The year 2001 was the moment when Megalyn Echikunwoke burst into the scene of the TV industry with two recognizable jobs. At the moment of signing, to appear in the series, Spyder Games and the game-changing Fox hit series 24, she was 18 years old, and since then there are just loads and loads of acting credits to her name culminating with her starring role in the series Almost Family.
Megalyn was born on 28 May 1983 in Spokane, Washington to a Nigerian father, Onigwe Echikunwoke, who was of the Igbo tribe and he immigrated to America, running from a civil war in the country where he was shot as a kid and he suffered from Hepatitis B. He met Megalyn's mother, Anita Laurie, in America and she is of Irish, German and English descent and thus, Megalyn is of mixed race.
Megalyn Echikunwoke is an actress who made her career on TV now appearing in 'Almost Family.'
Source: Deadline
Mixed race in the '80s was not something common and still, her parents managed to take care of her, but it all changed when her father got liver cancer while in college, studying for a law degree. Cancer which stemmed from the injury he received after being shot was the cause of his death and since the age of four, Megalyn's mother took care of her and nurtured her acting nature which led the actress to be discovered and embark on a career which was meant for her from the start.
Megalyn's Career in TV and Movies
Megalyn Echikunwoke started her career at the age of 14.
Source: Instagram @megalyn
After being discovered when she was only 14 years old, Megalyn started her career in The Steve Harvey Show where she was guest-starring in one episode and so began a career, which is now over 20 years old.
After a few TV movies and limited appearances on TV, the actress got her first major role in the soap opera Spyder Games where she appeared as Cherish Pardee in 65 episodes and then followed it up with six episodes in the hit Fox series 24.
Megalyn Echikunwoke appeared in 65 episodes of 'Spyder Games.'
Source: The Daily Multiracial
The actress's first major starring role in a TV show was in the Dan Fogelman sit-com, Like Family, where she played the character of Danika Ward for all 22 episodes but due to low ratings the show was canceled after the first season. Veronica Mars and The 70s Show were next in line for the actress while she was still finding her feet in the movie industry.
Megalyn appeared in the series CSI: Miami in the seventh season of the series, she made her debut in the second episode of the seventh season then carried the character of Tara Price, all the way to the finale.
Megalyn played the character of 'Tara Price' in 'CSI: Miami.'
Source: IMDb
90210 and House of Lies were two shows where the actress was handed a supporting role in 2011-2012. Her movie career never really took off, but this was the time when she really started to step up her game when it comes to movies.
The actress was cast in Mind Games where she was the main cast but the show only lasted 13 episodes after it was canned. The role of Vixen was presented to the actress which she played in The CW show Arrow, but when she was asked to reprise her role in Legends of Tomorrow, she was not able to and the role went to someone else. While her TV career was going on, she also enjoyed the biggest success when it comes to her movie career. She appeared in a film alongside Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart and the movie made over $100 million.
Playing 'Edie Palmer' in the Fox Series 'Almost Family'
Megalyn is playing the character of 'Edie Palmer' in the series 'Almost Family.'
Source: Blackfilm
Edie is a lawyer someone who was the kid of the friends of Leon Beachley which is where the two leading characters Julia and Edie meet for the first time. They are not friends by any means but only together because of their parents but then a bombshell discovery leads to a huge revelation, which shakes her life and also other people like her.
In Almost Family, everyone finds out, one of the pioneers in the field of fertility uses his own sperm on patients, which in turn makes 100s of children from various women. Edie, as the first episode progresses, finds out she is one of the kids of Leon and the person she was jealous of growing up was actually her sister.
Watch: The trailer for the first season of 'Almost Family'
The series follows Edie, Julia (played by Brittany Snow) and Roxy (played by Emily Osment) who are all sisters and try to live with the new reality of the situation they are part of now.
Though the series was critically panned, there is a chance this makes it through to another season and there is an unfair level of hate leveled at the series which will probably die down as the season progresses. So with some luck Megalyn will be playing the character of Edie for a long time.
Relationship With Chris Rock, Is Megalyn and Rock Married?
Megalyn Echikunwoke and Chris Rock at the Met Gala together.
Source: Instagram
Megalyn was never involved in any relationship rumors and or seen with a man till 2016 when she and Chris Rock started to go out. The comedian/actor who is one of the most successful performers there is; was going through a rough divorce with his wife Malaak Compton-Rock which started in 2014 but dragged on till 2016, when it was finally official and he was single again.
2016 was also the year when the two started dating and made it official after they were seen out and about together. But it seems the two are content with being in a relationship and nothing more than boyfriend and girlfriend. Considering the age both performers are, this is an unusual circumstance for a couple to be in, but there is no obligation for the two of them to get hitched as long as they feel comfortable with the current arrangement they are in.
Megalyn and Chris Rock together at The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Source: IMDb
Chris Rock once said in an interview, after his divorce was finalized, he was not getting married again and the same sentiment was echoed in his comedy special where he said the only reason he would get married is "if it would cure AIDS." Chris Rock, marrying and cure for AIDS, is not related in any way so this means he is reiterating his stance, he is not interested in getting married.
It is not only Chris who is not interested in getting married, but Megalyn is also comfortable with the relationship that the two lovebirds share. She said there is a case for the two to get married, but only if Chris were to come up with a splendid reason for them to tie the knot. The actress said she is fine challenging the old notions of society and also comfortable living with a man who is not her husband. They love each other and for her, it is all she needs and is asking for, love and affection, and not a ring.
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