Liz Mikel

Elizabeth Juliene Mikel, known professionally as Liz Mikel, is an American actress and jazz vocalist who has become a cornerstone of the Dallas performing‑arts community. Born on November 7, 1963 in Dallas, Texas, she began her career in the early 1970s, quickly establishing herself on the stages of the Dallas Theater Center and Theater Three, where she earned a reputation for her powerful, resonant voice and magnetic stage presence. Over more than four decades, Mikel’s versatility has shone through in an array of roles, from gritty television dramas such as Friday Night Lights, where she portrayed the beloved Corrina “Mama” Williams, to memorable guest spots on LAX, Prison Break, and Past Life. Her film work includes The Quest for Freedom, It’s in the Water, Detention (also known as Learning Curve), Seventy‑8, Carried Away, and a standout turn as Ruthie Jenkins in Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins. On Broadway she headlined Lysistrata Jones, earning critical praise from the New York Times for a "commanding" performance, while theater critics in Dallas have described her voice as "an immense, joyful force" capable of filling an entire mountain range with song.

Beyond her on‑stage achievements, Mikel has been honored with numerous awards, including the 1998 Leon Rabin Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical, the Sankofa Award for dedication to community arts, and the Dallas Theater Critics Forum Award in 2004 for Ain’t Misbehavin. In 2008 she received the Column Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical‑Equity for Caroline, or Change. Despite personal hardships—most notably the 2010 fire that destroyed her home and belongings—the Dallas arts community rallied around her, mounting benefit concerts and donating ticket proceeds, a testament to her status as the "Queen of the Arts" in Dallas. Today, Liz Mikel continues to inspire audiences and fellow artists alike, embodying a remarkable blend of talent, resilience, and dedication to her craft.