Melissa De Sousa

Melissa De Sousa Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: September 25, 1967

Age: 56 years old

Birth Place: New York City, New York

A regular face in African-American comedy, Melissa De Sousa is perhaps best-known for her role as Murch's high-maintenance girlfriend Shelby in the sleeper hit "The Best Man" (1999). Born in New York City in 1967 to Afro-Panamanian parents, De Sousa attended the city's High School of Performing Arts before making her on-screen debut in legal drama "The Trials Of Rosie O'Neill" (CBS 1990-92). Guest appearances in "Getting By" (ABC 1993-94), "Silk Stalkings" (CBS 1991-99) and "Living Single" (Fox 1993-98) then followed, while she was also cast as drug-addicted Hollywood actor Neely O'Hara in the soap opera adaptation of Jacqueline Susann's "Valley Of The Dolls" (Syndicated 1994). Following cameos in "Married With Children" (Fox 1987-1997), "ER" (NBC 1994-2009) and "The Wayans Bros" (The WB 1995-99), De Sousa appeared as Hakeem's brief love interest in "Moesha" (UPN 1996-2001), starred as NYC film graduate-turned-music video assistant Leta in the indie comedy "Ride" (1998) and played career driven cop Stacy Phillips in the short-lived sitcom "Damon" (Fox 1998). But for many, it was her turn as cunning gold-digger Shelby in Malcolm D. Lee's romantic comedy drama "The Best Man" (1999) where her talents first stood out.

De Sousa continued to build on her big-screen profile by playing prison girlfriend Krista in hard-hitting drama "Lockdown" (2000), Miss New York in Sandra Bullock vehicle "Miss Congeniality" (2000) and eternally single banker Natalie in character-driven ensemble "30 Years To Life" (2001) while also taking on recurring small-screen roles in "The $treet" (Fox 2000) and "One On One" (UPN 2001-06). After landing a small part in the music business drama "Laurel Canyon" (2002), De Sousa was cast as restaurant owner Coco in sitcom "Second Time Around" (UPN 2004-05) and daughter Lucy in earnest family drama "Constellation" (2005) before appearing as Matthew Perry's other half in the Emmy-nominated TV movie "The Ron Clark Story" (2006). De Sousa spent the next few years languishing in TV movies, straight-to-DVD efforts and several web series. But following a one-off appearance in "Castle" (ABC 2009-), she reminded everyone of her skills with her performances as Camille in festival hit "Ashes" (2010) and fiery acupuncturist Gabriella in "Reed Between The Lines" (BET 2011). After a guest spot on the American version of dark British comedy "Shameless" (Showtime 2011-), she revisited her most famous character when she once again played Shelby in the hit sequel "The Best Man Holiday" (2013).

Credits

The Best Man: The Final ChaptersStream

Actor
Series
2022

Our Kind of PeopleStream

Guest Star
Alex
Reality
2021

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

Ladies of the Law

Actor
Show
2018

Supermodel

Actor
Det. Lacey
Movie
2016

22nd Annual Trumpet Awards

Host
Show
2014

Cru

Actor
Michelle
Movie
2014

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

Bethenny

Guest
Show
2013

The Best Man HolidayStream

Actor
Shelby
Movie
2013
70%

ElementaryStream

Guest Star
Luz Horowitz
Series
2012
95%

Reed Between the Lines

Actor
Gabriella Jimenez
Show
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Ashes

Actor
Camille
Movie
2010

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Killing of Wendy

Actor
Angie
Movie
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

Actor
Monica
Movie
2007

Bats: Human Harvest

Actor
O'Neal
Movie
2007

Our World With Black Enterprise

Guest
Show
2006

The Ron Clark StoryStream

Actor
Marissa Vega
Movie
2006

Ghost WhispererStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

Criminal Minds: EvolutionStream

Guest Star
Adele McCord
Series
2005

Constellation

Actor
Lucy
Movie
2005

Second Time Around

Actor
Coco Herrera
Show
2004

Lockdown

Actor
Krista
Movie
2003

Lift Every Voice

Guest Star
Show
2002

Laurel Canyon

Actor
Claudia
Movie
2002

One on OneStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

30 Years to Life

Actor
Natalie
Movie
2001

The $treet

Actor
Series
2000
42%

Miss CongenialityStream

Actor
Karen, Miss New York
Movie
2000
41%

Grown Ups

Guest Star
Show
1999

The Best ManStream

Actor
Shelby
Movie
1999
72%

Damon

Actor
Jimmy Tortone
Show
1998

Black Filmmaker Showcase

Actor
Darlene Maye
Show
1998

Ride

Actor
Leta
Movie
1998

MoeshaStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

Simon

Guest Star
Show
1995

The Wayans Bros.Stream

Guest Star
Series
1995

Married ... With ChildrenStream

Guest Star
Jaclyn
Series
1987

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