Paula Patton

Early life and education

Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (née Vanraden), a school teacher, and Charles Patton, a lawyer. Her mother is of German and Dutch descent, and her father is African-American. She graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School, and then started college at University of California, Berkeley, transferring to University of Southern California's Film School after her first year. Shortly after completing her studies, she won a three-month assignment making documentaries for PBS.

Career

Patton provided additional vocals for Usher on his 2004 album Confessions. She provided the female vocal counterpart on the song "Can U Handle It?" which was co-written by Robin Thicke, whom she would later marry. Patton has song-writing credits on multiple Robin Thicke albums under the name "Max", derived from her middle name (Maxine). Patton made her film debut with a small part in the 2005 romantic comedy film Hitch, alongside Will Smith. In the same year, she followed that with a small part in the drama film London. In 2006, she appeared alongside OutKast members Andre Benjamin and Big Boi in the musical film Idlewild written and directed by Bryan Barber.

Patton's big break came in 2006 when she landed the pivotal female lead role of Claire Kuchever in the science fiction thriller Déjà Vu alongside Denzel Washington. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office hit, grossing over worldwide. She also appeared in her then-husband Robin Thicke's "Lost Without You" video in 2006. In an interview with Hot 97 Paula revealed on Ebro in the Morning that she ghostwrote with her ex-husband Robin Thicke under the name Max Haddington. In 2008, Patton played television reporter Kate Madison in the comedy-drama Swing Vote alongside Kevin Costner and Amy Carson, the wife of Ben (Kiefer Sutherland) in the supernatural horror film Mirrors. In Lee Daniels's critically acclaimed drama film Precious (2009), she played Ms. Blu Rain, a teacher at the alternative high school in Harlem, New York, who teaches and mentors disadvantaged students, including the titular character, Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey Sidibe). She later co-starred as Queen Latifah's character's god-sister in the romantic comedy Just Wright (2010).

In late 2010, it was announced that Patton would succeed Sharon Stone as the new full time assistant district attorney on the NBC crime drama series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. When Patton was cast in the lead female role in action film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, however, her role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was reduced to one episode. She was replaced by Melissa Sagemiller. Mission: Impossible was released on December 16, 2011, and was a critical and commercial success, grossing almost worldwide. Also in 2011, Patton played the leading role in the comedy film Jumping the Broom.

In 2013, Patton co-starred alongside Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in the action comedy film 2 Guns, and starred in the leading role in the romantic comedy film Baggage Claim. The latter film received negative reviews from numerous critics. On February 24, 2015, it was announced that Patton was cast as lead character in the ABC crime drama pilot Runner. It was not picked up to series.

In 2016, Patton starred in the romantic comedy film The Perfect Match, alongside Terrence Jenkins and Cassie Ventura, appeared alongside Adam Sandler and David Spade in direct-to-Netflix comedy film The Do-Over, and starred as Garona Halforcen in the Warcraft film adaptation, released in June.

In January 2017, Patton was cast in the lead role of the ABC drama series Somewhere Between, which premiered as a mid-season replacement on July 24, 2017, and was cancelled after one season. In 2019, she starred in the BET+ first original film, Sacrifice.

Personal life

In 1991, at age 15, Patton met recording artist Robin Thicke, who was then 14, at an under-21 hip-hop club called Balistyx (co-founded and co-hosted by David Faustino) on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, when Thicke asked her to dance. According to Thicke, he sang Stevie Wonder's "Jungle Fever" to her as they danced. The couple did not begin dating until 1993 and married on June 11, 2005. Patton gave birth to their son, Julian Fuego, on April 6, 2010. They announced their separation on February 24, 2014, after 21 years together and almost nine years of marriage. On October 8, 2014, Patton officially filed for divorce and joint custody of their son. The divorce was finalized on March 20, 2015.

In January 2017, a judge denied Patton's request to limit Thicke's custody after she accused him of child abuse. Later that month, Patton was granted sole custody and a restraining order that included their son Julian and her mother Joyce Patton against Thicke after she accused him of domestic violence, infidelity, and drug and alcohol addiction. Patton and Thicke reached a custody agreement in August 2017.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "Paula Patton - Actress". [[A&E Networks]].
2. (December 5, 2018). "Paula Patton Talks Race". Karen Hunter Show.
3. Fischer, Paul. (August 1, 2008). "Exclusive Interview : Paula Patton". Moviehole.net.
4. Oksenhorn, Stewart. (September 30, 2009). "Paula Patton offers 'Precious' performance, earns Aspen Film honor". [[The Aspen Times]].
5. Evans, Rory. (January 26, 2010). "Paula Patton: Precious star Paula Patton reveals all". [[Women's Health (magazine).
6. Cammila Collar. (2014). "Paula Patton". [[The New York Times]].
7. "Paula Patton Biography". [[TV Guide]].
8. "Confessions: Usher". Rovi Corporation.
9. (August 26, 2013). "5 Things You Don't Know About Paula Patton". [[Entertainment Tonight]].
10. (August 2006). "IDLEWILD: An Interview with Paula Patton". Blackfilm.com.
11. Murray, Rebecca. "Paula Patton Talks About "Deja Vu"". About.com.
12. "Deja Vu (2006)". [[Box Office Mojo]].
13. {{YouTube. 0DdCoNbbRvQ. Robin Thicke - Lost Without U
14. (May 14, 2010). "Just Wright". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
15. O'Connor, Mickey. (July 21, 2010). "Precious Star Paula Patton Is Law & Order: SVU's New ADA". [[TV Guide]].
16. Ausiello, Michael. (June 23, 2010). "'Law & Order: SVU' exclusive: 'Precious' star circling new ADA post".
17. Harnick, Chris. (September 10, 2010). "Melissa Sagemiller to Replace Paula Patton on 'Law and Order: SVU'". TVSquad.com.
18. "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)". [[Box Office Mojo]].
19. "Jumping the Broom (2011) - Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo.
20. (May 5, 2011). "Movie Projector: 'Thor' to hammer competition at the box office". [[Los Angeles Times]].
21. (September 27, 2013). "Baggage Claim". Rotten Tomatoes.
22. Andreeva, Nellie. (February 24, 2015). "Paula Patton Cast As Lead In ABC Pilot 'Runner' - Deadline". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
23. Wagmeister, Elizabeth. (February 24, 2015). "Paula Patton Lands Lead Role In ABC Drama Pilot 'Runner'". [[Variety (magazine).
24. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (June 1, 2015). "Paula Patton Joins Adam Sandler & David Spade In Netflix Comedy 'The Do Over'". Deadline Hollywood.
25. Siegel, Tatiana. (July 1, 2015). "Terrence Jenkins, Paula Patton to Star in 'The Perfect Match' (Exclusive)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
26. Collura, Scott. (December 4, 2013). "Ben Foster and Dominic Cooper Head for Warcraft". [[IGN]].
27. (January 26, 2017). "Paula Patton to Star in ABC Straight-to-Series Drama 'Somewhere Between'". The Hollywood Reporter.
28. Nolfi, Joey. (November 27, 2019). "Exclusive: Paula Patton is a boss lady you DON'T want to cross in wild 'Sacrifice' trailer".
29. "Robin Thicke Interview".
30. "V-Intimate Nights with Robin Thicke! Q & A".
31. Penn, Charli. (December 21, 2011). "Exclusive: Robin Thicke on Loving Black Women, Interracial Dating, and Pleasing Paula". [[Essence (magazine).
32. Cruz, Anne Marie. (April 7, 2010). "Robin Thicke and Paula Patton Welcome a Son". [[People (magazine).
33. Duke, Alan. (February 24, 2014). "Robin Thicke and Paula Patton 'mutually' decide to split". [[CNN]].
34. Clark, Cindy. (February 25, 2014). "Robin Thicke, Paula Patton announce split". [[USA Today]].
35. (February 24, 2014). "Robin Thicke and Paula Patton 'mutually' decide to split". CNN.
36. McAfee, Tierney. (October 8, 2014). "Paula Patton Files For Divorce From Robin Thicke". [[Hollywood Life]].
37. Oldenburg, Ann. (March 20, 2015). "Robin Thicke, Paula Patton divorce finalized". [[The Hamilton Spectator]].
38. Chiu, Melody. (January 12, 2017). "Paula Patton Accuses Robin Thicke of Abusively Spanking Their Son, Judge Denies Her Request to Limit Custody". [[People (magazine).
39. Boulware, Rev Dorothy S.. (2025-06-16). "Paula Patton Finds Redemption in Drama 'Finding Faith'".