Biography for
Lonette McKee More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

Mini Biography

Lonette McKee's career began in the music industry in hometown Detroit, Michigan as a child prodigy, where she began playing keyboards composing music and lyrics, singing and performing professionally at the age of seven. At fourteen she recorded her first record, "Stop Don't Worry 'Bout It" which became an instant regional Pop/R&B hit. McKee wrote the title song for feature film "Quadroon" when just fifteen. She has written and produced three solo LPs, most recently, "Natural Love", for Spike Lee's Columbia 40 Acres and A Mule label. McKee scored the music for a well-received cable documentary on the lower Manhattan African Burial Ground, as well as numerous infomercials. She has toured extensively throughout the world in concert performances, including the JVC Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall. McKee continues to write and produce music and will score her feature, "Drream Street" which she has written and will mark her directorial debut.

Feature film credits include; 'Sparkle', 'Cuba', 'Which Way Is Up' and 'Brewsters Millions' - both opposite the legendary Richard Pryor; 'The Cotton Club' and 'Gardens of Stone' for Francis Coppola; 'Lift', for which she earned a Black Reel nomination. Other films include 'Honey', 'Men of Honor', 'Round Midnight' for the great filmmaker Bertrand Tavenier, 'A Day in Black and White', 'Fast Food Fast Women' 'Paper Mache Chase'and 'Jungle Fever', 'Malcolm X', 'He Got Game' and 'She Hate Me' for Spike Lee. Television mini series and films include; 'Women of Brewster Place', for which she received an NAACP nomination, 'Having Our Say', 'Queen' with Halle Berry, 'To Dance with Olivia' and 'For Love of Olivia' - both opposite Louis Gossett Jr. for CBS television network and 'Blind Faith' for Showtime Cable Network. Lonette also received an NAACP nomination for her appearances on the long-running CBS soap opera 'As The World Turns'.

Recently, Lonette did a recurring role on the NBC hit drama 'Third Watch' and 'Missing'. She was recognized in People Magazine's 'Fifty Most Beautiful' issue. She studied film directing at The New School in New York and apprenticed film directing with Spike Lee. She teaches a Masters Class for Actors at Centenary College in New Jersey, where she serves as an adjunct professor in the theater arts department. Lonette is currently producing her feature film 'Dream Street' with Nicole Franlin and Dan Griffin. Mckee has relocated her production companies to Detroit, where she is conducting an Actors Workshop as well as training programs for crew and working with sister, Kathy McKee a local casting director. In partnership with WCCCD (Wayne County Community College District) both Mckee's conduct career exploration conferences and seminars.

Trivia

Nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Julie LaVerne in "Show Boat".

Has taught Master acting classes at Centenary College, where she serves as Adjunct Professor in the Theater Arts department.

Often portraying women with tragic auras, she played the late Billie Holliday in the off-Broadway hit show, "Lady Day at the Emerson's Bar and Grill", for which she received a nomination for a Drama Desk award. She also played the equally bittersweet role of 'Julie' in "Show Boat" in 1983 for the renowned Houston Grand Opera, becoming the first African American cast in the role in the US. In 1994 she reprieved the role for famed Broadway director, Harold Prince. Her first film role was the drug-addicted Supreme's-like lead singer in Sparkle in 1976.

Initially appeared on Broadway in the musical "The First" playing Mrs. Jackie Robinson.

Once married to a social worker.

Recorded a pop album "Natural Love" in 1992.

She was nominated for two Image Awards, but didn't win.

She was ranked in People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" in 1995.

Was the first black actress to play Julie in a major American stage production of "Show Boat".

Father is of African-American; mother is of European descent.

Began career as a recording artist in Detroit as a child music prodigy. signed with the Detroit-based M-S label and put out a record which became a regional hit at fourteen years old. Released an album, Lonette McKee, on the Sussex label with the same producers, Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey in 1974.

Sister of Kathrine McKee.

She is an avid animal lover with a particular ability to intuit and communicate with birds. Lonette loves all animals and has a profound respect and love for all nature.

Was nominated for a 1983 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for her portrayal of Julie LaVerne in a revival of "Show Boat".

Where Are They Now

(July 2004) She will be a featured guest artist at the prestigious Symhony Space in New York City, where she will read a short story by the gifted writer, Edwidge Danticat from her soon to be published novel-in-stories "The Dew Breaker" in April 2004

(February 2004) She is currently completing work on her fourth feature film for Spike Lee.

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