Salli Richardson Biography: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows, Height, Children, Career

Salli Elise Richardson-Whitfield, widely recognized as Salli Richardson-Whitfield, is an American actress, director, and producer renowned for her roles in Eureka (2006–2012) as Dr. Allison Blake and as the voice of Elisa Maza in Disney’s Gargoyles (1994–1996).

Her film career includes notable performances in A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), Antwone Fisher (2002), and I Am Legend (2007).

Profile

• Full Name: Salli Elise Richardson-Whitfield
• Stage Name: Salli Richardson-Whitfield
• Born: 23, November 1967
• Age: 57 years old
• Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Director, Producer
• Height: 1.63m
• Parents: Marcia Harris and Duel Richardson
• Siblings: Josh Richardson, Chad Richardson, Nalin Richardson
• Spouse: Dondré Whitfield (m. 2002)
• Boyfriends: Matthew McConaughey (ex), Tupac Shakur (ex)
• Children: Parker Richardson-Whitfield, Dre Terrell Whitfield
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Salli Elise Richardson-Whitfield was born on November 23, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois, to Marcia Harris, an African American and Cherokee recording studio operator, and Duel Richardson, a Caucasian director of community affairs at the University of Chicago.

She grew up alongside her three brothers, Josh, Chad, and Nalin, and developed a strong competitive spirit as a tennis player while attending the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, from which she graduated in 1985.

She also honed her craft at the Kuumba Workshop theater in Chicago, laying the foundation for her future in the entertainment industry.

Richardson-Whitfield is of mixed ethnic background, and her religious affiliation has not been publicly disclosed.

Career

Salli Richardson-Whitfield began her professional journey in the late 1980s, performing in theater productions at the Kuumba Workshop before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue on-screen opportunities.

She made her early film appearances in Up Against the Wall (1991), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), and Mo’ Money (1992).

Throughout the 1990s, she became known for her collaborations with prominent minority directors, such as Mario Van Peebles in Posse (1993) and Keenen Ivory Wayans in A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), where she portrayed Angela.

Richardson-Whitfield also gained recognition as the voice of Elisa Maza in Disney’s animated series Gargoyles (1994–1996), a character whose heritage was inspired by her own Black and Native American background.

On television, she secured recurring roles in Family Law (1999–2002) as Viveca Foster, Rude Awakening (1998–2000) as Nancy Adams, and CSI: Miami (2003) as Erica Logan.

Her film credits expanded with roles in Antwone Fisher (2002) opposite Denzel Washington, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004), I Am Legend (2007) alongside Will Smith, and independent projects such as Pastor Brown (2009) and Ava DuVernay’s I Will Follow (2010).

Her breakout television role came as Dr. Allison Blake in Syfy’s Eureka (2006–2012), a part that showcased her versatility and brought her critical acclaim, including a 2011 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.

Notably, her second pregnancy was written into the series’ storyline, reflecting her seamless integration of personal and professional life.

While on Eureka, she made her directorial debut with the episodes “Omega Girls” and “Worst Case Scenario,” a milestone inspired by Ava DuVernay, with whom she had collaborated on I Will Follow.

This experience marked the beginning of a successful transition from acting to directing, setting the foundation for her next career phase.

Since 2016, Richardson-Whitfield has built a formidable reputation as a television director, helming episodes of acclaimed series including Queen Sugar (2016), Underground (2016), Scandal (2017), Black-ish (2017), Luke Cage (2018), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2018), and The Punisher (2018).

Her work on Black-ish earned her a Black Reel Award, while her direction of Luke Cage garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination.

More recently, she directed episodes of The Gilded Age (2022) and Winning Time (2022–2023), with the latter earning her a historic Emmy nomination in 2024.

Expanding her influence behind the camera, she signed a development deal with HBO in 2020 and is currently directing and executive producing the drama Task, starring Mark Ruffalo.

This dual career in acting and directing has positioned Richardson-Whitfield as one of the most versatile and impactful figures in contemporary television.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @sallirichardsonwhitfield
• Facebook Handle: Salli Richardson-Whitfield
• Twitter Handle: @sallirichardson

Personal Life

Salli Richardson-Whitfield married actor Dondré Whitfield on September 8, 2002, and they have two children: Parker Richardson-Whitfield and Dre Terrell Whitfield (b. January 24, 2009).

She previously had brief relationships with Matthew McConaughey and Tupac Shakur.

Residing in Los Angeles, she enjoys golfing with her husband and spending time with their children.

Richardson-Whitfield is passionate about mentoring aspiring directors, crediting Ava DuVernay for her transition to directing, and advocates for diversity in Hollywood, particularly for women and Black artists.

Filmography

• Up Against the Wall (1991)
• Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
• Mo’ Money (1992)
• Posse (1993)
• A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994)
• Gargoyles (1994–1996, voice)
• The Great White Hype (1996)
• Eureka (2006–2012)
• I Am Legend (2007)
• Pastor Brown (2009)
• Black Dynamite (2009)
• Luke Cage (2018)
• The Punisher (2018)
• American Gods (2019)
• The Gilded Age (2022)
• Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022–2023)
• Wheel of Time (2023, episodes 5 and 6)
• Task (2025, in production)

Net Worth

Salli Richardson-Whitfield has an estimated net worth of $2 million, earned through acting in Eureka, Family Law, I Am Legend, and Antwone Fisher, voice work in Gargoyles, and her directing and producing career, which includes projects like Winning Time and The Gilded Age.