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2024-11-24T11:41:30Z

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{{short description|American actress}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{infobox person
| name = Rachel True
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Rachel India True
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|11|15}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1990–present
| spouse =
| parents =
| relatives =
}}

'''Rachel India True'''<ref name="AAAinF&T">McCann, Bob (2022). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=d0iKEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA327&dq=%22rachel+india+true%22 Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television]''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 327. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3790-0}}.</ref><ref name="RGreBM">Gilbert, Ruth (March 18, 1991). [https://books.google.com/books?id=DukCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA94&dq=%22rachel+india+true%22 "Theatre Listings: Off Off Broadway"]. ''New York Magazine''. p. 94. Retrieved July 21, 2023.</ref> (born November 15, 1966)<ref name="AAAinF&T"/> is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in such films as ''[[The Craft (film)|The Craft]]'' (1996), ''[[Nowhere (1997 film)|Nowhere]]'' (1997), and ''[[Half Baked]]'' (1998). True is also known for her role as Mona Thorne on the [[UPN]] sitcom ''[[Half & Half]]'', which ran from 2002 to 2006.

== Early life ==
True was born in New York City, the middle of three children. Her father is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, whereas her mother is of African American heritage. Her younger sister, Noel, is also an actress. True attended [[New York University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rachel-true/bio/170672|title=Rachel True|work=TVGuide.com|access-date=April 25, 2015}}</ref>

== Career ==
True made her television debut in 1991 on the ''[[The Cosby Show|Cosby Show]]'' episode "Theo's Final". In 1993, she moved to [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and made her feature film debut playing [[Chris Rock]]'s character's girlfriend in the comedy ''[[CB4]]''.<ref name=rt>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rachel_true|title=Rachel True|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> On television, she appeared in episodes of ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'', ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'', ''[[Getting By]]'', ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'', ''[[Family Matters]]'', ''[[Dream On (TV series)|Dream On]]'' and well as made-for-television movies ''[[Moment of Truth (film series)|Moment of Truth: Stalking Back]]'' (1993) and ''[[The Waltons|A Walton Wedding]]'' (1995).<ref name=rt/> In 1995, she had supporting role in the erotic horror film ''[[Embrace of the Vampire]]'' starring [[Alyssa Milano]].

In 1996, True landed her breakthrough role as Rochelle Zimmerman in the supernatural horror film, ''[[The Craft (film)|The Craft]]'', where she played a member of a teenage [[coven]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Owen|last=Gleiberman|authorlink=Owen Gleiberman|date=May 10, 1996|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1996/05/10/craft|title=The Craft|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=April 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/rachel-true-the-craft-most-interesting-character/|title=Why Rachel True's Character in 'The Craft' Is the Most Interesting in the Coven|first=KayLee Chie|last=Kuehl|date=October 17, 2022|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> True stated that she had to "fight" to audition for the part and was actively going up against her future co-stars [[Fairuza Balk]], [[Neve Campbell]] and [[Robin Tunney]]. Her role was originally written for a white actress, but that didn't deter her from auditioning.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-craft-rachel-true-on-racism-encountered-filming-casting-promotion/|title=The Craft: Rachel True on the Racism She Encountered From Casting to Filming to Promotion|first=Cassandra|last=Clarke|date=November 3, 2020|website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rachel-true-the-craft-only-black-star-mvps-of-horror-191804543.html|title=MVP of Horror: Rachel True reflects on her experience as the only Black star of 'The Craft'|website=[[Yahoo!]]|date=October 30, 2020 }}</ref> In 1997, she starred in the comedy-drama film, ''[[Nowhere (1997 film)|Nowhere]]'' alongside [[James Duval]], the film received mixed reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nowhere|title=Nowhere|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-09-ca-56896-story.html|title=Stylish 'Nowhere' Finds Youthful Despair|date=May 9, 1997|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The following year, True starred as [[Dave Chappelle]]'s romantic interest in the comedy film, ''[[Half Baked]]''. Also from 1997 to 1998, she also had the recurring role of Janet Clemens on ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]''. From 1999 to 2000, she appeared in the ABC drama series, ''[[Once and Again]]''.

True appeared in a number of independent movies, include ''[[With or Without You (1999 film)|With or Without You]]'' (1999), ''[[The Big Split]]'' (1999), and ''[[Groove (film)|Groove]]'' (2000). She starred alongside [[Monica (singer)|Monica]] and [[Essence Atkins]] in the 2000 romantic drama film ''[[Love Song (2000 film)|Love Song]]''. From 2002 to 2006, True starred with Essence Atkins in the [[UPN]] comedy series, ''[[Half & Half]]'', as paternal half-sisters who barely knew each other until becoming adults. She returned to film, playing the supporting role in the 2007 comedy ''[[The Perfect Holiday]]''. The following years, she appeared in a number of smaller and made-for-television films, include [[The Asylum]] productions ''Social Nightmare'' (2013), ''[[Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys]]'' (2014), ''[[Sharknado 2: The Second One]]'' (2014), and ''Sharknado: Heart of Sharkness'' (2015). In 2017, True worked as a [[tarot-card reader]] in [[Echo Park, Los Angeles|Echo Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/a34534224/rachel-true-tarot-deck-the-craft-interview/|title=Rachel True Wanted More for Rochelle in 'The Craft,' Too|first=Bry'onna|last=Mention|date=October 30, 2020|website=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/rochelle-from-the-craft-is-a-tarot-card-reader-in-echo-park/|title=Rochelle From The Craft Is a Tarot Card Reader in Echo Park|last=Lepore|first=Kristen|date=May 24, 2017|work=[[L.A. Weekly]]|access-date=May 30, 2017}}</ref>

True released her book, ''True Heart Intuitive Tarot, Guidebook And Deck'' in 2020.<ref>{{cite book | isbn=978-1328566263 | title=True Heart Intuitive Tarot, Guidebook and Deck | last1=True | first1=Rachel | year=2020 }}</ref> She appeared in horror films ''[[Agnes (film)|Agnes]]'' and ''[[Horror Noire (film)|Horror Noire]]'' in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/rachel-true-sean-gunn-agnes-sherilyn-fenn-franco-nero-immortalist-cameron-douglas-elisabeth-rohm-the-runner-1202814905/|title=Rachel True, Sean Gunn Join 'Agnes'; Sherilyn Fenn, Franco Nero Topline 'Immortalist'; Cameron Douglas, Elisabeth Röhm In 'The Runner'|first1=Amanda|last1=N'Duka|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=December 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shadowandact.com/horror-noire-anthology-series-rachel-true-luke-james-tony-todd-and-10-more|title='Horror Noire' Anthology Series Casts Rachel True, Luke James, Tony Todd And 10 More|first=Trey|last=Mangum|website=Shadow and Act}}</ref> The following year, she joined the cast of the second season of [[Amazon Prime Video]] comedy series, ''[[Harlem (TV series)|Harlem]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/harlem-tv-amazon-casts-rachel-true-sherri-shepherd-lil-rel-howery-season-2-1235149580/|title='Harlem': Rachel True, Sherri Shepherd & Lil Rel Howery Among 7 New Cast For Season 2|first1=Rosy|last1=Cordero|date=October 20, 2022}}</ref> Also that year, True was cast in ''[[Half Baked |Half Baked 2]]'', the sequel to the 1998 cult comedy, reprising her role as Mary Jane Potman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/half-baked-2-rachel-true-dexter-darden-cast-1235170183/|title='Half Baked 2': Rachel True Returns, Dexter Darden Joins Cast & More|first1=Anthony|last1=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=November 11, 2022}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1990
| ''A Girls' Guide to Sex''
| Bridget
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2| 1993
| ''[[CB4]]''
| Daliha
|
|-
| ''[[Moment of Truth (film series)|Moment of Truth: Stalking Back]]''
| Katie
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2| 1995
| ''[[The Waltons|A Walton Wedding]]''
| Girl Student
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Embrace of the Vampire]]''
| Nicole
|
|-
| 1996
| ''[[The Craft (film)|The Craft]]''
| Rochelle Zimmerman
|
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Nowhere (1997 film)|Nowhere]]''
| Mel
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1998
| ''[[Half Baked]]''
| Mary Jane Potman
|
|-
| ''With or Without You''
| Misha
|
|-
|rowspan=3| 1999
| ''[[The Big Split]]''
| Jenny
|
|-
| ''[[The Apartment Complex]]''
| Tasha
|
|-
| ''The Auteur Theory''
| Sasha Swann
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2000
| ''[[Groove (film)|Groove]]''
| Beth
|
|-
| ''[[Love Song (2000 film)|Love Song]]''
| Renee
| TV movie
|-
| 2002
| ''[[New Best Friend]]''
| Julianne Livingston
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[The Perfect Holiday]]''
| Brenda
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2009
| ''The Killing of Wendy''
| Ayanda
|
|-
| ''Pink Eye''
| Wygenia
| Short
|-
| 2011
| ''Thugs, the Musical!''
| Lisa Rowlands
| Short
|-
|rowspan=3| 2012
| ''Noah''
| Temba (voice)
|
|-
| ''Sugar Mommas''
| Thomasina
| TV movie
|-
| ''White Room: 02B3''
| Three
| Short
|-
| 2013
| ''Social Nightmare''
| Mrs. Langran
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2| 2014
| ''[[Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys]]''
| Marcy
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Sharknado 2: The Second One]]''
| 1st Officer Jonni Valentine
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2| 2015
| ''A House Is Not a Home''
| Simi Valley 911 Operator (voice)
|
|-
| ''Sharknado: Heart of Sharkness''
| Herself
|
|-
|rowspan=3| 2017
| ''Stage Fright''
| Melissa Ameia
| TV movie
|-
| ''Limelight''
| Mrs. Roberts
|
|-
| ''Good Grief''
| Pepper
|
|-
| 2018
| ''The Manor''
| Doctor Tryvniak
|
|-
|rowspan=3| 2021
| ''Assault on VA-33''
| Sasha
|
|-
| ''[[Agnes (film)|Agnes]]''
| Sister Ruth
|
|-
| ''[[Horror Noire (film)|Horror Noire]]''
| Charlotte
|
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Half Baked|Half Baked: Totally High]]''
| Mary Jane
|
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1991–92
| ''[[The Cosby Show]]''
| Nicki
| Guest Cast: Season 7-8
|-
|rowspan=7| 1993
| ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]''
| Yvette
| Episode: "Boyz in the Hoodz"
|-
| ''[[Getting By]]''
| Andrea
| Episode: "The Suit"
|-
| ''[[Renegade (TV series)|Renegade]]''
| Dawn
| Episode: "Vanished"
|-
| ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]''
| Jan Myler
| Recurring Cast: Season 4
|-
| ''[[Tall Hopes]]''
| -
| Episode: "Scalped"
|-
| ''[[Thea (TV series)|Thea]]''
| Candy
| Episode: "Artie's Party"
|-
| ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]''
| Rhetta
| Episode: "Take My Cousin... Please"
|-
| 1994–95
| ''[[Dream On (TV series)|Dream On]]''
| Linda Castorini
| Guest: Season 4, Recurring Cast: Season 6
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Family Matters]]''
| Sue
| Episode: "What's Up Doc?"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Boston Common (TV series)|Boston Common]]''
| Cheryl
| Episode: "To Bare Is Human"
|-
| 1997–98
| ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]''
| Janet Clemons
| Recurring Cast: Season 3
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Damon (TV series)|Damon]]''
| Monique
| Episode: "The Last Cub Scout"
|-
| 1999–00
| ''[[Once and Again]]''
| Mali
| Recurring Cast: Season 1
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Providence (American TV series)|Providence]]''
| Talia Weber
| Episode: "Family Ties"
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Dawson's Creek]]''
| Kira
| Episode: "Hopeless"
|-
| 2002–06
| ''[[Half & Half]]''
| Mona Rose Thorne
| Main Cast
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Noah's Arc (TV series)|Noah's Arc]]''
| Brooklyn
| Episode: "Give It Up"
|-
| 2006–08
| ''[[Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List]]''
| Herself
| Recurring Cast: Season 2 & 5, Guest: Season 3-4
|-
| 2007
| ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Kathy Griffin"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Being Mary Jane]]''
| Tiffany
| Episode: "Feeling Seen"
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Better Things (TV series)|Better Things]]''
| Pascal
| Episode: "Show Me the Magic"
|-
| 2019–21
| ''[[The Boulet Brothers' Dragula]]''
| Herself/Guest Judge
| Episode: "Halloween Haunt" & "Monsters of Rock"
|-
| 2020
| ''History of Horror''
| Herself
| Episode: "Witches"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2022
| ''[[Queer for Fear]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #1.2 & #1.4"
|-
| ''[[Family Reunion (TV series)|Family Reunion]]''
| Cheryl
| Episode: "Remember When the Raccoon Crashed the Wedding?"
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Harlem (TV series)|Harlem]]''
| Aimee
| Recurring Cast: Season 2
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Awards
! Category
! Recipient
! Outcome
|-
| [[1997 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards|1997]]
| [[Fangoria Chainsaw Awards]]
| Best Supporting Actress
| "[[The Craft (film)|The Craft]]"
| {{nom}}
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|id=0874086|name=Rachel True}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:True, Rachel}}
[[Category:Actresses from New York City]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:African-American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:American Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Jewish American actresses]]

Rachel True - Revision history

imported>Alrofficial: /* Film */