Stacey Lauretta Dash (born January 20, 1967) is an American actress. Dash played Dionne Marie Davenport in the 1995 feature film Clueless and its television series. and Linda Dash (née Lopez; Dash has a stepfather, Cecil Holmes, and a younger brother, Darien Dash, Her first cousin is Damon Dash, the former CEO and co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records. She attended Paramus High School, graduating in 1985.
Career
Dash made her first television appearance in the NBC crime drama pilot Farrell: For the People starring Valerie Harper and Ed O'Neill in 1982, which did not make it past its pilot episode. Her first notable appearance was as Michelle in the 1985 The Cosby Show episode "Denise's Friend". Between 2005 and 2007, she completed filming roles in I Could Never Be Your Woman, Nora's Hair Salon II, Fashion Victim, Ghost Image and American Primitive. For 2008 release, she filmed Phantom Punch, Secrets of a Hollywood Nurse, and Close Quarters. Dash also performed in the 2008 reality television series Celebrity Circus. Prior to the series premiere, Dash suffered a broken rib while training. Despite the injury, Dash performed on the trapeze bungee during the premiere and continued on to be a finalist. Dash finished second behind Antonio Sabàto, Jr.
Dash appeared as a recurring character on the television series The Game in early 2009. In 2011, Dash starred in the first season of VH1's first scripted series, Single Ladies, playing Valerie "Val" Stokes, described as a "'good girl' looking for a good man". On August 31, it was reported that she would leave the series in order to focus on her family. In 2012, Dash starred as Lisa, the female lead in the film Dysfunctional Friends. Also in 2012, Dash was featured in Funny or Die and YouTube broadcast trailers and shorts for her web series Stacey Dash Is Normal. The scripted series launched in 2013.
On May 28, 2014, Fox News announced that Dash had been hired as a contributor for "cultural analysis and commentary." On the December 7, 2015, edition of Outnumbered, Dash made a remark about President Barack Obama's address regarding Islamic terrorism that took place the day before, suggesting the president didn't "give a shit" about terrorism. Due to this remark, the network suspended her without pay for two weeks. In 2016, Dash received criticism when she argued that the BET Awards lied to black people about news regarding the boycotting of the Oscars due to lack of ethnic diversity, and called for an end to Black History Month. She made a cameo at the 88th Academy Awards repeating this sentiment. In addition, she criticized Jesse Williams's speech at the BET Awards. On January 21, 2017, Fox News announced that Dash's contract would not be renewed.
Politics
Dash voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. and endorsed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. In response to critical online comments she received for supporting Romney, Dash stated it was her opinion and that she did not understand the vitriol. Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan thanked Dash for supporting his ticket. In 2016, with regard to the debate over use of gender-specific bathrooms, she said that transgender rights "infringe upon [her own]". Dash writes a blog for Patheos.com. Dash supported Republican candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
On February 26, 2018, Dash filed to run in California's 44th congressional district in the 2018 Congressional Election as a Republican. On joining the race, Dash said she wanted to "free people from the shackles of a plantation mentality." Dash withdrew from the congressional race on March 30, 2018. Her name remained on the ballot for the primary because her withdrawal came after the deadline. She ended up in last place with 4,361 votes (7.2% share of the votes).
On March 11, 2021, Dash stated in an interview with Daily Mail, "Being a supporter of Trump has put me in some kind of box that I don't belong in. But he's not the president. I'm going to give the president [Joe Biden] that we have right now a chance."
Personal life
Relationships and children
Dash has two children, a son named Austin, born from her relationship with singer Christopher Williams, and a daughter named Lola. Different sources say the father of Dash's daughter is either Lovell Dash married lawyer Jeffrey Marty in Florida on April 6, 2018. She has said that she met Marty ten days before the wedding. In addition to her two children, Dash became a step-mother to three of Marty's children. In April 2020, Dash announced that she and Marty had separated. In June 2020, Dash filed for divorce.
Trauma, drugs, weapons, and legal issues
Dash has spoken openly about past traumas in her personal life. She has at various times revealed that she was molested as a child by a family friend, was addicted to cocaine in her teens and 20s, and has a history of being with physically and emotionally abusive partners. Dash has attributed her openness with such topics to her desire to be honest with her children, feeling that being honest is the best way to protect them, and to let them and others know that she is not a victim but a survivor.
Dash was arrested on September 29, 2019, at her apartment in Pasco County, Florida, on a domestic battery charge after an argument with her husband, Jeffrey Marty. She pleaded not guilty, and the case was dropped on October 3 at the request of Marty, who said Dash had been arrested over his objection. The couple's divorce was announced the following year.
In October 2021, Dash opened up about her Vicodin addiction on The Dr. Oz Show, stating that she was five years sober.
Religion
Dash was raised Catholic, and claimed the religion in 2012 and 2013.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1982
| Farrell for the People
| Denise Grey
| TV movie
|-
| 1987
| Enemy Territory
| Antoinette "Toni" Briggs
|
|-
| 1988
| Moving
| Casey Pear
|
|-
| 1989
| Tennessee Waltz
| Minnie
|
|-
| 1992
| Mo' Money
| Amber Evans
|
|-
| 1994
| Renaissance Man
| Pvt. Miranda Myers
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1995
| Clueless
| Dionne Davenport
|
|-
| Illegal in Blue
| Kari Truitt
| Video
|-
| 1997
| Cold Around the Heart
| Bec Rosenberg
|
|-
| 1999
| Personals
| Leah
|
|-
| 2001
| '
| Hallie Gilmore at 18
|
|-
| 2002
| Paper Soldiers
| Tamika
|
|-
|rowspan=3| 2003
| View from the Top
| Angela Samona
|
|-
| Gang of Roses
| Kim
|
|-
| Ride or Die
| Real Venus
| Video
|-
| 2005
| Lethal Eviction
| Amanda Winters
|
|-
| 2006
| Getting Played
| Emily
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2| 2007
| I Could Never Be Your Woman
| Brianna Minx
|
|-
| Ghost Image
| Alicia Saunders
|
|-
|rowspan=5| 2008
| Christmas Break
| Smokin' Woman
| Short
|-
| Nora's Hair Salon 2: A Cut Above
| Simone
|
|-
| Fashion Victim
| Cara Wheeler
|
|-
| Phantom Punch
| Geraldine Liston
|
|-
| Secrets of a Hollywood Nurse
| Reporter
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2| 2009
| Wild About Harry
| Joy Crowley
|
|-
| Chrome Angels
| Lady
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2012
| Dysfunctional Friends
| Lisa
|
|-
| House Arrest
| Chanel
|
|-
| 2013
| Blue Butterflies
| Faith
| Short
|-
|rowspan=2| 2014
| Lap Dance
| Dr. Annie Jones
|
|-
| Patient Killer
| Nancy Peck
|
|-
| 2015
| Cloudy with a Chance of Love
| Kelly
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2| 2016
| Sharknado: The 4th Awakens
| Chicago Mayor Mansfield
| TV movie
|-
| The Thinning
| Kendra Birch
|
|-
| 2018
| Honor Up
| Tara
|
|-
| 2019
| The Dawn
| Sister Ella
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2020
| First Lady
| Channing
|
|-
| Roe v. Wade
| Mildred Jefferson
|
|-
| 2021
| Carolina's Calling
| Mary Lou
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2022
| 7th Secret
| Miss Vivian
|
|-
| Corsicana
| Jennie
|
|-
| 2024
| Four.
| Beth
|
|-
| 2025
| The Doctor with Two Faces
| Carol
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1985
| The Cosby Show
| Michelle
| Episode: "Denise's Friend"
|-
| 1988
| St. Elsewhere
| Penny Franks
| Recurring Cast: Season 6
|-
| 1988–89
| TV 101
| Monique
| Main Cast
|-
|rowspan=2| 1994
| '
| Michelle Michaels
| Episode: "When You Hit Upon a Star"
|-
| Harts of the West
| -
| Episode: "Drive, He Said"
|-
| 1995
| Soul Train
| Herself/Guest Host
| Episode: "Shai/Maysa Leak/Mystikal"
|-
| 1996–99
| Clueless
| Dionne "Dee" Davenport
| Main Cast
|-
| 1998
| Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #1.9"
|-
| 1999–00
| '
| Vanessa Weir
| Main Cast
|-
|rowspan=3| 2001
| Going to California
| Janie
| Episode: "A Pirate Looks at 15 to 20"
|-
| Men, Women & Dogs
| Meg
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
| Amy Young
| Episode: "Slaves of Las Vegas"
|-
| 2003
| Eve
| Corryn
| Episode: "The Ex Factor"
|-
| 2005
| Duck Dodgers
| Paprika Solo (voice)
| Episode: "Diamond Boogie/Corporate Pigfall"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2008
| Celebrity Circus
| Herself
| Main Cast
|-
| American Dad!
| Janet Lewis (voice)
| Episode: "Escape from Pearl Bailey"
|-
| 2009–11
| '
| Camille Rose
| Recurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4
|-
| 2011
| Single Ladies
| Valerie "Val" Stokes
| Main Cast: Season 1
|-
| 2013
| '
| Dana
| Episode: "Trading Places"
|-
| 2014–15
| Celebrity Name Game
| Herself/Celebrity Player
| Episode: "Stacey Dash & Mario Lopez #1-#3"
|-
| 2014–17
| Outnumbered
| Herself/Guest Co-Host
| Recurring Co-Host
|-
|rowspan=2| 2016
| Hell's Kitchen
| Herself
| Episode: "10 Chefs Compete Again"
|-
| The Eric Andre Show
| Herself
| Episode: "Stacey Dash; Jack McBrayer"
|-
| 2020
| Finding Love in Quarantine
| Theresa
| Main Cast
|-
| 2022
| College Hill: Celebrity Edition
| Herself
| Main Cast: Season 1
|}
Music videos
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Song title
! Artist
|-
| 1989
| "Talk to Myself"
| Christopher Williams
|-
| 1992
| "The Best Things in Life Are Free"
| Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
|-
| 1997
| "That Girl"
| MJG
|-
| 2000
| "Emotional"
| Carl Thomas
|-
| 2004
| "All Falls Down"
| Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson
|-
| 2006
| "Favorite Girl"
| Marques Houston
|-
| 2010
| "Super High"
| Rick Ross featuring Ne-Yo
|-
| 2012
| "Life of The Party"
| Emcee N.I.C.E. featuring Stacey Dash and Blake Smith
|}