Kyla Alissa Pratt (born September 16, 1986[1]) is an American actress. She provided the voice of Penny Proud in the first Disney Channel animated series, The Proud Family, and portrayed Breanna Latrice Barnes in UPN's One on One. After playing the daughter of Eddie Murphy's character in the films Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2, Pratt became the main character in the spin-off series of the franchise which included Dr. Dolittle 3, Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief, and Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts. Pratt has also been in the films Fat Albert, Hotel for Dogs, and The Proud Family Movie. From 2012 to 2014, she appeared in the series Let's Stay Together. She was formerly a part of VH1's Black Ink Crew: Compton and the cast of Call Me Kat on Fox and is reprising the role of Penny in The Proud Family revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+.
Kyla Pratt | |
|---|---|
 Pratt at Black Girls Rock red carpet in 2018 | |
| Born | Kyla Alissa Pratt September 16, 1986 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Partner(s) | Danny Kirkpatrick (2008–present; engaged) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editKyla Alissa Pratt[2] was born on September 16, 1986, to Kecia Pratt, a school teacher, and Johnny McCullar, a basketball player. She is the oldest of five children.[3][4]
Career
editActing career
editPratt began acting at age eight, appearing in commercials for an interactive computer game and Nike. In 1997, she appeared in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger titled "The Neighborhood", in which she portrayed Kyla Jarvis, a ten-year-old girl who miraculously recovers after accidentally being shot in a drive-by shooting in her gang-ridden neighborhood, and reveals that she saw heaven where she met a guardian angel who gives her an important mission from God. With Walker's help, Kyla Jarvis spreads the angel message of faith and love, uniting her local community into helping clean up their neighborhood and end the gang violence plaguing it. She appeared in an episode of Friends, followed by roles in Smart Guy, Sister, Sister, Family Matters, Lizzie McGuire, Moesha, and The Parkers.[5][6]
In 2001, she won the role of Breanna Barnes in the UPN series One on One (2001–2006). During the run of One on One, Pratt also voiced Penny Proud, the lead character in the Disney Channel animated series The Proud Family. She later voiced the character for The Proud Family Movie in 2005. In addition to television roles, Pratt has appeared in several feature films, including Love & Basketball (2000) and Fat Albert (2004). She played Maya Dolittle in Dr. Dolittle (1998) and Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), both of which starred Eddie Murphy, and reprised her role as Maya Dolittle (now the lead character) in the direct-to-DVD releases of Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006), Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (2008), and Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts (2009).[7]
In 2009, Kyla Pratt co-starred alongside Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin in Hotel for Dogs. Pratt joined the cast of BET's Let's Stay Together in its second season.[8] In February 2014, Pratt was voted #97 on VH1's 100 Greatest Child Stars.[9] In June 2014, she starred alongside Jessica Sula in a Freeform pilot called Recovery Road based on Blake Nelson's novel of the same name.[10] The show debuted on Freeform in January 2016, but was cancelled shortly afterwards, in May 2016.[11]
In 2024, Pratt starred in the film adaptation of The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table by Minda Harts. The psychological thriller film, titled The Memo, was produced by Valeisha Butterfield’s Seed Media.[12]
Singing career
editAs a member of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, Pratt performed a cover version of "Circle of Life" that appeared on the DisneyMania 2 album. She sang "It's All About Me", for the series soundtrack for The Proud Family, and "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" with the Disney Channel Stars. Kyla also sang in the 2019 Lifetime Christmas movie, No Time Like Christmas.
Personal life
editPratt began a relationship with Danny Kirkpatrick, a rapper, songwriter, and tattoo artist, in 2008. On November 17, 2010, the couple welcomed their daughter, Lyric Kirkpatrick. They welcomed another daughter, Liyah Kirkpatrick, on August 5, 2013. Pratt appeared alongside Kirkpatrick on the reality show Black Ink Crew: Compton in 2019.[13][14]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Baby-Sitters Club | Becca Ramsey | |
| 1997 | Riot | Jenny Baker | |
| A Walton Easter | Joanie Potter | TV movie | |
| Mad City | Kid | ||
| 1998 | Barney's Great Adventure | Marcella Walker | |
| Dr. Dolittle | Maya Dolittle | ||
| 1999 | Jackie's Back | Little Jackie Washington | TV movie |
| 2000 | Love & Basketball | Young Monica | |
| 2001 | Dr. Dolittle 2 | Maya Dolittle | |
| 2002 | More than Puppy Love | Jae | |
| 2003 | Maniac Magee | Amanda Beale | TV movie |
| 2004 | The Seat Filler | Diona | |
| Fat Albert | Doris | ||
| 2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Penny Proud (voice) | TV movie |
| 2006 | Dr. Dolittle 3 | Maya Dolittle | Video |
| 2007 | Hell on Earth | Keri Diamond/Dumpin | TV movie |
| 2008 | Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief | Maya Dolittle | Video |
| 2009 | Hotel for Dogs | Heather | |
| Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts | Maya Dolittle | Video | |
| 2015 | Beauty and the Beat Boots | - | Short |
| 2016 | Secret She Kept | Tía Jiles/Kingston | TV movie [15] |
| 2018 | Best Baddies | Melody (voice) | Short |
| The Christmas Pact | Sadie | TV movie [16] | |
| 2019 | Back to the Goode Life | Francesca Goode | TV movie [17] |
| No Time Like Christmas | Emma Potter | TV movie [18] | |
| 2020 | Let's Meet Again on Christmas Eve | Corinne Millbrook | TV movie [19] |
| 2021 | The Addams Family 2 | Volcano Kid, Book Girl, Festival Kid #1, Peggy (voice) |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Where I Live | Brittany | Episode: "Married... with Children" |
| 1995 | Living Single | Tracy | Episode: "He Works Hard for the Money" |
| Guideposts Junction | Mailbox Kid #3 | Episode: "Angels, Angels" | |
| The Parent 'Hood | Monica | Episode: "A Kiss Is Just a Kiss" | |
| 1996 | In the House | Erica | Episode: "Love on a One-Way Street" & "My Crazy Valentine" |
| Sisters | Little Girl | Episode: "The Price" | |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Episode: "Through a Glass, Darkly" | ||
| ER | Lily | Episode: "Take These Broken Wings" | |
| The Show | Nia | Episode: "The Last Episode of the Season and Them" | |
| Public Morals | Gretel Ruggs | Episode: "The Cornflower Cover" | |
| Touched by an Angel | Annie | Episode: "The Journalist" | |
| Friends | Charla Nichols | Episode: "The One Where Rachel Quits" | |
| 1997 | Family Matters | Kelsey Webster | Episode: "Le Jour d'Amour" |
| Walker, Texas Ranger | Kyla Jarvis | Episode: "The Neighborhood" | |
| Smart Guy | Lillie | Episode: "Baby, It's You and You and You" | |
| 1998 | The Pretender | Tracy Johnson | Episode: "Gigolo Jarod" |
| Smart Guy | Brandi | Episode: "Bad Boy" & "She Got Game" | |
| Any Day Now | Birdie | Episode: "You Shoulda Seen My Daddy" | |
| 1999 | Becker | Keisha | Episode: "Limits & Boundaries" |
| So Weird | Kamilah Simmonds | Episode: "Lost" | |
| Sister Sister | Basketball Player | Episode: "The Road Less Traveled" | |
| The Parent 'Hood | Monica | Episode: "To Kiss or Not to Kiss" | |
| Moesha | Patricia | Episode: "The Crush" | |
| 2000 | The Parkers | Shaquilla | Episode: "Bad to the Bone" |
| The Hughleys | Kenyatha | Episode: "The Thin Black Line" | |
| Moesha | Sabrina Wilson | Episode: "Netcam" | |
| Strong Medicine | Donna Jenkins | Episode: "Brainchild" | |
| 2001 | Lizzie McGuire | Brooke Baker | Episode: "Gordo and the Girl" |
| 2001–05 | The Proud Family | Penny Proud (voice) | Main Cast |
| 2001–06 | One on One | Breanna Latrice Barnes | Main Cast |
| 2002 | Super Short Show | Herself | Episode: "The Proud Family Movie/That's So Raven: Raven's House Party: 1" |
| 2004 | Veronica Mars | Georgia | Episode: "The Wrath of Con" |
| 2005 | Dr. Phil | Herself | Episode: "Dr. Phil & Dr. Bill" |
| Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Penny Proud (voice) | Episode: "Spats: Experiment #397" | |
| 2012 | The Mentalist | Juliana McVie | Episode: "Black Cherry" |
| 2012–14 | Let's Stay Together | Crystal Whitmore | Main Cast: Seasons 2–4 |
| 2013 | L.A. Hair | Herself | Episode: "Don't Mess With My Mama" |
| 2015 | The Soul Man | Alicia | Episode: No Weddings and Ten Funerals |
| 2016 | Recovery Road | Trish Collins | Main Cast |
| 2018 | In the Cut | LaShantay | Episode: "The Ring Bearer" |
| 2019 | Black Ink Crew: Compton | Herself | Supporting Cast: Season 1 |
| 2020 | Insecure | Dina | Episode: "Lowkey Done" |
| 2021 | Duncanville | Allison (voice) | Episode: "Crimes and Misters Demean Her" & "Witch Day 2" |
| Bronzeville | Maisie | Episode: "3,5,11,29" | |
| We Stay Looking | Keisha | Episode: "Wet and Alone" | |
| 2021–23 | Call Me Kat | Randi | Main Cast |
| 2022 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Salt-N-Pepa vs. The Proud Family and Bel-Air vs. Saved by the Bell" |
| The Wheel | Herself/Animated Movies Expert | Episode: "Fish N' Chips & Gold Medal Flips" | |
| A Black Lady Sketch Show | Edge Donor | Episode: "Save My Edges, I'm a Donor!" | |
| Tales | Stephanie | Episode: "Survival of the Fittest" | |
| 2022– | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Penny Proud (voice) | Main Cast |
| 2023 | Chibiverse | Episode: "Chibi Villains Unite" | |
| Fantasy Island | Peaches | Episode: "Peaches and the Jilted Bride" |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "What a Girl Wants" | B2K |
References
edit- ^ "Horoscope". TV Guide. January 17, 2022. p. 67.
- ^ "Kyla Pratt Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- ^ Lucas, Michael P. (1999-04-30). "Nickelodeon Lets Kids Name Stars in Their Firmament". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
- ^ Spruell, Sakina P. (March 2003). "A day in the life of TV star Kyla Pratt - How They're Living". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "Black Don't Crack: Kyla Pratt Popped Up On 'Insecure' Over The Weekend & It Was '06 All Over Again [Photos]". Global Grind. 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Kyla Pratt Starred in These 2 Hit Shows at the Exact Same Time". Showbiz Cheatsheet. 18 October 2020.
- ^ Parham, Marti (2006-01-16). "'One On One' with Kyla Pratt: child star grows up". Jet. Archived from the original on 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "Kyla Pratt". BET. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "VH1′s 100 Greatest Kid Stars Of All Time". Archived from the original on June 25, 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (Jun 3, 2014). "Kyla Pratt & Justin Prentice Join ABC Family Drama Pilot 'Recovery Road'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved Jun 20, 2014.
- ^ Gelman, Vlada (2016-05-14). "Recovery Road Cancelled at Freeform". TVLine. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (2024-07-25). "Kyla Pratt Stars in 'The Memo,' Film Adaptation of Minda Harts' Thriller, With Music by MC Lyte (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
- ^ "Kyla Pratt Calls Longtime Partner Danny Kirkpatrick a 'Real' Dad in Pic with Their 2 Kids".
- ^ Cadet, Danielle (2011-11-10). "Kyla Pratt Confirms Rumors". The Huffington Post.
- ^ "About "The Secret She Kept"". 30 June 2016.
- ^ "The Christmas Pact (2018 Lifetime)". 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Back to the Goode Life (2019) - Movie".
- ^ "Back to the Goode Life (2019) - Movie".
- ^ "Let's Meet Again on Christmas Eve".
External links
edit- Kyla Pratt at IMDb