Teri Joseph
Encyclopedia
Teri Joseph Carter is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food
, and was portrayed by Vanessa L. Williams
. In the television series, the role was assumed by Nicole Ari Parker
.
, Teri is the oldest of three daughters born to Jeremiah and Josephine
Joseph. As a teenager, she briefly dated high school football player Kenny Chadway
(Jeffrey D. Sams
, Rockmond Dunbar
). Soon, Kenny cheated on Teri with her sister Maxine
(Vivica A. Fox
, Vanessa A. Williams
), leading to years of friction between the two women. However, Kenny and Maxine were eventually married and became the parents of five children.
Teri graduated from Northwestern University School of Law
and became a labor attorney with the prestigious Chicago law firm, Greene Norris and Associates. She married rising NFL
star Russell Banks (Michael Jai White
), but the union ended in divorce, with the well-to-do Teri paying alimony to Russell (which he voluntarily repaid years later). She later married fellow attorney Miles Jenkins (Michael Beach
, Isaiah Washington
). A highly-driven career woman, Teri could not understand when Miles left his job to pursue a career as a professional musician as the leader of the R&B group Milestone. Miles had a sexual encounter with Teri's estranged cousin Faith Hunter (Gina Ravera
, Lisa Branch), an aspiring dancer who shared his love of the arts. Even though it only occurred once, Teri caught the couple in the act, leading to her second divorce.
Soon thereafter, Teri began a relationship with Damon Carter
(Boris Kodjoe
), a college-educated delivery man who was five years younger than her. Although the couple was clearly in love with each other, the relationship was often a rocky one. The pair endured two major break-ups, including a cancelled engagement.
Teri was the most successful associate
at Greene Norris, winning the most cases and bringing in the most business. However, it became apparent that the firm had no intention of ever making her a partner
. Thus she resigned, and soon joined Moore & Freeman, a firm staffed primarily by African American attorneys. While there she butted heads with a number of the other lawyers, whose personalities and viewpoints about the role of contemporary Black attorneys frequently clashed with hers. Not only did Teri resign from Moore & Freeman as well, but she began to experience panic attacks. She would have the last laugh, however. Greene Norris was acquired by Burke Willis Bingham & Lockhart, a huge national law firm. Senior partner Katherine Burke (Faye Dunaway
) made Teri the managing partner of Burke Willis' Chicago office -- i.e. the former Greene Norris -- making Teri the superior of the same lawyers who had refused to make her partner a year earlier.
After cancelling her engagement to Damon, Teri became involved with other men. Following a series of one-night stands, she dated her best friend, attorney Brian Tedrow (Yannick Bisson
), but the relationship and the friendship soon ended. She dated her tango
class partner, college professor Charles Miller (Vondie Curtis-Hall
), but was very uncomfortable with the strangely close relationship that he had with his ex-wife.
Ultimately, Teri and Damon were married, and adopted their foster child Mandel (Tyson Fennell). Teri resigned from her position as managing partner at Burke Willis, and the family moved to Los Angeles
, where she began working as a senior attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union
.
Soul Food (film)
Soul Food is a 1997 American comedy-drama film, produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Tracey Edmonds, and Robert Teitel, and released by Fox 2000 Pictures. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film stars Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Jeffrey D. Sams, Irma...
, and was portrayed by Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
. In the television series, the role was assumed by Nicole Ari Parker
Nicole Ari Parker
Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe , also known as Nikki Kodjoe, is an American actress and a former model. She is perhaps best known for her role as attorney Teri Joseph on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food and her role as Becky Barnett in Boogie Nights.-Early life:Parker was born in...
.
Character Background
A lifelong resident of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Teri is the oldest of three daughters born to Jeremiah and Josephine
Josephine Joseph (Soul Food)
Josephine Joseph is a fictional character from the 1997 film Soul Food, and the Showtime television series of the same name. Along with her grandson Ahmad -- who refers to her as "Big Mama" -- she serves as the moral and emotional center of the film. Additionally, she makes recurring appearances...
Joseph. As a teenager, she briefly dated high school football player Kenny Chadway
Kenny Chadway
Kenneth "Kenny" Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food as Kenny Simmons, and was portrayed by Jeffrey D. Sams...
(Jeffrey D. Sams
Jeffrey D. Sams
Jeffrey D. Sams is an American actor known primarily for his television work.A native of Ohio, Sams has been a main cast member of several television series, few of which have made it past their first season...
, Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Kenny Chadway on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food, and as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the FOX television drama series Prison Break...
). Soon, Kenny cheated on Teri with her sister Maxine
Maxine Chadway
Maxine Joseph Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food as Maxine Joseph Simmons, and was portrayed by Vivica A. Fox. In the television series, the surname was changed to Chadway, and the role was assumed...
(Vivica A. Fox
Vivica A. Fox
Vivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress and television producer. She is best known for her roles in the films Independence Day, Set It Off, Soul Food, Why Do Fools Fall In Love,Kill Bill and Juwanna Mann....
, Vanessa A. Williams
Vanessa A. Williams
Vanessa A. Williams is an American actress who has appeared in several television series such as Melrose Place and the Showtime cable television series Soul Food. In 1996, she was featured in the television series Murder One...
), leading to years of friction between the two women. However, Kenny and Maxine were eventually married and became the parents of five children.
Teri graduated from Northwestern University School of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
The Northwestern University School of Law is a private American law school in Chicago, Illinois. The law school was founded in 1859 as the Union College of Law of the Old University of Chicago. The first law school established in Chicago, it became jointly controlled by Northwestern University in...
and became a labor attorney with the prestigious Chicago law firm, Greene Norris and Associates. She married rising NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
star Russell Banks (Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White is an American actor and martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn...
), but the union ended in divorce, with the well-to-do Teri paying alimony to Russell (which he voluntarily repaid years later). She later married fellow attorney Miles Jenkins (Michael Beach
Michael Beach
-Biography:Beach was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, of Cape Verdean descent. He attended the prestigious Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts on scholarship from ABC . He was introduced to acting when he was sidelined by a lacrosse injury during high school by a classmate...
, Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington IV is an American actor. A veteran of several Spike Lee films, Washington is best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2007.-Personal life:...
). A highly-driven career woman, Teri could not understand when Miles left his job to pursue a career as a professional musician as the leader of the R&B group Milestone. Miles had a sexual encounter with Teri's estranged cousin Faith Hunter (Gina Ravera
Gina Ravera
Gina Ravera is an American actress from San Francisco, California. She is best known for the role of Irene Daniels during the first four seasons TNT's Emmy Award winning crime drama The Closer, and was the only regular cast member to leave the series during its run...
, Lisa Branch), an aspiring dancer who shared his love of the arts. Even though it only occurred once, Teri caught the couple in the act, leading to her second divorce.
Soon thereafter, Teri began a relationship with Damon Carter
Damon Carter
Damon Carter is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. He is the only major Soul Food character that was created specifically for the television series, and not the 1997 motion picture...
(Boris Kodjoe
Boris Kodjoe
Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe , better known as Boris Kodjoe, is an Austrian-born German actor and former fashion model who works primarily in the United States...
), a college-educated delivery man who was five years younger than her. Although the couple was clearly in love with each other, the relationship was often a rocky one. The pair endured two major break-ups, including a cancelled engagement.
Teri was the most successful associate
Associate attorney
An associate attorney is a lower-level employee of a traditional law firm who does not hold an ownership interest as a partner.-Attorneys:An associate may be a junior or senior associate, but normally does not yet hold an ownership interest in the firm even if they have been associated with the...
at Greene Norris, winning the most cases and bringing in the most business. However, it became apparent that the firm had no intention of ever making her a partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
. Thus she resigned, and soon joined Moore & Freeman, a firm staffed primarily by African American attorneys. While there she butted heads with a number of the other lawyers, whose personalities and viewpoints about the role of contemporary Black attorneys frequently clashed with hers. Not only did Teri resign from Moore & Freeman as well, but she began to experience panic attacks. She would have the last laugh, however. Greene Norris was acquired by Burke Willis Bingham & Lockhart, a huge national law firm. Senior partner Katherine Burke (Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
) made Teri the managing partner of Burke Willis' Chicago office -- i.e. the former Greene Norris -- making Teri the superior of the same lawyers who had refused to make her partner a year earlier.
After cancelling her engagement to Damon, Teri became involved with other men. Following a series of one-night stands, she dated her best friend, attorney Brian Tedrow (Yannick Bisson
Yannick Bisson
Yannick Bisson is a Canadian film and television actor.-Career:Born in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Bisson moved to Toronto as a teenager and there he began acting lessons; he has been acting since the age of 13. His big break was in CBC's critically acclaimed 1984 movie of the week Hockey Night with...
), but the relationship and the friendship soon ended. She dated her tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
class partner, college professor Charles Miller (Vondie Curtis-Hall
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Vondie Curtis-Hall is an American actor and film director.As an actor, he is best known for his role as Dr. Dennis Hancock on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope created by David E. Kelley.-Early life:...
), but was very uncomfortable with the strangely close relationship that he had with his ex-wife.
Ultimately, Teri and Damon were married, and adopted their foster child Mandel (Tyson Fennell). Teri resigned from her position as managing partner at Burke Willis, and the family moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where she began working as a senior attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
.