Telma Louise Hopkins is an American singer and actress. Hopkins rose to prominence as a member of the 1970s pop musicgroupTony Orlando and Dawn, which had several number one songs. She also performed on the CBS variety show Tony Orlando and Dawn from 1974 until 1976 along with Tony Orlando and Joyce Vincent Wilson. In the late 1970s, Hopkins began working as an actress, playing roles on various sitcoms, including Isabelle Hammond on Bosom Buddies, Adelaide "Addy" Wilson on Gimme a Break! and Family Matters as Rachel Baines–Crawford. As lead actress, Hopkins starred on Getting By from 1993 to 1994. In recent years, Hopkins was a regular cast member on Half & Half portraying Phyllis Thorne, Are We There Yet?, and short-lived Partners. In film, Hopkins co-starred in 1984 science fiction filmTrancers and in its sequels Trancers II and Trancers III and Trancers IV, as well as appearing in The Wood and The Love Guru.
Career
Music
Hopkins started her career as a background singer in Detroit, Michigan, singing on many of the Golden World and Motown hits and working with legendary acts like The Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. She also sang back up for Isaac Hayes and can be heard famously exclaiming "Shut your mouth!" on Hayes' hit song "Theme from Shaft”. In 1971, Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson were recruited by Tony Orlando to form the vocal group Dawn. from 1974-76. In 1977, Tony Orlando and Dawn announced their retirement.
Television and film
In 1979, Hopkins made her acting debut playing Daisy in the ABC miniseries . Later that year, she co-starred alongside Eileen Brennan on the short-lived ABC sitcom A New Kind of Family. The following year, she was cast opposite Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari in another ABC sitcom, Bosom Buddies. The series was cancelled in 1982 after two seasons. She also guest-starred on The Love Boat, Fantasy Island and The New Odd Couple during early 1980s. In 1983, Hopkins joined the cast of NBC sitcom Gimme a Break! starring Nell Carter. She played Adelaide "Addy" Wilson, Nell's childhood friend, until the finale of the series in 1987. In 1989, Hopkins began starring as Rachel Baines-Crawford in the ABC sitcom Family Matters. She left the series after four seasons as a regular cast member, making guest appearances in later years to its last season in 1997. She left Family Matters to star as the co-lead of the sitcom Getting By which aired for two seasons from 1993-94. Hopkins also has had number of supporting film roles. She played Engineer Ruth "Ruthie" Raines in the science fiction filmTrancers starring Tim Thomerson and Helen Hunt, and its sequels Trancers II and Trancers III. In later years, she appeared as Richard T. Jones' mother in the romantic comedy The Wood, and played Romany Malco's mother in the comedy filmThe Love Guru. She appeared onstage in JD Lawrence's The Clean Up Woman in October 2008. From 2002-06, she starred in the UPN sitcom Half & Half alongside Rachel True, Essence Atkins and Valarie Pettiford. She had the recurring roles on The Hughleys and Any Day Now. From 2010 to 2013, she co-starred alongside Terry Crews and Essence Atkins in the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?. In 2014, she played Martin Lawrence's mother on the FX sitcom Partners. In 2016, she was cast as Jerrika Hinton' mother in the ABC comedy pilot Toast produced by ShondaLand.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Hopkins was raised in Highland Park, Michigan. Hopkins was married once to Donald B. Allen from 1970 until 1977. Together, they have a son. Hopkins often volunteers her time for charitable causes. She has worked with Caring For Babies with AIDS, Act on Arthritis, and the PTA. She also mentors children. Hopkins supports inspirational radio and granted permission for The Jazz Joy and Roy radio show to use her supportive remarks on the program's promos. Hopkins said to Jazz Joy and Roy, "I was raised by a grandmother who told me I could do whatever I wanted to do, as long as I was willing to work hard for it....".
