{{Short description|Canadian actress (born 1969)}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Rachael Crawford | image = | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1969}} | birth_place = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1986–present | spouse = | partner = | website = }}
'''Rachael Crawford''' (born 1969) is an actress best known for her roles in ''[[Brewster Place]]'',<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CHEEJx67akC&q=Rachael+Crawford+brewster+place&pg=PA77|title=New York Magazine|date=1990-05-07|publisher=New York Media, LLC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Connor|first=John J.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/01/arts/review-television-show-about-black-people-with-winfrey-in-charge.html|title=Review/Television; Show About Black People, With Winfrey in Charge|date=1990-05-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-27|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ''[[Here and Now (1992 TV series)|Here and Now]]'',<ref>{{Cite book|last=Williams|first=Dawn P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zmFMW7P91RoC&q=Rachael+Crawford+brewster+place&pg=PA2002|title=Who's who in Black Canada: Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada : a Contemporary Directory, 2002|date=2002|publisher=Who's Who in Black Canada|isbn=978-0-9731384-1-2|language=en}}</ref> and ''[[Show Me Yours]]'', as well as guest appearances on various television series such as ''[[Cold Squad]]'', ''[[Crossing Jordan]]'', and later ''[[The Firm (2012 TV series)|The Firm]]'' and ''[[Suits (U.S. TV series)|Suits]]''. Throughout her career, Crawford has received three [[Canadian Screen Award]] nominations.
==Career== Crawford began her acting career in the mid-1980s. She portrayed Renee, a teenage cousin of [[Mr. T]]'s character, in crime drama ''[[T. and T.]]''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6oJBAAAQBAJ&dq=Rachael+Crawford+-wikipedia&pg=PA257|page=257|title=Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008|last=Erickson|first=Hal|date=September 29, 2009|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=9780786438280}}</ref> Crawford won the role of Kiswana Browne in the [[Oprah Winfrey]] produced series ''[[Brewster Place]]'' (1990),<ref>{{cite news|last=Zuckerman|first=Faye|date=May 1, 1990|title=Oprah put in new 'Place'|newspaper=[[Star-News]]|page=5D}}</ref> replacing [[Robin Givens]] who portrayed the character in ''[[The Women of Brewster Place (miniseries)|The Women of Brewster Place]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=May 1, 1990|title='Brewster Place' avoids serious issues|page=F7|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]}}</ref> Crawford appeared regularly as college student Danielle in the sitcom ''[[Here and Now (1992 TV series)|Here and Now]]''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C3JuDwAAQBAJ&dq=Rachael+Crawford+-wikipedia&pg=PA83|page=83|title=Single Season Sitcoms of the 1990s: A Complete Guide|last=Leszczak|first=Bob|date=August 31, 2018|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=9781476670775}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Storm|first=Jonathan|date=September 15, 1992|title=Seven new faces to make a mark|newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]]|page=A12}}</ref>
She appeared in various television movies during the 1990s. Crawford played the lead role of [[Tai Babilonia]] in biopic ''On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=November 5, 1990|title='On Thin Ice': Skating champion bounces back after nasty fall|newspaper=[[Boca Raton News]]|page=25E}}</ref> In 1996's ''Captive Heart: The James Mink Story'', Crawford appeared as Myra Mink, a young black woman in the 1850s who becomes enslaved by her husband, a white man.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pierce|first=Scott D.|date=April 12, 1996|title=True or not, 'Captive Heart' is a good made-for-TV movie|newspaper=[[The Deseret News]]|page=C3}}</ref> [[James Mink]] was played by [[Louis Gossett Jr.]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Brennan|first=Patricia|date=April 13, 1996|title=Beloved daughter ends up a slave|newspaper=[[Star-News]]|page=5D}}</ref> She worked with Gossett again the following year, with ''In His Father's Shoes''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bobbin|first=Jay|date=June 13, 1997|title=Louis Gosset, Jr. continues to work and improve after 45 years|newspaper=[[The Vindicator]]|page=5}}</ref>
Crawford made her feature film debut in 1995's ''[[Rude (film)|Rude]]'' as Maxine, a woman who chooses to have an abortion after ending a relationship with her boyfriend.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S04JUEA3FnsC&dq=Rachael+Crawford+-wikipedia&pg=PA254|page=254|title=Working on Screen|last1=Varga|first1=Darrell|last2=Khouri|first2=Malek|date=2006|publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]]|isbn=9780802093882}}</ref> She received a [[Canadian Screen Award]] nomination for her performance in this film.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 7, 1995|title=Nominees for the 1995 Genie Awards|newspaper=[[Canadian Press]]}}</ref> Crawford portrayed Petra, a circus performer who dates the female protagonist, in the 1995 film ''[[When Night is Falling]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peary|first=Gerald|date=December 29, 1995|page=43|newspaper=[[The Boston Phoenix]]|title=Film strips}}</ref> [[Stephen Holden]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised Crawford's performance, believing she and co-star [[Pascale Bussières]] were an "appealing" couple.<ref>{{cite news|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=February 6, 1996|title='Night Is Falling' erotic, but uneven|newspaper=[[Gainesville Sun]]|page=3D}}</ref> Another reviewer found the movie too "lowkey," but felt Crawford's character added "fascination" to the film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Paseman|first=Lloyd|date=January 19, 1996|title='Night is Falling' never wakes up|newspaper=[[Eugene Register-Guard]]|page=8D}}</ref>
Her other film work includes ''[[Curtis's Charm]]'' (1996)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7JzuND1xFIC&dq=Rachael+Crawford+-wikipedia&pg=PA264|page=264|title=Screen World 1997|last1=Monush|first1=Barry|last2=Willis|first2=John|date=1998|publisher=[[Applause Books]]|isbn=9781557833204}}</ref> and ''[[Pale Saints (film)|Pale Saints]]'' (1997), being nominated for her second Canadian Screen Award for the latter.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 8, 1998|title=Two films lead Genie pack|publisher=[[Waterloo Region Record]]}}</ref> She was a main cast member on drama ''[[Traders (TV series)|Traders]]'' as Niko Bach from 1998 to 2000. Crawford earned her third Canadian Screen Award nomination in 2000 for her work on the series.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 19, 2000|title=Here are the nominees for the 15th annual Gemini Awards|newspaper=[[Canadian Press]]}}</ref>
During the 2000s, Crawford guest starred on science fiction series ''[[Mutant X (TV series)|Mutant X]]''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dx6hBAAAQBAJ&dq=Rachael+Crawford+-wikipedia&pg=PA399|page=399|title=The encyclopedia of superheroes on film and television|last=Muir|first=John Kenneth|date=August 21, 2008|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=9780786437559}}</ref> and appeared as Dara Vann in ''[[The Man (2005 film)|The Man]]'' (2005).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iGiCdRyJ1EsC&dq=Rachael+Crawford+-wikipedia&pg=PA217|page=217|title=Screen World Film Annual|volume=57|last1=Monush|first1=Barry|last2=Willis|first2=John|date=2006|publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]]|isbn=9781557837066}}</ref> She portrayed Diane Haughton, the mother of [[Aaliyah]], in ''[[Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B]]'' (2014).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/aaliyah-the-princess-of-rb-tv-review-6319802/|title='Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B': TV Review|date=November 15, 2014|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> She had a regular role on drama series ''[[This Life (2015 TV series)|This Life]]'' as Danielle, the lead character's best friend, from 2015 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/arts/torri-higginson-finds-a-home-in-nouvelle-adresses-english-remake-this-life|title=Torri Higginson finds a home in Nouvelle adresse's English remake, This Life|last=Kelly|first=Brendan|date=June 1, 2015|website=[[The Montreal Gazette]]|access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> Crawford then played Crack in ''[[Brown Girl Begins]]'' (2017), a role one film critic found "chilling."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/01/03/film-review-brown-girl-begins-brings-ambition-light-to-sci-fi-dystopia/6398722007/|title=Film Review: 'Brown Girl Begins' brings ambition, light to sci-fi dystopia|last=Shearer|first=Andrew|date=January 3, 2019|website=[[Athens Banner-Herald]]|access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1995 |''[[Rude (film)|Rude]]'' |Maxine | |- |1995 |''[[When Night Is Falling]]'' |Petra Soft | |- |1995 |''[[Curtis's Charm]]'' |Cookie | |- |1997 |''[[Pale Saints (film)|Pale Saints]]'' |Valdine | |- |1998 |''[[Kai Rabe gegen die Vatikankiller]]'' |Maskenbildnerin | |- |2003 |''{{sortname|The|Sacrifice|nolink=1}}'' |Fortuneteller |Short film |- |2005 |''{{sortname|The|Man|The Man (2005 film)}}'' |Dara Vann | |- |2009 |''Chains'' |Chain |Short film |- |2017 |''[[Brown Girl Begins]]'' |Crack | |- |2020 |''[[Possessor (film)|Possessor]]'' |Dr. Melis | |- |2024 |''[[Time Cut]]'' |Kendra | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1986 |''9B'' |Jenny Wevers |TV film |- |1986-1987 |''[[Dear Aunt Agnes]]'' |Marsha |Recurring role |- |1987 |''[[Adderly]]'' |Lucinda |Episode: "Who Do, Voodoo" |- |1988 |''[[9B (TV series)|9B]]'' |Jenny Wevers |Recurring role (5 episodes) |- |1988 |''[[T. and T.]]'' |Renee |Regular role (24 episodes) |- |1988 |''[[Friday the 13th: The Series]]'' |Stacy |Episode: "The Voodoo Mambo" |- |1989 |''[[E.N.G.]]'' |Janice Roberts |Episode: "E.N.G. Pilot: Part 1" |- |1989 |''[[Inside Stories]]'' |Gracie |Episode: "Gracie" |- |1990 |''[[E.N.G.]]'' |Janice Roberts |Episode: "All Things Betray Thee" |- |1990 |''[[Brewster Place]]'' |Melanie "Kiswana" Browne |Main role (11 episodes) |- |1990 |''On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story'' |[[Tai Babilonia]] |TV film |- |1992-1993 |''[[Here and Now (1992 TV series)|Here and Now]]'' |Danielle |Main role (13 episodes) |- |1994 |''Treacherous Beauties'' |Lois Parsons |TV film |- |1994 |''[[Free Willy (TV series)|Free Willy]]'' |Marlene (voice) |TV series |- |1996 |''[[Side Effects (TV series)|Side Effects]]'' |Viki |Episode: "Easy Breathing" |- |1996 |''Captive Heart: The James Mink Story'' |Mary Mink |TV film |- |1996 |''We the Jury'' |Warnicke |TV film |- |1997 |''{{sortname|The|Outer Limits|The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)}}'' |Sherry McAllister |Episode: "[[Dark Rain (The Outer Limits)|Dark Rain]]" |- |1997 |''In His Father's Shoes'' |Celeste |TV film |- |1997-1999 |''[[Between Brothers]]'' |Teri |Main role (17 episodes) |- |1998 |''[[Twitch City]]'' |Expert |Episode: "People Who Fight Too Much" |- |1998-2000 |''[[Traders (TV series)|Traders]]'' |Niko Bach |Main role (35 episodes) |- |1999 |''Love Songs'' |Sheron |TV film |- |1999 |''Nightworld: Survivor'' |Kat Holden |TV film |- |1999 |''Hoop Life'' |Paula Lyons |Episodes: "Rookie", "Of Human Bondage", "The Trade-Off" |- |2000 |''[[Earth: Final Conflict]]'' |Samira Farid |Episode: "Scorched Earth" |- |2000 |''[[Falcone (TV series)|Falcone]]'' |Mrs. Patterson |Episodes: "Lealta", "That's Amore", "You Can't Always Get What You Want" |- |2000 |''[[Dirty Pictures]]'' |Ann Bosworth |TV film |- |2001 |''[[Soul Food (TV series)|Soul Food]]'' |Rhonda |Episode: "This Crazy Life" |- |2001 |''[[Cold Squad]]'' |Dr. Barbara Whittaker |Episode: "Vancouver Confidential" |- |2002 |''{{sortname|The|Associates|The Associates (Canadian TV series)}}'' |Suzanne Erikkson |Episode: "Take This Job..." |- |2002 |''[[Crossing Jordan]]'' |Samantha Reid |Episode: "With Honor" |- |2002 |''Red Skies'' |Nicole |TV film |- |2002 |''[[Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay]]'' |Annika Kern |TV film |- |2004 |''[[Mutant X (TV series)|Mutant X]]'' |Samantha Bennett |Episode: "Possibilities" |- |2004-2005 |''[[Show Me Yours]]'' |Dr. Kate Langford |Main role (16 episodes) |- |2005 |''[[CSI: Miami]]'' |Beth Jacobson |Episode: "Three-Way" |- |2006 |''[[Last Exit (2006 film)|Last Exit]]'' |Catherine Vargas |TV film |- |2008 |''{{sortname|The|Trojan Horse|dab=miniseries}}'' |Colleen Howell |TV miniseries |- |2008 |''{{sortname|The|Summit|nolink=1}}'' |Robin Levy |TV miniseries |- |2008 |''[[Sophie (TV series)|Sophie]]'' |Kim |Episodes: "Who's Your Daddy?", "Bursting Balloons" |- |2009 |''[[Sophie (TV series)|Sophie]]'' |Kim |Episodes: "Trust or Bust", "Wedding Bell Blues" |- |2009 |data-sort-value="Da Kink in My Hair" | ''[[Da Kink in My Hair (TV series)|'Da Kink in My Hair]]'' |Cheryl |Episode: "Licks!" |- |2009 |''[[Guns (TV miniseries)|Guns]]'' |Eva Innis |TV miniseries |- |2009 |''[[Being Erica]]'' |Alexis |Episodes: "Under My Thumb", "A River Runs Through It... It Being Egypt" |- |2009 |''[[Cra$h & Burn]]'' |Catherine Hearn |Episodes: "Trust", "The Boss Is Coming" |- |2011 |''[[Republic of Doyle]]'' |Dr. Jennifer Sullivan |Episode: "Crashing on the Couch" |- |2011 |''{{sortname|The|Listener|The Listener (TV series)}}'' |Emily Miller |Episode: "Inner Circle" |- |2011 |''[[Call Me Fitz]]'' |Laverne |Episodes: "A** Hickey", "Dysfunctional Family Circus", "How Do You Say 'Blow Job' in Pennsylvania Dutch?" |- |2011-2012 |''[[Alphas]]'' |Jeannie Harken |Recurring role (6 episodes) |- |2012 |''[[King (2011 TV series)|King]]'' |Dr. Rausch |Episode: "Freddy Boise" |- |2012 |''{{sortname|The|Firm|The Firm (2012 TV series)}}'' |Dianne Ruckeyser |Recurring role (6 episodes) |- |2012 |''[[Suits (U.S. TV series)|Suits]]'' |Ella Follman |Episode: "All In" |- |2014 |''[[Ascension (miniseries)|Ascension]]'' |Ophelia |TV miniseries (3 episodes) |- |2014 |''[[Continuum (TV series)|Continuum]]'' |Catherine |7 episodes |- |2014 |''[[Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B]]'' |Diane Haughton |TV film |- |2015 |''Hello, it's me'' |Ericka |TV movie |- |2015-2016 |''[[This Life (2015 TV series)|This Life]]'' |Danielle Berg |12 episodes |- |2016 |''[[Heartland (Canadian TV series)|Heartland]]'' |Natalie |2 episodes |- |2017 |''[[Incorporated (TV series)|Incorporated]]'' |Mrs. Morse |2 episodes |- |2017 |data-sort-value="Expanse, The" | ''[[The Expanse (TV series)|The Expanse]]'' |Admiral Pena |2 episodes |- |2017 |''[[Private Eyes (TV series)|Private Eyes]]'' |Emila Mantella |1 episode |- |2017 |''[[Tin Star (TV series)|Tin Star]]'' |Dr. Susan Bouchard |1 episode |- |2022 |''[[Revenge of the Black Best Friend]]'' |Aibleen | |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0006692|name=Rachael Crawford}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Crawford, Rachael}} [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:Actresses from Toronto]] [[Category:Black Canadian actresses]] [[Category:Canadian film actresses]] [[Category:Canadian television actresses]] [[Category:Canadian voice actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Canadian people of Barbadian descent]]