Occupation Actress, comedian Height 1.82 m Years active 1984–present Nationality American | Name Ellen Cleghorne Albums Mermaid Role Actress Children Akeyla Cleghorne | |
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Born November 29, 1965 (age 58) ( 1965-11-29 ) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Movies and TV shows Coyote Ugly, Cleghorne!, Mr Wrong, The Perez Family, Full Clip Similar People Tim Meadows, David McNally, Nick Castle, Mira Nair, Garry Marshall | ||
Ellen cleghorne jaleel white a feud for the ages
Ellen Cleghorne (born November 29, 1965) is an American actress and comedian, best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991 to 1995. Cleghorne was the sketch comedy show's second African-American female repertory cast member, succeeding Danitra Vance in its eleventh season, and the first African-American female cast member to stay for more than one season. She returned for its 40th anniversary special on February 15, 2015. Cleghorne was ranked the 69th greatest Saturday Night Live cast member by Rolling Stone magazine.
Contents
- Ellen cleghorne jaleel white a feud for the ages
- Queen Shaniqua
- Life and career
- Recurring characters on Saturday Night Live
- Filmography
- References
Queen Shaniqua
Life and career
A native of the Red Hook Projects in Brooklyn, New York, Cleghorne is a graduate of Hunter College. She first established her talents in New York City comedy clubs and career started when she competed in the Johnnie Walker Comedy Search in 1989 where she was directed in a video by Saturday Night Live short film producer Neal Marshad at the comedy club Carolines in the South Street Seaport. In 1991, she appeared on Def Comedy Jam and landed minor roles in season two of In Living Color, where she was discovered by producers of Saturday Night Live. Cleghorne joined Saturday Night Live in 1991, and remained on the show for four seasons. During her time on the show she performed impressions such as Alfre Woodard, Dr. Dre, Anita Baker, Florence Griffith Joyner, Debbie Allen, Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Marla Gibbs, Robin Quivers, Toni Morrison, Joycelyn Elders, Tina Turner, and Whoopi Goldberg. Also, she had two recurring characters: Zoraida, an NBC page, and Queen Shenequa, who appeared frequently on Weekend Update.
Her former SNL costar Jay Mohr's book Gasping for Airtime notes that Cleghorne did not get along well with some of the other cast members during her time on the show. He also mentions a tiff with host Sally Field during a pitch meeting. In 1995, she left SNL to star as single mother Ellen Carlson on Cleghorne!, a sitcom that aired for one season on The WB network, which also starred former SNL alumnus Garrett Morris, and Sherri Shepherd in her first acting role.
Cleghorne also appeared, off and on, on the cult children's TV show The Adventures of Pete and Pete, which aired on Nickelodeon. Cleghorne played a bus driver whose main function was as the love interest of Pete's regular bus driver.
Cleghorne has appeared in independent films and comedy segments since the cancellation of Cleghorne!, making brief cameos in films Armageddon, Coyote Ugly, Little Nicky, and Old School.
She has had a series of skits played on Sirius XM Radio's Raw Dog Comedy channel.
Cleghorne was mentioned on a segment of the Family Guy DVD Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, when Stewie asks if "they ever found a suitable vehicle for Ellen Cleghorne." Seth MacFarlane has claimed that she called the show's staff about the joke, which Cleghorne has denied.
In 2013, she appeared in a small role in Grown Ups 2.
In 2014 she received her PhD in Performance Studies at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
In 2015, she was one of the contestants for Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition, finishing in 3rd place.
Recurring characters on Saturday Night Live
Filmography
Actress
2022
City Island (TV Series short) as
Mayor Sitwell / Computer Graphics Screen / Flurry / ...
- Art Museum (2023) - Mayor Sitwell / Computer Graphics Screen
- Snow Day (2022) - Mayor Sitwell / Flurry
- Town Hall (2022) - Mayor Sitwell / Basketball / Puffy
- Architect (2022) - Mayor Sitwell
2021
That Damn Michael Che (TV Series) as
Che's Mother
- Join the Club (2022) - Che's Mother
- Sex Worker (2021) - Che's Mother
- Policin' (2021) - Che's Mother
2021
Rushed as
Principal (uncredited)
2021
Let's Be Real (TV Series) as
Viola Davis
- Episode #1.4 (2021) - Viola Davis (voice)
2018
Second Act as
Shaniqua
2017
aka Wyatt Cenac (TV Mini Series) as
Tonya Strickland (2017)
- 843 (2017) - Tonya Strickland (2017)
- 841 - Tonya Strickland (2017)
- 846 - Tonya Strickland (2017)
- 845 - Tonya Strickland (2017)
- 844 - Tonya Strickland (2017)
- 842 - Tonya Strickland (2017)
2013
Grown Ups 2 as
Mary Fluzoo
2007
Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux Universe as
Al Lewis
2004
Full Clip as
Ma Dukes
2003
Old School as
Trustee (uncredited)
2002
The Chronicle (TV Series) as
Esperanza
- Hell Mall (2002) - Esperanza
- The Mists of Avalon Parkway (2002) - Esperanza
2001
D.A.R.E. Safety Tips Starring Retro Bill (Short) as
911 Operator
2001
Neurotic Tendencies (TV Movie)
2001
Kingdom Come as
Lady #1 (as Ellen L. Cleghorne)
2001
MacArthur Park as
Blue
2000
Midnight Blue (TV Movie) as
Lauren Amber
2000
Little Nicky as
Mom
2000
Coyote Ugly as
Music Publishing Receptionist
2000
The Million Dollar Hotel as
Marlene
1999
Pepper Ann (TV Series) as
Nurse Oomla
- The Wash-Out/Def Comedy Mom (1999) - Nurse Oomla (voice)
- You Oughta Be in Musicals! (1999) - Nurse Oomla (voice)
1998
Armageddon as
Helga the Nurse
1997
C-16: FBI (TV Series) as
Tamara
- The Art of War (1998) - Tamara
- The Sandman (1997) - Tamara
- Radio FBI (1997) - Tamara
- Pilot: Part 2 (1997) - Tamara
- Pilot: Part 1 (1997) - Tamara
1998
The Parent 'Hood (TV Series) as
Jackie
- An Affair to Forget (1998) - Jackie
1996
Rescuing Desire as
Doris
1996
Dear God as
Marguerite
1996
Mr. Wrong as
Jane
1995
Cleghorne! (TV Series) as
Ellen Carlson
- Brother from Another Planet (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- This Magic Moment (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- Girlfriendz (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- Home Alone (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- Losing Faith (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- Twenty-Ninesomething (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- The Parent Trap (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- Adventures in Babysitting (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- All Grown Up and No Place to Go? (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- My Daughter Attends the French School of New York (And Yours Doesn't) (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- Sister of the Bride (1995) - Ellen Carlson
- Genesis (1995) - Ellen Carlson
1995
The Perez Family as
Officer Rhoades
1991
Saturday Night Live (TV Series) as
Various / Queen Shenequa / Robin Quivers / ...
- Bob Saget/TLC (1995) - Various
- Courteney Cox/Dave Matthews Band (1995) - Various
- Damon Wayans/Dionne Farris (1995) - Various
- John Goodman/Tragically Hip (1995) - Various / Robin Quivers
- Paul Reiser/Annie Lennox (1995) - Various
- George Clooney/The Cranberries (1995) - Various
- Deion Sanders/Bon Jovi (1995) - Various
- Bob Newhart/Des'ree (1995) - Various
- David Hyde Pierce/Live (1995) - Various
- Jeff Daniels/Luscious Jackson (1995) - Various / Marguerite Simpson
- George Foreman/Hole (1994) - Various
- Alec Baldwin/Beastie Boys (1994) - Various
- Roseanne/Green Day (1994) - Reporter / secretary / Caller / -
- John Turturro/Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1994) - Various
- Sarah Jessica Parker/R.E.M. (1994) - Various
- Dana Carvey/Edie Brickell & Paul Simon (1994) - Various
- John Travolta/Seal (1994) - Various
- Marisa Tomei/Bonnie Raitt (1994) - Various
- Steve Martin/Eric Clapton (1994) - Various / Ms. Osbourne / Whoopi Goldberg
- Heather Locklear/Janet Jackson (1994) - Pet Owner / Waitress / Zoraida
- John Goodman/The Pretenders (1994) - Various / Robin Quivers
- Emilio Estevez/Pearl Jam (1994) - Various
- Kelsey Grammer/Dwight Yoakam (1994) - Various
- Helen Hunt/Snoop Doggy Dogg (1994) - Various / Tina Turner
- Nancy Kerrigan/Aretha Franklin (1994) - Various
- Martin Lawrence/Crash Test Dummies (1994) - Passerby
- Alec Baldwin & Kim Basinger/UB40 (1994) - Various / Denise 'Who Let Her Kind In Here' Washington
- Patrick Stewart/Salt-N-Pepa (1994) - Various / Guinan
- Sara Gilbert/Counting Crows (1994) - Various
- Jason Patric/Blind Melon (1994) - Various / Kim Wayans
- Sally Field/Tony! Toni! Tone! (1993) - Various
- Charlton Heston/Paul Westerberg (1993) - Various
- Nicole Kidman/Stone Temple Pilots (1993) - Various
- Rosie O'Donnell/James Taylor (1993) - Various / Anita Baker / Marla Gibbs
- Christian Slater/Smashing Pumpkins (1993) - Various / Queen Shenequa
- John Malkovich/Billy Joel (1993) - Various
- Shannen Doherty/Cypress Hill (1993) - Various
- Charles Barkley/Nirvana (1993) - Various
- Kevin Kline/Willie Nelson & Paul Simon (1993) - Various
- Christina Applegate/Midnight Oil (1993) - Various
- Kirstie Alley/Lenny Kravitz (1993) - Various / Queen Shenequa
- Jason Alexander/Peter Gabriel (1993) - Various
- Miranda Richardson/Soul Asylum (1993) - Various
- John Goodman/Mary J. Blige (1993) - Various
- Bill Murray/Sting (1993) - Various
- Alec Baldwin/Paul McCartney (1993) - Various / Patti LaBelle
- Luke Perry/Mick Jagger (1993) - Various
- Harvey Keitel/Madonna (1993) - Various
- Danny DeVito/Bon Jovi (1993) - Various / Jackée Harry as Amy Fisher
- Glenn Close/Black Crowes (1992) - Various
- Tom Arnold/Neil Young (1992) - Various
- Sinbad/Sade (1992) - Cheryl Mosley / Superhero / Mistress / -
- Michael Keaton/Morrissey (1992) - Alice Walker / Helen / Various
- Catherine O'Hara/10,000 Maniacs (1992) - Various
- Joe Pesci/Spin Doctors (1992) - Various
- Tim Robbins/Sinéad O'Connor (1992) - Reporter / Cheri
- Nicolas Cage/Bobby Brown (1992) - Various
- Woody Harrelson/Vanessa Williams (1992) - Passerby / Zoraida / Dr. Janice Griffin / -
- Tom Hanks/Bruce Springsteen (1992) - Various / Queen Shenequa
- Jerry Seinfeld/Annie Lennox (1992) - Various
- Sharon Stone/Pearl Jam (1992) - Queen Shenequa / wife
- Mary Stuart Masterson/En Vogue (1992) - Various
- John Goodman/Garth Brooks (1992) - Various / Natalie Cole
- Roseanne & Tom Arnold/Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992) - Jackée Harry
- Jason Priestley/Teenage Fanclub (1992) - Various
- Susan Dey/C+C Music Factory (1992) - Various
- Chevy Chase/Robbie Robertson (1992) - Various
- Rob Morrow/Nirvana (1992) - Various
- Steve Martin/James Taylor (1991) - Various / Sabrina Boyd / Ms Hawkins
- Hammer (1991) - Various
- Macaulay Culkin/Tin Machine (1991) - Various
- Linda Hamilton/Mariah Carey (1991) - Various
- Kiefer Sutherland/Skid Row (1991) - Various
- Christian Slater/Bonnie Raitt (1991) - Various
- Kirstie Alley/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (1991) - Anita Hill
- Jeff Daniels/Color Me Badd (1991) - Various
- Michael Jordan/Public Enemy (1991) - Various
1993
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (TV Series) as
Bus Driver Sally Knorp
- Yellow Fever (1994) - Bus Driver Sally Knorp
- Day of the Dot (1993) - Bus Driver Sally Knorp
1993
Schiller's Reel: While the City Sweeps (Short) as
Cleaning Lady
1992
This Is My Life as
TV Talk Show Host
1991
Strictly Business as
Cocktail Waitress (as G. Ellen Cleghorne)
1991
In Living Color (TV Series) as
Woman in Restaurant / Woman in Courtroom
- Episode #2.24 (1991) - Woman in Restaurant
- Arsenio Hall of Justice (1991) - Woman in Courtroom (as Ellen Cleghorn)
1989
What's Alan Watching? (TV Special) as
Marsha
Writer
-
The Roseanne Show (TV Series) (5 episodes, 1998) (writer - 2 episodes, 1998)
- Episode dated 15 December 1998 (1998)
- Episode #1.37 (1998) - (writer)
- Episode #1.33 (1998) - (writer)
- Episode #1.18 (1998)
- Episode #1.5 (1998)
- Episode #1.4 (1998)
- Episode #1.2 (1998)
Soundtrack
-
Saturday Night Live (TV Series) (1 episode, 1992) (performer - 4 episodes, 1992 - 1994)
- Steve Martin/Eric Clapton (1994) - (performer: "Nut-Rific" - uncredited)
- Kirstie Alley/Lenny Kravitz (1993) - (performer: "Recurring Characters for Unity")
- Christopher Walken/Arrested Development (1992) - ("Lets Face The Music And Dance")
- John Goodman/Garth Brooks (1992) - (performer: "Mr. Bojangles", "It's Now or Never", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "Get Happy", "In the Ghetto")
- Jason Priestley/Teenage Fanclub (1992) - (performer: "Back Together Again" (uncredited), "I Kept Missing You", "When Good Love Goes Bad", "Crazy Love", "When Love Drags You Down The Stairs")
Thanks
2007
Doug Stanhope: No Refunds (Video documentary) (special thanks)
Self
2021
The Jeff Richards Show (Podcast Series) as
Self
- The Doctor Is In (2021) - Self
2017
ASSSSCAT 3000: New York (TV Series) as
Self - monologist
- Ellen Cleghorne (2017) - Self - monologist
2015
Rachael Ray (TV Series) as
Self
- Thanksgiving Is Two Days Away, and Chef Anne Burrell Is in the House with Rachael to Help Two of Their "Worst Cooks in America" Team Members! (2015) - Self
2015
Worst Cooks in America (TV Series) as
Self - Contestant
- Celebrity: Final Food Fight (2015) - Self - Contestant (credit only)
- Tapas Can't Stop Us (2015) - Self - Contestant
- Riddle Me This (2015) - Self - Contestant
- Celebrity Showdown (2015) - Self - Contestant
- Takeout or Get Out (2015) - Self - Contestant
- Celebrity Pot-Un-Lucky (2015) - Self - Contestant
2015
Gotham Comedy Live (TV Series documentary) as
Self - Host
- Ellen Cleghorne (2015) - Self - Host
2015
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special (TV Special) as
Self
2005
National Body Challenge (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Host
2004
101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments (TV Special documentary) as
Self - Commentator
2003
I Love the '80s Strikes Back (TV Series documentary) as
Self
2003
I Love the '70s (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Self
- 1977 (2003) - Self
- 1975 (2003) - Self
- 1974 (2003) - Self
- 1970 (2003) - Self
2002
Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn (TV Series) as
Self
2002
The One Dollar Diary (Documentary) as
Self
2002
Pyramid (TV Series) as
Self - Celebrity Contestant
- Pyramid Rocks (Pilot #3) - Self - Celebrity Contestant
2001
The Test (TV Series) as
Self - Panelist
- The Matrimony Test (2001) - Self - Panelist
2000
My Funny Valentine (TV Movie) as
Self
1999
Saturday Night Live 25 (TV Special documentary) as
Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
1998
The Roseanne Show (TV Series) as
Shenesha Hawkins / Self / Luscious Cleavage / ...
- Episode dated 6 January 1999 (1999) - Shenesha Hawkins
- Episode dated 9 December 1998 (1998) - Self
- Episode #1.26 (1998) - Luscious Cleavage
- Episode #1.22 (1998) - Montego Bay Mama
- Episode #1.9 (1998) - Uta Sven
- Episode #1.1 (1998) - Angel
1998
The Ms. Foundation's Women of Comedy (TV Special) as
Self
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Tony V/Lennox Lewis (1996) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Diane Ladd/John Entwistle (1996) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Clea Lewis/Colin Quinn (1995) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Rich Hall/X (1995) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Don Ho/The Rembrandts (1995) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Anka Radakovich/Jack Ford (1995) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Kevin Pollak/Frederique (1995) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Jeff Garlin/Robert Earl Keen (1994) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Jenny McCarthy/Brian Regan (1994) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Robert Conrad/Jawbox (1994) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Cleghorne/Alan Dershowitz/Tribe (1993) - Self - Guest
- Ron Reagan/Ellen Cleghorne/The Juliana Hatfield Three (1993) - Self - Guest
1994
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #4.70 (1995) - Self
- Episode #4.2 (1995) - Self
- Episode #3.344 (1995) - Self
- Episode #3.192 (1994) - Self
- Episode #3.140 (1994) - Self
- Episode #3.104 (1994) - Self
- Episode #3.12 (1994) - Self
1995
Late Show with David Letterman (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 26 September 1995 (1995) - Self
- Episode dated 11 April 1995 (1995) - Self
1992
Saturday Night Live (TV Series) as
Self / Audience members / Dr. Dre / ...
- David Duchovny/Rod Stewart (1995) - Self / Audience members
- Jeff Goldblum/Aerosmith (1993) - Self / Dr. Dre / Patron / -
- Christopher Walken/Arrested Development (1992) - Self / Various
1994
Def Comedy Jam: Primetime (TV Special documentary) as
Self
1993
The Best of the Blues Brothers (Video documentary) as
Sabrina (voice)
1992
Def Comedy Jam (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.9 (1992) - Self
1992
London Underground (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.1 (1992) - Self
1991
An Evening at the Improv (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #7.26 (1991) - Self
1991
London Underground (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.1 (1991) - Self
1990
The New Music Report (TV Series) as
Queen Shenequa
1989
1989 Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search (TV Movie) as
Self
Archive Footage
2007
Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation (TV Special documentary) as
Self / Various (uncredited)
2005
Saturday Night Live: The Best of David Spade (TV Special) as
Airline Passenger (uncredited)
2000
Saturday Night Live: Game Show Parodies (TV Special) as
Serena Williams / Various Characters (uncredited)
2000
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley (TV Special documentary) as
Various Characters (uncredited)
1999
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler (TV Special documentary) as
Cocolate Pudding (uncredited)
1999
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Rock (TV Special documentary) as
Self / Various Characters (uncredited)
1998
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Steve Martin (TV Special) as
Self (uncredited)
1998
The Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live (TV Special documentary) as
Self / Various Characters (uncredited)
1998
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman (TV Special documentary) as
Shakira's Mom (uncredited)
1993
But... Seriously (TV Special documentary) as
Self
1992
Saturday Night Live: Presidential Bash (TV Special) as
Anita Hill (uncredited)
References
Ellen Cleghorne Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA