Neecole Cockerham is a Berkeley-born actress who entered the business as the first African American woman to grace the television ad campaigns of fashion stalwart’s Banana Republic. She continued on and garnered an overwhelming number of commercials for industry giants like Sears and IBM. Ad agencies cast her in more than 120 national commercials to date. She maintains the same humility she had before appearing in Vogue, O Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Martha Stewart. Neecole has also appeared on Billboards for Dockers, Kraft & other major print campaigns.
Her theatrical career began early in life as she gathered family and neighborhood children in the downstairs den of her family home and did different characters of sketch comedy skits, complete with wardrobe changes. Shaped as a promising creative being at the Bay Area-based Berkeley Arts Magnet, Neecole furthered her fervor for the theatrical arts at Cal State Northridge where she studied Acting for Television under the consummate professional, Lillian Lehman. She, additionally, studied with Eden Harmon at Estelle Harmon’s acting school in Los Angeles.
She has performed in such shows and films as: for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, Heroine Helen, Love Thy Neighbor, Significant Others, Do Over, The Life, Jesus’ secretary. However, her decade-long truth, passion project, and stand out performance was her dramatic one-woman show entitled I Am Not My Mother. She actually sold this show, which transcended race and economic status, as well as created a theater experience that was relatable, brought people together and told the story of an unexpected All-American girl.
After the show sold, her father, who she was extremely close to, unexpectedly passed. Tragedy ensued as she was in a near fatal car accident, where she broke her neck but survived. In her words, she was given new life…life with a purpose.
While still recovering from her horrific car accident, Neecole continues to push her limits as an artist, producer, and businesswoman with purpose. Due to her savvy business acumen and keen production skills after her accident in February 2017 she decided to devote her skills to being in service of others as a humble humanitarian for causes such as feeding several hundred women on Skid Row at The Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles at Christmas.
As of late, Neecole produces the annual West Adams Block Party. Her responsibilities include seeking and procuring strategic partners, aligning with the west adams citizens, partners and policymakers, and birthing a music stage with innovative talent and compelling storytellers. The Block party is a new business model that partners Non Profit organizations with the event for direct impact on urban areas.
When she’s not producing mega events or influencing the culture, she is back to her grind acting and has recently signed with Media Artist Group Agency. In 2016 she was in the running for a Pulitzer Prize as an American author for her One Woman Show “I am not my mother.” Additionally, she continues her quest as an artist by writing and producing multiple projects.
(*featured photo credit: Darien Davis)
For media inquiries regarding Neecole Cockerham and more information on the 2nd Annual West Adams Block Party, please contact Karen Lewis at (323) 424-9400
