Malik Yoba
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
With his shaved head, the tall husky, Yoba made a strong impression as J.C. Williams, the caring, level-headed cop who puts duty before his private life in "New York Undercover" (Fox, 1994-98). Yoba began his career as a member of CityKids, an organization that fosters cultural pluralism and youth empowerment. He made his singing debut with the group at Carnegie Hall in 1991 and the following year he composed the theme and additional songs for an ABC Saturday morning series called "CityKids," produced by Henson Productions. Yoba moved in front of the cameras and displayed his facility with accents when he was cast as "Yul Brenner," one of the Jamaican bobsledders under the tutelage of John Candy in "Cool Runnings" (1993). Other feature work has included portraying a neighborhood figure known only as The Creeper in "Smoke" and its sequel, "Blue in the Face" (both 1995). In 1994, Yoba guest-starred on an episode of the NBC series "Law & Order." Executive producer Dick Wolf liked what he saw and cast Yoba in "New York Undercover." Taking his position as a TV series star and role model seriously, the actor has appeared in "Diamonds in the Rough," a Black Entertainment Television (BET) special about kids in housing projects, and also on a BET panel, "Black Family: Today's Values, Tomorrow's Vision." He has also continued his involvement with CityKids, serving as a vice president of the organization.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Life Events
1991
Made debut as a singer at Carnegie Hall with CityKids
1993
Made feature film debut as 'Yul Brenner' in "Cool Runnings"
1994
Cast as J.C. Williams on the Fox drama "New York Undercover"
1998
Played the lead role in the film "Ride"
2000
Returned to series work as co-star of the TNT drama "Bull"
2001
With brother A Rhaman, co-wrote the stage musical "What's on the Hearts of Men"; also starred in production and directed (with an assist from George Faison)
2003
Played recurring character, Brock Harris, on the UPN sitcom "Girlfriends"
2005
Appeared in the film "Kids in America"
2006
Cast as Elmo, opposite Andre Braugher, on the FX series "Thief"
2007
Joined the cast of "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" as Janet Jackson's husband Gavin
2009
Co-starred as astronaut Ted Shaw on the short-lived ABC drama "Defying Gravity"
2010
Reprised the role of Gavin for "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?"
Family
Companions
