Lark Voorhies
Voorhies in 2008
Born
Lark Holloway

(1974-03-25) March 25, 1974[1][2]
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • spokeswoman
  • model
Years active1987–present
Known forLisa Turtle – Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell
Spouses
Miguel Coleman
​
​
(m. 1996; div. 2004)​
    Jimmy Green
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2015; div. 2015)​
    Partner(s)Martin Lawrence
    (1993–1994)

    Lark Voorhies (born Lark Holloway; March 25, 1974)[3] is an American actress. Voorhies played Lisa Marie Turtle on the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell (1989–1993). Voorhies was nominated for the Young Artist Award six times, winning in 1990 and 1993 for her work on the show.

    Early life

    Born Lark Holloway to Wayne and Tricia Holloway in Nashville, Tennessee, she later adopted "Voorhies" as a stage name.[4][5] Her mother named her "Lark" after the character in the 1972 film Cool Breeze, played by Margaret Avery.[6] By the time Voorhies was two years old, the family had moved to Pasadena, California. During this period, her mother took her to a talent agent, because of her belief that Voorhies was "a natural-born ham."[7] However, her first audition ended poorly when she froze up.[7] She appeared in a national television commercial for Universal Studios Tour at age 12, advertising its upcoming King Kong attraction. She said of the experience: "I was on this tram screaming with all these other people. I had such a great time doing that."[6][8]

    Entertainment career

    Acting

    Voorhies made her acting debut at the age of two. Though photogenic, she was shy, and her mother put Voorhies' acting career on hold until she was more comfortable in front of the cameras. Later, at the age of fourteen, Voorhies reappeared on an episode of Small Wonder in 1988. In June of that same year, she landed the role of Lisa Turtle in Disney Channel's television series Good Morning, Miss Bliss[9] and appeared in thirteen episodes from 1988 to 1989. She remained as the same character, as did Zack, Screech, and Mr. Belding, after Disney dropped the series and it was picked up and retooled by NBC and renamed Saved by the Bell.

    Voorhies has since appeared in several television sitcoms and soap operas. She played the role of single mom Wendy Reardon on Days of Our Lives in 1993.[10] On The Bold and the Beautiful Voorhies played the role of amiable intern fashion-designer, Jasmine Malone beginning in September 1995. She was released from her contract in November 1996 when her role required her to act in sex scenes, which the actress refused to do citing her religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness.

    In 1995, Voorhies guest-starred in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Life Support". During the same year, Voorhies guest-starred in the Family Matters season six episode "Home Sweet Home", as Eddie's upstairs dream girl. She has continued to act in various roles since then, such as In the House, in which she played the girlfriend-turned-wife of Alfonso Ribeiro’s character, Dr. Max Stanton. Previously, she played Ribeiro's love interest twice on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Besides sitcoms, Voorhies also appeared in movies and direct-to-video films. In 2001, Voorhies played a major role in the film How High as Lauren, a Harvard student. She was involved in a 1990 movie adaptation of the book The Black Man's Guide to Understanding Black Women[11] and played Ana Smith in the 2008 movie The Next Hit. Although she only has two acting credits since 2008, and none since 2012, Voorhies' representatives cited a busy work schedule when she did not appear in a SBTB-based mini-reunion sketch on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" alongside Gosselaar, Lopez, Thiessen, and Dennis Haskins in 2015. Voorhies publicly stated in 2020 that she was "hurt" that she was not invited to participate in the Saved by the Bell sequel series on Peacock.[12][13] Later that year, however, NBC announced that Voorhies would in fact reprise her role as Lisa Turtle for the new show.[14]

    Music

    Voorhies has appeared in several music videos. She plays Kenny Lattimore's love interest in his debut video "Never Too Busy", from his 1996 self-titled debut album. In Boyz II Men's music video "On Bended Knee", she plays Wanya's girlfriend. She is featured in Montell Jordan's "Somethin' for the Honeyz" and in Dru Hill's "These Are the Times". In 1994, Voorhies was in a group originally called the X-Girls (now known as Geneva) with Stacee and Yashi Brown (the daughters of singer and oldest Jackson family sibling, Rebbie Jackson). Voorhies founded and was the lead singer in Third Degree, an alternative band.

    Writing

    Over 2010 and 2011, Voorhies self-published three books she authored: Reciprocity, Trek of the Cheshire, and A True Light.[15][16][17][18]

    Personal life

    Voorhies dated her Saved by the Bell co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar for three years[19] during the show's run. Voorhies was engaged to actor Martin Lawrence in 1993 but it was later called off in 1994.[20] Voorhies married Miguel Coleman in 1996. They separated in 2001, and divorced in 2004.[21][22]

    On May 30, 2006, Voorhies filed a lawsuit against The National Enquirer for libel over an article that included claims published in June 2005 that she had a drug problem.[23] The case was dropped in less than two months.[24]

    Voorhies met music engineer Jimmy Green at a networking event in 2014. After a year of dating, Voorhies and Green married on April 30, 2015, at a chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.[25] Voorhies filed for divorce in October 2015 after six months of marriage.[26]

    Voorhies has schizoaffective disorder.[27][28]

    Books authored

    • Voorhies, Lark (2010). Reciprocity. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450200660.
    • Voorhies, Lark (2011). True Light. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450243544.
    • Voorhies, Lark (2011). Trek of the Cheshire. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1462025985.

    Filmography

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes
    1988–1989 Good Morning, Miss Bliss Lisa Turtle 13 episodes
    1988, 1989 Small Wonder Brandie Ross
    Binky    		 "When You Hear the Beep"
    "The Tattletale"
    1989 The Robert Guillaume Show Danica Episode: "Educating Ann"
    1989–1993 Saved by the Bell Lisa Turtle 86 episodes
    1992 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Cindy Episode: "Mama's Baby, Carlton's Maybe"
    1992 Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style Lisa Turtle TV movie
    1993 Martin Nicole Episodes: "The Break Up" (Parts 2 & 3)
    1993 Getting By Tasha Episodes: "Men Don't Dance", "Turnabout Dance"
    1993–1994 Days of Our Lives Wendy Reardon
    1994 Saved by the Bell: The College Years Lisa Turtle Episode: "Wedding Plans"
    1994 Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas Lisa Turtle Movie
    1994 Me and the Boys Denise Episode: "Talent Show"
    1994 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Lisa Turtle Episode: "Goodbye Bayside" (Part 2)
    1995 CBS Schoolbreak Special Breena Black Episode: "What About Your Friends"
    1995 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Leanne Episode: "Life Support"
    1995 Family Matters Dream Girl Episode: "Home Sweet Home"
    1995–1996, 2004 The Bold and the Beautiful Jasmine Malone Originated the role (Jan. 1995 – Nov. 1996); reprised in April 2004 – June to July 2004
    1997 Malcolm & Eddie Lydia Episode: "Club Story"
    1997 The Last Don Tiffany Miniseries
    1997–1999 In the House Mercedes Langford 18 episodes
    1998 The Love Boat: The Next Wave Johari Mayfield Episode: "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"
    1999 Mutiny Movie
    1999 The Parkers Chandra 2 episodes
    2000 Grown Ups Stacy Episode: "J's Pet Peeve"
    2001 Fire & Ice Holly Aimes Movie
    2002 Widows Miniseries
    2008 Robot Chicken Lisa Turtle / Betty Childs / Borg Queen (voice) Episode: "Boo Cocky"
    2020–2021 Saved by the Bell Lisa Turtle 3 episodes

    Film

    Year Title Role Notes
    1997 Def Jam's How to Be a Player Lisa
    2000 Longshot Woman at Bar Alternative title: Jack of All Trades
    2001 How High Lauren
    2002 Civil Brand Lil' Momma
    2008 The Next Hit Ana Smith
    2009 Mimi's Place Sydney Short film
    2011 Measure of Faith Kim Direct-to-video
    2012 Little Creeps The Dean Direct-to-video

    Awards and nominations

    Year Association Category Nominated work Result
    1989 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actress in a Cable Family Series Good Morning, Miss Bliss Nominated
    1990 Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Good Morning, Miss Bliss Nominated
    1990 Best Young Actress Starring Good Morning, Miss Bliss Won
    1991 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Saved by the Bell Nominated
    1992 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Saved by the Bell Nominated
    1993 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Saved by the Bell Won

    References

    1. ↑ Smith, Jessie Carney (1 December 2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9781578594252 – via Google Books.
    2. ↑ Riggs, Thomas (1 June 2007). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Cengage Gale. ISBN 9780787690496 – via Google Books.
    3. ↑ McCann, Bob (26 September 2017). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786437900 – via Google Books.
    4. ↑ Baldwin, Suzy (March 25, 2005). "Signposts". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 30.
    5. ↑ Diamond, Dustin (2009). Behind the Bell. Transit Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 978-0981239699.
    6. 1 2 Reichardt, Nancy M. (November 27, 1995). "Voorhies Boldly Jumps Into Daytime Drama". Palm Beach Post. p. 2D.
    7. 1 2 Novakovich, Lilana (October 20, 1996). "Soap star had long climb to Another World". Calgary Herald. p. C7.
    8. ↑ Wilson, John M. (December 22, 1985). "Monkey Breath". Los Angeles Times. p. 35. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
    9. ↑ Bark, Ed (June 3, 1989). "Shakeup set for Saturday morning TV". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C. NBC also is experimenting with the first Saturday morning situation comedy. Saved By the Bell keeps track of six mischievous, adventurous teens played by flesh-and-blood actors you've never heard of unless you're one of their parents. Fave name: Lark Voorhies.
    10. ↑ "Lark Voorhies Cast on "Days of Our Lives"". Tulsa World. April 1, 1993. p. C3.
    11. ↑ "Then/Now: 'Saved By the Bell'". Fox News. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
    12. ↑ Ali, Rasha (February 18, 2020). "'Saved by the Bell' star Lark Voorhies says she feels 'slighted and hurt' about not being a part of reboot". Usatoday.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
    13. ↑ Ramos, Dino-Ray (February 18, 2020). "Lark Voorhies Responds To Being Excluded From 'Saved By The Bell' Revival: "I Feel A Bit Slighted And Hurt"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
    14. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (October 29, 2020). "Time out! Here's your first look at Lark Voorhies' surprise return in Saved by the Bell revival". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
    15. ↑ Lark Voorhies as author at Amazon.com
    16. ↑ Voorhies, Lark (2010). Reciprocity. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450200660.
    17. ↑ Voorhies, Lark (2011). True Light. New York, New York: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1450243544.
    18. ↑ Voorhies, Lark (2011). Trek of the Cheshire. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. ISBN 978-1462025985.
    19. ↑ Abraham, Allison (2019-10-11). "Little known behind-the-scenes facts from Saved By the Bell". University Fox. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
    20. ↑ Brown, Jamie Foster (26 September 1994). "S2S Magazine". Jamie Foster Brown – via Google Books.
    21. ↑ Aradillas, Elaine (October 15, 2012). "A Saved by the Bell Star's Sad Spiral". People. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    22. ↑ "Lark Voorhies' husband wanted by police". Washington Post. June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    23. ↑ "'Saved By the Bell' actress sues tabloid". USA Today. Los Angeles. Associated Press. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
    24. ↑ "'Bell' Star Drops Cocaine Story Lawsuit". TMZ.com. 28 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
    25. ↑ Saad, Nardine (June 12, 2015). "Lark Voorhies of 'Saved by the Bell' is a married woman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    26. ↑ "Saved by the Bell Star Slams Ex-Husband on Instagram". 30 November 2015.
    27. ↑ Ali, Rasha (February 18, 2020). "'Saved by the Bell' star Lark Voorhies opens up about her mental illness, series reboot snub". Chicago Sun Times.
    28. ↑ Hughley, D.L. (February 24, 2020). "Lark Discusses Mental Health on Dr. Oz". WZAK Cleveland.
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