The industry has long been dominated by sitcoms, which audiences have enthusiastically embraced. The Simpsons and Friends have been well-liked for a long time and have a substantial fan base. Series like The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine have become increasingly popular recently. Another Netflix sitcom, The Upshaws, starring an Indiana working-class household attempting to navigate the complex relationships of a big family, debuted in 2021.
Following its release, The Upshaws shot to the top of the Netflix charts for a brief while. The New York Times said that the show delivers nostalgic humor that viewers have been yearning for Black-focused sitcoms set in the present, but with a contemporary take. Fans were also amazed to recognize several cast members. So let’s see where The Upshaws cast has appeared in the past.
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Kim Fields - Regina Upshaw
Embassy CommunicationsSony Pictures Television
On The Upshaws, Kim Fields portrays Regina, the spouse of Bennie. Regina has endured a lot, from an adolescent pregnancy to the heartbreak of learning that her partner fathered a kid outside their relationship, and Fields infuses her with emotion and humor. Kim is well-recognized for her role in The Facts of Life as Tootie. Fields captured audiences’ minds as the lovely girl who grew up in more than 200 occurrences. She was among the fresh-faced “it girls” during the 1980s.
Mike Epps - Bennie Upshaw
Netflix
Bennie, played by comedian Mike Epps, aspires to be a good family guy. Amidst Bennie’s swerving eye, Bennie and Regina, his high school girlfriend, had three kids together. In the celebrity-studded comedy biography Dolemite is My Name!, Epps played artist Jimmy Lynch, among the handful of occasions he played a real-life figure. Lynch played the right-hand guy and close associate of Rudy Ray Moore in the 1975 film version of Dolemite. Epps, who has already starred in the two Resident Evil films, did an excellent job. For those who don’t know, Dolemite Is My Name! is an original Netflix movie.
Jermelle Simon - Bernard
Jermelle Simon portrays Bernard, the oldest Upshaw child and the one most wary of their father Bennie, in his first significant role. Bernard is a confident homosexual man who drives for UPS. Although Simon’s debut sitcom is The Upshaws, he has a few other acting roles under his belt, including a cameo on Animal Kingdom. In the 2019 short drama movie A Rodeo Film, Simon also has the starring part. Jermelle had a stellar performance that held the audience’s interest.
Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins - Aaliyah
The Upshaws’ little teen Aaliyah steals the show, and Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, an amateur, plays her. Nothing would make Aaliyah happier than to mature, get out of Indianapolis, and avoid becoming like her parents. She has only recently started watching television, and this is her first significant role. However, Spraggins may be recognizable to viewers of Empire as a child Cookie from the series’ backstory. Even though Kahli’s involvement in the series wasn’t particularly important, it was good enough to draw attention to her.
Journey Christine - Maya Upshaw
Maya, the family’s youngest child, is being played by Journey Christine. Now Christine might be fresh to television, but she has been modeling and acting in commercials since one. Her portfolio features runway gigs, advertisements for various businesses, and even modeling for Disney. Christine also appeared in a brief part in the 2019 Netflix film Let It Snow, a Christmas movie, playing the role of Lo. Her character oozed cuteness, and now that she’s a part of The Upshaws, her identity is becoming more well-known.
Diamond Lyons - Kelvin
The Upshaws’ central focus is shedding light on what a contemporary mixed Midwestern household could appear. The child Bennie had when taking a pause from Regina, Kelvin, is the foundation for that mixing. Aaliyah and Kelvin are both the same age. Diamond Lyons credits The Upshaws with his first significant role, just like the other of his show’s siblings. He also appeared in an installment of Colin in Black & White, the miniseries on Colin Kaepernick. Lyons had a brief but significant stint.
Page Kennedy - Duck
As his ally at the workshop, Duck is among Bennie’s few pals. The actor Page Kennedy plays him. Kennedy is perhaps best known to audiences as linebacker Radon Randell from the second season of Blue Mountain State, wherein he demonstrated some serious acting prowess. On Desperate Housewives, Kennedy played the criminal Caleb Applewhite, another important role. On Weeds, he portrayed a drug lord. Page has had cameos on several other productions, including Rush Hour, Six Feet Under, Justified, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NYPD Blue, and The Shield.
Wanda Sykes - Lucretia
New Line Cinema
Wanda Sykes serves as the show’s originator, and Lucretia, Regina’s elder sister, on The Upshaws. As the passive investor in Bennie’s business, Lucretia brings a spice of cheerful nosiness and biting sarcasm to the events. Sykes played Ruby, the devoted employee of Jane Fonda’s main protagonist in the movie Monster-in-Law. Sykes’ act was the film’s defining event since she stayed in the role the entire time and appeared to have just left the Curb Your Enthusiasm shoot. Wanda received the BET Comedy Award. Monster-In-Law is also one of the best Jennifer Lopez romantic comedies.
Gabrielle Dennis - Tasha Lewis
HBO Entertainment
Gabrielle Dennis portrays Tasha Lewis, the local hairdresser, Bennie’s ex-girlfriend, and Kelvin’s mom. Being a good parent, she expects Bennie to improve as a father to their kid Kelvin. Dennis is also a key part of the ensemble of A Black Lady Sketch Show. On the HBO show, Dennis provides a variety of standout acts, but few are as adored as Elisa, the boss of a mob known as the Coral Reefs, who has distinctive body gestures that incorporate turned-out toes.
