Kamilah Forbes is a nationality, actress, producer and curator. In her early years, she was primarily focused on the performance of black women in entertainment, but as her career progressed, she found her voice traveling far beyond that. From creating the award winning drama High School Musical to the viral sensation That 70s Show, Kamilah Forbes has developed a body of work that continues to entertain viewers even today with each new project she is involved with. As a performer, Forbes has appeared on Broadway, cable TV’s Difficult People with Don Rickles, the ABC’s Once Upon a Time, and numerous other television and stage roles.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Forbes was named after her mother’s maiden name, Kasiha Forbes. Her original birth certificate listed her first name as Katherin, which is what she would go by throughout her acting and producing career. She is finished and English descent, and grew up studying ballet and piano in her father’s home. At age nine, Forbes was arrested and charged with felony grand theft, and as a result, was placed in juvenile detention.
She began performing at the age of twenty in an off-Broadway play and was scouted by The Big Shot, The Cape, and Broadway itself. After appearing in a few more plays, such as Lion King and It’s a Small World with Tim Matheson, Forbes was asked to perform opposite Edith Resnick in a movie version of The Round Up, which she also produced and starred in. After that film, she went on to star in several movies such as Something’s Gotta Give, Edward Scissorhands, The Secret, and Blues, among many others. Her greatest career break to date would come in the form of appearing alongside Reese Witherspoon in the critically acclaimed documentary You Can’t Take It with You. Kamilah Forbes was nominated for an Oscar for her work in this film.