Angela Means
{{short description|American comedian, model, and actress}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Angela Means
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|Comedian|Model}}
| yearsactive = 1989–2008
| children = 1
}}
Angela Means is an American actress, comedian, and model. Her best-known works include Friday (1995), in which she played the role of Felisha. She gained popularity when a phrase from the film – "Bye, Felisha" – gained media coverage and became a meme. She also starred in House Party 3 (1994) and Nickelodeon's Cousin Skeeter.
Early life
Means is a child of a interracial couple (one is black and another is Jewish). She grew up on a farm near Ann Arbor, Michigan.{{cite web |title=Did You Know Felisha From 'Friday' Owns And Runs A Vegan Cafe? |url=https://blavity.com/actress-felisha-from-friday-owns-and-runs-a-vegan-cafe |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Blavity |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206060333/https://blavity.com/actress-felisha-from-friday-owns-and-runs-a-vegan-cafe |url-status=live }}
Career
= Acting and modeling =
Means began her modeling and acting career at the age of 19. Her first acting gigs were in In Living Color (1990–94), Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–97), and Bad Girls of Def (1993–94).{{cite web |title=Angela Means |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/128956%7C0/angela-means |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Turner Classic Movies |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019023729/https://prod-www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/128956%7C0/Angela-Means#overview |url-status=live }} She then played a lead role in House Party 3 (1994) and appeared in The Cherokee Kid (1996). In 1998 until 2001, she was a series regular on Nickelodeon's Cousin Skeeter.
Notably, she played the role of Felisha in the Ice Cube-wrote 1995 film Friday, which garnered internet attention much later for the phrase "Bye, Felicia".{{Cite web |last=Mackie |first=Drew |date=2015-04-26 |title=Friday Turns 20: The Origin of Bye, Felicia |url=https://people.com/celebrity/friday-turns-20-the-origin-of-bye-felicia/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=People |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117011704/https://people.com/celebrity/friday-turns-20-the-origin-of-bye-felicia/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Berkowitz |first1=Joe |date=2015-08-12 |title=The Inside Story Of How The Ultimate "Bye, Felicia" Got In "Straight Outta Compton" |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3049733/the-inside-story-of-how-the-ultimate-bye-felicia-got-in-straight-outta-compton |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Fast Company |archive-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130110143/https://www.fastcompany.com/3049733/the-inside-story-of-how-the-ultimate-bye-felicia-got-in-straight-outta-compton |url-status=live }} Despite the popularity of her role in Friday, Means claimed she experienced public harassment, including being referred to by some as a "filthy b***h".{{cite web |last=Mwai |first=Kui |date=2022-08-16 |title=Angela Means, Who Played Felicia In 'Friday,' Says In Emotional Interview That People Call Her A 'Dirty B***h' |url=https://news.yahoo.com/angela-means-played-felicia-friday-161010113.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Yahoo! News |archive-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208062149/https://news.yahoo.com/angela-means-played-felicia-friday-161010113.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Comedy Hype |date=2022-08-15 |title=Angela Means Cries Over 'Felicia' Friday Role: "Even Today People Say "Bye You Dirty B*tch" |url=https://youtube.com/bTjNYlaQNzk |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=YouTube}}
She walked the runway for designers such as Bob Mackie and Bill Blass as a fashion model.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
= Comedy =
Means began performing stand-up comedy at the age of 26, toured with the late Bernie Mac and Chris Rock, and joined Def Comedy Jam's nationwide tour.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
= Chef =
Means later began a career as a vegan chef. In September 2017, she opened Jackfruit Cafe, a vegan soul food restaurant in Los Angeles.{{cite web |last=Cummings |first=Moriba |date=2018-01-06 |title=You'll Never Guess Where 'Felisha' From 'Friday' Works Now |url=https://www.bet.com/article/do28ts/you-ll-never-guess-where-felisha-from-friday-works-now |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=BET |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019023731/https://www.bet.com/article/do28ts/you-ll-never-guess-where-felisha-from-friday-works-now |url-status=live }}
As the founder and CEO of Jackfruit Cafe, Means has appeared on KTLA, FOX11, "Good Morning LA," and The Tammi Mac Show on Fox Soul. On a November 2019 episode of The Tammy Mac Late Show, she was asked to discuss the benefits of a vegan diet with ex-basketball player John Salley.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
Jackfruit Cafe was named to Eater LA's "Essential" List. In March 2020, VegNews named her "Best of LA".{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
Means has written the following vegan cookbooks: 85 Vegan Recipes, Seven Sinner and the Angel Who Loved Them.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
Means closed her LA cafe and moved to Tahoka, Texas in September 2023. She is re-opening her Jackfruit Cafe in the small West Texas farming community 30 miles south of Lubbock. Means made the move from Los Angeles to Tahoka because she got “a little tired of Los Angeles” due to the cost of living and wanted to find something “different.” She moved to Tahoka and has been “living her best life” with her animals.https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/friday-actress-set-to-open-tahoka-restaurant-day-after-thanksgiving/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
Personal life
Means has a son, Brad Kaaya, who was a quarterback at the University of Miami{{cite web |date=21 July 2014 |title=Bye, Felicia! Brad Kaaya, Miami QB, enjoys mom's phrase trending again 20 years later |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2014/07/21/bye-felicia-brad-kaaya-miami-qb-enjoys-moms-phrase-trending-again-20-years-later/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |access-date=19 October 2023 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402085346/https://www.dailynews.com/2014/07/21/bye-felicia-brad-kaaya-miami-qb-enjoys-moms-phrase-trending-again-20-years-later/ |url-status=live }} and was drafted by the Detroit Lions.{{Cite web |last=Twentyman |first=Tim |date=April 29, 2017 |title=Detroit Lions draft defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-draft-weekend/article-1/Detroit-Lions-draft-defensive-lineman-Jeremiah-Ledbetter/98a9625b-5a0b-4d29-9202-5814a14b9fa4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430010157/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-draft-weekend/article-1/Detroit-Lions-draft-defensive-lineman-Jeremiah-Ledbetter/98a9625b-5a0b-4d29-9202-5814a14b9fa4 |archive-date=April 30, 2017 |access-date=April 29, 2017 |website=Detroit Lions}}
Means grew up vegetarian and later became vegan.{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Sydney |date=2020-10-24 |title=Felicia From 'Friday' Is Living Her Best Life As A Vegan Cafe Owner |url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/felicia-friday-vegan-cafe-owner/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Essence |archive-date=2023-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326085514/https://www.essence.com/celebrity/felicia-friday-vegan-cafe-owner/ |url-status=live }}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1992
| Herself | Episode: "Episode #2.2" |
| 1992-94
| Herself | Recurring Cast: Season 4, Guest: Season 5 |
| rowspan=2| 1993
| Herself | Episode: "Episode #6.15" |
| Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
| Officer Houston | Episode: "Valentine's Day Massacre" |
| 1998-2001
| Vanessa Walker | Main Cast |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/tracewilliamcowen/angela-means-emotionally-recalls-journey-of-friday-character-felicia Angela Means Recalls ‘Friday’ Character Felicia and How Fans Still Say ‘Bye You Dirty B*tch’] (Interview with Complex)
- [https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/angela-means-friday-bye-felicia-interview-343289/ Hi, Felicia: Catching Up With ‘Friday’ Actress, Angela Means, 20 Years Later] (Interview with VIBE)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Means, Angela}}
Category:20th-century African-American people
Category:20th-century African-American actresses
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:21st-century African-American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:People from Jamaica, Queens
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Actresses from Queens, New York
Category:African-American Jews
Category:American women comedians
Category:Comedians from Queens, New York
Category:Jewish American comedians
Category:Jewish women comedians