Karimah Westbrook (born October 6, 1978) is an American actress best known for her role as Grace James in The CW drama series, All American.
Life and career Westbrook was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and later began performing on screen and stage. She made her television debut in 2000, appearing in an episode of CBS medical drama City of Angels and later was cast in the teen dance drama film Save the Last Dance. Later she starred in the biographical drama film Baadasssss! opposite Mario Van Peebles. Westbrook also guest starred in a number of television shows, include Girlfriends, Mad Men and Shameless.
Westbrook has appeared in a number of independent films, include American Violet (2008) opposite Nicole Beharie and Alfre Woodard. She played supporting roles in films The Rum Diary (2011), Suburbicon (2017), and After We Collided (2020). In 2018, she was cast as Grace James, the mother of the leading character in the CW drama series, All American.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2001Save the Last DanceAlyssa2002Random Acts of ViolenceMonique2003Baadasssss!Ginnie2004Knuckle SandwichNora2005The TenantsFemale Partygoer2005American FusionLayla2006Best Kept SecretCassandraShort film, also writer and producer 2007StudioJasmine Jackson2008Truth HallLashon2008American VioletClaudia Johnson2010LouisAlice Bolden2011The Rum DiaryPapa Nebo2012C'mon ManAngel2013Baby GirlYayaShort film2016CagedKarrisa KlineShort filmChandler International Film Festival for Best ActressConnect Film Festival Best Ensemble Acting AwardNominated — IIFC Award for Best Ensemble Cast Featurette2017SuburbiconMrs. Mayers2019BoldenAlice Bolden2020After We CollidedKaren Scott2023AbigailDonna
TV Year Title Role Notes2000City of AngelsJoleigha BassEpisode: "Nathan's Hot Dog"2001ERSara MorrisEpisode: "April Showers"2001MoeshaShania LevyEpisodes: "Graduation Day" and "All Grown Up"2001That's LifeRunnerEpisode: "Larva"2001The DistrictKaraEpisode: "Foreign Affair"2003Strong MedicineSandyEpisode: "PMS, Lies and Red Tape"2003GirlfriendsMelanie ChildsEpisodes: "The Wedding" and "Blood Is Thicker Than Liquor"200310-8: Officers on DutySheilaEpisode: "Lucy in the Sky"2006In JusticeKendra SmithEpisode: "Another Country"2006Without a TraceMissyEpisode: "White Balance"2010Mad MenSharonEpisode: "The Rejected"2010Look: The SeriesPaigeRecurring role, 3 episodes2014The FostersLayla's MotherEpisode: "Mother"2014Masters of Sex DelilaEpisode: "Below the Belt"2015AquariusAquariusEpisode: "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"2017ShamelessSylvieEpisode: "Icarus Fell and Rusty Ate Him"2018Truth Hall LaShonUnsold TV pilot2018–2026 All AmericanGrace JamesSeries regular (season 1–6), special guest (season 8)Nominated — Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series (2019)
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