Whether she was yelling “YOU GO, BOY!” through the silly, loving mouth of Gina Waters-Payne or being somebody’s fun, tell-it-like-it-is wife with kids named Jay, Tisha Campbell’s ability to bring timeless characters to our TV screens is why she’s the icon she is today. Decades later, we’re all intrigued to know… What is Tisha Campbell doing now?
You may have gotten familiar with the illustrious actress/singer through some of her starter projects, like PBS’ The Big Blue Marble (1974), Little Shop of Horror (1986)–a musical she performed in alongside Martin co-star Tichina Arnold–or NBC’s Rags to Riches (1987-88).
However, it was her roles as ‘Jane’ in Spike Lee’s School Daze (1988), ‘Sydney’ in the highly-acclaimed House Party film series (1990-94), and (last but certainly not least) ‘Gina’ in Martin that solidified Campbell’s legendary stance in the entertainment industry.
Other classics like Sprung and comedy sitcom My Wife and Kids in the late ’90s and early 2000s only added to the Oklahoma native’s long list of on-camera achievements. With a unique way of breathing life into every portrayal, Campbell is Black excellence personified.
Here’s a glance at what the Hollywood veteran is up to these days.
What Is Tisha Campbell Doing Now?
She’s Living Life as a Divorcee
After 22 years of marriage, Campbell filed for a divorce from her longtime husband, actor/comedian Duane Martin, in 2018. The once-power couple wedded in 1996 and share two sons: Ezekiel and Xen.
Campbell and Martin had allegedly been separated since 2016, and Campbell’s documents cited “irreconcilable differences” as the cause of the split. Their divorce was finalized in 2020.
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Campbell told PEOPLE in a statement, “I was married for over twenty years, and out of that, I was blessed with two amazing kids. Beyond that, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
If you didn’t know, the 55-year-old has been suffering from sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease that can affect multiple organs) for over two decades. In an interview with The Mibo Show this month, she seemingly admitted that her condition improved after leaving Martin.
“I have been in remission for four years now, and [the doctors] can’t find it at the base of my brain at all. I haven’t gotten sick, not one time. And I was so scared to get COVID because I thought… ‘If I get COVID, I’m gonna die,'” Campbell told host Shanti Das. “Every cold took me to the hospital. Just every sniffle, allergies… it would just build up and I would get sick. But I have not been sick ever since I got a divorce. [laughs]”
She’s Still Actively in Show Business
Although Campbell has already built quite a legacy, the grind hasn’t stopped. Her latest film happens to be Not Another Church Movie, a Tyler Perry-themed parody written and directed by Johnny Mack. The project stars Vivica A. Fox, Jasmine Guy, Kyla Pratt, and Jamie Foxx, among others.
In March, Lexus and UPTOWN Magazine’s Uptown Honors Hollywood honored her with the 2024 Vanguard Award, recognizing her fifty-plus-year career. That same month, Mainstay Entertainment and Paradigm signed Campbell for “representation in all areas,” Deadline reported.
“Super excited about the support on camera and behind the scenes for my production companies You Go Girl Productions and The Turnpike Alliance… LETS GO!” Campbell stated amid the announcement.
In April of this year, she lent her voice ‘Delphine’ in Netflix’s animated version of Good Times. Campbell also stars in the streaming service’s newly-added sitcom Act Your Age, which originally released on Bounce TV and co-stars Kym Whitley and Yvette Nicole Brown. Before its cancellation, she held a spot on Showtime’s ‘Uncoupled’ with Neil Patrick Harris.
Additionally, Campbell has been making special appearances on shows (Pyramid, Celebrity Squares, Lopez vs. Lopez). She currently hosts her own online cooking segment, Laughter with Every Bite, as well.
She’s Rediscovering Herself
Aside from Campbell’s professional endeavors, she’s been reconnecting with herself in way she says she hadn’t before.
In a recent sit-down with Behind the Scenes Beauty w/ D.M., Campbell hinted that she’s single but not necessarily looking.
When asked what her type is, she confessed, ” I don’t know! You gotta understand something, sir! I was in an almost thirty-year relationship. Prior to that, I had nothing but boyfriends. So, I’ve never been on a proper date with a man before.”
Campbell continued, “This whole newness of [dating] is kind of weird for me. ‘Cause there’s apps and websites. No, I’m not open to any apps! Nothing but twenty-something-year-olds hit on me anyway!”
Later in the conversation, Campbell doubled down on what she’s “finding the beauty in these days.”
“I absolutely find the beauty in my two boys. And I’m starting to find the beauty in myself, which is a really big deal,” she told interviewer Derick Monroe. “[There was] too much noise, too much people telling me what I needed to do, who I should be. I truly believe that, now, I’m starting to appreciate myself. I’ve always put myself last. I’ve always put myself in the background. I’ve always made myself smaller to make other people comfortable. And [I’m] just embracing who I am today, in my second half [of life]. I don’t mind; I like her. I’m starting to like myself a lot.”
What was your favorite thing that Tisha Campbell played in? Drop it below!
