Marva Hicks obit

 

Petersburg-born singer and actress Marva Hicks dies; friend calls her 'a vocal juggernaut'

The singer scored a top-10 R&B hit in 1991 with 'Never Been In Love Before' and acted on Broadway, TV and in movies.

She was not on the list.

Fans, family and friends are mourning the loss of singer/actress and Petersburg, Virginia native Marva Hicks, who scored a top-10 hit song with "Never Been In Love Before" 21 years ago and acted in 24 TV shows and movies.

Hicks died Sept. 16 of undisclosed causes. Online records, including movie internet database IMDb, listed her age as 47. However, some friends of hers told The Progress-Index that she graduated from Petersburg High School in 1974, and she actually was in her mid-60s.

Her death was announced by her husband, Akwasi Taha, and her family in a statement to Ebony magazine.

"The love she had for her husband, family, friends, and entertainment community knew no bounds," the statement read. "We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love. Thank you for your compassion and prayers."

Close friend and fellow actress Holly Robinson-Peete paid homage to Hicks on Twitter and sent condolences to her family.

"Rest in Heavenly Eternal Peace, Sis," Robinson-Peete tweeted.

Born in Petersburg, Hicks was close friends with Blair Underwood, another famous actor from here, and his family. Underwood's brother, Frank Underwood Jr., remembered her on Facebook, calling her "severely talented" and a "vocal juggernaut," and said news of her death was hard to hear.

""It is always a gut punch when a friend or family member is taken to the great unknown, prompting the statement 'gone too soon,'" Underwood, a writer and artist, wrote.

Music journalist Lorraine King tweeted, "Such a talented lady who will be sadly missed." Actress Felicia Boswell tweeted a photo of Hicks with the words, "True legend."

Her TV work included "One Life to Live," "Sister, Sister" and "Star Trek: Voyager." On the silver screen, she played Roberta Williams in the 1999 film "Asunder," opposite Underwood and Debbi Morgan;" and 2013's "Labor Day" with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.

In addition to her TV and movie work, Hicks was a frequent performer in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. She acted in "Motown the Musical," "Caroline, or Change," "The Lion King" and "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" on Broadway; and off-Broadway in "Thunder Knocking on the Door," " Caroline, or Change," and "The First Breeze of Summer."

She was a three-time winner of the Helen Hayes Award, which is presented for theater excellence in the Washington, D.C. area.

As a vocalist, Hicks toured with performers such as Stevie Wonder. Michael Jackson, James Ingram and Sheryl Crow. She got her big solo break when her song, "Never Been In Love Before," went to No. 7 on the R&B chart for Polydor Records in 1991. It was part of her self-titled first CD that was released that same year.

Other songs she recorded included "Looking Over My Shoulder," "One Good Reason" and "I Got You Where I Want."

 

She also performed as Rafiki in The Lion King, as an understudy for the leading actress.

She played T'Pel, the wife of Tuvok, in three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.

She sings the gospel song "There's No Hiding Place Down Here" in the Babylon 5 episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place".

In 2013, Hicks appeared on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' album Mosquito, performing as part of Broadway Inspirational Voices on the first single "Sacrilege"

In her Twitter bio, Hicks described herself this way: "Singing out loud and strong is what I am blessed to do. I am growing creatively and always moving forward! Love is the greatest gift of all!"

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date, the family said in their statement.

Actress (24 credits)

 2019 Madam Secretary (TV Series)

Chief Clerk

- The New Normal (2019) ... Chief Clerk

 2017 The Blacklist (TV Series)

Judge

- Smokey Putnum (No. 30) (2017) ... Judge

 2016 Search Party (TV Series)

Virginia

- The Return of the Forgotten Phantom (2016) ... Virginia

 2015 Daredevil (TV Series)

District Attorney

- Daredevil (2015) ... District Attorney

 2013 Labor Day

Morning Anchor

 2013 House of Cards (TV Series)

Strategist 1

- Chapter 5 (2013) ... Strategist 1

 2007 AfterLife (Short)

Alicia

 2005 Preaching to the Choir

Cora Lee

 1995-2000 Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series)

T'Pel

- Body and Soul (2000) ... T'Pel

- Bliss (1999) ... T'Pel (uncredited)

- Persistence of Vision (1995) ... T'Pel

 2000 In a Blue Mood (Short)

Iris Blue

 1999 Asunder

Roberta Williams

 1998 The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (Video)

Singer (voice)

 1996 Babylon 5 (TV Series)

Singer

- And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place (1996) ... Singer

 1996 For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal (TV Movie)

Tanya

 1994-1996 Sister, Sister (TV Series)

Woman / Miss Lewis / Robert's Mother / ...

- The Piano Lesson (1996) ... Woman

- Double Double Date (1996) ... Miss Lewis

- It's a Love Thang (1994) ... Robert's Mother

- The Pimple (1994) ... Gospel Singer

 1995 Alien Nation: Body and Soul (TV Movie)

Balboa

 1995 Virtuosity

Onscreen Talent

 1993-1995 Mad About You (TV Series)

Remy

- Just My Dog (1995) ... Remy

- Mad About You: Part 2 (1995) ... Remy

- The Unplanned Child (1993) ... Remy

- Married to the Job (1993) ... Remy

 1994 South Central (TV Series)

- Co-op (1994)

 1994 The Sinbad Show (TV Series)

Rachel

- Love Lessons (1994) ... Rachel

 1993 Bodies, Rest & Motion

Singer

 1992-1993 L.A. Law (TV Series)

Lee Johnson

- Spanky and the Art Gang (1993) ... Lee Johnson

- Love on the Rox (1992) ... Lee Johnson

 1987 Enemy Territory

Hysterical Woman

 1968 One Life to Live (TV Series)

Jacara Principal (1997-1998)