What's Essence name on the show? Her father who is played by Obba Babatunde played in the movie How High with Essence. How High is starring rappers Method Man & Redman. I didn't like this movie. Essence was Redman's girlfriend & Essence's father on Half & Half was the dean/principal of the college they were at. Essence's tv show resume isn't good. Half & Half will be cancelled i believe, Smart Guy tv show didn't last long & she was on a show with Merlin Santana who played Romeo on Steve Harvey Show & James Earl Jones. I think it was called Under One Roof. I never watched that show but it was like a drama.

Essense is Dede on the show.

As far as her t.v. resume, I disagree with you. Sure How High may not have been the best movie, but remember she was in Deliver us from Eva (which received great reviews). Also, smart guy wasn't too bad. I kind of liked the show. Plus she was featured on The Cosby Show (in the late eighties), and you know if you were feature on that show than you were "big time".

I saw Obba Babatunde on soap opera One Life To Live yesterday. I liked Obba as Berry Gordy in The Temptations movie.

Ironically he played a character named Gordy Berry in a Fresh Prince episode. It was funny! :)