Kim Fields

Kim Fields was born on May 12, 1969, in New York City. She began her career as a child actress, gaining recognition for co-starring in the short-lived sitcom “Baby, I’m Back” and appearing in a commercial for Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup. Her early work also included two episodes of “Good Times” (1978–1979), where she appeared as a friend of Penny Gordon Woods, played by Janet Jackson. Fields became widely known for her role as Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey on the NBC sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes” (1979–1981) and its spin-off, “The Facts of Life” (1979–1988). Initially, due to her height, she wore roller skates during the first season of “The Facts of Life” to accommodate camera angles. Fields later released two singles, “He Loves Me He Loves Me Not” (1984), which became a minor club hit, and “Dear Michael” (1984), a minor R&B hit reaching No. 50.

After a break to pursue higher education, Fields earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Pepperdine University. She then transitioned into more mature roles, notably as Regine Hunter on the Fox sitcom “Living Single” (1993–1998), where she acted alongside her real-life mother, Chip Fields. Following “Living Single,” she explored music with the R&B and rap group Impromp 2. Her career then saw a significant shift into directing, where she helmed episodes for Nickelodeon’s “Kenan & Kel” (1996–2000), Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” (2009–2011), Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne” (2007–2022), and BET’s “Let’s Stay Together” (2011). In 2010, she co-produced and directed “Holiday Love,” a Christmas television special with her husband, Christopher Morgan, which aired on TV One.

Fields continued to expand her career, participating in reality television, joining “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” for its eighth season (2015–2016) and competing on “Dancing with the Stars” (2016), finishing in 8th place. In 2017, she played Theresa Newman in the Christian film “A Question of Faith,” marking her first co-starring role in a feature film. More recently, Fields has starred as Regina Upshaw in the Netflix original series “The Upshaws” (2021–present) and directed episodes for “Haus of Vicious” (2022) and “Extended Family” (2024), demonstrating her enduring presence and versatility in the entertainment industry.