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Cassi Davis

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Cassi Davis
Davis in 2018
Born (1964-07-31) July 31, 1964 (age 60)
OccupationActress
Years active1988–present
Spouse
Kerry Patton
(m. 2017)

Cassi Davis-Patton (born July 31, 1964)[1] is an American actress best known for her role as Ella Payne on Tyler Perry's House of Payne and its spin-off series The Paynes. She is also known as Aunt Bam in the Madea franchise since 2010. She has starred in several other productions under the direction of Tyler Perry.

Life and career

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Born in Holly Springs, Mississippi,[2][3] Davis attended Spelman College in Atlanta and majored in music. She left the college one credit short of graduation, because she was not allowed to perform religious music during her senior recital. Davis returned to Spelman in 2008 to complete her degree, graduating in November of that year.[4] She has credited her devout, born-again Christian faith as the main reason behind her professional success.[5]

Davis' acting career began in 1988 with a supporting role in the Spike Lee comedy film School Daze. Her early television credits include appearances on Living Single, Married... with Children, Kenan & Kel, and The PJ's. She established her acting career by appearing in Tyler Perry productions such as Madea's Family Reunion, Madea Goes to Jail, Daddy's Little Girls, Madea's Big Happy Family, Boo! A Madea Halloween and A Madea Family Funeral.

Davis is best known for her role as Ella Payne in the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne from 2007 to 2012. She received two NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance.[6] In 2018, she starred in House of Payne spinoff The Paynes that aired on Oprah Winfrey Network. In 2020, a revival series of House of Payne was ordered on BET.[7]

Personal life

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Davis married her longtime boyfriend Kerry Patton on January 11, 2017; prior to their marriage, the two had been dating since 2007.[8] In an interview, Cassi denied having a stroke, but revealed instead that she was diagnosed with Bell's palsy in March 2020.[9]

Filmography

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Films and plays

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Year Film Role Notes
1988 School Daze! Paula
1994 Silent Bomb Kate
2004 He Say... She Say... But What Does GOD Say? Sister Tiny
2005 Love on Layaway Willanetta
2006 Madea's Family Reunion Aunt Sarah
2006 Madea Goes To Jail Ella Kincaid
2007 Daddy's Little Girls Aunt Rita
2010 Madea's Big Happy Family Aunt Bam
2011 Madea's Big Happy Family
2011 A Madea Christmas
2011 Aunt Bam's Place
2014 Madea's Neighbors from Hell
2014 Act of Faith Brady's wife
2015 Madea on the Run Aunt Bam
2015 Madea's Tough Love voice
2016 Boo! A Madea Halloween
2017 Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
2017 Hamlet & Hutch Jenice
2019 Madea's Farewell Play Tour Aunt Bam
2019 A Madea Family Funeral
2022 A Madea Homecoming

Television

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Year Film Role Episodes
1993 Living Single Francine Episode: "In The Black It's Beautiful"
1994 Chicago Hope Nurse #1 Episode: "Food Chains"
1996 Moesha
1996 Married... with Children Patty Episode: "Crimes Against Obesity"
1999 Kenan & Kel Kitty Episode: "He Got Job"
1999–2001 The PJs HUD woman (Voice) Recurring Role; 27 episodes
2000 The Parkers Big Woman
2001 Boycott Cook Television movie
2007–2012, 2020–present Tyler Perry's House of Payne Ella Payne Lead role; 254 episodes
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2010, 2013)
Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2009, 2011)
2009 Meet the Browns Episode: "Meet the Christmas Spirit"
2015 Love Thy Neighbor Episode: "Ella and Curtis"
2018 The Paynes Lead role, 38 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2020 Golden Raspberry Awards[10] Worst Supporting Actress A Madea Family Funeral Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Most famous actresses from Mississippi". WREG. January 26, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Cassi Davis Biography". tbs.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
  3. ^ "Holly Springs Star!! Cassandra "Cassi" Davis". Visit Holly Springs. August 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  4. ^ "'House of Payne' Star Cassi Davis Graduating From College—25 Years Later". October 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Cassi Davis: House of Grace". www.cbn.com.
  6. ^ "NAACP Image Awards: Winners Announced". The Hollywood Reporter. February 2013.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (February 4, 2020). "Tyler Perry Confirms 'House Of Payne' Revival On BET, New 'Assisted Living' Comedy Series".
  8. ^ "'House of Payne' Star Cassi Davis on Marrying High School Boyfriend: 'Our Fights Are Beautiful'". February 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "'House of Payne' Fans Worry That Cassi Davis Might Have Had a Stroke — What's the Truth?". May 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "RAZZ NEWZ - The Razzies!". razzies.com.
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