Regina Hall

Hall was born the daughter of a contractor and electrician father, Odie Hall, and a teacher mother, Ruby.{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/31/Regina-Hall.html|title=Regina Hall Biography (1971-)|website=www.filmreference.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abilitymagazine.com/regina-hall.html|work=Ability Magazine|title=Regina Hall|access-date=May 8, 2016}} After graduating from Immaculata High School, Hall enrolled at Fordham University in the Bronx, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjixB7VkwF8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GjixB7VkwF8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|work=The Breakfast Club|title=Regina Hall Interview|access-date=September 23, 2016|date=September 7, 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://pix11.com/2015/08/11/people-places-things-stars-regina-hall-and-jermaine-clement-talk-about-the-new-comedy/|work=Pix 11|title='People Places Things' stars Regina Hall and Jemaine Clement talk about the new comedy|date=August 11, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2016}} She later enrolled at New York University, where she earned a master's degree in journalism in 1997.{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/277710/Regina-Hall/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205045736/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/277710/Regina-Hall/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2008|title=Regina Hall|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=The New York Times|date=2008|author=Sarah Sloboda}} Reflecting on college, Hall said: "I loved being a student. I could've gone to school until I was 75 years old as long as somebody would've paid my rent. I would've been a professional student."

She wanted a career with impact and envisioned a career in writing or journalism, but Hall's first semester of graduate school changed drastically when her father died of a stroke.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-regina-hall-20150813-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Regina Hall's well-ordered life as an actor, not a nun|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2016|author=King, Susan}} "It was sudden. And I think when sudden events that are painful happen in your life, you know, they redirect your course," Hall reflected. "When you're young, you don't grasp the gravity of life. But when you lose someone that you spend most of your life with, and you're young, you do. And so I think that started me thinking about what I really wanted to do in life. And I know my father would have wanted me to finish school. So I did that."{{cite news|url=http://www.theshadowleague.com/articles/screen-time-regina-hall|title=SCREEN TIME: REGINA HALL|date=February 21, 2014|publisher=The Shadow League|first=Raqiyah|last=Mays}} She began a career in the entertainment industry, starting off with a guest appearance on Sadat X's 1996 album Wild Cowboys on the track, "The Interview".

In 1997, Hall appeared in her first television commercial at the age of 26. Her television career began with a role on the soap opera Loving, and guest appearances on the Fox police drama New York Undercover. She played Candy in the 1999 film The Best Man. She left a lasting impression on viewers with her portrayal of the character Candace "Candy" Sparks. Hall reflected: "It was my very first movie. I met Sanaa Lathan on it, and we did Love and Basketball together, which was my second film. And then, at that point, I was visiting L.A. to stay and it led to a third film and a fourth film. And it was really a big deal because I'd never been on a set before."

Hall gained more recognition with her role in the comedy-horror-spoof Scary Movie (and the sequels Scary Movie 2, Scary Movie 3, and Scary Movie 4) portraying the sex-crazed Brenda Meeks, and the TV movie Disappearing Acts. The Scary Movie films would become some of her best known roles.{{cite news|url=http://www.thewrap.com/think-like-a-man-toos-regina-hall-reenacts-scary-movie-brenda-scene-kevin-hart-needs-to-keep-it-down-video/|title='Think Like A Man Too's' Regina Hall Reenacts 'Scary Movie' Brenda Scene: Kevin Hart Needs to Keep It Down (Video)|date=June 22, 2014|publisher=The Wrap}} In 2001, Hall landed the role of Coretta Lipp on the prime-time drama Ally McBeal, which was originally a recurring role over several episodes but was made a main character in the 5th season of the show. A year later, she starred in the action-drama Paid in Full, a film directed by Charles Stone III. Since then, she has appeared in leading roles in films such as Malibu's Most Wanted, King's Ransom and The Honeymooners.{{Cite web|url=http://www.blackfilm.com/20060331/features/reginahall.shtml|title=April 2006 | blackfilm.com | features | interview | SCARY MOVIE 4: An Interview with Regina Hall|website=www.blackfilm.com}}

She appeared in the film Law Abiding Citizen in 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091024/NEWS/910240323/-1/rss02|title=Regina Hall appears in 'Law Abiding Citizen'|date=October 24, 2009|publisher=CapeCodOnline.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810002131/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20091024%2FNEWS%2F910240323%2F-1%2Frss02|archive-date=August 10, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/syjtn9/life-in-film-all-about-regina-hall/fx1519|title=Life in Film: All About Regina Hall|publisher=BET}}

She had a role in the 2010 Danneel Harris and Arielle Kebbel film Mardi Gras. From its fall 2010 debut until a series overhaul in January 2011, Regina Hall portrayed Deputy District Attorney Evelyn Price on Law & Order: LA.

In 2012, she portrayed Candace Hall in Steve Harvey's movie Think Like a Man, a romantic comedy based on his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. Hall reprised her role as Candace Sparks in The Best Man Holiday in 2013. She believed the characters had evolved from the first film. Hall felt The Best Man Holiday was different from any sequel she had ever done before since it was not "immediate" and it had been fourteen years since the release of the original. Hall felt the first film had "the joy of the wedding" and in the sequel "they come together for the holidays, but it's deeper than that. This one's definitely different, but we still laughed. There was so much laughter behind the scenes."{{cite news|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2013/11/12/regina-hall-best-man-holiday/|title='Best Man Holiday' Star Regina Hall Talks Epic Catfights, Sequels, and Scandalous Videos|date=November 12, 2013|first=Sharon|last=Knolle}} Hall joked about how all of the male members of the cast were married while all of the women were not, stating that Morris Chestnut was happily married while walking around "with his shirt off!"{{cite news|url=http://madamenoire.com/321236/best-man-holiday-actress-regina-hall-talks-dating-40s/|title='The Best Man Holiday' Actress Regina Hall Talks Dating In Her 40s|publisher=MadameNoire|date=November 11, 2013|first=Jazmin Denise|last=Rogers}}

Hall appeared in the 2014 film About Last Night, costarring Kevin Hart.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/about-last-night-stars-kevin-hart-regina-hall-argue-about-big-panties/|title='About Last Night' stars Kevin Hart, Regina Hall argue about 'big panties'|date=February 14, 2014|publisher=FoxNews.com}}{{cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20140214_Keivn_Hart__Regina_Hall_on_love__dating_and_girls_who_fight.html|title=Kevin Hart, Regina Hall on love, dating and girls who fight|date=February 14, 2014|publisher=Philly.com|first=Jenice|last=Armstrong|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812061016/http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20140214_Keivn_Hart__Regina_Hall_on_love__dating_and_girls_who_fight.html|archive-date=August 12, 2014}}

She and Hart were seen as the film's highlight as they had a "great dynamic together" and the two were credited with having the funniest lines in the film. All of the cast was seen as having a "perfect mix of charisma and likability".{{cite news|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/About-Last-Night-6734.html|title=About Last Night Review|publisher=CinemaBlend.com}} Jessica Herndon of the Associated Press stated "Hart and Hall are the best part of this film. They play the couple you know all too well: fiery, able to press one another's buttons and always caught in the makeup to breakup game." Negative reviews of the film also praised the pairing of Hall with Kevin Hart. Mick LaSalle of The San Francisco Chronicle expressed that Hart was "well paired for Hall, who matches him for comedy."{{cite news|url=http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79295189/|title=Kevin Hart, Regina Hall spice up 'About Last Night,' reviews say|date=February 14, 2014|first=Oliver|last=Gettell|work=Los Angeles Times}} At the time of the film's release, both Hall and Hart expressed interest in working on other projects together.{{cite news|url=http://blackamericaweb.com/2014/02/11/kevin-hart-regina-hall-reveal-the-trouble-with-working-together-exclusive-video/|title=Kevin Hart & Regina Hall Reveal The Trouble With Working Together [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]|date=February 11, 2014|publisher=Black America Web|first=Jonathan|last=Hailey}} About Last Night was her third ensemble film and Hall reflected that she learned from actors she worked with in ensembles.{{cite news|url=http://www.eurweb.com/2014/02/regina-hall-talks-spanx-sexuality-yoga-and-being-uninhibited-in-about-last-night/|title=Regina Hall Talks Spanx, Sexuality, Yoga and Being Uninhibited in About Last Night|date=February 13, 2014|publisher=EurPublisher}}

File:Regina Hall 2019.png

Hall reprised her role as Candace Hall in Think Like a Man Too. She revealed what members of the cast partied the most in the film shortly before the movie's release. "Everyone kind of had their fun, I'm not gonna lie. We went out, we gambled. Kevin [Hart] parties. There were parties, and we all went. It was good fun".{{cite news|url=http://www.thewrap.com/think-like-a-man-too-star-regina-hall-on-shooting-in-las-vegas-strippers-and-jail-video/|title='Think Like a Man Too' Star Regina Hall on Shooting in Las Vegas, Strippers and Jail (Video)|date=June 19, 2014|publisher=The Wrap|first=Anita|last=Bennett}} In July 2014, it was announced Hall would star in a Lifetime film, entitled With This Ring, with Eve and Jill Scott.{{cite news|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/jill-scott-eve-regina-hall-to-star-in-a-lifetime-movie-news.11273.html|title=Jill Scott, Eve, Regina Hall To Star In A Lifetime Movie|date=July 13, 2014|first=Eric|last=Jaffe|website=HotNewHipHop.com}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jill-scott-eve-regina-hall-717971|title=Jill Scott, Eve, Regina Hall to Star in Lifetime Movie (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Lesley|last=Goldberg}}

In the 2015 film People Place Things, Hall had a major role as the love interest of a newly divorced man. In 2016, Hall was in Barbershop: The Next Cut. She played the role of Angie, one of the hair stylists, alongside Ice Cube, Common, and Eve. In 2017, Hall co-starred in the comedy film Girls Trip, which became a critical and commercial success. In 2018, Hall was part of the ensemble cast of the drama film The Hate U Give, based on the 2017 novel.

Hall had the lead in Support the Girls, a film directed by Andrew Bujalski. For the latter, she received critical praise, and was nominated for several awards, winning the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She is the first African-American to win the award.{{cite web |last1=Sharf |first1=Zach |title=2018 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/11/new-york-film-critics-circle-2018-awards-winners-1202023917/|website=IndieWire |access-date=November 29, 2018 |date=November 29, 2018}} That same year she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.{{cite web|date=2018-06-25|title=ACADEMY INVITES 928 TO MEMBERSHIP|url=https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-invites-928-membership|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences}} In 2019, Hall hosted the 2019 BET Awards.

In October 2020, she signed a first-look deal with Showtime. Under the pact, Hall will develop and produce television projects via her production company, RH Negative.{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2020-10-19|title=Regina Hall Inks First-Look Deal With Showtime|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/regina-hall-inks-first-look-deal-with-showtime-with-comedy-special-in-the-works-1234599764/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=Deadline}} A mere months later, her company signed a six-film deal with ViacomCBS.{{cite web|date=2020-11-18|title=Regina Hall's Rh Negative Signs Overall with ViacomCBS|url=https://www.blackfilm.com/read/2020/11/regina-halls-rh-negative-signs-overall-with-viacomcbs/|access-date=2020-11-19|website=blackfilm.com - Black Movies, Television, and Theatre News}}

She cohosted the 94th Academy Awards with Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes on March 27, 2022.{{Cite news |last=Stevens |first=Matt |date=2022-03-28 |title=Return of the hosts: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes got the show started. Here's their full monologue. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/27/movies/oscars-hosts-monologue.html |access-date=2022-03-28 |issn=0362-4331}}

In October 2024, Hall inked a first-look deal with MGM Alternative, the division of Amazon MGM Studios. Under the agreement, Hall and her team will develop and produce original unscripted true crime, ensemble docuseries and game genres.{{cite magazine |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=October 30, 2024 |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/regina-hall-first-look-deal-mgm-alternative-1236194950/ |title=Regina Hall Strikes First-Look Deal with MGM Alternative, Sets Celebrity Competition Series 'Squad Games' |access-date=October 30, 2024 }}

In 2019, Hall received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Dillard University. Furthermore, in May 2025, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from her alma mater, Fordham University. This honor from Fordham University recognized her exceptional acting career and unwavering commitment to social justice

Around 2004, Hall's mother was diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease. When not working in Hollywood, Hall can be found volunteering for the care of senior citizens at a Sherman Oaks, California, convalescent home twice a week as well as raising public awareness for the disease. "When my mom was diagnosed, I didn't know much about the condition. But Dana Delany, who is an actress and now a friend of mine, put me in touch with Bob Saget. Bob had made a television movie about scleroderma years ago because his sister had died from it. At the time, they did not know what scleroderma was. Bob had a group called the Scleroderma Research Foundation, so I donated to that and my mother even went to the doctor Bob had suggested, who happened to be over at Johns Hopkins."[http://abilitymagazine.com/regina-hall.html Regina Hall Interview] "Regina Hall Issue", ABILITY Magazine, April/May 2010 Hall announced in November 2010 that she would be writing for Ability.[http://www.abilitymagazine.com/Regina-Hall-joins%20ABILITY.html Regina Hall on the Mo'Nique Show] ABILITY Magazine, November 2010

In 2010, when she was 40, Hall unsuccessfully tried to become a Catholic nun after a bad break-up, having previously wanted to become one at the age of 14. In the latter case, she was refused for being too old, as the cut-off age is 39.{{cite web|last=Fitzmaurice|first=Larry|date=2018-09-05|title=Regina Hall has the range|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/09/05/regina-hall-support-the-girls-interview|access-date=2021-07-01|website=The FADER}}{{Cite news|last=Marchese|first=David|date=2019-03-11|title=Regina Hall on the Two Hollywoods, Spirituality and Success|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/11/magazine/regina-hall-movies-black-audience.html|access-date=2021-07-01|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2014, she signed as an ambassador for Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds.{{cite news|url=http://madamenoire.com/428209/life-good-regina-hall-actress-talks-womanhood-white-diamonds-embracing-singleness-43/2/|title=Regina Hall Talks Womanhood, White Diamonds & Embracing Singleness|publisher=MadameNoire|date=May 10, 2014|first=Veroica|last=Wells}}

{{Pending films key}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Regina Hall}}

• {{IMDb name|356021|Regina Hall}}
• [http://abilitymagazine.com/regina-hall.html "Regina Hall—Interview"], Regina Hall Issue, ABILITY Magazine, April/May 2010

{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress}}

{{Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress}}

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Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Actresses from Washington, D.C.

Category:African-American female comedians

Category:African-American comedians

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:American soap opera actresses

Category:American women comedians

Category:Fordham University alumni

Category:New York University alumni

Category:21st-century African-American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:20th-century African-American actresses

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:Comedians from Washington, D.C.