Shari Headley Biography: Age, Husband, Son, Net Worth, Movies, TV Shows, Parents

Shari Headley is an American actress and former model whose rise to prominence with her role as Lisa McDowell in the 1988 romantic comedy film Coming to America.

In that film she played the love interest of Eddie Murphy’s character, which brought her widespread recognition. Her career has since included roles in film and daytime and primetime television. She remains well known for reprising the role of Lisa McDowell in Coming 2 America (2021), among many other acting credits.

Profile

• Full name: Shari Headley
• Date of birth: July 15, 1964
• Age: 61 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Queens, New York City, New York, United States
• State of origin: New York
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actress, former model
• Height: 5 ft 8 in (about 173 cm)
• Eye color: Dark brown
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: Father: Godfrey Headley; Mother: Sarah Headley (née Bell)
• Siblings: She is the youngest of four children (one boy, three girls)
• Spouse: Christopher Martin (married May 1993 – divorced June 1995)
• Children: Skyler Martin
• Relationship status: Divorced
• Ethnicity: Part Trinidadian descent (father from Trinidad; mother likely African-American)
• Net worth: USD 2 million

Early Life and education

Shari Headley is now 61 years old, born on July 15, 1964 in Queens, New York. She grew up as the youngest of four children, with one brother and two older sisters. Her father, Godfrey Headley, emigrated from Trinidad and worked as a dental technician; her mother, Sarah (Bell) Headley, served as a school registrar or secretary in Brooklyn.

Her upbringing included exposure to both her Trinidadian paternal heritage and the African-American culture of New York. She began college as a premedical student, minoring in drama and participating in school theatre. After some time in college she left to pursue modeling.

Personal Life

Shari Headley was married to Christopher “Play” Martin, of the hip-hop duo Kid ‘n Play, beginning in May 1993. They divorced in June 1995. During that marriage they had a son, Skyler Martin, born in April 1994. After the divorce she raised her son largely as a single mother.

Career

Shari Headley began her professional life modeling after her sister submitted her photo to Ford Modeling Agency. She was a finalist in the “Face of the 80s” campaign by Eileen Ford, and did modeling work for publications such as Glamour and Mademoiselle.

Her acting debut came in 1985 with an appearance on The Cosby Show. She followed with guest roles on shows including Miami Vice, Quantum Leap, and Matlock. Her breakthrough film role was Lisa McDowell in Coming to America (1988). Subsequent film roles include The Preacher’s Wife (1996), Johnson Family Vacation (2004), Towelhead (2007), and reprising Lisa McDowell in Coming 2 America (2021).

On television, she had a regular role playing Detective Mimi Reed on the daytime soap opera All My Children from 1991 to 1994, and made returns in 1995 and in 2005. She also led in the Fox drama series 413 Hope St. (1997-1998), for which she received a NAACP Image Award nomination. Later she made appearances in Guiding Light, The Bold and the Beautiful, Veronica Mars, House, Castle, Switched at Birth, The Haves and the Have Nots, and On Becoming a God in Central Florida among others.

Awards

• Nomination, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series (for All My Children)
• Nomination, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (for 413 Hope St.)

Net worth

Shari Headley’s net worth is estimated at about USD 2 million. Much of this has come from her work in film, television, and modeling over several decades.

Social Media

• Instagram: @shariheadley
• Twitter/X: @shari_headley

Filmography

• The Pick-up Artist (1987)
• Coming to America (1988)
• The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
• Johnson Family Vacation (2004)
• Towelhead (2007)
• Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club (2008)
• Act Like You Love Me (2013)
• The Congregation (2014)
• Ex-Free (2015)
• Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)
• Three’s Complicated (2019)
• Coming 2 America (2021)
• The Cosby Show (1985)
• Miami Vice (1986)
• Gideon Oliver (1989)
• Quantum Leap (1990)
• Matlock (1990)
• All My Children (1991-1994, 1995, 2005)
• New York Undercover (1995)
• Walker, Texas Ranger (1996)
• Cosby (1996)
• 413 Hope St. (1997-1998)
• Love Boat: The Next Wave (1998)
• Getting Personal (1998)
• Malcolm & Eddie (1999)