The Parkers may have been a niche show for many Americans, but it had its own kind of magic. Airing during the golden days of television, from 1999 to 2004, the sitcom followed the peripeties of the hilarious mother-daughter duo Nikki and Kim Parker as they tackled college life together. To say it was “funny” would be a disservice to comedy. With its talented cast, all of whom had perfect comedic timing, the show made major waves, especially for its representation of strong and funny Black women.
So, what’s the crew been up to since?
1. Andell Wilkerson (Yvette Wilson)
Yvette Wilson, who played the no-nonsense Andell, started off doing stand-up and appeared in everything from Poetic Justice to Friday. She stayed with the Moesha crew through to The Parkers, worked in music management, and even sold some properties as a real estate agent. Tragically, she passed away in 2012 at just 48 after battling cervical cancer. Her final role was in Ganked with Katt Williams.
2. T (Kenyatta Lawson)
Kenyatta Lawson made his mark as T, the chill guy with surprising character depth. He was a ’90s TV regular, with credits on Smart Guy, Moesha, and In the House. Post-Parkers, he popped up in films like Malibu’s Most Wanted and voiced characters on The Proud Family. Recently, he was on BET’s The Oval and scored a role in the 2024 horror movie Lumina. But wait, there’s more. He acts, voices characters, and is also a rapper too? Unbelievable!
3. Kim Parker (Countess Vaughn)
Long before The Parkers, Vaughn was on Star Search and had roles on 227 and Moesha. After the show, she popped up in series like Let’s Stay Together and even joined the reality show Hollywood Divas. Countess also kept her music dreams alive, dropping tracks like “Wifey,” which scored millions of YouTube views. She’s been open about vocal struggles due to thyroid issues, but she’s still funny and cute and always posts something amusing online.
4. Joe the Cafeteria Guy (Dwight Woody)
Dwight Woody played Joe, the crazy cafeteria guy known for his immaculate comedic timing. Prior to this role, he made guest appearances on shows such as Moesha and Taxi. After The Parkers concluded, Woody had a few TV roles, with his last credit being on Just Jordan in 2007. Although his exit from the spotlight was relatively quiet, people still remember his hilarious character.
5. Professor Oglevee (Dorien Wilson)
Forever the charmingly clueless crush of Nikki Parker, Dorien Wilson’s career didn’t slow down after The Parkers. He kept getting gigs in movies like You Got Served and series like Bella and the Bulldogs and In the Cut. But acting is not Dorien’s only skill. He also tried his luck in producing and writing. These days, he’s just flexing his muscle canons on social media and reflecting on his Hollywood journey.
6. Regina Foster (Kara Bustos)
Kara Bustos was a staple in late-’90s sitcoms before landing on The Parkers as Regina. She popped up in Sister, Sister, The Jamie Foxx Show, Girlfriends, and later on, The Game. In between acting, she launched a baking biz called Sift by Kara, showing off her cake artistry. She eventually closed the shop to focus back on acting and eventually popped three adorable little cakes from her own oven.
7. Stevie Van Lowe (Jenna von Oÿ)
Jenna von Oÿ’s fast-talking, loyal Stevie became a fan favorite. After the show, she did voice work on Family Guy and A Goofy Movie and appeared in Dr. Dolittle 3, among other movies. She also released two music projects, wrote books on parenting, and nowadays stays busy raising her two kids. Recently, she’s dipped into filmmaking with The Cassandra Project, focusing on women’s voices and stories. More of that, please.
8. Veronica Cooper (Paulette Braxton)
As Nikki’s nemesis, Veronica, Paulette was the real glam drama queen of the show. She came from the A Different World era and also showed up in ER, CSI: Miami, and several indie films. Although she hasn’t appeared on screen since her role in In Justice (2006), her previous work demonstrates her range in acting. From sitcom rivalries to gritty roles, she did it all.
9. Nikki Parker (Mo’Nique)
Mo’Nique was already a Queen of Comedy when she stepped into Nikki’s shoes, and she’s only gotten more awesome since. Post-Parkers, she starred in Phat Girlz, hosted Charm School, and MC’d a ton of award shows. Then came Precious, where she stunned everyone with a dramatic performance that won her an Oscar. More recently, she’s been in The Reading, BMF, and even landed her own Netflix special, My Name is Mo’Nique. Big props!
