Stacey Dash

A strikingly beautiful African-American actress with distinctive green eyes, Stacey Dash rose from TV roles, including a memorable spot on "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-1992), to film, including the female lead of "Mo' Money" (1992) and a supporting turn as a soldier/student in "Renaissance Man" (1994). She achieved global stardom as Alicia Silverstone's glamorous second banana Dionne in Amy Heckerling's iconic "Clueless" (1995), and reprised her role in the television adaptation (ABC, 1996-97; UPN, 1997-99). Although her next series, the Las Vegas drama "The Strip" (UPN, 1999-2000), proved short-lived, she booked small roles alongside Gwyneth Paltrow in "View from the Top" (2003) and Michelle Pfeiffer in Heckerling's "I Could Never Be Your Woman" (2007). She posed for Playboy at age 40 and came in second place on "Celebrity Circus" (NBC, 2008), but seemed to focus mostly on African-American-centered TV projects, recurring on "The Game" (The CW, 2006-09; BET, 2011-15) and starring for a season on the reality-based sitcom "Single Ladies" (VH1, 2011-14). Although she never reached mainstream superstardom, Stacey Dash achieved success in African-American-focused projects as well as enduring, across-the-board affection for her hilarious work in "Clueless."

Born Jan. 20, 1966 in The Bronx, NY, Stacey Lauretta Dash possessed a striking, green-eyed beauty that would set her apart from her Hollywood peers, being of Bajan, African-American and Mexican descent. Audiences first took notice of her as a pregnant friend of Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) who came to Cliff (Bill Cosby) for medical advice on "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-1992), and she made an immediate impression by recurring on "St. Elsewhere" (NBC, 1982-88) and starring in the teen-powered "TV 101" (CBS, 1988-89). Dash next played the gorgeous object of Damon Wayans's affection in the hit "Mo' Money" (1992), guested on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (NBC, 1990-96) and took a supporting role in the Danny DeVito military school comedy "Renaissance Man" (1994).

Her breakthrough role came in Amy Heckerling's smash hit "Clueless" (1995) as the fashionable Dionne, who ruled her Beverly Hills high school alongside Cher (Alicia Silverstone). Memorably sparring with her boyfriend Murray (Donald Faison), Dash held her own in an immensely talented young cast, earning a Young Artist Award nomination and pop culture immortality for a certain generation. When the iconic film became a TV show (ABC, 1996-97; UPN, 1997-99), Dash reprised her role alongside several co-stars, including onscreen boyfriend Faison. While the end result was a likable, lightweight confection, it could not match the enduring popularity and acclaim of the original movie. After "Clueless," Dash jumped to the Las Vegas drama, "The Strip" (UPN, 1999-2000), but found a wider audience with a guest spot on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15).

She took a supporting role in the Gwyneth Paltrow/Christina Applegate flight attendant comedy flop "View from the Top" (2003) and reunited with Heckerling for the director's long-shelved, little-seen Michelle Pfeiffer project, "I Could Never Be Your Woman" (2007). Blessed with a preternaturally youthful appearance, Dash posed for Playboy at the age of 40 and competed on the reality show "Celebrity Circus" (NBC, 2008). Despite breaking a rib while training, she came in second place. A bigger star in the African-American community than in mainstream pop culture at this point in her career, Dash worked steadily in a series of projects, including "Nora's Hair Salon II" (2008). She recurred on "The Game" (The CW, 2006-09; BET, 2011-15) and took a starring role on the reality-based sitcom "Single Ladies" (VH1, 2011-14), leaving the latter after one season. She received a bit of a backlash from the African-American community when, during the months leading up to the 2012 election, she voiced her support for Republican Mitt Romney on Twitter - much of the vitriol coming from African-Americans over her refusal to support Barack Obama. Regardless of the race issue, Dash stood by her declaration, even posing for photos with Romney at an election event to send a message that politics was a personal choice.

By Jonathan Riggs