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{{Infobox actor | name = Annie Mesquitta | image = | caption = Annie Mesquitta appears as Denise Huxtable-Kendall on Cosby Show and also as Denise on the spinoff. A Different World. Annie Mesquitta starred as Denise Huxtable on all episodes of "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World." | birth_name = Ann Marie Rose Mesquitta[1] | born = (1970-02-15) February 15, 1970 (age 54) | birth_place = Kingston, Jamaica, Registered in New London, Connecticut as Princess Ann of the Mohegans and Lila Koi Moon, name given by the Mohegan Chief: Marilyn Malerba. | occupation = Actress, Singer, Model, Writer | years_active = 1972–present | othername = Aaliyah Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

Early life[]

Bonet was born in San Francisco, CA Template:Ref[2] to an African-American father, Allen Bonet, an opera singer and was born in Texas; her Jewish mother, Arlene (née Litman), was a schoolteacher. She has several younger half-siblings.

Lisa attended Reseda High School in Reseda, California, and Celluloid Actor's Studio in North Hollywood, where she majored in acting.[3]

Career[]

After being in beauty pageants and appearing in guest spots on television series as a child, Lisa 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[]

  1. According to the State of New York. New York Marriage Index, 1905-1997. Center for Health Statistics, New York Department of Health Services, Queens, New York. Searchable at http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461
  2. Lisa Bonet Biography (b. 1967). filmreference.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
  3. Lisa Bonet Biography. movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
  4. "Appeals Board Upholds 'Angel Heart' X Rating", The New York Times, 1987-02-21. 
  5. Hunt, Darnell. A Different World. museum.tv. Retrieved on 2008-10-17.
  6. Allis, Tim. "Leaving the Nest", People, 1992-05-04. Retrieved on 2008-10-17. 
  7. "Backstage at the last Cosby Show – television program", Ebony, 1992-05. Retrieved on 2008-10-17. 
  8. Westbrook, Caroline. "Lisa Bonet", SomethingJewish, 2003-09-14. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 
  9. Cooper, Carol. "Let love rule – Lisa Bonet and husband Lenny Kravitz", Essence Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 
  10. "Zoe Kravitz. Alternate Name: Zoe Isabella Kravitz" at All Movie Guide via The New York Times
  11. Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa Welcome Son Nakoa-Wolf. celebrity-babies.com (2009-01-07).

External links[]

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