News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 21, 2014: Anna Maria Horsford is perhaps best known for her roles as Thelma Frye on the NBC sitcom Amen, as Dee Baxter on the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros., and as Craig Jones’ mother Betty in the comedy films Friday and Friday After Next.
Horsford was born in Harlem, New York, the daughter of Lillian and Victor A. Horsford, an investment real estate broker. Her parents are from Antigua and the Dominican Republic.
She attended Manhattan’s School of Performing Arts, where she studied and perfected her acting abilities.
Though she is known today for her work in front of the cameras, her first major role in television was as a producer for the PBS show, Soul!, hosted by Ellis Haizlip, which aired between 1967 and 1973.
Horsford made guest appearances on such sitcoms as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sparks, Moesha, The Bernie Mac Show, The Shield, Girlfriends, and Everybody Hates Chris.
She had a prominent role on the sitcom The Wayans Bros. as “Dee Baxter” and also appeared on the drama Judging Amy. More recently, she was seen in the first season of Grey’s Anatomy.
Horsford returned to the big screen in the 2013 film A Madea Christmas, from Tyler Perry, playing Madea’s relative.
She recently hosted the 25th Anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta Georgia. The program saluted Pam Grier, Carmen DeLavendar, Woodie King, Cat Coore of third world and Faith Reigold.
