entertainment / Saturday, 23-Aug-2025

Erica Ash's 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

A versatile actor, comedian, singer, and model, Erica Ash steadily built up an impressive resume of movies and TV shows during her career, which was cut short due to her unfortunate passing. Erica Ash's first film role was in the 2001 Japanese comedy, All About Our house, before her first official TV role in the sketch comedy series, The Big Gay Sketch Show, where she showed her comedic excellence before landing a role in season 14 alongside a talented cast on Mad TV.

After that, Erica Ash's career began to take off, finding roles in a variety of projects, which included the hilarious mockumentary series, Real Husbands of Hollywood, as well as Uncle Drew, Outlaw Johnny Black, In Contempt, and Legacies. Despite her tragic passing, Erica Ash left her mark throughout her career, particularly when it comes to comedy.

10 Uncle Drew (2018)

Erica Ash as Maya

uncle drew poster

Your Rating

Uncle Drew
6/10
Release Date
June 29, 2018
Runtime
104minutes
Director
Charles Stone III
Writers
Jay Longino

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kyrie Irving
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Lisa Leslie

Uncle Drew is a Sports Comedy film written by Jay Longino and directed by Charles Stone III. Starring Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, and Lil Rel Howery, Uncle Drew chronicles the story of an underappreciated coach for a Basketball team that finds himself entering a tournament after being taunted by a rival.

Starring actual NBA player Kyrie Irving, who reprises his character from his Pepsi Max advertisements, Uncle Drew is an often funny extension of the series of ads from the early 2010s. There have been successful shows based off of characters that originally began in ads, like Ted Lasso, and although Uncle Drew doesn't come close to the quality of that series, it is still a fun watch, especially for those that enjoy the NBA and the character himself.

Erica Ash portrays Maya in Uncle Drew, the love interest of Lil Rey Howery's Dax and the granddaughter of NBA player Nate Robinson's Boots, who is a former teammate of the titular character. Uncle Drew is a silly premise and a silly movie, and Erica Ash perfectly understands that, leaning into the absurdity of everyone around her.

9 Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)

Erica Ash as Bessie Lee

Outlaw Johnny Black Movie Poster

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Outlaw Johnny Black
Release Date
September 15, 2023
Runtime
135 Minutes
Director
Michael Jai White
Writers
Michael Jai White

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Michael Jai White
  • Headshot Of Anika Noni Rose
    Anika Noni Rose
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Erica Ash
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Byron Minns

Studio(s)
Jaigantic Studios
Distributor(s)
Samuel Goldwyn Films

Outlaw Johnny Black is an underrated western comedy film, directed by Michael Jai White, who also stars as the titular character. Touted as a spiritual sequel to the 2009 blaxploitation action comedy Black Dynamite, Outlaw Johnny Black is quite funny throughout its runtime, telling the story of a man hell-bent on taking revenge for the death of his father while posing as a preacher in a small mining town. There is a lot to love in the film, and the committed performance by White is commendable.

Outlaw Johnny Black was actually the final role for Erica Ash, who plays Bessie Lee.

Outlaw Johnny Black was actually the final role for Erica Ash, who plays Bessie Lee. Her character has some hilarious moments with Outlaw Johnny Black, as it is clear that she is physically attracted to him. It's sad to think that the film was her last role, but it was also a memorable performance, showcasing once more how great of a talent she was as a comedian.

8 Skin In The Game (2019)

Erica Ash as Lena

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Skin in the Game
Release Date
March 27, 2019
Runtime
90 minutes
Director
Adisa
Writers
Steven Palmer Peterson
Producers
Howard Barish

Cast

  • Headshot Of Samantha Hanratty
    Samantha Hanratty
    Dani
  • Headshot Of Gideon Adlon
    Gideon Adlon
    Haley
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Elisabeth Harnois
    Sharon
  • Headshot Of Angélica Celaya
    Angélica Celaya
    Eve

Skin in the Game follows a fifteen-year-old named Dani who is abducted into the dark world of human trafficking. Without immediate police assistance, her mother and a former sex worker embark on a desperate quest through suburban America to rescue her before time runs out.

Low budget for sure, but still satisfying from a narrative perspective, Skin in the Game is a solidly written thriller about a mom who enlists the help of her estranged friend Lena to find her teenage daughter after she was abducted. Full of twists and turns, and character revelations, Skin in the Game is a delight for fans of small-scale thrillers, with something a bit more thematically heavy to say.

Erica Ash is a delight as the lead Lena in Skin in the Game, a successful pivot from her mostly comedic roles. As Lena has to confront her past while helping her friend, Erica Ash has to dig deep into what makes Lena tick, and she does an admirable job. It's a showcase for the versatility of Erica Ash as an actress, as it is one of the more serious roles of her career. That doesn't stop her from turning out a great performance.

7 In Contempt (2018)

Erica Ash as Gwen Sullivan

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In Contempt
TV-14
Drama
Release Date
2018 - 2018-00-00
Network
BET
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Joy Tanner
    Audrey Dodson
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Karen Robinson
    Loretta
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Mishu Vellani
    Clerk Melanie
  • Headshot Of Christian Keyes Pan African Film & Arts Festival
    Charlie Riggs

In Contempt is a legal drama set in a bustling New York City legal aid office. Released in 2018, the film follows Gwen Sullivan, an outspoken attorney with a deep commitment to her work and clients, showcasing her as a highly skilled public defender within her district.

Creator(s)
Terri Kopp
Seasons
1

Unfortunately cut short after only one season, In Contempt was a good legal drama series for BET that explored injustices within the American legal system. Following Gwen Sullivan, a passionate, opinionated attorney who becomes one of the most popular public defenders in her district, In Contempt showed a lot of promise during its run, diving into some tough topics, while discussing them in earnest.

Erica Ash is tasked with carrying In Contempt, portraying Gwen Sullivan in all ten episodes of the series. Despite her comedic background, she puts in a terrific performance that leans to the more serious side of things, and she doesn't miss a beat in the process. Gwen Sullivan is a strong, well-defined character and Erica Ash plays her with refreshing authenticity, making it one of the best performances of her entire career.

6 Violet (2021)

Erica Ash as Lila

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Violet
Release Date
March 18, 2021
Runtime
92 minutes
Director
Justine Bateman
Writers
Justine Bateman

Cast

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Violet is a drama film directed by Justine Bateman, featuring Olivia Munn as the titular character. The film explores Violet's internal struggles as she grapples with a critical inner voice dictating her decisions, leading her to question her life choices and push for personal transformation. Justin Theroux and Luke Bracey co-star, contributing to the film's intimate examination of self-doubt and self-discovery.

Main Genre
Drama
Studio(s)
Relativity Media
Distributor(s)
Relativity Media

Actress Justine Batmen made her directorial debut with Violet, an ambitious and poignant look at how a person views themselves, showing the distinct difference between the private and public life of someone. Violet stars Olivia Munn as a successful film executive who makes fear-based decisions to avoid the worst possible scenarios and has grown to not quite be herself after listening to "The Voice" in her head for most of her life.

Related
Olivia Munn's 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

The best Olivia Munn movies and TV shows highlight an incredible talent that's often overshadowed by off-screen controversy or narrative issues.

Erica Ash doesn't get a lot of screen time in Violet, playing a character named Lila. Despite having a very minor role, Erica Ash is always great with the time she is given on screen in any project, and she does the same here. It might not be the most involved role of her career, but it is a worthy project for her to be on, acting alongside some other great actors.

5 Legacies (2019)

Erica Ash as Veronica Greasley

Legaacies CW TV Poster

Your Rating

Legacies
4/10
9.0/10
Release Date
2018 - 2022-00-00
Network
The CW
Showrunner
Julie Plec
Writers
Julie Plec, Brett Matthews
Franchise(s)
The Vampire Diaries

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Peyton Alex Smith
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Jenny Boyd

Seasons
4
Prequel
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals

Running for four seasons on The CW, Legacies was the second spin-off of the network's immensely popular series, The Vampire Diaries. It followed the fifth and final season of The Originals, this time focusing on Hope Mikaelson, the daughter of Klaus Mikaelson from the former series. It doesn't necessarily hit the mark the same way The Vampire Diaries does, but Legacies is still a great addition to the franchise, featuring all the teenage drama that The CW does so well.

The Vampire Diaries TV Universe

The Vampire Diaries

2009-2017

The Originals

2013-2018

Legacies

2018-2022

Erica Ash only appears in four episodes of Legacies, playing Veronica Greasley, mother of Milton Greasley who is a vampire and one of the show's main characters. Her grandfather was the founder of Triad Industries, an organization tasked with keeping the supernatural world a secret from the public. She is great, though, with her small role, having some pivotal moments during her appearances.

4 Mad TV (2008-2009)

Erica Ash as Various Characters

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Mad TV
Release Date
1995 - 2016-00-00
Network
FOX, The CW
Directors
John Blanchard, Amanda Bearse, David Grossman, Linda Mendoza, Brian K. Roberts, Jean Sagal, Michael McDonald
Writers
Terry Sweeney, Sandy Frank, Michael Koman, Eric Zicklin, Dino Stamatopoulos, Maiya Williams
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Brian McKnight
    Self
  • Headshot Of Christina Moore
    Christina Moore
    Various
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Daniele Gaither
    Dolemite Girl
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Jeff Richards
    Barbra Streisand (1 episode)

Mad TV is a sketch comedy television series that aired on Fox beginning in 1995. Inspired by Mad magazine, the show features a variety of comedic sketches and parodies. The one-hour program ran on Saturday nights, showcasing an ensemble cast in humorous takes on pop culture and current events.

Producers
Quincy Jones
Seasons
17

Initially premiering in 1995, Mad TV was a successful sketch comedy show that ran for 14 seasons and acted as the first big break for a number of actors like Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Orlando Jones, Alex Borstein, and Simon Helberg. Mad TV was a bit of an antidote to SNL at the time, featuring a more diverse cast of actors and edgier humor than its competitors, making it one of the more enjoyable sketch shows during its run.

Mad TV was the first major project for Erica Ash, who joined the cast in the 14th and final season. Playing a number of characters in various sketches, Erica Ash showed just how funny and talented she was as a performer, setting the stage for her developing career that would soon take off. Sketch comedy often requires actors to be versatile in their ability to play a variety of characters and Erica Ash excelled at it.

3 The Big Bend (2021)

Erica Ash as Georgia Talbott

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Your Rating

The Big Bend
Release Date
October 22, 2021
Runtime
103 minutes
Director
Brett W. Wagner
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Jason Butler Harner
    Cory Price
  • Headshot Of Virginia Kull
    Virginia Kull
    Melanie Price
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Erica Ash
    Georgia Talbott
  • Headshot oF David Sullivan
    David Sullivan
    Mac Talbott

The Big Bend tells the story of two families who meet in the remote Texas desert and circumstances force them to test the boundaries of marriage, friendship, and parenthood as they struggle to survive. Often funny and incredibly poignant, The Big Bend is an authentic look at family, and features some truly gorgeous cinematography, capturing the desolate nature of the desert. It's not a very well-known film, but it is something special.

Erica Ash plays a pivotal role in The Big Bend as Georgia Talbott, wife of Mac Talbott, who is one of the two families in the movie, along with their children. Georgia Talbott is often disconnected from those near her, and Erica Ash does an incredible job conveying that feeling with every look she gives, an excellent performance full of subtle body language.

2 Real Husbands Of Hollywood (2013-2016)

Erica Ash as Bridgette Hart

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Your Rating

Real Husbands of Hollywood
10.0/10
Release Date
2013 - 2016-00-00
Network
BET

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Dondré Whitfield
    Dondre Whitfield
  • Headshot Of Duane Martin
    Duane Martin
    Duane Martin

Real Husbands of Hollywood is a semi-scripted comedic series created by Kevin Hart and BET Networks. It offers a satirical take on reality television by following a group of Hollywood men navigating their surreal lives, showcasing humorous scenarios often inspired by traditional reality show tropes.

Seasons
5

Real Husbands of Hollywood is a hilarious fake reality show that pokes fun at all the actual reality shows that share a similar name, often satirizing the tropes associated with the genre. Starring Kevin Hart, Nelly, Nick Carter, and more, as fictionalized versions of themselves, Real Husbands of Hollywood was one of the best BET shows during its run. With a showcase of comedic talent and a plethora of hilarious storylines, the series deserves its place alongside other popular mockumentaries.

With a showcase of comedic talent and a plethora of hilarious storylines, the series deserves its place alongside other popular mockumentaries.

At the time of Real Husbands of Hollywood, it was the biggest role of Erica Ash's career, following her success on Mad TV. She plays Bridgette Hart in a recurring role in the series, the ex-wife of Kevin Hart. Her comedy chops were on full display during her appearances, making her an excellent foil to Kevin Hart's "character" on the show. It's one of the best performances of her career.

1 Survivor's Remorse (2014-2017)

Erica Ash as Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway

Survivor's Remorse

Seasons
4

Running for four seasons on Starz, Survivor's Remorse is a genuinely great dramedy series revolving around the basketball player, Cam Calloway, who signs a professional contract and moves his family to Atlanta. Survivor's Remorse unfortunately flies under the radar compared to many other prestige TV shows on HBO and FX, but it is one of the best, as it delivered compelling characters and stories throughout its run.

Survivor's Remorse is the longest running role of Erica Ash's career as she plays Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway, half-sister to Cam Calloway. M-Chuck is often funny throughout the series, which Erica Ash obviously excels at, but there are many heartfelt, poignant moments that revolve around her. Just as she nails each comedic scene, she does an incredible job with the more heavy moments that her character is involved in. It's arguably the best performance of Erica Ash's career.

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