Lonette McKee

About Lonette McKee

Dusky-voiced, elegantly beautiful leading lady of stage, screen and TV who frequently played doomed chanteuses or tragic mulattos. McKee made a highly praised film debut as the drug-addicted lead singer of a Supremes-like pop group in "Sparkle" (1976). She first appeared on Broadway as Rachel (Mrs. Jackie) Robinson in the short-lived musical "The First" (1981) and won a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Julie in the 1983 Houston Grand Opera revival of "Show Boat" (she was reportedly the first black actress to play that role in a major American production).

McKee also appeared opposite Richard Pryor in the comedies, "Which Way Is Up?" (1977) and "Brewster's Millions" (1985) and was featured in the Francis Ford Coppola films "The Cotton Club" (1984), as a torch singer and "Gardens of Stone" (1987). In one of her richest roles to date, she co-starred as Wesley Snipes' put-upon wife in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" (1991).

After a rough personal period, McKee recorded the pop album "Natural Love" (1992) which did respectable sales, and was once again cast as Julie in yet another revival of "Show Boat" (1994).

Partners

Companion

Bryant McNeil. met in 1990 while working on the album "Natural Love"

Husband

Leo Compton. married February 1, 1983; born c. 1955; raised in Detroit; met in San Francisco during a pre-Broadway run of "Show Boat" where he was moonlighing as the backstage doorman; proposed after a one-week courtship; program developer for NYC Youth Bureau; divorced 1990

Career Milestones

2004

Cast in the Spike Lee comedy "She Hate Me"

2003

Appeared in the film "Honey"

Played recurring role of Sara Ruth Bennett on the CBS daytime drama "As the World Turns"

Again played Julie in a major revival of "Show Boat" (first in Toronto and later on Broadway)

1990

Played Lorraine in "The Women of Brewster Place"

1988

Toured in "Sophisticated Ladies"

1988

Made TV pilot, "Home Free"

1987

Performed at the Ballroom cabaret in NYC

Portrayed Billie Holliday in the off-Broadway musical, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill"

1983

Played Julie in the Broadway revival of the landmark Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical, "Show Boat" (reportedly the first black actress to perform the role in a major American production)

Wrote and produced first album, "Words and Music" for Warner Bros.

1981

Broadway debut as Mrs. Jackie Robinson in the musical, "The First"

1976

Film debut, "Sparkle"

1974

Recorded a gospel-flavored pop album

Worked as a secretary for Bill Cosby

1972

Became a cast regular as a singer-dancer on the TV variety show, "The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters" at age 17 (date approximate)

Began professional career at age 14 on the dance show, "Swingin' Time" (date approximate)

1969

Recorded first regional song, "Stop, Don't Worry About It" and album at age 14; quit school and moved to Los Angeles to live with sister, Kathy

Played piano and wrote songs at age seven; performed in local Detroit clubs where she sang her own songs at age ten