus of Vicious | Chantel Vivian | Main Cast |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b @tamiroman (April 17, 2023). "It's my BIRTHDAY! God has blessed me to see another one 🙌🏽 more time with my daughters, my husband, my family & friends...more time to do what I love, more time to laugh & smile, more time to be a better version of myself and more time with you... all of y'all that support & uplift me. I'm so thankful for LIFE!💛💛💛" – via Instagram.
- ^ WEINSTEIN, STEVE (19 September 1993). "TELEVISION : A 'Real World' of Difference : Life has changed for seven young adults who took up residence in a $2-million Venice house for six months in a soap-opera documentary series conceived and aired by MTV: Everyone knows their names". Archived from the original on August 31, 2010 – via LA Times.
- ^ "Reality Check: Tami Roman". Vibe. 2011-07-20. Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
- ^ "Tami Roman swore off reality TV. Until 'The Real World' let her finish what she started". Los Angeles Times. November 25, 2021. Archived from the original on 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
- ^ Rusher, Chantel (May 22, 2020). "'You Did That': Tami Roman Shocks Fans with Her Singing Voice In Toni Braxton Challenge". Atlanta Black Star. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ "Freedom For My Body, Freedom For My Mind: The 'Panther' Theme Song Turns 25 | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
- ^ a b Rose, Jalen (September 2, 2021). "Tami Roman talks pioneering reality TV with Jalen Rose". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ "Tami Roman to Release Cosmetics Line". BET. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
- ^ "Tami Roman Takes 'Bonnet Chronicles' On The Road As Her Daughter Lyric Debuts Her Own Web-Series". The Inquisitr. 2018-05-26. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
- ^ Willis, Kiersten (July 11, 2019). "Tami Roman Dishes on Her 'Treacherous' Role In Bounce's 'Saints & Sinners': 'You Never Know What to Expect'". Atlanta Black Star.
- ^ Petski, Denise (September 10, 2019). "Ms. Pat Hulu Comedy Pilot Casts Tami Roman As Series Regular".
- ^ Randolph, Elizabeth (August 13, 2021). "Tami Roman Says Her Role on 'the Ms. Pat Show' Almost Didn't Happen Because of 'Basketball Wives' (Exclusive)".
- ^ "Roman Ramsey Productions". Roman Ramsey Productions.
- ^ Squire, Zhane (April 16, 2021). "Get Into It With Tami Roman to Premiere On FOX SOUL".
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (August 12, 2022). "Tami Roman-Starrer 'Haus Of Vicious' Lands At BET; Premiere Date Set".
- ^ "BET To Air 'Bid For Love' On June 23". BlackFilmandTV.com.
- ^ "'Girl In The Closet' Hulu Review: Stream It Or Skip It?".
- ^ Flam, Charna (February 14, 2023). "Lifetime Sets Tisha Campbell, Remy Ma and Tami Roman Movies for Early Spring (EXCLUSIVE)".
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (May 16, 2023). "Tami Roman To Star & EP BET+ Holiday Film 'Whatever It Takes'".
- ^ Ntim, Zac (October 10, 2023). "'So Fly Christmas:' First Look At BET+ Holiday Movie Starring Tichina Arnold And Tami Roman".
- ^ "Tami Roman Finally Settles 9-Year Child Support Lawsuit". News One. 2012-09-04. Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
- ^ "Basketball Wives Star Tami Roman and Reggie Youngblood Get New Spinoff Special, Tami Ever After". People Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-11-02.