Pamella D'Pella

Early life

Pamella D'Pella was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 22, 1957 to Mary Ann Manley. After leaving the United States Air Force her mother relocated the family to Cincinnati, Ohio. Her natural passion for dramatic arts and music manifested itself shortly thereafter. At the age of 4, Pamella began singing to family members and neighbors, reenacting scenes from her favorite films, television shows, and various sketches. Throughout her teenage years Pamella continued to explore the full spectrum of her talents, venturing into modeling, cheerleading and athletics. Accolades and awards began to follow her efforts, was crowned Cincinnati's first Miss NAACP at 16 and the youngest in the competition. More crowns followed, Miss Aerospace, Miss Hemisphere, and Cincinnati's American Junior Miss, now known as Distinguished Young Women. She was the first Black girl to wear that crown for the city. In the acting realm, she was recognized by the International Thespian Society for her excellence in movement and characterization, while also winning a Meritorious Award of Achievement for Participation in Theater for her work portraying the "Wicked Witch of the West" in a stage production of The Wizard of Oz.

In college, Pamella perfected her craft by studying Theater at Western Kentucky University, and performing in various college productions. After freshman year, Pamella transferred to the University of Cincinnati while simultaneously becoming a professional cheerleader, breaking racial barriers as one of the first Black Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals. She performed in many theatrical productions and local television shows, gaining more exposure and notoriety. She received highly favorable press reviews for her outstanding performance in David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago and also for her role as the "Dark Queen" in Snow White.

Seeking to further her artistic career, Pamella left Cincinnati to study theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and studied dance at the acclaimed Dance Theater of Harlem. It was at this time while living at the International House of New York that she became interested in the diversity of religious art from other countries.

After leaving New York City, Pamella went to study Directing and Set Design for her graduate studies in Kentucky at University of Louisville on a costuming fellowship.

Career

Pamella moved to Los Angeles, California in 1981. Within two weeks of her arrival she began working on the set of The Young and the Restless, eventually, settling into her role as "Julia", a recurring character that spanned ten years and over 40 episodes. Pamella's early work in Los Angeles consisted of guest star roles in series such as Hunter, O'Hara, and LA Law.

After years of formal training Pamella D'Pella was ordained and licensed at the West Los Angeles' Church of Inner Light. An active participant in entertainment issues, D'Pella was elected as a board member of the Screen Actor's Guild after joining that union in 1982, a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (1981), Actors' Equity Association and served on the Executive Peer Committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Music

Throughout the 1990s, Pamella wrote and recorded several unreleased records with multi-platinum producer Darryl "Dok" Ross. Although the records generated interest from multiple labels, Pamella never pursued a record contract, instead choosing to focus her energies on acting.

In 2012, Pamella recorded and released a post/experimental rock single, White Rabbit and Baby Blue Panties. Rejoining with producer, Dok Ross, the song features lead guitar provided by 513 Elevator's guitarist Jeremy Bartel and "The Zill Master" Tracey Farmer.

Personal life

Pamella lives in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

Television