Tika Sumpter Bio
Euphemia LatiQue “Tika” Sumpter (born June 20, 1980) is an American actress and producer known for her work in television and film. She began her career as the host of Best Friend’s Date and gained recognition for her role in One Life to Live. Sumpter has appeared in various films, including Stomp the Yard: Homecoming, Sparkle, and Ride Along. She is also known for her portrayal of Candace Young in the hit series The Haves and the Have Nots. Apart from acting, Sumpter has ventured into production and recently made her directing debut.
Early Life and Background
Tika Sumpter was born in Queens, New York City. She was a cheerleader at her high school and graduated from Longwood Senior High School in Middle Island, New York. Sumpter later attended Marymount Manhattan College, where she majored in communications. Her early exposure to performance arts and her academic background laid the foundation for her future career in entertainment.
Path to Hollywood
Sumpter began her career as a model and appeared in commercials for brands like Hewlett-Packard and Liz Claiborne’s Curve fragrances. Before fully transitioning into acting, she worked as a waitress. In 2004, she co-hosted the reality series Best Friend’s Date, which aired on Nickelodeon’s defunct cable channel The N. The following year, she landed the role of Layla Williamson in the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live, marking her entry into the broader film and television industry. For her portrayal of Layla, Sumpter received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2008.
Tika Sumpter Career
Early Career (2000–2011)
Sumpter’s career took off when she began appearing in One Life to Live, where she played Layla Williamson from July 15, 2005, until September 14, 2010. She briefly returned to the show in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, she made her film debut in Stomp the Yard: Homecoming and appeared in the action thriller Salt. In addition to her daytime television work, Sumpter had a recurring role in the CW teen drama series Gossip Girl as Raina Thorpe from January to May 2011.
Breakthrough (2012–2015)
Sumpter’s breakthrough came with her role in the musical-drama film Sparkle, inspired by the story of The Supremes, where she played Delores “Dee” Anderson. She also starred alongside John Stamos in the independent comedy film My Man Is a Loser. In 2013, she appeared in Tyler Perry’s Christmas comedy film A Madea Christmas, which further solidified her place in the industry. Sumpter gained significant recognition for her role as Candace Young in the Oprah Winfrey Network’s prime time soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots, which premiered in May 2013 and ran for eight seasons until July 2021.
Notable Works and Milestones
Sumpter co-starred in the action comedy film Ride Along in 2014, which grossed over $153 million worldwide. She reprised her role in the sequel, Ride Along 2, in 2016, which also performed well at the box office. Additionally, she played Yvonne Fair in the biographical drama Get On Up, about the life of James Brown.
Tika Sumpter Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Tika Sumpter has received several nominations, including an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Southside with You.
Tika Sumpter Awards Won
Tika Sumpter has been recognized for her performances, including nominations for the Gotham Awards and the Women’s Image Network Award for her work in film.
Tika Sumpter Family
Tika Sumpter is married to Nicholas James, her co-star from The Haves and the Have Nots, since 2022. They have one daughter, Ella-Loren, born on October 8, 2016.
Personal Life
Sumpter announced her engagement to Nicholas James in January 2017. The couple has maintained a relatively private family life while balancing their careers in the entertainment industry.
