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Lisa Bonet

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Lisa Bonet
Bonet in 1986
Born
Lisa Michelle Bonet

(1967-11-16) November 16, 1967 (age 57)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Other namesLilakoi Moon[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1983–present
Known forDenise Huxtable in The Cosby Show
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1993)​
​
​
(m. 2017; div. 2024)​
Children3, including Zoë Kravitz
RelativesKadhja Bonet (half-sister)

Lilakoi Moon[1] (born Lisa Michelle Bonet; November 16, 1967), known professionally as Lisa Bonet[2] (/boʊˈneɪ/), is an American actress. She portrayed Denise Huxtable[3] on the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), for which she earned widespread acclaim and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986; she reprised the role of Denise in the first season of the spinoff series A Different World.

She also appeared in the psychological horror film Angel Heart (1987), which earned her a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Bonet has starred in the action thriller film Enemy of the State (1998), the comedy-drama film High Fidelity (2000), the action drama film Biker Boyz (2003) and the thriller film Road to Paloma (2013). She has sporadically worked in TV acting, appearing in roles such as Maya Daniels in Life on Mars (2008–2009) and Marisol on Ray Donovan (2016).

Early life

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Lisa Michelle Bonet was born on November 16, 1967, in San Francisco, California,[4][5] to Arlene Joyce Litman, a white Jewish-American schoolteacher, and Allen Bonet, an opera singer of African-American heritage from Texas.[6][7][8][9][10] She has five half-sisters, including singer Kadhja Bonet, and two half-brothers by her father's marriage to Deborah Church. Bonet's parents separated when Bonet was still a baby. Bonet was raised by her single mother in lower-middle-class Reseda and never knew her father.[11] Bonet said she never fit in at Birmingham High School, in Van Nuys, California. "I was stuck in the middle," she told The Los Angeles Times. “The black kids called me an Oreo. The white kids didn’t talk to me."[11]

She said she did not date in high school because she didn't fit in. “My biggest worry in high school was who was going to take me to the prom, since I didn’t have a date," she told the Los Angeles Times. She said the problem disappeared when she landed the Cosby job in New York and wouldn’t attend prom.[11]

Bonet graduated Birmingham High School and later studied acting at the Celluloid Actor's Studio in North Hollywood.[12][13]

Career

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After being in beauty competitions and appearing in guest spots on television series as a child, Bonet landed the role of Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show, the second-oldest child of the parents played by Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad.[14] Later in the show, she becomes the stepmom to Olivia Kendall played by Raven-Symoné.

The same year, Bonet, then 19, played 17-year-old Epiphany Proudfoot in the movie Angel Heart opposite Mickey Rourke.[15] In the film, several seconds of an explicit scene she shared with Rourke (filmed when she was 18) were edited to avoid an X rating.[16] For Angel Heart, Bonet earned a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was featured topless in Interview magazine.[17]

Bonet didn't appreciate the way the press covered her or the controversy at the time. “I think the whole scandal is ridiculous,” she said. “They (the news media) are trying to steam it up.”[11] She said that the brief glimpse of one of her bare breasts is "nothing that hasn't been done before or that hasn't been seen before," including in films like Blue Velvet, which was rated R even though it contained frontal nudity.[11]

In 1986, Bonet earned a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.[18] After announcing her pregnancy during the run of A Different World, Bonet left the series.[19][20] She returned to The Cosby Show the following year, but was fired in April 1991 because of "creative differences".[21]

In September 1992, Bonet hosted Why Bother Voting?, an election special focusing on young voters' concerns and apathy.[22] She had supporting roles in the 1998 film Enemy of the State and the 2000 film High Fidelity. In 2003 she played Queenie in Biker Boyz, which reunited her with her A Different World co-star Kadeem Hardison.[23]

Bonet co-starred in the film Whitepaddy in 2005. She did not have another film role until 2014's Road to Paloma, opposite her future husband Jason Momoa. She did, however, appear in a number of television series, including the American adaptation of the British television series Life on Mars.[24][25] She again played a romantic lead opposite Jason Momoa on the Sundance TV series The Red Road.[26] “I felt protected and I feel safe when I work with him," Bonet said of working with Momoa.[26]

Since then, Bonet has made guest appearances on TV shows including Girls and Ray Donovan.[27][28]

Personal life

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On November 16, 1987, her 20th birthday, Bonet eloped with American rock singer Lenny Kravitz in Las Vegas. Bonet recalled of their relationship:

It was interesting when we were first finding out about each other, that our backgrounds were so similar. When I first told him my mom was Jewish, and he said "So's my dad," I thought that was unusual and enchanting. I felt like, "Okay, here's someone who really knows how it is." And I think I trusted him a little more with my feelings and let him inside a little more than I ordinarily would have.[29][30]

Bonet gave birth to their daughter, actress Zoë Isabella Kravitz, on December 1, 1988.[31] She and Kravitz divorced in 1993. That same year, she legally changed her name to Lilakoi Moon, although she still uses the name Lisa Bonet professionally.[1][32]

Since meeting on the set of A Different World in its first season in 1987, Bonet has been close friends with actress Marisa Tomei, who is a godmother to all three of Bonet's children.[33]

In 2005, Bonet began a relationship with actor Jason Momoa. They married in October 2017.[34] Bonet and Momoa have two children: a daughter born in July 2007,[35] and a son born in December 2008.[36] In January 2022, Momoa and Bonet announced their separation.[37] On January 8, 2024, Bonet filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.[38][39] In her divorce filing, Bonet revealed that she and Momoa had actually separated on October 7, 2020.[38] Court documents which were obtained by People confirmed that the divorce was granted one day later.[40] A Los Angeles county judge declared them divorced on July 9, 2024. Neither Bonet, nor Momoa asked for financial support and they have agreed on how to split their assets.[41] The court granted the former couple joint custody of their children, who, at the time, included: 16-year-old daughter, Lola, and 15-year-old son, Nakoa-Wolf.[41]

Filmography

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Film

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Lisa Bonet film credits
Years Title Role
1987 Angel Heart Epiphany Proudfoot
1993 Bank Robber Priscilla
1994 Final Combination Catherine Briggs
1998 Enemy of the State Rachel Banks
2000 High Fidelity Marie De Salle
2003 Biker Boyz Queenie
2005 Whitepaddy Mae Evans
2013 Road to Paloma Magdalena

Television

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Lisa Bonet television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1983 St. Elsewhere Carla Episode: "Entrapment"
1984–91 The Cosby Show Denise Huxtable Main cast
1985 Tales from the Darkside Justine Episode: "The Satanic Piano"
ABC Afterschool Special Carrie 1 episode
1986 Sesame Street Herself Recurring Guest
1987–89 A Different World Denise Huxtable Main cast: season 1; Guest: season 3, 1 episode
1990 The Earth Day Special Denise Huxtable
1992 Why Bother Voting? Herself Elections special with Bonet as host
1994 New Eden Lily Television movie
2002 Lathe of Heaven Heather Lelache Television movie
2008–09 Life on Mars Maya Daniels 5 episodes
2013–14 Drunk History Mary Ellen Pleasant and Rosa Parks 2 episodes
2014–15 The Red Road Sky Van Der Veen 7 episodes
2014 New Girl Brenda Brown Episode: "Teachers"
2016 Girls Tandice Moncrief Episodes: "Homeward Bound", "Love Stories"
Ray Donovan Marisol Recurring – Season 4

Music videos

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Lisa Bonet music video credits
Year Song Artist Role
1990 "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" Tony! Toni! Toné! Director
1991 "Stand by My Woman" Lenny Kravitz Director
1999 "Revelation Sunshine" Cree Summer Director
2019 "Freedom (TROY NōKA Remix)" Dorothy, Angel Haze Director

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations received by Lisa Bonet
Year Award Category Work Result
1985 Young Artist Awards Best Young Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy Series The Cosby Show Nominated
1986 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series The Cosby Show Nominated
1988 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series The Cosby Show Nominated
Best Young Female Superstar in Motion Picture Angel Heart Won
1988 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress Angel Heart Nominated
1986 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The Cosby Show Nominated
1989 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a Television Comedy, Drama Series or Special The Cosby Show (shared with cast) Nominated
2001 Black Reel Awards Theatrical – Best Supporting Actress High Fidelity Nominated
2006 TV Land Award Favorite Singing Siblings The Cosby Show (shared with cast) Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c Carbone, Nick (September 16, 2011). "Top 10 Most Ridiculous Celebrity Name Changes – TIME". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Lisa Bonet Marries Musician Lenny 'Romeo' Kravitz, Son of 'The Jeffersons' TV Star". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. December 7, 1987. p. 6. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "Bonet's in 'A Different World'". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "Lisa Bonet, Actress, and Model born". African American Registry. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  5. ^ "Lisa Bonet News". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "Lisa Bonet on family, husband Jason Momoa & working with Bill Cosby". Porter Edit / NET-A-PORTER.COM. March 9, 2018. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018. Bonet was born in the heart of the hippie movement, in November 1967 in San Francisco, to a white Jewish schoolteacher mother and a black opera-singing father.
  7. ^ D'Souza, Joy (May 16, 2017). "Zoe Kravitz Reveals How She Learned To Love Her Mixed Background". HuffPost Canada. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  8. ^ Barnes, Henry (August 20, 2015). "Zoë Kravitz: 'Why do stories happen to white people and everyone else is a punchline?'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  9. ^ McCann, Bob (2007). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland and Company. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7864-3790-0. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Lisa Bonet | Biography and Filmography | 1967". Hollywood.com, LLC. February 8, 2015. Archived from the original on November 29, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e Valle, Victor (February 26, 1987). "BONET'S 'ANGEL' HEARTACHE". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Lisa Bonet Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on January 13, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  13. ^ Valle, Victor (February 26, 1987). "Bonet's 'Angel' Heartache". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  14. ^ "Lisa Bonet". Biography in Context. June 8, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  15. ^ coopa.net. "Angel Heart – Alan Parker – Director, Writer, Producer – Official Website". alanparker.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  16. ^ "Appeals Board Upholds 'Angel Heart' X Rating". The New York Times. February 21, 1987. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Norment, Lynn (December 1987). "Lisa Bonet: The Growing Pains of a Rising Star". Ebony. Ebony Media Corporation. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  18. ^ Ramisetti, Kirthana (August 25, 2014). "Emmys 2014: From Anna Nicole Smith's breasts to Lassie, the 10 oddest nominations of all time". nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  19. ^ Hunt, Darnell. "A Different World". museum.tv. Archived from the original on February 10, 2006. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
  20. ^ FoundationINTERVIEWS (July 30, 2015). Debbie Allen discusses why Lisa Bonet left "A Different World" - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG. Retrieved August 1, 2024 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ Allis, Tim (May 4, 1992). "Leaving the Nest". People. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
  22. ^ Zurawik, David (September 23, 1992). "'Vote': power to young people". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  23. ^ Westbrook, Caroline (September 14, 2003). "Lisa Bonet". SomethingJewish. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  24. ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 1, 2008). "Exclusive: Lisa Bonet Sentenced to 'Life on Mars'". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  25. ^ "'Life on Mars' Star Lisa Bonet Pregnant". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  26. ^ a b Khatchatourian, Maane (February 25, 2014). "Jason Momoa, Lisa Bonet Celebrate SundanceTV's 'Red Road'". Variety. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  27. ^ Young, Susan (August 29, 2016). "'Ray Donovan' Postmortem: Lisa Bonet Discusses How Marisol's Story Washed Out". IndieWire. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "The 30 Best 'Girls' Guest Stars". EW.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  29. ^ Cooper, Carol (February 1990). "Let Love Rule". Essence. Essence Ventures. p. 104. ProQuest 223114238.
  30. ^ Bloom, Nate (January 12, 2009). "Interfaith Celebrities: Young, Gifted, Black and Jewish". InterfaithFamily. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  31. ^ "Zoe Kravitz. Alternate Name: Zoe Isabella Kravitz" at All Movie Guide via The New York Times
  32. ^ "GOODBYE LISA BONET, HELLO LILAKOI MOON". Orlando Sentinel. December 16, 1993. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  33. ^ Cooper, Leah Faye (May 25, 2021). "'A Different World': Cast Members and Crew Tell the Oral History". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  34. ^ "Jason Momoa, Lisa Bonet Officially Marry in Secret Wedding". Us Weekly. New York City: American Media Inc. November 2, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  35. ^ "Update: A daughter for Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa". People. August 20, 2007. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  36. ^ "Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa Welcome Son Nakoa-Wolf". People. New York City: Meredith Corporation. January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  37. ^ France, Lisa Respers (January 12, 2022). "Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet announce split". CNN. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  38. ^ a b VanHoose, Benjamin (January 8, 2024). "Lisa Bonet Files for Divorce from Jason Momoa 2 Years After Announcing Breakup". People. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  39. ^ "Lisa Bonet files for divorce from estranged husband Jason Momoa following separation: Reports". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  40. ^ Saunders, Angel (January 9, 2024). "Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet's Divorce Granted Just One Day After Filing". People. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Jason Momoa, Lisa Bonet finalize divorce". Associated Press. July 9, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lisa Bonet.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Lisa Bonet.
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