Download Report

For Immediate Release
KESHIA KNIGHT PULLIAM AND ROMEO MILLER
DISCOVER THEIR TRUE FEELINGS
IN THE UP ORIGINAL MOVIE
THE LOVE LETTER
PREMIERES SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 AND
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 AT 7, 9 AND 11 P.M. EDT
Ensemble Cast Includes Jackée Harry, Marques Houston,
Erica Hubbard, Tequilla Whitfield, and Terrill Patterson
ATLANTA – August 2, 2013 – UP, America’s favorite channel for uplifting family entertainment, presents
the UP Original Movie The Love Letter (#TheLoveLetter), a romantic drama about the path from
friendship to true love, starring Emmy® nominee Keshia Knight Pulliam (“House of Payne,” “The Cosby
Show”), Romeo Miller (Madea’s Witness Protection, Jumping the Broom, Honey), Emmy Award winner
and Golden Globe® nominee Jackée Harry (“The First Family,” “Sister, Sister,” “227”), Marques Houston
(“Cuts,” “One on One”), Erica Hubbard (“Lincoln Heights,” “Let’s Stay Together”), Tequilla Whitfield (“A
Cross to Bear,” Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming), and newcomer Terrill Patterson. Gary Wheeler (UP’s
The Perfect Summer, Somebody’s Child) directs from a script by Chazitear Martin. The Love Letter will
premiere exclusively on UP on Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11 at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. EDT.
The Love Letter explores just how tricky things can get when your best friend is the opposite sex. Parker
(Keshia Knight Pulliam), an established entertainment columnist, and her sports-fanatic best friend, Aaron
(Romeo Miller), have been inseparable since childhood. They know everything about each other – from
her dating mishaps to the fact that he doesn’t love his current girlfriend, which makes his sudden
engagement all the more surprising and planning his wedding very difficult. Parker’s meddling mother,
Josephine (Jackée Harry), is determined to get her mind off of Aaron's wedding by introducing her to
"nice guys," including millionaire Wesley (Marques Houston). Still, Parker finds it impossible to focus on
much besides Aaron and his relationship. She decides to explore her feelings in her magazine column,
penning a letter from an “anonymous” reader looking for advice. Surprised by the overwhelming reader
feedback and her feelings, Parker realizes something about herself and what she really wants out of life.
“The Love Letter is a charming story about the search for happiness and putting friendship to the test for
love – something everyone can identify with,” says Leslie Glenn Chesloff, executive vice president of
programming, UP. “This film explores the adage that you can find love where you least expect it and that
it might be right in front of you all along.”
Keshia Knight Pulliam began her career when she was nine months old in a national print ad for Johnson
& Johnson Baby Products. By age four, she had appeared in several national commercials, in the feature
film The Last Dragon and was a regular on “Sesame Street.”
Best known as Rudy Huxtable, the
youngest daughter of Clair and Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” (1984–92), she won several NAACP
Image Awards, Young Artist Awards, a People's Choice Award, a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award and a
host of other honors for that role. She also starred in a host of TV movies, including the period holiday
drama The Little Match Girl (1987), the Mark Twain update A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s
Court (1989), and Debbie Allen’s musical version of Pollyanna, Polly (1989), as well as the sequel Polly:
Comin’ Home! (1990). After “The Cosby Show,” Pulliam took several years away from acting to
concentrate on school, graduating in 2001 with honors from Spelman College with a B.A. in Sociology
and a concentration in film. Since then, she has appeared with Queen Latifah in Beauty Shop (2005),
with Boris Kodjoe and Idris Elba in The Gospel (2005), and Tyler Perry and Derek Luke in Madea Goes to
Jail (2009). Pulliam currently stars in Perry’s “House of Payne,” for which she has won three NAACP
Image Awards. She also appeared beside basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and comedian Louie
Anderson in the reality television series “Splash” on ABC, and on “Guys with Kids” on NBC. Pulliam
heads her own Atlanta-based production company, Kizzy Productions, and is the founder of Kamp Kizzy,
a non-profit organization for young girls.
She also is the co-founder and member of The A-List
Experience, which serves as a fundraising vehicle for celebrities.
Romeo Miller found success in the entertainment industry early as a recording artist. At age 10, he
became the youngest entertainer to top the Billboard charts. A multi-platinum recording artist, he has
sold more than 10 million records worldwide and won both a Grammy ® and an American Music Award.
By the time he was a teenager, Miller starred in his own television show on Nickelodeon, “Romeo!”
(2003–06), and began quickly began building his resume by appearing on TV and in feature films. He
appeared in the film Honey (2003) with Jessica Alba, as well as on the TV series “The Defenders” and
“The Cape” before starring in Jumping the Broom (2011) alongside Angela Bassett and Paula Patton.
Fans also caught up with Miller in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection (2012). He is the CEO of the
multimillion-dollar record company No Limit Forever and serves as the national spokesperson for Urban
Born, a non-profit dedicated to changing the lives of at-risk youth. In that role, Miller travels the country
visiting inner-city schools and community centers to teach young people the importance of staying in
school, staying off drugs and staying out of gangs. Miller majored in business and film at the University of
Southern California, where he and his teammates on the basketball team won the school’s first PAC 10
Championship.
Jackée Harry landed her first role – the King in her school’s production of “The King and I” – at the age of
14. She made her professional acting debut in Richard Wesley’s “Goin’ Through Changes” in 1973, and
shortly thereafter made her Broadway debut as Melinda Bernard in “A Broadway Musical.” Jackée made
her television debut opposite Morgan Freeman in the daytime soap opera “Another World” in 1983, and a
year later landed her iconic role of Sandra Clark on the NBC sitcom “227,” for which she became a
Golden Globe nominee and the first African-American to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting
Actress in a Comedy Series. She starred opposite Oprah Winfrey in the critically acclaimed adaptation
of Gloria Naylorʼs novel The Women of Brewster Place (1989), and in 1991, Jackée joined an all-star cast
led by Della Reese in the TV series “The Royal Family.” From 1994–99 she starred as the adoptive
mother of Tia and Tamara Mowryʼs characters on the ABC/WB sitcom “Sister, Sister,” winning the
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for two consecutive years
(1999 and 2000).
Jackée also made guest appearances on “Amen,” “Designing Women,” “Daveʼs
World,” “Hollywood Squares,” “7th Heaven” and “Thatʼs So Raven” before joining the cast of “Everybody
Hates Chris” in 2006. She returned to the stage in 1994 as Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emersonʼs Bar
and Grill,” and in 2003 played the Madam in “The Boys From Syracuse” on Broadway. More recently,
Jackée performed before sold-out audiences across the nation in the stage play “The Cleanup Woman.”
Currently starring on the CWʼs “The First Family,” she has a recurring role on BETʼs “Letʼs Stay Together,”
and will have a recurring role on “Girl Meets World,” Disney Channelʼs new spin-off of the popular show
“Boy Meets World.” Jackée is proud to be a spokesperson for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund,
and a Global Ambassador to the Womenʼs International Center. The National Congress of Black Women
presented her with the “Woman of Substance” Award in 2010.
Marques Houston was first introduced to audiences at age 11, when Immature, the band he formed with
childhood friends Jerome “Romeo” Jones and Don “Half Pint” Santos, released its first single, “On Our
Worst Behavior,” which was produced by Chris Stokes. As the band became more successful, Houston
began pursuing an acting career, lending his voice to the character Kahill in the animated feature film
Bébé’s Kids (1992) and appearing with his band mates on the TV series “A Different World” (1993). He
went on to star as Roger Evans in “Sister Sister” (1994–99) and landed a role in the feature film Good
Burger (1997). Later, Houston faced tragedy at home when his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
Inspired by her, he wrote “Please Don’t Go,” which was featured on the Immature album “We Got It.” In
1998, the band changed its name to IMx and released two more albums before disbanding in 2002. As a
solo artist, Houston appeared on the Scream tours with B2K, Nick Cannon and Bow Wow as his single
“Clubbin’” hit the UK Top 20. At the same time, Houston appeared in You Got Served (2004) and Fat
Albert (2004) and on the TV series “One on One” (2004–06) and its spinoff, “Cuts,” (2005–06). He
appeared alongside R&B artist Omarion in the film Somebody Help Me (2007), while releasing his second
album, “Naked,” and his third album, “Veteran,” which reached Number 5 on the Billboard Hot 200.
Recently, Marques starred in Battlefield America (2012) with co-stars Mekia Cox and Lynn Whitfield, a
film directed by Chris Stokes.
Erica Hubbard got her start in Chicago, landing her first TV show after graduating from Columbia College,
where she studied broadcast journalism and theater. Her work on the show, “Up ‘N Running” (1997–
2001), which was geared toward teens and tweens and aired on a UPN affiliate in Chicago, garnered her
a Regional Emmy and a Service to America Award from the National Association of Broadcasters. After
doing voice-over work and starring in numerous national commercials including McDonald’s, MCI,
Reebok, Sears and Noxema, she moved to Los Angeles and promptly landed roles in the feature films
Save the Last Dance (2001), A Cinderella Story (2004), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and
Akeelah and the Bee (2006). Her television credits include guest-starring roles on “CSI: Miami” (2005),
“Everybody Hates Chris” (2005) and “Cold Case” (2010), and she was a series regular and the voice of
Abbey on the animated series “The Replacements” (2006–07). Hubbard won an NAACP Theater award
for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the play “What Would Jesus Do?” in 2008, and starred for four
successful seasons in the critically acclaimed ABC Family drama “Lincoln Heights,” which won a 2010
NAACP Image Award. Currently, she stars as Kita in BET’s hit series “Let’s Stay Together.” An active
philanthropist, Hubbard volunteers for organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and is
the Executive Director of The Erica Hubbard Foundation, speaking in schools, community centers and
youth organizations helping at-risk, inner city kids that deal with low self-esteem and poverty.
Tequilla Whitfield made her television debut in GMC’s A Cross to Bear, opposite Kim Fields. Her mentor
and acting coach Terri J. Vaughn also produced the film. Focused and devoted to her craft, Tequilla has
invested in her acting career by attending many acting workshops and theater classes. She studies with
Emmy Award Winner Gregory Alan Williams, Emmy-nominated director Mary Lou Belli. In addition for the
past 3 years, she has studied with Image Award-winning actress, Terri J. Vaughn.
For photos and more information, please go to www.UPtv.com/TheLoveLetterPressRoom.
The Love Letter is written by Chazitear Martin and is directed by Gary Wheeler. The Love Letter is
produced by Swirl Films.
Follow our cast at:
 www.UPtv.com/TheLoveLetter
 Keshia Knight Pulliam @peachespulliam

Romeo Miller on Twitter @RomeoMiller

Jackée Harry on Twitter @JackeeHarry

Marques Houston on Twitter @marqueshouston

Erica Hubbard on Twitter @EricaHubbard

Tequilla Whitfield on @tequillakiki.
About UP
UP, (www.UPtv.com) based in Atlanta, is America’s favorite network for uplifting family entertainment.
The network presents original and acquired movies, series, stage plays and music specials along with
gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service. The UP brand is reflected in “Uplift Someone,”
the network’s successful pro-social initiative. UP can be seen in more than 61 million homes on major
cable systems
including
Comcast, Time
Warner
Cable, Cox
Communications
and Charter
Communications, as well as DIRECTV on channel 338, DISH Network on channel 188, and Verizon FiOS
on channel 224.
Follow UP on Facebook & Twitter http://facebook.com/UPtv & @UPtv.
About Swirl Films
Swirl Films (www.swirlfilms.com/) is America’s “number one urban film production company,” focusing on
independent features and multi-camera productions. The company regularly supervises and executes a
variety of production elements, from casting and budget creation to talent relations and securing
distribution for numerous films. Recent original productions include: the NAACP Image Award nominated
UP original movie Somebody’s Child, starring Michael Jai White (Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie,
Mini-Series or Dramatic Special), Byron Minns, Nadine Ellis, Clifton Powell and Lynn Whitfield; and the
UP original stage play, “Sugar Mommas,” (Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic
Special) starring Terri J. Vaughn, Vanessa Williams, Rachel True, Lamman Rucker and Tommy Ford.
Swirl Films is a major content provider for UP. Most recently, Swirl Films produced The Perfect
Summer, starring Eric Roberts, Sydney Penny and Jason Castro in his TV acting debut. Hit programming
includes She’s Still Not Our Sister, starring Kellita Smith and Jackée Harry; and the Wedding Vow
Series, starring Rockmond Dunbar, Letoya Luckett, Eva Marcille, Mel Jackson, Leon, Vanessa Simmons,
Angell Conwell, and Clifton Powell.
Other original productions include Love For Sale, a romantic comedy starring Jackie Long, Jason
Weaver, Mya and Melyssa Ford; and 35 & Ticking, a feel good romantic comedy starring Kevin Hart,
Nicole Ari Parker, Keith Robinson, Tamela Jones and Darius McCrary. Swirl Films has also produced
several home video and theatrical titles including The Under Shepherd, a 2012 ABFF Official Selection
and winner of ABFF Grand Jury Awards for Best Narrative Feature, Best Director (Russ Parr) and Best
Actor (Malinda Williams).
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Chelsye J. Burrows
David Gardner
770.692.4559
770.692.9939
[email protected]
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