Kyla Pratt

Kyla Alissa Pratt (born September 16, 1986[1]) is an American actress. She provided the voice of Penny Proud in the first Disney Channel animated series, The Proud Family, and portrayed Breanna Latrice Barnes in UPN's One on One. After playing the daughter of Eddie Murphy's character in the films Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2, Pratt became the main character in the spin-off series of the franchise which included Dr. Dolittle 3, Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief, and Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts. Pratt has also been in the films Fat Albert, Hotel for Dogs, and The Proud Family Movie. From 2012 to 2014, she appeared in the series Let's Stay Together. She was formerly a part of VH1's Black Ink Crew: Compton and the cast of Call Me Kat on Fox and is reprising the role of Penny in The Proud Family revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+.

Kyla Pratt
Pratt at Black Girls Rock red carpet in 2018
Born
Kyla Alissa Pratt

(1986-09-16) September 16, 1986 (age 37)
OccupationActress
Years active1993–present
Partner(s)Danny Kirkpatrick
(2005–present; engaged)
Children2

Early life

Kyla Alissa Pratt[2] was born on September 16, 1986, to Kecia Pratt, a school teacher, and Johnny McCullar, a basketball player. She is the oldest of five children.[3][4]

Career

Acting career

Pratt began acting at age eight, appearing in commercials for an interactive computer game and Nike. In 1997, she appeared in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger titled "The Neighborhood", in which she portrayed Kyla Jarvis, a ten-year-old girl who miraculously recovers after accidentally being shot in a drive-by shooting in her gang-ridden neighborhood, and reveals that she saw heaven where she met a guardian angel who gives her an important mission from God. With Walker's help, Kyla Jarvis spreads the angel message of faith and love, uniting her local community into helping clean up their neighborhood and end the gang violence plaguing it. She appeared in an episode of Friends, followed by roles in Smart Guy, Sister, Sister, Family Matters, Lizzie McGuire, Moesha, and The Parkers.[5][6]

In 2001, she won the role of Breanna Barnes in the UPN series One on One (2001–2006). During the run of One on One, Pratt also voiced Penny Proud, the lead character in the Disney Channel animated series The Proud Family. She later voiced the character for The Proud Family Movie in 2005. In addition to television roles, Pratt has appeared in several feature films, including Love & Basketball (2000) and Fat Albert (2004). She played Maya Dolittle in Dr. Dolittle (1998) and Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), both of which starred Eddie Murphy, and reprised her role as Maya Dolittle (now the lead character) in the direct-to-DVD releases of Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006), Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (2008), and Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts (2009).[7]

In 2009, Kyla Pratt co-starred alongside Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin in Hotel for Dogs. Pratt joined the cast of BET's Let's Stay Together in its second season.[8] In February 2014, Pratt was voted #97 on VH1's 100 Greatest Child Stars.[9] In June 2014, she starred alongside Jessica Sula in a Freeform pilot called Recovery Road based on Blake Nelson's novel of the same name.[10] The show debuted on Freeform in January 2016, but was cancelled shortly afterwards, in May 2016.[11]

Singing career

As a member of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, Pratt performed a cover version of "Circle of Life" that appeared on the DisneyMania 2 album. She sang "It's All About Me", for the series soundtrack for The Proud Family, and "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" with the Disney Channel Stars. Kyla also sang in the 2019 Lifetime Christmas movie, No Time Like Christmas.

Personal life

Pratt began a relationship with Danny Kirkpatrick, a rapper, songwriter, and tattoo artist, in 2008. On November 17, 2010, the couple welcomed their daughter, Lyric Kirkpatrick. They welcomed another daughter, Liyah Kirkpatrick, on August 5, 2013. Pratt appeared alongside Kirkpatrick on the reality show Black Ink Crew: Compton in 2019.[12][13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995The Baby-Sitters ClubBecca Ramsey
1997RiotJenny Baker
A Walton EasterJoanie PotterTV movie
Mad CityKid
1998Barney's Great AdventureMarcella Walker
Dr. DolittleMaya Dolittle
1999Jackie's BackLittle Jackie WashingtonTV movie
2000Love & BasketballYoung Monica
2001Dr. Dolittle 2Maya Dolittle
2002More than Puppy LoveJae
2003Maniac MageeAmanda BealeTV movie
2004The Seat FillerDiona
Fat AlbertDoris
2005The Proud Family MoviePenny Proud (voice)TV movie
2006Dr. Dolittle 3Maya DolittleVideo
2007Hell on EarthKeri Diamond/DumpinTV movie
2008Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the ChiefMaya DolittleVideo
2009Hotel for DogsHeather
Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar MuttsMaya DolittleVideo
2015Beauty and the Beat Boots-Short
2016Secret She KeptTía Jiles/KingstonTV movie [14]
2018Best BaddiesMelody (voice)Short
The Christmas PactSadieTV movie [15]
2019Back to the Goode LifeFrancesca GoodeTV movie [16]
No Time Like ChristmasEmma PotterTV movie [17]
2020Let's Meet Again on Christmas EveCorinne MillbrookTV movie [18]
2021 The Addams Family 2Volcano Kid, Book Girl, Festival Kid #1, Peggy (voice)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Where I LiveBrittanyEpisode: "Married... with Children"
1995Living SingleTracyEpisode: "He Works Hard for the Money"
Guideposts JunctionMailbox Kid #3Episode: "Angels, Angels"
The Parent 'HoodMonicaEpisode: "A Kiss Is Just a Kiss"
1996In the HouseEricaEpisode: "Love on a One-Way Street" & "My Crazy Valentine"
SistersLittle GirlEpisode: "The Price"
Lois & ClarkEpisode: "Through a Glass, Darkly"
ERLilyEpisode: "Take These Broken Wings"
The ShowNiaEpisode: "The Last Episode of the Season and Them"
Public MoralsGretel RuggsEpisode: "The Cornflower Cover"
Touched by an AngelAnnieEpisode: "The Journalist"
FriendsCharla NicholsEpisode: "The One Where Rachel Quits"
1997Family MattersKelsey WebsterEpisode: "Le Jour d'Amour"
Walker, Texas RangerKyla JarvisEpisode: "The Neighborhood"
Smart GuyLillieEpisode: "Baby, It's You and You and You"
1998The PretenderTracy JohnsonEpisode: "Gigolo Jarod"
Smart GuyBrandiEpisode: "Bad Boy" & "She Got Game"
Any Day NowBirdieEpisode: "You Shoulda Seen My Daddy"
1999BeckerKeishaEpisode: "Limits & Boundaries"
So WeirdKamilah SimmondsEpisode: "Lost"
Sister SisterBasketball PlayerEpisode: "The Road Less Traveled"
The Parent 'HoodMonicaEpisode: "To Kiss or Not to Kiss"
MoeshaPatriciaEpisode: "The Crush"
2000The ParkersShaquillaEpisode: "Bad to the Bone"
The HughleysKenyathaEpisode: "The Thin Black Line"
MoeshaSabrina WilsonEpisode: "Netcam"
Strong MedicineDonna JenkinsEpisode: "Brainchild"
2001Lizzie McGuireBrooke BakerEpisode: "Gordo and the Girl"
2001–05The Proud FamilyPenny Proud (voice)Main Cast
2001–06One on OneBreanna Latrice BarnesMain Cast
2002Super Short ShowHerselfEpisode: "The Proud Family Movie/That's So Raven: Raven's House Party: 1"
2004Veronica MarsGeorgiaEpisode: "The Wrath of Con"
2005Dr. PhilHerselfEpisode: "Dr. Phil & Dr. Bill"
Lilo & Stitch: The SeriesPenny Proud (voice)Episode: "Spats: Experiment #397"
2012The MentalistJuliana McVieEpisode: "Black Cherry"
2012–14Let's Stay TogetherCrystal WhitmoreMain Cast: Seasons 2–4
2013L.A. HairHerselfEpisode: "Don't Mess With My Mama"
2015The Soul ManAliciaEpisode: No Weddings and Ten Funerals
2016Recovery RoadTrish CollinsMain Cast
2018In the CutLaShantayEpisode: "The Ring Bearer"
2019Black Ink Crew: ComptonHerselfSupporting Cast: Season 1
2020InsecureDinaEpisode: "Lowkey Done"
2021DuncanvilleAllison (voice)Episode: "Crimes and Misters Demean Her" & "Witch Day 2"
BronzevilleMaisieEpisode: "3,5,11,29"
We Stay LookingKeishaEpisode: "Wet and Alone"
2021–23Call Me KatRandiMain Cast
2022Celebrity Family FeudHerself/ContestantEpisode: "Salt-N-Pepa vs. The Proud Family and Bel-Air vs. Saved by the Bell"
The WheelHerself/Animated Movies ExpertEpisode: "Fish N' Chips & Gold Medal Flips"
A Black Lady Sketch ShowEdge DonorEpisode: "Save My Edges, I'm a Donor!"
TalesStephanieEpisode: "Survival of the Fittest"
2022–The Proud Family: Louder and ProuderPenny Proud (voice)Main Cast
2023ChibiverseEpisode: "Chibi Villains Unite"
Fantasy IslandPeachesEpisode: "Peaches and the Jilted Bride"

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
2003"What a Girl Wants"B2K

References