Caryn Ward Ross
Caryn Ward Ross (née Ward) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer and producer.
Life and career
Ward attended Howard University where she graduated with a degree in psychology.[1] Ward also studied dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. She performed with various artists including Janet Jackson, Arsenio Hall, and Rosie Perez.[1]
Ward began her career as a child actor in the 1980s, appearing in a recurring role in the musical-dance drama series Fame from 1985 to 1986. She later appeared in Webster, Paradise and Family Matters. From 1990 to 1991, she co-starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom You Take the Kids, starring Nell Carter.[2] Ward later took ten year-break from acting and in 2000s, began appearing in episodes of Friends, Strong Medicine, The Shield, and Lincoln Heights. In 2004, she made her movie debut appearing in a supporting role in the thriller Motives, opposite Vivica A. Fox and Shemar Moore. She later appeared in several featuring films, including Boss'n Up (2005), Traci Townsend (2006), and N-Secure (2009). From 2006 to 2015, she had a recurring role in the CW/BET comedy series, The Game.
Ward starred and produced films The Affair (2014) and Zodiac Sign (2015). She starred in the short-lived Bounce TV sitcom Grown Folks in 2017, which was canceled after 13 episodes.[3] In 2018, she received Indie Series Awards nomination for her performance in the Victoria Rowell comedy series The Rich and the Ruthless.[4][5] Later in 2018, she so-created alongside her husband Craig Ross Jr., starred and produced Urban Movie Channel drama series Monogamy.[6]
Personal life
On June 26, 2011, Caryn Ward married television and film director Craig Ross, Jr.[7][8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | David | Jennifer | TV movie |
| 1992 | The Boys | Tap Dancer | TV movie |
| 2001 | The Heart Department | Shondra Adaire | TV movie |
| 2004 | Motives | Gwendolyn | Video |
| 2005 | Boss'n Up | Dominique | |
| 2006 | Sarang Song | Nessa | Short |
| Traci Townsend | Lynn | ||
| 2007 | Tournament of Dreams | Nessa | |
| Stompin' | Camille Turner | ||
| Blood River | Sheila | ||
| 2009 | Think Twice | Jennifer | Short |
| Breaking News | Kendra Davis | Short | |
| Sideline Confessions | Jade | Short | |
| Steppin: The Movie | Actor | ||
| 2010 | Backyard Wedding | Jane | TV movie |
| N-Secure | Kim | ||
| 2011 | The Blackest Swan | Lily | Video |
| The Bachelor Party | La-La | Video | |
| He's Mine Not Yours | Mandy | ||
| 2012 | The Marriage Chronicles | Sabel Jones | |
| If You Really Love Me | - | TV movie | |
| Air Collision | Presidential Purser Joan Watts | Video | |
| 2014 | Patterns of Attraction | Dr. Flowers | |
| Daddy's Home | Stacy | TV movie | |
| Crossed the Line | Kyra | ||
| The Affair | Simone Waite | ||
| 2015 | Zodiac Sign | Diana | |
| 2016 | 36 Hour Layover | Tammy | |
| For the Love of Christmas | Diana | ||
| LAPD African Cops | - | ||
| 2017 | Message from a Mistress | Jamie Hall | |
| 2023 | Back on the Strip | Eve |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Days of Our Lives | Tracy | Regular Cast |
| 1985-86 | Fame | Tina | Recurring cast: season 5, guest: season 6 |
| 1986 | Webster | Tony | Episode: "The Big Sleepover" |
| 1987 | Disneyland | Emily | Episode: "The Liberators" |
| 1988 | What's Happening Now!! | Joyce | Episode: "The Fabulous Fortunes" |
| 1989 | Paradise | Role unknown | Episode: "All the Pretty Little Horses" |
| 1990 | Family Matters | Susie | Episode: "Dedicated to the One I Love" |
| 1990-91 | You Take the Kids | Lorette Kirkland | Main cast |
| 2002 | Friends | Waitress | Episode: "The One Where Joey Dates Rachel" |
| 2004 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Insomnia Waitress | Episode: "Episode #1.4389" |
| Strong Medicine | - | Episode: "Selective Breeding" | |
| 2005 | The Shield | Queenie | Episode: "String Theory" |
| Full Plate | Host | Episode: "The Nanny" | |
| 2006-15 | The Game | Erica Harrison | Recurring cast: season 1-4 & 8 |
| 2007 | Lincoln Heights | Layla | Episode: "House Arrest" & "The 'F' Word" |
| Entourage | Hostess | Episode: "Sorry, Harvey" | |
| 2010 | Love That Girl! | Sexy Lexi | Episode: "Keep It in the Closet" |
| 2012-14 | Roomieloverfriends | Calista | Recurring cast: season 1-3 |
| 2014 | One Love | Jenika | Recurring cast |
| 2015 | Liv and Maddie | Cindy Dippledorf | Episode: "Neighbors-A-Rooney" |
| Sexless | Calista | Episode: "Surfboard" | |
| 2016 | Jane the Virgin | Customer #2 | Episode: "Chapter Forty-One" |
| Pitch | Reporter #2 | Episode: "San Francisco" | |
| 2017 | Grown Folks | Brenda Finley | Main cast |
| 2017-21 | The Rich and the Ruthless | Roxanne | Recurring cast: season 1, main cast: season 4 |
| 2018 | Lucifer | Emily Armantrout | Episode: "High School Poppycock" |
| 2018–21 | Monogamy | Sincere | Main cast |
References
- ^ a b "Female Success Factor". Archived from the original on October 7, 2009.
- ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (October 17, 2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (9 ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 1554. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
- ^ "Shows A-Z - grown folks on bounce tv | TheFutonCritic.com". thefutoncritic.com.
- ^ "Seven Indie Series Award nominations for 'The Rich and The Ruthless'". jamaica-gleaner.com. April 4, 2018.
- ^ "Urban Movie Channel to debut original, soapy dramedy 'The Rich and The Ruthless' from Victoria Rowell". shadowandact.com.
- ^ "Caryn Ward Ross on Stepping into the Role of Executive Producer". Divvy Magazine. 3 May 2018.
- ^ Actress Caryn Ward Marries Filmmaker Craig Ross Jr.
- ^ "Craig Ross Jr./Caryn Ward Wedding Pics". Blackfilm - Black Movies, Television, and Theatre News. June 16, 2011.