Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter began  2014 riding the wave of Ride Along, the blockbuster buddy comedy that topped domestic box-office charts three weeks running. In the film, Sumpter starred opposite Kevin Hart, as her security guard boyfriend, and Ice Cube, as her protective big brother.

She's well-known for her work as Raina Thorpe on television's Gossip Girl and Layla Williamson on the Daytime Emmy Award-winning soap opera One Life to Live, which garnered her an NAACP Image Award nomination. Sumpter starred in Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas and in OWN's The Haves and the Have Nots. Sumpter starred as Candace Young in the one-hour drama, which is written, directed and produced by Perry.

Sumpter's additional film credits include Sparkle, opposite Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks; the upcoming My Man Is a Loser, with John Stamos; Being Mary Jane, opposite Gabrielle Union; What's Your Number, opposite Anna Faris and Chris Evans; Salt; Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming; and Whisper Me a Lullaby. Her television credits include BET's The Game and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Sumpter is proud of her involvement in public service announcements, having appeared in an AIDS awareness campaign with acclaimed hip-hop artist Common.

Universal Pictures