Karen Malina White is a talented and versatile actress who has been in the entertainment industry for over four decades. She is best known for her roles as Kaneesha Carter in the 1989 drama film Lean on Me, Charmaine Brown in the sitcoms The Cosby Show and A Different World, and Nicolette Vandross in the comedy series Malcolm & Eddie. She has also lent her voice to the animated character Dijonay Jones in the Disney Channel show The Proud Family and its reboot The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. But how did she manage to accumulate a net worth of $1 million? Let’s take a look at her career and earnings.
Early Life and Education
Karen Malina White was born on July 7, 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, where she developed her passion for acting. She then enrolled at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. During her senior year, she won the title of “Miss Howard University” and landed her first role as an actress.
Breakthrough Role in Lean on Me
In 1989, White starred in Lean on Me alongside actor Morgan Freeman, who played the role of Joe Clark, a tough principal who tries to reform a troubled high school. White portrayed Kaneesha Carter, a pregnant student who struggles to balance her academics and personal life. White’s performance was praised by critics and audiences alike, and she was nominated for the 1990 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture. According to Celebrity Net Worth, White earned $100,000 for her role in the film.
Success on Television
After her debut on the big screen, White moved on to television, where she appeared in many popular shows. She played Charmaine Brown, a friend of Rudy Huxtable, in the two final seasons of The Cosby Show from 1990 to 1992. She then reprised her role in the spin-off series A Different World, which focused on the lives of students at a historically black college. White also guest-starred as Jewel, the wife of Jazz, in two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which starred Will Smith.
White’s most notable television role was as Nicolette Vandross, the girlfriend of Eddie Griffin’s character, in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, which ran from 1996 to 2000. White was a regular cast member and appeared in 89 episodes of the show. According to IMDb, she earned $25,000 per episode, which means she made a total of $2.225 million from the show.
White also voiced Dijonay Jones, the best friend of Penny Proud, in the animated series The Proud Family, which aired from 2001 to 2005. She reprised her role in the 2022 Disney+ reboot The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, which features the original cast and new characters. White’s salary for the voice work is not disclosed, but it is likely to be substantial given the popularity of the show.
Other Projects and Endeavors
Besides her film and television roles, White has also been involved in various theater productions, such as The Mountaintop, The Ballad of Emmett Till, The Liar, and The Wedding Band. She has also appeared in several commercials for brands like Comcast, Pepsi, and Audi. Additionally, she has produced and directed some short films, such as Caged and The Couch. White has also written a book titled Pinky Promise, which is a collection of poems and stories about her life and experiences.
Personal Life and Relationships
White has been in a long-term relationship with actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show and also appeared in Malcolm & Eddie. The couple started dating in 1997 and were engaged in 2000, but they never got married. They broke up in 2005 after eight years together. White has a daughter from a previous relationship, but she has not revealed the identity of her father.
Conclusion
Karen Malina White is a successful and respected actress who has worked in various genres and mediums. She has earned a net worth of $1 million from her acting career, as well as from her other ventures. She is still active in the industry and continues to entertain and inspire her fans. She is a role model for many aspiring actors and actresses who want to pursue their dreams.
