Ellia English (born March , ) is an American singer, dancer, stage and
film actress. She is best known for her role as Aunt Helen King on the
comedy sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show which originally ran from to and
as Mary Lou Wentz, the mother of Teddy's best friend Ivy on Good Luck
Charlie from to . English was featured in a central role on the
former, and was paired onscreen with Garrett Morris, who plays her
husband Junior King.English was born in Covington, Georgia. After an
early graduation from high school, English attended Clark College (now
Clark Atlanta University) in Atlanta, in hopes of becoming a lawyer.
However, when the head of the drama department overheard her singing
and offered her one of the leading roles in their musical production,
Ellia's life took a different turn. She later transferred to Georgia
State University where she studied speech and drama, and soon became
an ensemble player at the Alliance Theater. Thoroughly dedicated to a
life of acting, the next step was to travel to New York City. There,
English starred in such productions as Ain't Misbehavin', Ma Rainey's
Black Bottom, Colored Museum, Dreamgirls, Romeo and Juliet, Spunk,
Show Boat, Barnum, Nunsense and One Mo' Time, to name a few. She also
sang with the (New York) Community Choir as one of their solo
recording artists.Los Angeles was calling and English made the move.
She was a series regular (as Helen King) on The Jamie Foxx Show. Other
television credits include Martin, Sinbad, Empty Nest, The Five Mrs.
Buchanans, Love & War, Get Smart, and Thea. She was featured in the
made for television movies The Innocent, The Barefoot Executive, and
Based on an Untrue Story. On the silver screen, English was featured
in Wildcats, Sidewalk Stories, Rain Without Thunder, Block Beauty and
Girlfriends. She maintains a home in both Atlanta, Georgia and Los
Angeles, California. She currently devotes her time to Big Sisters of
Los Angeles and several other children's organizations. Also, in her
spare time, she enjoys playing the flute, the piano, reading, walking,
biking and many other outdoor activities. English is a member of Sigma
Gamma Rho sorority. She co-stars with Steve Guttenberg and James Duval
in the psycho horror film Cornered!, which is directed by Daniel Maze.
She is also the winner of the New York Horror Film Festival's Best
Actress Award for her portrayal of Mona in Cornered.
film actress. She is best known for her role as Aunt Helen King on the
comedy sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show which originally ran from to and
as Mary Lou Wentz, the mother of Teddy's best friend Ivy on Good Luck
Charlie from to . English was featured in a central role on the
former, and was paired onscreen with Garrett Morris, who plays her
husband Junior King.English was born in Covington, Georgia. After an
early graduation from high school, English attended Clark College (now
Clark Atlanta University) in Atlanta, in hopes of becoming a lawyer.
However, when the head of the drama department overheard her singing
and offered her one of the leading roles in their musical production,
Ellia's life took a different turn. She later transferred to Georgia
State University where she studied speech and drama, and soon became
an ensemble player at the Alliance Theater. Thoroughly dedicated to a
life of acting, the next step was to travel to New York City. There,
English starred in such productions as Ain't Misbehavin', Ma Rainey's
Black Bottom, Colored Museum, Dreamgirls, Romeo and Juliet, Spunk,
Show Boat, Barnum, Nunsense and One Mo' Time, to name a few. She also
sang with the (New York) Community Choir as one of their solo
recording artists.Los Angeles was calling and English made the move.
She was a series regular (as Helen King) on The Jamie Foxx Show. Other
television credits include Martin, Sinbad, Empty Nest, The Five Mrs.
Buchanans, Love & War, Get Smart, and Thea. She was featured in the
made for television movies The Innocent, The Barefoot Executive, and
Based on an Untrue Story. On the silver screen, English was featured
in Wildcats, Sidewalk Stories, Rain Without Thunder, Block Beauty and
Girlfriends. She maintains a home in both Atlanta, Georgia and Los
Angeles, California. She currently devotes her time to Big Sisters of
Los Angeles and several other children's organizations. Also, in her
spare time, she enjoys playing the flute, the piano, reading, walking,
biking and many other outdoor activities. English is a member of Sigma
Gamma Rho sorority. She co-stars with Steve Guttenberg and James Duval
in the psycho horror film Cornered!, which is directed by Daniel Maze.
She is also the winner of the New York Horror Film Festival's Best
Actress Award for her portrayal of Mona in Cornered.
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