Name: Mo’Nique, 55Bio: After her brother encouraged her to step onto the stage at a comedy open mic night in 1988, Mo’Nique’s first set went well enough to convince her to give stand-up a try.
She soon established herself and gradually climbed the showbiz ladder, with memorable appearances on Def Comedy Jam and BET’s Comicview.
Displaying a commanding presence on stage, Mo’Nique started acting. She parlayed a guest spot on Moesha into a starring role on the UPN sitcom, The Parkers.
At the same time, her stand-up star continued to rise. Mo’Nique joined the Queens of Comedy Tour, and her experiences culminated in a concert film.