Anjelah Johnson-Reyes
Birth nameAnjelah Nicole Johnson
Born (1982-05-14) May 14, 1982
San Jose, California, U.S.
MediumStand-up, television, film
Years active2006–present
GenresObservational comedy, surreal humor, satire
Subject(s)Latin American culture, everyday life, sports, gender differences
Spouse
Manwell Reyes
​
(m. 2011)​
Children1
Websitewww.anjelah.com

Anjelah Nicole Johnson-Reyes (born May 14, 1982) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and former NFL cheerleader. Johnson was a cast member on the series MADtv during its 13th season. Her characters included a Vietnamese nail salon employee named Mỹ Linh/Tammy and a rude fast food employee turned music star named Bon Qui Qui (the latter of which has become popular outside of Johnson's short stint on MADtv).

Career

Johnson moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue a career in comedy after a friend suggested that she join a joke-writing class.[1] She took improv classes,[1][2] and quickly began to headline her own shows. Her stand-up routine, comprising her impression of a Vietnamese nail salon employee, received a lot of attention on YouTube.[1] In 2007, Johnson joined the cast of sketch comedy show MADtv as a featured performer. Due to the impending writers strike, Johnson was often given only a few lines in the scripts during her tenure, as the writers had to produce more scripts at a faster pace.[1] However, her self-scripted character Bon Qui Qui, a fast-food employee who treats customers rudely, was received well and gained a similarly large YouTube following.[1] In 2008, Johnson was nominated for an ALMA Award for Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series for her work on MADtv.[3]

Johnson was given her own one-hour Comedy Central special, Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do It, in 2009.[4] She also appeared in the films Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Our Family Wedding, and provided her voice for the live-action adaptation of Marmaduke.[3] As well, she was featured on the late night talk show Lopez Tonight, hosted by George Lopez.

Johnson became the "TC Girl", a spokesperson for Mexican restaurant Taco Cabana, in 2011.[5] In 2012, Johnson became the national campaign spokesperson for the "Don't be an S.O.V." (single occupant vehicle) campaign led by vRide,[6] the country's largest van pooling company, which encouraged single commuters (S.O.V.s) to rideshare, carpool, or vanpool.

Johnson as Bon Qui Qui at the McAllen Convention Center in 2016

In 2013, Johnson reprised her role as her MADtv character Bon Qui Qui for a skit released by Alexander Wang. Johnson's second stand-up comedy special titled Homecoming Show followed and premiered on Netflix. It was filmed in San Jose, California.

In 2014, Anjelah was featured as her signature character Bon Qui Qui in a parody music video directed by Randal Kirk II "This Is How We Do It" for the Benefit cosmetics, which features social media influencer, Britney Furlan.[7]

On October 1, 2015, Johnson's third stand-up special, titled Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy, was released on Netflix. It was filmed in southern California.

Personal life

Johnson was born and raised in San Jose, California, in a devout Christian family and remains a Christian.[2] She is of Mexican and Native American descent.[8] She was a Pop Warner cheerleader from the age of 8 and was active in soccer, softball, and track;[9] she also practiced hip hop and break dancing.[9] She began acting as a senior in high school and was especially interested in imitating different accents.[9] She later studied speech communications at De Anza College.[9][10] She subsequently became a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders after being inducted in 2002.[9] As a member of the Oakland Raiderettes, she was named Rookie of the Year and performed at Super Bowl XXXVII.

Johnson married Group 1 Crew member Manwell Reyes on June 11, 2011, in Half Moon Bay, California.[11] Previously, she stated the couple did not want children of their own, although they enjoy spending time with their nieces and nephews.[12] On December 29, 2022 the couple announced they were expecting a baby in 2023.[13] Johnson gave birth to the couple's daughter Rosalie Harlow Reyes on June 14, 2023.[14]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
2007The Box
2009Alvin and the Chipmunks: The SqueakquelJulie Ortega
2010Our Family WeddingIsabel
2010That's How We Do It!Herself
2010MarmadukeAfghan #2 (voice)
2013Enough SaidCathy
2014Moms' Night OutRestaurant Hostess
2014The Book of LifeAdelita / Nina (voice)
2017The Resurrection of Gavin StoneKelly Richardson
2020The Opening Act
2023Candy Cane LaneShelly

Television

YearTitleRoleTotal episodes
2006Love, Inc.Female Client1
2007On the UpHerself
2007–2008, 2016MADtvVarious characters4
2008Untitled Dave Caplan PilotMaria
2008The Movie Preview AwardsHerself
2009Comedy CentralHerself
2010Ugly BettyWendy
2010Lopez TonightHerself
2011Curb Your EnthusiasmMimi
2016MADtv 20th Anniversary ReunionBon Qui Qui
2018Have You Been Paying Attention?Herself1
2019SuperstoreRobin Green1
2022The Real Dirty Dancing (American TV series)Herself4
2023Hell's KitchenHerselfEpisode: "Just Bring the DARN Fish!"

Discography

Studio albums

As Bon Qui Qui:

Title Album details
Gold Plated Dreams

Extended plays

As Bon Qui Qui:

  • The Come Up (2012)[16]

Music videos

As Bon Qui Qui:

Title Year Director
"I'm a Cut You" 2012 DG[17][18]
"No Boyfren" (featuring Tammy) 2013
"This Is How We Do It" (Benefit remix) 2014 Randal Kirk II [19]
"Shut Us Down" 2016 Diego Contreras[20]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationAward categoryResult
2002Oakland RaiderettesRookie of the YearWon
2008ALMA AwardOutstanding Female PerformanceNominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wantuck, Andrew. "Anjelah Johnson". The Comedy & Magic Club. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 "The Comic's Comic". thecomicscomic.typepad.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  3. 1 2 "Laughfactory.com". laughfactory.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  4. ↑ "Comedy Central". ccinsider.comedycentral.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  5. ↑ "The TC Girl". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Vride". vride.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  7. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Bon Qui Qui this is how we do it". YouTube.
  8. ↑ "Biography from Anjelah.com". anjelah.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 RaiderDrive.com Archived 2002-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Metroactive". metroactive.com. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  11. ↑ "I'm Married!!". Anjelah.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Not Fancy" stand up routine 2015
  13. ↑ "Anjelah Johnson-Reyes on Instagram: "It's been the most incredible year of my life… and I never thought it would end like this. 🥰"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  14. ↑ "COMEDIAN ANJELAH JOHNSON WELCOMES DAUGHTER: 'THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS'". movieguide.org. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "iTunes". itunes.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
  16. ↑ "Twitter". twitter.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
  17. ↑ Bon Qui Qui "I'M A CUT YOU" - Anjelah Johnson on YouTube
  18. ↑ "No Boyfren" Bon Qui Qui feat. Tammy (Official Music Video) on YouTube
  19. ↑ Video on YouTube
  20. ↑ Bon Qui Qui - Shut Us Down on YouTube
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