Tracey Ross

Not to be confused with Tracee Ellis Ross.
Tracey Ross
Born
Linda Tracey Ross

(1959-02-27) February 27, 1959 (age 65)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
EducationDwight Morrow High School
Alma materDouglass College
OccupationActress
Years active1981–present
Known for
Spouse(s)Kashif
(m. 1988; div. ?)
PartnerBrad Johnson (c. 1986 – 1988)
ChildrenBryce Vine

Linda Tracey Ross[1][2][3] (born February 27, 1959[2][1]) is an American television actress, known for her role as Eve Russell on the NBC daytime soap opera, Passions (1999–2008).

Early life and education

Ross was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey and then Douglass College.[4]

Career

In 1974, Ross's victory in the Miss Black Teen-Ager of New Jersey contest helped launch her modeling career, which received a further boost from her 1978 win in L'Oreal's Look of Radiance contest.[5] In 1984, she became the first winner in the Spokesmodel category on the television series Star Search,[6] and the National Association of Theatre Owners named her "Star of the Future".[7] She later joined the cast of ABC daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope as Diana Douglas, appearing in show from 1985 to 1987.[6] She later had a number of guest starring roles on prime time shows, such as The Cosby Show, Roc, Baywatch Nights, and Providence.

From 1999 to 2008, Ross starred as Eve Russell on the NBC daytime soap opera, Passions.[8] Ross was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for nine consecutive years, for her performance as Eve Russell. Ross won the award on March 2, 2007.

Personal life

During the mid-1980s Ross was in a relationship with Manhattan restaurateur Brad Johnson,[9] with whom she had her only child, a son, rapper and singer Bryce Vine, born Bryce Christian Ross-Johnson in June 1988.[10][11] That same month, Ross was one of four African-American “celebrity singles"—the others being Patti Austin, Kashif, and Freddie Jackson—featured in Ebony magazine, where they "shar[ed] their secrets for living happily alone."[12] Six months later, two of the four, namely Kashif and Ross (who had briefly dated in 1984[13][14][7]), became husband and wife, reportedly on or very near the former's 42nd birthday, December 26.[15][16]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls Television film
1984 Best Defense Arab Girl
1984 The Cotton Club Dancer
1985 Finder of Lost Loves Secretary Episode: "Deadly Silence"
1985 Braker Janice Television film
1985–1987 Ryan's Hope Diana Douglas Series regular
1987 Mayflower Madam Annabelle Television film
1989 The Cosby Show Fran Episode: "Getting to Know You"
1991 Doctor Doctor Rachel Patton Episode: "Butterfield's Complaint"
1991 Lies of the Twins Lillian Roth Television film
1991 Roc Wife Episode: "A Home, a Loan"
1994 On Our Own Mrs. Kisling Episode: "Parents' Night"
1996 Baywatch Nights Celia Episode: "Curse of the Mirrored Box"
1996 Small Time Verneile
1997 Cold Around the Heart Nurse
1999–2008 Passions Eve Russell Series regular
1999 Unconditional Love Patrice Sommers
2002 Providence Dr. Eve Johnson Russell Episode: "The Eleventh Hour"
2008 House of Payne Mrs. Carter Episode: "Payne and Prejudice"
2009 Brothers Chris Episode: "Mom at Bar/Train Buddy"
2014 Steps of Faith Stephanie Houston

References

  1. ^ a b Riggs, Thomas; ed. (2005). Contemporary Theatre, Film & Television, Volume 59. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale. p. 59. ISBN 0-7876-7102-9.
  2. ^ a b Craddock, James; ed. (2016). Who's Who Among African Americans – 31st Edition. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale.. p. 905. ISBN 978-1-4103-1729-2.
  3. ^ "On the Screen: Tracey Ross". The Raleigh News and Observer. August 15, 2007. p. E9. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  4. ^ Ledesma, Ann. "Former 'wallflower' blossoms into radiant model", Home News, January 16, 1979. Accessed February 9, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Looking at gorgeous Tracey Ross, 20, no one would ever suspect that she grew up feeling like 'a misfit, a wallflower, shy'.... Miss Ross, a Brooklyn native who graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, had been a dance and theater major at Douglass."
  5. ^ Lanman, Sandra (September 12, 1982). "Model of Distinction: New Brunswick's Tracey Ross enjoying her life in fashion". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. B1. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Tracey Ross Playing Dr. Eve Russell on Passions". Soaps.com. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Photo Standalone 9 -- No Title". Weekend Chicago Defender. May 19, 1984. p. 20. ProQuest 2541103186. Arista vocalist and producer Kashif and actress Tracey Ross celebrate their recent string of accolades. Kashif is finishing his second solo album for Arista and was recently named 'Male Newcomer of the Year' by Black Gold Awards in Hollywood. His composition 'The Mood' was nominated for a Grammy in 'The Best R&B Instrumental' category. Miss Ross was named 'Spokesmodel of the Year' for Star Search and the National Association of Theatre Owners named her 'Star of the Future.'
  8. ^ "Tracey Ross Looks Back at Her Time on Passions". Soaps.com. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  9. ^ Groves, Seli (April 8, 1986). "Soap Bubbles". The York Dispatch. p. 10. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Mell & Muse (July 2, 1988). "Around town". New York Amsterdam News. p. 29. ProQuest 226455160. Actress Tracey Ross gave birth to an 8/12 [sic] bouncing baby boy on the bathroom floor of her westside apartment last week, before her midwife arrived. The father is Whitney Houston's former beau, Brad Johnson, who owns the Cellar restaurant, with his father Howard Johnson, and is part owner of Ashford & Simpson's Twenty-Twenty restaurant. He is also owner of the restaurant, Memphis.
  11. ^ "Tracey Ross Gives Birth in New York Apartment". Jet. July 11, 1988. p. 15. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  12. ^ "Living Alone and Loving It". Ebony. June 1988. pp.62, 64, 66, 68.
  13. ^ Randolph, Laura (June 1984). "Spotlight: Tracey Ross". Essence. p. 81. ProQuest 1876784537. After being spotted on Star Search, Tracey signed a one-year contract with ABC that promises a possible television series. Grammy-nominated recording star Kashif also saw Tracey on the show, phoned her and asked her to be his date at the Grammy awards. She consented, and Kashif flew her out to Hollywood to mingle with the music world elite. To Tracey's surprise, she was congratulated on her victory by such superstars as Stevie Wonder, Jermaine Jackson and Herbie Hancock.
  14. ^ Lane, Bill (April 3, 1984). "Promoter Don King to get 15 percent of Jacksons' summer concert tour". Philadelphia Tribune. p. 11. ProQuest 532832107. Hollywood Seen: James DeBarge with Janet Jackson; Randy Jackson with Lynn Swann's ex; Model Tracey Ross with Arista singer Kashif
  15. ^ Collins, Lisa (December 22, 1988). "Behind-The-Scenes". The Louisville Defender. p. 14. ProQuest 2745520828. Kashif--All Set To Say I Do: Composer, producer, musician and Arista recording artist Kashif is getting hitched to model-actress Tracey Ross. The pair will reportedly wed sometime near the end of the month (more than likely around his birthday on the 26th). [...] The couple is expected to live on Kashif's five acre, Stamford, Connecticut estate, formerly owned by Jackie Robinson.
  16. ^ Jones, Debra (January 28, 1989). "Folks turn out for 'I'm Gonna Git You Sucka' opening". New York Amsterdam News. ProQuest 226296243. Other celebrities who attended the after part were Gregory Hines, Kashif and his wife Tracey Ross, Shawn, Marlon, Damon, Nadia and Kim Wayans, Mark Jackson, Aaron Hall of Guy, Charles Oakley ...