Ajai Sanders

{{Infobox person

| name = Ajai Sanders

| image =

| birth_name = Angela Marrine Wilson

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|10|1}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.tvoneonline.com/content/tvone_site1/en/shows/a-different-world/inside-the-show/ajai-sanders.touch.html |title=TVOne: Ajai Sanders |access-date=2012-12-31 |archive-date=2013-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213933/http://www.tvoneonline.com/content/tvone_site1/en/shows/a-different-world/inside-the-show/ajai-sanders.touch.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BZu8aFoAtqwH3hiTFWVE4wOfH-mKOOzMjJIzEo0/|title=All teary-eyed...#50 #bestday|last=Sanders|first=Ajai|website=Instagram.com|date=October 1, 2017|access-date=2019-10-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BZu9NCjgcG0S7NTSqX7XrliJZKNaO6_uqh9Ark0/|title=Birthday breakfast with Mom #50runsaroundthesun #thebestday|last=Sanders|first=Ajai|website=Instagram.com|date=October 1, 2017|access-date=2019-10-13}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hvl299p1Yg4C&pg=PA174|title=Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh|first=Darryl|last=Littleton|date=November 11, 2006|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9781557837301 |via=Google Books}}

| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| other_names = Ajai Richards

| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|comedian}}

| yearsactive = 1990–present

| known_for = Gina Deveaux – A Different World

| spouse = {{marriage|Michael Brownlee|May 2002|August 2016|reason=div.}}{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

}}

Ajai Sanders (born Angela Marrine Wilson; October 1, 1967){{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BZuwD_Jg8s5nBbdJmTLkm8UI9lpwALd7DaaXKk0/|title=Pretty much sums it up!!!...|last=Sanders|first=Ajai|website=Instagram.com|date=October 1, 2017|access-date=2019-10-13}}{{Better source needed|reason=Instagram posts aren't very reliable|date=July 2024}}, is an American actress and stand-up comedian, best known for her supporting role as Gina Deveaux in the sitcom A Different World from 1991 until the series original ending in 1993.

Biography

Born Angela Marie Wilson, Sanders grew up in Dallas, Texas. She attended Hillcrest High School, graduating in 1985.{{Cite web|url=http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Hillcrest-High-School/80974?page=76|title=1985 yearbook from Hillcrest High School from Dallas, Texas|website=Classmates.com}} Sanders moved to Los Angeles and began working as a stand-up comic; eventually this work led to what initially was to be a one-time role on A Different World. The guest role was expanded after director Debbie Allen proved impressed by the qualities Sanders brought to the character, whose appearances were expanded to five that season and 18 the following season, after which she was added to the show's opening credits.Ken Parish Perkins. "Ajai Sanders stands up to any naysayers," The Dallas Morning News, May 19, 1992.

Sanders has made guest appearances on the sitcoms Martin, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Parent 'Hood, The Wayans Bros., The Jamie Foxx Show, and Moesha. She also guest-starred in a 2001 episode of the Lifetime show, The Division. Sanders had a major role in the independent urban comedy, High Freakquency, in which she was credited by mistake, as Ajai Richards. She had a smaller role in the Michael Keaton Christmas comedy, Jack Frost, and also appeared in the 2000 urban independent drama, The Playaz Court. She is currently hosting a talk show called Multiple Personalities with Ajai Sandershttps://businessbully.tv/watch-video/?video_id=38678&title=S1E1%20-%20MP%20-%20Craig%20Hodges{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} on Business Bully TV.{{cite web |url=https://businessbully.tv/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421022541/https://businessbully.tv/ |archive-date=2021-04-21 |title=Business Bully TV – Business Bully TV}}

Personal

Sanders has been married once and has no children. In May 2002, Sanders married Micheal Brownlee in Denton, Texas. They later divorced in August 2016.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan="2"| 1998

| Jack Frost

| Interviewer

High Freakquency

| LaShanda

1999

| A Luv Tale

| Ruth

2000

| The Playaz Court

| Yolanda

2023

| Spaghetti

| Iris

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1991–93 \| A Different World \| Gina Deveaux \| Recurring Cast: Season 4–5, Main Cast: Season 6
1992 \| Def Comedy Jam \| Herself \| Episode: "Episode #1.6" & "#2.3"
rowspan=2\| 1993 \| Soul Train \| Herself/Guest Host \| Episode: "Raven-Symone/Aaron Hall/Tag Team"
Martin \| Thomasina \| Episode: "Baby, It's You"
rowspan=2\| 1995 \| Hangin' with Mr. Cooper \| Denise \| Recurring Cast: Season 3
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air \| Jana/Candace \| Guest: Season 5, Recurring Cast: Season 6
1996 \| The Parent 'Hood \| Kiki \| Episode: "Torn Between Two Brothers"
rowspan=2\| 1997 \| The Wayans Bros. \| Amber \| Episode: "Prom Fright"
The Jamie Foxx Show \| Irene \| Episode: "Misery Loves Company"
rowspan=2\| 2001 \| Moesha \| Lisa \| Episode: "Graduation Day"
The Division \| Adeen \| Episode: "The First Hit's Free, Baby"
rowspan=2\| 2011 \| Way Black When: Primetime \| Herself \| Episode: "Episode #1.15"
Are We There Yet? \| Tam \| Episode: "The Take Your Kids to Work Day Episode"
rowspan=2\| 2020 \| All the Way Black \| Herself \| Episode: "It's My House!"
Two Degrees \| Ajai \| Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2
2022 \| Phat Tuesdays: The Era Of Hip Hop Comedy \| Herself \| Main Guest

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1991–93

| A Different World

| Gina Deveaux

| Recurring Cast: Season 4–5, Main Cast: Season 6

1992

| Def Comedy Jam

| Herself

| Episode: "Episode #1.6" & "#2.3"

rowspan=2| 1993

| Soul Train

| Herself/Guest Host

| Episode: "Raven-Symone/Aaron Hall/Tag Team"

Martin

| Thomasina

| Episode: "Baby, It's You"

rowspan=2| 1995

| Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

| Denise

| Recurring Cast: Season 3

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

| Jana/Candace

| Guest: Season 5, Recurring Cast: Season 6

1996

| The Parent 'Hood

| Kiki

| Episode: "Torn Between Two Brothers"

rowspan=2| 1997

| The Wayans Bros.

| Amber

| Episode: "Prom Fright"

The Jamie Foxx Show

| Irene

| Episode: "Misery Loves Company"

rowspan=2| 2001

| Moesha

| Lisa

| Episode: "Graduation Day"

The Division

| Adeen

| Episode: "The First Hit's Free, Baby"

rowspan=2| 2011

| Way Black When: Primetime

| Herself

| Episode: "Episode #1.15"

Are We There Yet?

| Tam

| Episode: "The Take Your Kids to Work Day Episode"

rowspan=2| 2020

| All the Way Black

| Herself

| Episode: "It's My House!"

Two Degrees

| Ajai

| Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2

2022

| Phat Tuesdays: The Era Of Hip Hop Comedy

| Herself

| Main Guest

=Music videos=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Artist ! Song Title ! Role
1995 \| 2Pac \| "Temptations" \| Poker Player
1997 \| Chris Rock \| "Champagne" \| Herself

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Artist

! Song Title

! Role

1995

| 2Pac

| "Temptations"

| Poker Player

1997

| Chris Rock

| "Champagne"