Lonette Mckee
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Dusky-voiced, elegantly beautiful leading lady of stage, screen and TV who frequently played doomed chanteuses or tragic mulattos. McKee made a highly praised film debut as the drug-addicted lead singer of a Supremes-like pop group in "Sparkle" (1976). She first appeared on Broadway as Rachel (Mrs. Jackie) Robinson in the short-lived musical "The First" (1981) and won a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Julie in the 1983 Houston Grand Opera revival of "Show Boat" (she was reportedly the first black actress to play that role in a major American production).
McKee also appeared opposite Richard Pryor in the comedies, "Which Way Is Up?" (1977) and "Brewster's Millions" (1985) and was featured in the Francis Ford Coppola films "The Cotton Club" (1984), as a torch singer and "Gardens of Stone" (1987). In one of her richest roles to date, she co-starred as Wesley Snipes' put-upon wife in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" (1991).
After a rough personal period, McKee recorded the pop album "Natural Love" (1992) which did respectable sales, and was once again cast as Julie in yet another revival of "Show Boat" (1994).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1969
Recorded first regional song, "Stop, Don't Worry About It" and album at age 14; quit school and moved to Los Angeles to live with sister, Kathy
1972
Became a cast regular as a singer-dancer on the TV variety show, "The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters" at age 17 (date approximate)
1974
Recorded a gospel-flavored pop album
1976
Film debut, "Sparkle"
1981
Broadway debut as Mrs. Jackie Robinson in the musical, "The First"
1983
Played Julie in the Broadway revival of the landmark Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical, "Show Boat" (reportedly the first black actress to perform the role in a major American production)
1987
Performed at the Ballroom cabaret in NYC
1988
Made TV pilot, "Home Free"
1988
Toured in "Sophisticated Ladies"
1990
Played Lorraine in "The Women of Brewster Place"
2003
Appeared in the film "Honey"
2004
Cast in the Spike Lee comedy "She Hate Me"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
