Telma Louise Hopkins (born October 28, 1948) is an American singer and actress. She rose to prominence as a part of the Pop/R&B singing group Tony Orlando And Dawn, which had a number of hit singles, as well as a variety show on CBS from 1974-1976. Hopkins continued to work as an actress throughout the end of the The '70s and The '80s, with her most well known roles being Addy Wilson in Gimme a Break! and as Rachel Baines–Crawford in Family Matters. She also had a starring role in Getting By.
She is also known as the singer that sang "Shut your mouth!" on Isaac Hayes's "Theme from Shaft."
Selected Filmography
Film
- The Kid with the Broken Halo (1982) - Gail Desautel, television film
- Trancers (1984) - Ruth "Ruthie" Raines
- Pulse Pounders (1988) - Ruth "Ruthie" Raines, cameo
- Trancers II (1991) - Ruth "Ruthie" Raines
- Trancers III (1992) - Ruth "Ruthie" Raines
- The Wood (1999) - Slim's Mother
- Down To Earth (2001) - Woman in Audience, cameo
- The Love Guru (2008) - Lillian Roanoke
- Trancers: City of Lost Angels (2013) - Ruth "Ruthie" Raines, short film
Television
- Tony Orlando and Dawn (1974–1976) - Herself
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) - Daisy, miniseries
- A New Kind Of Family (1979–1980) - Jess Ashton, series regular
- Bosom Buddies (1980–1982) - Isabelle Hammond, series regular
- Gimme a Break! (1983–1987) - Addy Wilson, series regular
- Family Matters (1989–1997) - Rachel Crawford, series regular
- Getting By (1993–1994) - Dolores Dixon, series regular
- The Hughleys (1999–2001) - Paulette Williams, 5 episodes
- Histeria! (2000) - Rosa Parks (voice), 1 episode: "Heroes of Truth and Justice"
- Static Shock (2000) - Mrs. Barnett (voice), 1 episode: "The Breed"
- Any Day Now (2000–2001) - Judge Wilma Evers, 4 episodes
- Half & Half (2002–2006) - Phyllis Thorne, series regular
- Are We There Yet? (2010–2013) - Marilyn Persons, series regular
- Partners (2014) - Ruth Jackson, series regular
- Lab Rats (2012–2014) - Grandma Rose, 3 episodes
- Dead to Me (2019) - Yolanda, 4 episodes
- The Loud House (2019) - Maybelle (voice), 2 episodes
- Family Reunion (2019–present) - Maybelle, 7 episodes
- The Casagrandes (2019) - Maybelle (voice), recurring role
Discography (with Tony Orlando and Dawn)
- Candida (1970)
- Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando (1971)
- Tie a Yellow Ribbon (1973)
- Tuneweaving (1973)
- Dawn's New Ragtime Follies (1973)
- Prime Time (1974)
- Candida & Knock Three Times (1974)
- Tony Orlando & Dawn II (1974)
- Golden Ribbons (1974)
- Greatest Hits (1975)
- He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) (1975)
- Skybird (1975)
- To Be With You (1976)
- The World of Tony Orlando & Dawn (1976)
- Tony Orlando & Dawn (1977)
- The Tony Orlando & Dawn Collection (1979)
- The Best Of (1994)
- House Of Strangers (1993)
- Knock Three Times (20 Greatest Hits) (1995)
- The Definitive Collection (1998)
- Knock Three Times: Encore Collection (1999)
- Platinum & Gold Collection (2003)
- The Yellow Ribbon Collection (2005)
- The Ultimate Collection (2005)
- Christmas Reunion (2005)