Anna Maria Horsford
Biography
Anna Maria Horsford is an American actress born in New York City, New York, on March 6, 1947. Known primarily for her television comedy performances, she gained recognition for playing Thelma Frye on the NBC sitcom Amen from 1986 to 1991 and Dee Baxter on the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. from 1995 to 1999. Her dramatic television roles include A.D.A. Beth Encardi on the FX crime drama The Shield and Vivienne Avant on the CBS daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. For her work on The Bold and the Beautiful, she received Daytime Emmy Award nominations in 2016 and 2017. In film, she is notably recognized for portraying Betty, the mother of Craig Jones, in the 1995 comedy movie Friday.
Career overview
Anna Maria Horsford is an American actress known for her performances in television comedies. She was born on March 6, 1947, in New York City, New York, USA. Her television career includes notable roles on various sitcoms, such as playing Thelma Frye on the NBC sitcom Amen from 1986 to 1991 and Dee Baxter on the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. from 1995 to 1999. In addition to her comedy work, Horsford took on dramatic roles, including portraying A.D.A. Beth Encardi on the FX crime drama The Shield and playing Vivienne Avant on the CBS daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. Her work on The Bold and the Beautiful earned her a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series in 2016 and a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2017.
Beyond her television career, Horsford has appeared in a number of movies. Her most notable film role is playing Betty, the mother of Craig Jones, in the 1995 comedy film Friday. Throughout her acting career, she has accumulated 106 known credits in film and television projects.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Scrubs (2026) as Mrs. Melanie Brooks
- Unexpected Christmas (2025) as Momma Scott
- No Good Deed (2024) as Denise Sampson
- Will I See You Again? (2024)
- History of the World: Part II (2023) as Mother Mary
- Bel-Air (2022) as 'Nita Banks
- The Guardians of Justice (2022) as Serena Lyle
- Me Time (2022) as Connie
- Hacks (2021) as Francine
- Vacation Friends (2021) as Nancy
- The Bitch Who Stole Christmas (2021) as Mayor Coont
- B Positive (2020) as Mrs. Ludlum
- Studio City (2019) as Jolene Hernandez
- SUNNYSIDE UP (2019) as Aunt Deedee
- The Conners (2018) as Nicole
- POSE (2018) as Charlene
- The Last O.G. (2018) as Roberta Barker
- I Feel Bad (2018) as Norman's Mom
- Single AF (2018) as Jane
- Chasing the Blues (2018) as Mrs. Walker
- Jalen Vs. Everybody (2017) as Mamma
- A Kindred Soul (2017) as Claudia
- Gladys Brown (2017) as Gladys Brown
- Mom (2013) as Ms. Ferguson
- A Madea Christmas (2013) as Eileen
- Key & Peele (2012) as Maid
- The Soul Man (2012) as Ceci
- C'mon Man (2012) as Mrs. Woods
- New Girl (2011) as Charmaine
- Reed Between the Lines (2011) as Ms. Helen Wilson
- Our Family Wedding (2010) as Diane Boyd
- Wigger (2010)
- The League (2009) as Trina Richardson
- Directors on Directing (2009) as Self
- I Tried (2007) as Milly
- Gridiron Gang (2006) as Sharon Weathers
- Heist (2006) as Wanda Evans
- Broken Bridges (2006) as Loretta
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Elizabeth Fallon
- American Dad! (2005) as Female Juror (voice)
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005) as Janet Barrett
- Ganked (2005) as Mrs. Barry
- My Big Phat Hip Hop Family (2005) as Mamma Pearl
- Entourage (2004) as Saigon's Mother
- Justice (2004) as Chief Public Defender Poole
- Guarding Eddy (2004) as Carol
- Las Vegas (2003) as Aunt Vonice
- The Shield (2002) as A.D.A. Beth Encardi
- Minority Report (2002) as Casey
- Friday After Next (2002) as Mrs. Jones
- The Bernie Mac Show (2001) as Aunt Sis
- How High (2001) as Mamma King
- Along Came a Spider (2001) as Vickie
- Jacked Up (2001) as Thelma Barnes
- The District (2000) as Vicky Yates
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) as Denise's Mother
- Lockdown (2000) as Saunders
- Masquerade (2000) as Mrs. Scott
- The Wild Thornberrys (1998) as Gola's Mother (voice)
- L.A. Doctors (1998) as Angela Daly
- Kiss the Girls (1997) as Vicki Cross (uncredited)
- Moesha (1996) as Diane Henderson
- 7th Heaven (1996) as Joyce
- Set It Off (1996) as Ms. Wells
- One Fine Day (1996) as Evelyn
- Dear God (1996) as Lucille Barnett
- Widow's Kiss (1996) as Lavanda Harrison
- Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1996) as Miss Annie
- The Wayans Bros. (1995) as Deirdre 'Dee' Baxter
- Friday (1995) as Mrs. Jones
- Street Gear (1994)
- Baby Brokers (1994) as Randi
- Mr. Jones (1993) as Judge Harris
- Deaf Heaven (1993) as Libby
- Tall Hopes (1993) as Lainie Harris
- Rhythm & Blues (1992)
- Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story (1992) as Veronica Perry
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) as Karen Caruthers
- Presumed Innocent (1990) as Eugenia
- A Killer Among Us (1990) as Barbara Evans
- Taken Away (1989) as Mrs. Pierson
- Who Gets the Friends? (1988)
- Street Smart (1987) as Harriet
- L.A. Law (1986) as Judge Olga Winbush
- Amen (1986) as Thelma Frye
- Heartburn (1986) as Della
- A Case of Deadly Force (1986) as Virginia Cates
- C.A.T. Squad (1986) as Mrs. Raines
- St. Elmo's Fire (1985) as Naomi
- Stone Pillow (1985) as Collins
- Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom (1985) as Hannah
- Crackers (1984) as Slam Dunk
- A Doctor's Story (1984) as Leigh Williams
- Summer Switch (1984) as Stepahnie Marshak
- Class (1983) as Maggie
- American Playhouse (1982) as Hannah
- Love Child (1982) as Mara
- Muggable Mary: Street Cop (1982) as Kathy Thomas
- Benny's Place (1982) as Charmaine
- The Fan (1981) as Emily Stolz
- Bill (1981) as Marge Keating
- Starstruck (1981) as Jessica
- Times Square (1980) as Rosie Washington
- An Almost Perfect Affair (1979) as Amy Zon
- Hollow Image (1979) as Monica
- At Face Value as Mosetta