Terri J. Vaughn is an American actress, director and producer best known for playing Lovita Alizé Jenkins-Robinson on The Steve Harvey Show. Terri J. Vaughn also appeared in films including Friday and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. Terri J. Vaughn later expanded into directing and producing, with credits including She the People and other television and film projects.
Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Terri Juanita Vaughn |
| Born | October 16, 1969 |
| Birthplace | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Profession | Actress, Director, Producer |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Known For | The Steve Harvey Show, Friday, All of Us |
| Breakthrough Role | Lovita Alizé Jenkins-Robinson in The Steve Harvey Show |
| Current Television Role | Antoinette Dunkerson in She the People / Miss Governor |
The biographical and career details above are supported by IMDb and Netflix's official coverage of Vaughn's later television work.
Family Tree
| Relation | Name |
| Mother | Helen |
| Sister | Tracy Ward |
| Spouse | Karon Riley |
| Ex-Husband | Derrick A. Carolina |
| Children | Daylen Ali Carolina, Kal'El Joseph Riley, Lola Riley |
Vaughn's marriage to Karon Riley began in 2008, while her previous marriage to Derrick A. Carolina ended in divorce in 2005. Public sources identify Daylen Ali Carolina as her son with Carolina and Kal'El Joseph Riley and Lola Riley as her children with Riley. Her sister Tracy Ward has also publicly spoken about Vaughn.
Career Highlights
- Vaughn received three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Steve Harvey Show.
- She moved into directing and producing, with directing work beginning in television and film in 2016.
- In 2025, she starred as Antoinette Dunkerson in Tyler Perry's Netflix series She the People, later titled Miss Governor.
Awards
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Won in 2001, 2002 and 2003 for The Steve Harvey Show.
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Nominated in 2004 for Soul Food.
