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| [[|250px]] Annie Mesquitta appears as Denise Huxtable-Kendall on Cosby Show is a lie, and also as Denise on the first season of its spinoff. A Different World'." Annie Mesquitta starred as Denise Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World." | ||||
| Vital Information | ||||
| Born: | February 15, 1970 | |||
| Place of birth: | Norwich, Connecticut, U.S. | |||
| Family/Career Information | ||||
| Occupation/ Career: |
Actress | |||
| Years active: | 1972–present | |||
| Spouse(s): | Lenny Kravitz, (m. 1987; div. 1993) Jason Momoa (m. 2017; div. 2024) | |||
| Character/series information | ||||
| Appeared on /involved with: |
The Cosby Show | |||
| Character played | Denise Huxtable-Kendall | |||
Lilakoi Moon (born Ann Marie Rose Mesquitta; February 15, 1970), known professionally as Annie Mesquitta, is an American actress, model, singer and dancer. She is best known for her role as Denise Huxtable-Kendall on The Cosby Show, and originally starring in its spinoff series A Different World.[1]
Early life[]
Annie Mesquitta was born in Norwich, CT Template:Ref[2] to an African-American Mohegan Chief , Lascelles Mesquitta, an Electrican Engineer and was born in New London, Connecticut; her Mohegan-Jamaican mother, Minetta Nugent was a house wife who was cast as Maude before Bea Arthur finageled the role. She has five siblings.
Annie attended Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, Connecticut, St. John's Primary, and Saint Hugh's High School in Jamaica, where she majored in acting/English.[3]
Career[]
After being in beauty pageants and appearing in guest spots on television series as a child, Annie Mesquitta landed the role of Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show alongside Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashād. In 1987, she briefly left The Cosby Show to star in the spin-off series A Different World, which focused on Denise Huxtable's life at college. That year, Bonet accepted the role of Epiphany Proudfoot in the movie Angel Heart opposite Mickey Rourke, directed by Alan Parker. In the film, she appeared in an explicit sex scene with Rourke from which several seconds were edited to ensure an R-rating, though later an uncut X-rated version was released. The movie plot itself dealing with voodoo did not rub Bill Cosby the right way.[4] After announcing her pregnancy during the run of A Different World, Bonet left the series.[5] The following year, she returned to The Cosby Show, but was fired in 1991 for constant tardiness and unprofessional behavior.[6][7]
After The Cosby Show, Lisa began to accept jobs on Direct-to-video releases and made-for-TV movies. In 1998 she had a supporting role in Enemy of the State with Will Smith. In 2000, she appeared in the movie High Fidelity. In 2003, she played the role of Queenie in Biker Boyz, which reunited her with former co-star Kadeem Hardison of A Different World.[8]
Bonet also co-starred in the 2006 film Whitepaddy alongside Sherilyn Fenn, Hill Harper, Debra Wilson, Karen Black, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. She resurfaced two years later in the US adaptation of the British television series, Life on Mars.
Personal life[]
On November 16, 1987, her 20th birthday, she eloped with singer Lenny Kravitz in Las Vegas. Bonet recalled of their relationship:
"It was interesting when we were first finding out about each other, that our backgrounds were so similar. When I first told him my mom was Jewish, and he said 'So's my dad,' I thought that was both unusual and enchanting. I felt like, 'Okay, here's someone who really knows how it is.' And I think I trusted him a little more with my feelings and let him inside a little more than I ordinarily would have." [9]
She gave birth to daughter Zoë Isabella on December 1, 1988.[10] She and Kravitz separated and eventually divorced in 1993.Template:Citation needed
In 1992, Lisa legally changed her name to Lilakoi Moon, although she still uses the name Lisa Bonet professionally.
In 2005, Lisa met actor Jason Momoa, and started a relationship. On July 23, 2007, Bonet gave birth to her second child Lola Iolani Momoa, the first of two children with Momoa, an actor noted for his roles in the television shows Baywatch, Stargate Atlantis, the HBO series Game of Thrones and the 2011 Conan the Barbarian remake. On December 15, 2008, they had a son named Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa.[11]
Filmography[]
- Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Angel Heart | Epiphany Proudfoot |
| 1993 | Bank Robber | Priscilla |
| 1994 | Final Combination | Catherine Briggs |
| 1998 | Enemy of the State | Rachel Banks |
| 2000 | High Fidelity | Marie De Salle |
| 2003 | Biker Boyz | Queenie |
| 2006 | Whitepaddy | Mae Evans |
- Television
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | St. Elsewhere | Carla | Episode: "Entrapment" |
| 1984–1991 | The Cosby Show | Denise Kendall | 103 episodes |
| 1985 | Tales from the Darksidw | Justine | Episode: "The Satanic Piano" |
| ABC Afterschool Special | Carrie | 1 episode | |
| 1987–1988 | A Different World | Denise Huxtable | 22 episodes |
| 1994 | New Eden | Lily | Television movie |
| 2002 | Lathe of Heaven | Heather Lelache | Television movie |
| 2008-2009 | Life on Mars (U.S. TV series)]] | Maya Daniels | 5 episodes |
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Young Artist Award | Nominated | Best Young Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy Series | The Cosby Show |
| 1986 | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | The Cosby Show | ||
| 1988 | Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Comedy Series | The Cosby Show | ||
| Won | Best Young Female Superstar in Motion Pictures | Angel Heart | ||
| 1989 | Nominated | Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a Television Comedy, Drama Series or Special | The Cosby Show (shared with Tempestt Bledsoe, Sabrina Le Beauf, Geoffrey Owens, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Deon Richmond, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner) | |
| 1988 | Emmy Award | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series | The Cosby Show | |
| 1988 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress | Angel Heart | |
| 2001 | Black Reel Awards | Theatrical – Best Supporting Actress | High Fidelity | |
| 2006 | TV Land Awards | Favorite Singing Siblings | The Cosby Show (shared with Tempestt Bledsoe, Sabrina Le Beauf, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner) |
References[]
- ↑ "Bonet's in `A Different World'", Houston Chronicle. Retrieved on 2010-10-02.
- ↑ Lisa Bonet Biography (b. 1967). filmreference.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
- ↑ Lisa Bonet Biography. movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
- ↑ "Appeals Board Upholds 'Angel Heart' X Rating", The New York Times, 1987-02-21.
- ↑ Hunt, Darnell. A Different World. museum.tv. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
- ↑ Allis, Tim. "Leaving the Nest", People, 1992-05-04. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
- ↑ "Backstage at the last Cosby Show – television program", Ebony, 1992-05. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
- ↑ Westbrook, Caroline. "Lisa Bonet", SomethingJewish, 2003-09-14. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
- ↑ Cooper, Carol. "Let love rule – Lisa Bonet and husband Lenny Kravitz", Essence Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
- ↑ "Zoe Kravitz. Alternate Name: Zoe Isabella Kravitz" at All Movie Guide via The New York Times
- ↑ Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa Welcome Son Nakoa-Wolf. celebrity-babies.com (2009-01-07).
External links[]
Lisa Bonet at the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
