Tichina Rolanda Arnold is also known as Tichina Arnold is an American actress, comedian, and singer, renowned for her roles as Pamela “Pam” James on Martin, Rochelle Rock on Everybody Hates Chris, and Tina Butler on The Neighborhood.

With a career spanning over three decades, she has made significant contributions to television, film, and music, while also engaging in philanthropy through her We Win Foundation.

Early Life and Education

Tichina Rolanda Arnold was born on June 28, 1969, in Queens, New York City, to a working-class African-American family.

Her mother, Diane, worked in the sanitation department, and her father, Gene, was a police officer.

She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, where she honed her acting and singing skills, appearing in school productions like The Me Nobody Knows and A Raisin in the Sun.

Her education and early exposure to theater laid a strong foundation for her career.

Career

Tichina Arnold began her acting career at age 14 with a minor role in the TV movie The Brass Ring (1983).

Her film debut came at 16 as Crystal, one of the chorus girls in Little Shop of Horrors (1986), alongside Tisha Campbell.

In 1987, she landed her first major TV role as Zena Brown on the soap opera Ryan’s Hope (1987–1989), earning a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1988.

She then played Sharla Valentine on All My Children (1989–1991).

Her breakout role was Pamela “Pam” James on Martin (1992–1997), a Fox sitcom with Martin Lawrence, which cemented her as a comedic talent.

She starred as Rochelle Rock in Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009), a role inspired by Chris Rock’s mother, earning multiple award nominations and a win.

Other notable TV roles include Nicole Barnes on One on One (2001–2005), Judi Mann on Happily Divorced (2011–2013), Cassie Calloway on Survivor’s Remorse (2014–2017), Paulette in Lockdown (2018–2019), and Tina Butler on The Neighborhood (2018–present).

She reprised Rochelle in the animated Everybody Still Hates Chris (2024–present).

Film credits include How I Got into College (1989), Scenes from a Mall (1991), Big Momma’s House (2000), Wild Hogs (2007), Dance Flick (2009), and The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019).

As a singer, she released the album Soul Free (2002) and performed the duet “Moving Up,” which charted on Billboard Club Play.

She also voiced characters in The Boondocks and starred as Evillene in a 2009 revival of The Wiz.

Arnold founded China Moon Rags, a Swarovski crystal-embellished headgear company, which she closed after her daughter’s birth.

Awards and Nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards (1988): Nominated, Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series for Ryan’s Hope

Soap Opera Digest Awards (1989): Nominated, Outstanding Female Newcomer: Daytime for Ryan’s Hope

NAACP Image Awards (1996): Won, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Martin

NAACP Image Awards (2006): Won, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Everybody Hates Chris

NAACP Image Awards (2007–2010, 2016, 2018): Nominated, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Everybody Hates Chris and Survivor’s Remorse

Teen Choice Awards (2006): Won, TV – Choice Parental Unit for Everybody Hates Chris

BET Awards (2006): Nominated, Best Actress

NAMIC Vision Awards (2016, 2018): Nominated, Best Performance – Comedy for Survivor’s Remorse

Black Women Film Network: Recognized for impact in the film industry

Personal Life

Tichina Arnold, of African-American descent, resides in Los Angeles, California.

She has been married twice: first to heavyweight boxer Lamon Brewster (1992–1995) and then to basketball coach DaRico Hines (2012–2016), both ending in divorce.

She has a daughter, Alijah Kai Haggins (born March 16, 2004), with music producer Carvin Haggins, with whom she maintains a cordial co-parenting relationship despite their past on-and-off romance.

Arnold faced challenges with endometriosis, which led her to believe she could not conceive until Alijah’s birth.

She is a single mother and remains dedicated to her daughter, often sharing their bond on social media.

Her sister, Zenay Arnold, battles lupus, prompting Tichina to co-found the We Win Foundation in 2013 to support lupus patients.

Arnold is close friends with Tisha Campbell, Janet Jackson, Vivica A. Fox, Regina King, and Christina Aguilera.

She is an advocate for mental health and women’s health, serves on the National Parent Association (PTA) advisory board, and enjoys singing with her band KNOW Pressure, which performs in Los Angeles.

In 2014, she faced controversy after leaking a video of her then-husband’s infidelity, which she later said was unintentional.

Discography

Soul Free (2002, Album)

“Moving Up” (Duet, Billboard Club Play hit)

Songs for Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Filmography

The Brass Ring (1983, TV Movie) – Minor Role

Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Crystal

Starlight: A Musical Movie (1988) – Supporting Role

How I Got into College (1989) – Vera

Scenes from a Mall (1991) – Ticket Seller

Martin (1992–1997, TV Series) – Pamela “Pam” James

Fakin’ Da Funk (1997) – Supporting Role

Big Momma’s House (2000) – Ritha

Dancing in September (2000, TV Movie) – Supporting Role

Civil Brand (2003) – Aisha

One on One (2001–2005, TV Series) – Nicole Barnes (Recurring)

Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009, TV Series) – Rochelle Rock

Wild Hogs (2007) – Karen Davis

Dance Flick (2009) – Ray’s Mom

The Wiz (2009, Stage) – Evillene, Wicked Witch of the West

Pair of Kings (2010, TV Series) – Guest Role

Happily Divorced (2011–2013, TV Series) – Judi Mann

Summoned (2013, TV Movie) – Mylene

Survivor’s Remorse (2014–2017, TV Series) – Cassie Calloway

Daytime Divas (2017, TV Series) – Mo Evans

Lockdown (2018–2019, TV Series) – Paulette

The Neighborhood (2018–present, TV Series) – Tina Butler

The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) – Wanda

Clover (2020) – Pat

The Main Event (2020) – Denise

Everybody Still Hates Chris (2024–present, TV Series) – Rochelle Rock (voice)

Net Worth

Tichina Arnold’s estimated net worth ranges from $2 million to $4 million USD, primarily from her acting roles in Martin, Everybody Hates Chris, Survivor’s Remorse, and The Neighborhood.

Additional income comes from her music projects (Soul Free, “Moving Up”), her former headgear company China Moon Rags, and endorsements.