Cheryl Pepsii Riley

Born: 1968-10-18

Cheryl Bridget 'Pepsii' Riley is an American singer and actress. Riley is best known for her music during the late 1980s through the early 1990s, most notable; 1988's R&B ballad "Thanks for My Child". Riley also starred in multiple Tyler Perry stage plays and films. After high school, Riley worked as a nurse for disabled children before beginning her singing career. Riley began her music career as a lead singer in the band Stargaze, who released the single "You Can't Have It" in 1982. In November 1988, Riley topped the US R&B chart and hit the Top 40 on the pop chart at No. 32 with the ballad, "Thanks for My Child," a song written by Full Force. Her second LP, Chapters, was issued and yielded the singles "How Can You Hurt The One You Love" and a cover of Aretha Franklin's 1968 hit "Ain't No Way". Her third album All That! was released by Reprise, and featured the singles "Gimme" and "Guess I'm In Love." After a hiatus from the entertainment industry, Riley re-emerged in the late 1990s by appearing on the songs "I Love It" and "Look Around" on The Beatnuts album A Musical Massacre. She also starred in a number of gospel plays for best-selling playwright Tyler Perry, including Madea's Class Reunion, Madea Goes to Jail, Why Did I Get Married?, Laugh to Keep from Crying, Madea's Big Happy Family and A Madea Christmas. She also appeared in the film versions of Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea's Big Happy Family. She is also starred in Tyler Perry's Madea Gets a Job (2012) and Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned (2014). Following her appearance on a number of tracks on the Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack in 2005, the following year Riley released Let Me Be Me, her first album in fourteen years. In 2015 she released a new solo album entitled Still Believe.


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Diary of a Mad Black Woman

as Singer at Banquet (uncredited)
Released: 2005-02-25

Charles, an attorney, and Helen, his devoted wife, seemed to have everything – money, a...

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Madea's Big Happy Family

as Choir
Released: 2011-04-22

When Shirley, Madea's niece, receives distressing news about her health, the only thing she...

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Madea's Class Reunion - The Play

as Stefanie
Released: 2003-09-13

When Madea shows up for her 50th class reunion, you know it’s going to be a whopper! Between the...

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Madea Goes to Jail - The Play

as Wanda
Released: 2006-06-27

Madea returns in another hilarious story in which she gets sent to the big house. But regardless...

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Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family - The Play

as Joyce
Released: 2010-11-23

Shirley has important news for her family, but she has five grown children with different...

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Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married - The Play

as Sheila
Released: 2006-06-27

From acclaimed and award-winning playwright Tyler Perry comes a sensational new stage play about...

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Tyler Perry's Madea Gets A Job - The Play

as Carla
Released: 2012-03-15

Tyler Perry's new musical stage play starring the infamous Mabel Simmons or "Madea" as her fans...

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Tyler Perry's Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned - The Play

as Anita Lincoln
Released: 2014-11-25

Anita is a successful, single woman who has it all - a great job, a loving family, and the...

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Laugh to Keep from Crying

as Carol
Released: 2011-08-30

The story line is based on life’s struggles in the inner city. How does one understand and...

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Colorz of Rage

as uncredited
Released: 1999-01-01

Writer-director Dale Resteghini's indie drama follows a young interracial couple (Resteghini and...

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