Kali Hawk

Kali Hawk (born October 4, 1986) is an American actress, comedian, model, and jewelry designer whose career has been marked by versatility and a steady presence in both film and television. Raised in Manhattan, she grew up in a family connected to the fashion industry—her father worked in merchandising while her mother served as a buyer for Bloomingdale’s—an environment that likely nurtured her later ventures into modeling and jewelry design. Hawk’s diverse heritage, encompassing African‑American, Native American, and German Jewish roots, informs her distinctive perspective and comedic timing, which she honed after earning a BFA from the State University of New York at Purchase. She first entered the public eye through commercials, music videos, and a notable appearance on the fifth season of Last Comic Standing in 2007, where she showcased her stand‑up chops. Her filmography quickly expanded with supporting roles in mainstream comedies such as Couples Retreat, Get Him to the Greek, Bridesmaids, and the parody Fifty Shades of Black, as well as starring turns in Peeples and Answer This!. On television, Hawk made a memorable impact as Shelby on the popular sitcom New Girl and co‑starred in Adult Swim’s satirical series Black Jesus. In 2012 she was attached to the In Living Color reboot pilot, and later, in 2019, she was cast as Wilma, a science teacher on ABC’s Schooled, though she was replaced before the episode aired. In addition to acting, Hawk leverages her fashion background by designing jewelry, merging her artistic sensibilities with entrepreneurship. Her continued presence across multiple entertainment mediums underscores a career built on adaptability, humor, and creative expression.