Aloma Wright is an American actress, widely known for her roles as Laverne Roberts on the NBC/ABC comedy series Scrubs (2001–2009), Maxine Landis on the NBC daytime drama series Days of Our Lives (2008–2015), Mildred Clemons on the ABC drama series Private Practice (2011–2013), Gretchen Bodinski on the USA Network drama series Suits (2015–2019), and Viola in Tyler Perry's Young Dylan.

Aloma Wright
Born
New York, U.S
Other namesAloma Lesley Wright
OccupationActress
Years active1995–2024

Early life

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Wright was born in New York and raised in California. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.[1]

Career

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Wright began her acting career on stage, before appearing in films like Stuart Saves His Family, Devil in the Flesh, and Shadow Hours, and television shows such as Suddenly Susan, Dangerous Minds, Frasier, Friends, Malcolm in the Middle, Ally McBeal, Girlfriends, and Judging Amy. She also had a recurring role in the Fox series Power Rangers in Space in 1998. She was in the Steve Harvey show as Lovita’s aunt. She also had a recurring role as Ms. Shirley on the series The Soul Man.

In 2001, Wright was cast as Laverne Roberts in the NBC comedy series, Scrubs. After six seasons, her character was killed off in "My Long Goodbye". She returned in season seven playing a new character, Nurse Shirley. Initial reports stated that her character would be the alcoholic, irreligious sister of Laverne, but these turned out to be inaccurate. She later returned to play Nurse Roberts in the season 8 finale, "My Finale", as JD is looking back on all the people in his life. In 2000s, Wright also guest starred on NYPD Blue, Cold Case, NCIS, and Mad Men. She also had supporting parts in films such as Bring It On, The Brothers, Mr. Deeds and Johnson Family Vacation.

In 2008, Wright began appearing as nurse Maxine Landis in the NBC daytime soap opera, Days of Our Lives.[2] From 2012 to 2013, Wright also had the recurring role as Mildred Clemons in the Shonda Rhimes' series, Private Practice, and in 2015 appeared in an episode of Scandal. In 2015, she joined the cast of USA Network legal series Suits for season five as Harvey Specter’s new secretary, Gretchen Bodinski.[3][4] She appeared on the show in a recurring basis until the series finale aired in 2019. In 2020, she was cast as Viola, the title character's grandmother in the Nickelodeon sitcom Young Dylan created by Tyler Perry.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Stuart Saves His Family Autograph Seeker
1998 Dearly Devoted Secretary
About Sarah Claudia Avery TV movie
I Married a Monster Desk Clerk TV movie
1999 Trippin' Louise Reed
2000 Sonic Impact Travel Agent
Shadow Hours Nurse Johnson
Bring It On Pauletta
2001 Kingdom Come Veda
Motocrossed Barbara Rollins TV movie
The Brothers Helen Palmer
When Billie Beat Bobby Convalescent Home Nurse TV movie
Patient Diversity: Beyond the Vital Signs Mrs. Humpherys Video Short
2002 Mr. Deeds Coretta Keeling
Try Seventeen Alicia
2003 Deliver Us from Eva Reverend Washington
2004 Johnson Family Vacation Glorietta Johnson
2005 Thank You for Smoking Gizelle (voice)
The Gospel Ernestine
Ralph & Stanley Receptionist Short
Family Reunion Bernadine Porter
2006 Grad Night Principal Wheeler
2007 Love... & Other 4 Letter Words Nana
Lord Help Us Melvina Thomas Video
Universal Remote Judge Vintage
Ben 10: Race Against Time Mrs. Dalton TV movie
Hell on Earth Grandma TV movie
2008 After School Ma Dear
2009 Redemption Harriet Short
Janky Promoters Ms. Ann
Hurricane in the Rose Garden Miriam Egba Video
Touched Miss Esther
2010 My American Nurse 2 Madam Mississippi
My Girlfriend's Back Cynthia
2011 Okoto the Messenger Mrs. Joy Nkuku
2012 Dinner Date Elle Short
Sistaah Friend Super Shero of Wisdom Video Short
2013 The Devon Taylor Show Betty TV movie
2014 More to Love Aunt Fran
Clarissa's Gift Mrs. Bessie Wells Short
2016 Diva Diaries Auntie Nana
2019 Baking Christmas Patty TV movie
2020 The Christmas Edition Edna TV movie
2021 7 Sharp Gammy Short
Our Christmas Journey Robin TV movie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Night Stand with Dick Dietrick Blanche Episode: "Mama's Boys"
1996 Suddenly Susan Rachel Episode: "Suddenly Susan Unplugged"
Dangerous Minds James's Grandmother Episode: "Family Ties" & "Jumped"
1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Nanny Morgan Episode: "A New Leaf: Part 2"
Power Rangers in Space Adelle Ferguson Recurring cast
1999 The Steve Harvey Show Tulabett Episode: "Working Homegirl"
Frasier Maria Episode: "To Tell the Truth"
Friends The Saleswoman Episode: "The One with the Cop"
Silk Stalkings Clerk Episode: "Dance Fever"
Ally McBeal Judge Aloma Harris Episode: "Blue Christmas"
The Drew Carey Show Security Officer Episode: "Good Vibrations"
2000 Malcolm in the Middle Nurse Episode: "Home Alone 4"
Cover Me Receptionist Episode: "Our Mr. Brooks"
The Invisible Man Nurse Cathy Episode: "It Hurts When You Do This"
Ally McBeal Judge Aloma Harris Episode: "Sex, Lies and Second Thoughts"
Girlfriends Laurie's Mother Episode: "The Remains of the Date"
Providence Orderly Episode: "Rescue Me"
The Trouble with Normal Church Secretary Episode: "Clairanoia"
2000-01 Judging Amy Judge Roberta Pattison Episode: "Spoil the Child" & "Adoption Day"
The Parkers Shirley West Episode: "Unforgiven" & "Family Ties and Lies"
2001 Mysterious Ways Peggy's Mom Episode: "Wonderful"
18 Wheels of Justice Miss Lopez Episode: "Dream Girls"
2001-09 Scrubs Nurse Laverne Roberts/Shirley Recurring cast: Season 1–7, guest: Season 8
2002 The Guardian Grandma Annie Episode: "Solidarity"
The Drew Carey Show Mrs. Taylor Episode: "Never Been to Spain"
Even Stevens Mother Wexler Episode: "Dirty Work"
The Practice Corrections Officer Episode: "Convictions"
2004 NYPD Blue Florence George Episode: "Chatty Chatty Bang Bang"
Crossing Jordan Desk Nurse Episode: "You're Not Alone"
The Bernie Mac Show - Episode: "Mac Overdrive"
Cold Case Della Lincoln Episode: "The Badlands"
Kevin Hill Nana Bea Episode: "Full Metal Jessie"
2005 Committed Constance James Episode: "The Mother Episode"
2006 NCIS Nurse Ethel Washington Episode: "Hiatus (Part #1)"
2007 The Bill Engvall Show Dotty Episode: "Have You Seen My Muffins, Man?"
2007-15 Days of Our Lives Maxine Landis Regular Cast
2008 Mad Men Viola Episode: "The Inheritance"
2009 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Eunice Episode: "Old Lady Paynes"
2010 Zeke and Luther Nurse Episode: "Zeke Jumps the Shark"
2011 Harry's Law Nancy Jones Episode: "Last Dance"
9ine Nana Goodall Recurring cast
The Celibate Nympho Chronicles Mabaleen Episode: "No Masturbating" & "Bustah Nut"
Parenthood Natalie Episode: "Nora"
2012-13 Private Practice Mildred Clemons Recurring cast: Season 5-6
2013 The Rev Sister Johnson Recurring cast
2014 Growing Up Fisher Tricia Episode: "Desk/Job"
The Middle Cashier Episode: "The Optimist"
2015 Scandal Tina Wilson Episode: "The Lawn Chair"
Ward of the State Evelyn Episode: "Pilot"
2015-16 The Soul Man Shirley Guest: Season 4, Recurring cast: Season 5
2015-19 Suits Gretchen Bodinski Recurring cast: Season 5-9
2016 Masters of Sex County Clerk Episode: "The Eyes of God"
2017 The Carmichael Show Aunt Clarice Episode: "Lesbian Wedding"
2017-18 The Guest Book Emma Recurring cast: Season 1, guest: Season 2
2018 Champions Sister Timothy Episode: "Matt Bomer Poster"
Lucifer Party Bus Driver Episode: "All Hands on Decker"
Claws Ms. Wallace Episode: "Double Dutch"
2019 Forky Asks a Question Officer Rib Tickles (voice) Episode: "What Is a Pet?"
2020 Raven's Home Ms. Pearl Episode: "What About Your Friends?"
2020–present Tyler Perry's Young Dylan Viola Main Cast

References

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  1. ^ "Aloma Wright Playing Maxine Landis on Days of Our Lives - Soaps.com". Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Aloma Wright on second chances, DAYS, and her new Christmas film". November 23, 2014.
  3. ^ Dowling, Amber (June 30, 2015). "Suits Casts Scrubs Alum as Donna's Replacement". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  4. ^ Gelman, Vlada (June 30, 2015). "Suits Season 5 Cast — Aloma Wright as Louis Litt's New Secretary". TVLine. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  5. ^ Denise Petski (January 23, 2020). "Tyler Perry's Young Dylan Nickelodeon Series Sets Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
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