Olivia Brown

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title: "Olivia Brown" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["living-people", "20th-century-american-actresses", "20th-century-african-american-actresses", "american-film-actresses", "american-television-actresses", "actresses-from-sacramento,-california", "21st-century-african-american-actresses", "21st-century-american-actresses", "year-of-birth-missing-(living-people)"] description: "American actress" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Brown" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American actress ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Olivia Brown
image	Olivia Brown.jpg
caption	Brown in 2007
birth_date
birth_place	Frankfurt, West Germany
occupation	Actress
years_active	1979–present
spouse	{{plainlist
* {{marriage	Mykelti Williamson
children	2
relatives	Steve Brown (brother)
::

| name = Olivia Brown | image = Olivia Brown.jpg | caption = Brown in 2007 | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Frankfurt, West Germany | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1979–present | spouse = {{plainlist|

• James Okonkwo | children = 2 | relatives = Steve Brown (brother)

Olivia Brown (born 10 April 1960) is an American actress, best known for her role as detective Trudy Joplin in the NBC crime drama series Miami Vice (1984–1989).

Life and career

Brown was born in Frankfurt, West Germany, and raised in Sacramento, California. After graduating from C.K. McClatchy High School, she got a scholarship to Parsons School of Design in New York. However she didn't want to leave her family on the opposite side of the country, so she enrolled at Sacramento City College followed by Sacramento State College.

Brown made her big screen debut appearing in a supporting role in the 1982 action comedy film 48 Hrs. She later appeared in Streets of Fire (1984), Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Identity Crisis (1989), Man's Best Friend (1993) and All Tied Up (1994). From 1984 to 1989, she starred as Detective Trudy Joplin in the NBC crime drama series Miami Vice.

Brown guest-starred on T.J. Hooker, The Love Boat, Family Matters, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Sister, Sister. She had recurring roles on Hill Street Blues, Designing Women, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Beverly Hills, 90210, Moesha and 7th Heaven. Brown also was regular in the NBC sitcom Dear John from 1990 to 1991.

Personal life

Brown was married to Mykelti Williamson for two years, from 1983 until their divorce in 1985. She is currently married to James Okonkwo, with whom she has two children.

Brown and actor Bruce Willis dined at a restaurant on June 16, 1987.

Her brother is Steve Brown, who played for the Houston Oilers of the NFL during the late 1980s.

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	48 Hrs.	Candy
1984	Streets of Fire	Addie
1989	Throw Momma from the Train	Ms. Gladstone
Identity Crisis	Domino
1990	Memories of Murder	Brenda	TV movie
1993	Man's Best Friend	Lab Assistant
1994	All Tied Up	Tara	Video
1998	Mr. P's Dancing Sushi Bar	Natalie
2009	Not Easily Broken	Mrs. Reid
2010	Fast Lane	Mama
2012	House Arrest	Rachel Willows
2017	Our Dream Christmas	Stephanie Carter
::

Television

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1983	T.J. Hooker	Rhoda	Episode: "Sweet Sixteen and Dead"
For Love and Honor	Sammy	Episode: "For Love and Honor (Pilot)"
Hill Street Blues	Vicki	Recurring cast: season 4
1986	The Love Boat	Lois Hendrix	Episode: "Spain Cruise: The Matadors: Parts 1 & 2"
1984-89	Miami Vice	Detective Trudy Joplin	Main cast
1989	Paradise	Belle	Episode: "All the Pretty Little Horses"
Monsters	Jewel	Episode: "Love Hurts"
Family Matters	Vanessa	Episode: "Stake-Out"
1990	Designing Women	Vanessa Hargraves	Recurring cast: Season 4
1990-91	Dear John	Denise	Recurring cast: season 3
1991	Roc	Nadine	Episode: "He's Gotta Have It"
1993	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	Lola	Episode: "You Bet Your Life"
Out All Night	-	Episode: "Under My Thumb"
1994	The Sinbad Show	-	Episode: "David Goes Skiing"
CBS Schoolbreak Special	Ms. Jackson	Episode: "Kids Killing Kids"
1995	Sister, Sister	Lucy	Episode: "Dream Lover"
1995-96	Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman	Star	Recurring cast: Season 3
1996-03	7th Heaven	Patricia Hamilton	Recurring cast: season 1 & 3, guest: season 2 & 5 & 7
1997	Beverly Hills, 90210	Professor Langely	Recurring cast: season 3
The Gregory Hines Show	Cheri	Episode: "Sofa So Good"
1998	Murder Call	Mrs. Bisley	Episode: "Skin Deep"
2001	Moesha	Barbara Lee	Recurring cast: season 6
::

References

References

1. Reid, Dixie. (July 15, 1990). "A hot night, but no stars". [[The Sacramento Bee]].
2. "Olivia Brown's Biography". www.oliviabrown.net.
3. Maslin, Janet. (December 8, 1982). "NICK NOLTE AND EDDIE MURPHY IN '48 HOURS'". [[The New York Times]].
4. Aitchison, Diana. (March 12, 1986). "'MIAMI VICE' STAR OLIVIA BROWN HELPS RAISE $1,000 FOR CHARITY". [[Sun-Sentinel]].
5. O'Connor, John J.. (January 1, 1990). "Review/Television; The Birth Rate Is Rising Sharply As Networks Court Baby Boomers". The New York Times.
6. (October 21, 1990). "'VICE' COP JOINS 'DEAR JOHN'". [[Chicago Tribune]].
7. (February 11, 1991). "Olivia Brown Gets Spot on 'Dear John' Series".
8. Day, Carol. (January 26, 1998). "Bubba Busted". [[People (magazine).
9. "Actress Olivia Brown and actor Bruce Willis At La Scala".
10. (October 12, 1986). "Bears' defensive tackle Steve McMichael noted whimsically...". Chicago Tribune.

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