Ella Joyce

Ella Joyce (born Cherron Hoye; June 12, 1954) is an American actress. She starred as Eleanor Emerson in the Fox comedy-drama series Roc, which originally ran from 1991 until 1994. Joyce also appeared in films Set It Off (1996), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), Our Family Wedding (2010), Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) and Nina (2016).

Early years
The daughter of an autoworker and a hairdresser, Joyce was born Cherron Hoye in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from the Performing Arts Curriculum at Cass Technical High School, and went on to attend the Dramatic Arts program at Eastern Michigan University. When financial problems caused her to leave, she returned to Detroit, where she graduated from a business school and then worked as an executive secretary at General Motors. She supplemented the income from that job by reading scripts for director Lloyd Richards, who encouraged her to act on-screen. After she moved to Harlem, New York City, she worked as a word processor while she improved her acting skills. After she earned her first film credit in 1979, she changed her name to honor her mother and great-grandmother. She has studied with several professional mentors, and worked in many regional theaters across America and overseas.

Theater
Joyce began her career as an actress appearing on stage. Her theater credits include Fences (at the National Black Theater Festival), as well as Medea and the Doll, Steppin' into Tomorrow; she was the first to play the roles of Risa at the Yale world premiere production of Two Trains Running, Tonya in the world premiere production of King Hedley II, and Lily Ann Green in Crumbs from the Table of Joy, earning The Joseph Jefferson Award. Other stage plays in which she has appeared include Bossa Nova, Last Street Play (The Mighty Gents), Checkmates, Brothers, Sisters, Husbands and Wives, Don't Get God Started!, Louis and Ophelia, Split Second, Home, Not a single Blade of Grass, Odessa, Barefoot in the Park, and Anna Lucasta. She is a founder and performer at The National Black Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has received numerous awards, nominations, and accolades for her performances in the theater, including the New York AUDELCO and the NAACP Image Nomination (for theater and television). She is also a recipient of the Spirit Of Detroit Award from the Mayor's Office in 1998. Joyce received Ovation Award for August Wilson’s King Hedley II for the role of Ruby.

Film and television
On television, Joyce made her debut appearing in an episode of Katts and Dog in 1990 and later made her big screen debut playing minor role in the 1992 comedy film, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot From 1991 to 1994 she starred alongside Charles S. Dutton in the Fox comedy-drama series, Roc. In 1995 she starred in the pilot episode of NBC sitcom NewsRadio, playing the part that eventually went to Khandi Alexander. She made a cameo appearance in the music video for TLC's "Waterfalls" later that year. She later made guest-starring appearances in The Client, Dangerous Minds, Seinfeld, The Jamie Foxx Show and Eve. From 2003 to 2004 she played the recurring role of Jasmine Scott in the ABC sitcom My Wife & Kids.

In 1996, Joyce co-starred in the crime action film Set It Off directed by F. Gary Gray. She starred in the made-for-television film Selma, Lord, Selma (1999) playing Sheyann Webb's mother. In 2001 she starred alongside Yolonda Ross in the prison drama Stranger Inside and was featured in Debbie Allen-directed and starring comedy-drama The Old Settler. The following year she starred in the horror-comedy film Bubba Ho-Tep starring alongside Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. She later appeared in films Forbidden Fruits (2006) alongside Keith David, Lost Signal (2006), Who Made the Potatoe Salad? (2006), Preacher's Kid (2010), Our Family Wedding (2010), Hopelessly in June (2011) and California Solo (2012). In 2023, Joyce starred in the Tyler Perry's romantic drama film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor playing the role of Jurnee Smollett's mother. In 2016 she appeared as Clifton's mother in the biographical film Nina.

In 2013, Joyce starred alongside Keith David in the short-lived TV One sitcom Belle's. She had supporting roles in films Resolution Song (2018) and Never and Again (2021). In 2022 she was cast as a Tami Roman's character's mother in the BET drama series, Haus of Vicious.

Personal life
Joyce married actor Dan Martin in 1989. She has written her first book Kink Phobia, Journey Through a Black Woman's Hair.