Tisha Michelle Campbell was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where she attended Newark Arts High School, and also East Orange, New Jersey, where she attended Washington Academy of Music.[2] The eldest of her parents' four children, Campbell grew up singing, encouraged by her family's love for music.[3] Her mother, Hattie "Mona" Washington (née Raye; formerly Shockley and Campbell),[4][5] was a nurse, talent manager, gospel singer, and vocal coach. Her father, Clifton Campbell, was a factory worker, singer, and chess master, who worked with underprivileged children.[5] Through her father, Campbell has an older half-brother and two younger half-sisters.[6][7] Campbell has said that she was raped at age three by a male family friend who was baby-sitting her at the time.[8]
Career
Acting
Campbell's first television appearance was at the age of six, in an episode in 1974 of the PBS show The Big Blue Marble. As a child, she won many talent shows, going on to appear in such children's programs as Kids Are People Too, Unicorn Tales (played lead Daisy Bunsen in episode, The Magnificent Major), and Captain Kangaroo. At age 17, she performed in the musical feature film, Little Shop of Horrors as Chiffon, one of The Supremes-like girl group Greek Chorus, along with future Martin co-star and best friend, Tichina Arnold.
After graduating from the Arts High School in Newark, she moved to Hollywood, where she became a star on the NBC musical comedy-drama series, Rags to Riches (1987–88). She later starred in the musical comedy drama film School Daze, directed by Spike Lee, as Jane Toussaint.
After My Wife and Kids, Campbell was a regular in the Lifetime comedy series Rita Rocks (2008–09). In 2011, she starred opposite Ally Walker in the Lifetime police drama The Protector. The series was canceled after a single season. Also in 2011, she starred in the acclaimed Disney Channel original filmLemonade Mouth.[12] In September 2015, she was cast in the ABC sitcom Dr. Ken, starring Ken Jeong.[13] The series was cancelled after two seasons in 2017. In the beginning of 2018, she played Olympic gymnast Simone Biles' mother in the Lifetime movie The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar.[14][15] Later in 2018, Campbell starred on the ABC drama pilot The Holmes Sisters about the lives of five African-American sisters, all officers in the NYPD. It was produced by Regina King and Robin Roberts.[16]
Music
In 1993, Campbell released her debut album, Tisha, which was a moderate success, selling 40,000 copies. Two singles received minor airplay on the R&B stations: "Push", which was produced by Derek Bramble, and "Love Me Down".[17] Campbell contributed vocals for the soundtrack of the 1997 film, Sprung, in which she starred, singing a cover version of "Don't Ask My Neighbor" with Tichina Arnold.
She appeared in several music videos in the 1990s and 2000s, including two for Will Smith ("Will 2K" and "Wild Wild West") and one for Toni Braxton ("You're Makin' Me High"). In 2012, Campbell starred in Mindless Behavior's music video for "Hello".
On September 21, 2015, she released the single, "Steel Here".[18] On February 24, 2016, Campbell released the single, "Lazy Bitch", as well as an accompanying video, where she featured her friend, Tasha Smith.[19] On February 2, 2018, Campbell released the single, "I Don't Wanna Be Alone Tonight".[20][21] On October 6, 2019, she released the single, "22 Summers," with an accompanying video.[22]
Philanthropy
In 2011, Campbell co-founded Colored My Mind, a non-profit foundation dedicated to raising awareness of childhood autism in communities of color.[23] She was inspired to start the organization by her son Xen, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 18 months old.[24]
Personal life
On August 17, 1996, Campbell married actor Duane Martin.[25] Together, they have two sons. In February 2018, Campbell filed for divorce after 21 years of marriage.[26] The couple finalized their divorce in December 2020.[27]
In November 1996, Campbell left the Fox series Martin during its final season, citing "intolerable" working conditions. In January 1997, Campbell filed a lawsuit against co-star Martin Lawrence on the counts of sexual harassment and abuse both on and off set.[28] By April 1997, Campbell had settled the lawsuit, and returned to appear in the last two episodes of the series.[29] Campbell and Lawrence have both stated that they have since reconciled.[30][31]