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Tracey Ross | |
|---|---|
| Born | Linda Tracey Ross February 27, 1959 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Dwight Morrow High School |
| Alma mater | Douglass College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouse(s) | Kashif (m. 1988; div. ?) |
| Partner | Brad Johnson (c. 1986 – 1988) |
| Children | Bryce 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).
Ross was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey and then Douglass College.[4]
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.
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]
| 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 |
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.'
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.
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.
Hollywood Seen: James DeBarge with Janet Jackson; Randy Jackson with Lynn Swann's ex; Model Tracey Ross with Arista singer Kashif
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.
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 ...