Drucilla Winters (March 1990 through August 2000; August 15th, 2002 to April 6, 2007)
At a Glance
Born in Portland, Maine, Rowell was raised in foster care for eighteen years. Under the auspices of the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, eight-year-old Rowell received the Ford Foundation scholarship to the Cambridge School of Ballet, where after eight years of training she flourished as a dancer garnering scholarships to both the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre by age sixteen.
After dancing professionally with the American Ballet Theatre II Company, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Contemporary Ballet, Twyla Tharp Workshop and The Julliard School of Music Dance Extension Program with Anthony Tudor, Rowell decided to accept guest artist teaching posts in New England. After this experience, the opportunity presented itself for Rowell to pursue a career in modeling. Rowell soon began to grace the pages of "Seventeen," "Mademoiselle" and countless other magazines, before auditioning for her first television role on The Cosby Show.
Rowell landed the role of Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless in March 1990. During her eight year run on the daytime drama series, Rowell was honored with a Soap Opera Digest Award in the category of "Outstanding Actress In A Daytime Drama Series," a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for "Hottest Female Star In A Daytime Drama Series," and has received seven NAACP Image Awards in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress In A Daytime Drama Series."
Rowell has also appewared in feature films such as The Distinguished Gentlemen alongside Eddie Murphy, Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carrey and Eve's Bayou with Samuel L. Jackson and Diahann Carroll.
Outside of daytime television, Rowell may be best known for her role as medical examiner Dr. Amanda Bentley on Diagnosis Murder. Rowell co-starred with the legendary Dick Van Dyke for eight seasons.
Having spent eighteen years in foster care, Rowell became a voice for children like herself. In 1990, she founded The Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, which sponsors foster children to study fine arts and sports.
Rowell is an active contributor and or supporter of American for the Arts, The Ford Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, The Urban League, the NAACP, the Administration of Children's Services, NYV, New Yorkers for Children, the Alliance for Children's Rights, the Children's Defense Fund, Hope Worldwide, and the Department of Children and Family Services in various states.
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1996, 1997, 1998)
Image Awards Winner, Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Vital Statistics
BIRTHPLACE: Portland, Maine
BIRTHDATE: May 10th, 1960
MARITAL STATUS: Divorced; Tom Fahey (1989 - 1990)
CHILDREN: Daughter, Maya (with Tom Fahey); Son, Jasper (with Wynton Marsalis)
News Archives
News Archive: CBS, Rowell unable to come to terms on new contract. [Sep 18th, 2000]
News Archive: CBS confirms Rowell will return. [Jul 1st, 2002]
News Archive: Contract talks still ongoing between CBS, Rowell. [Aug 8th, 2005]
News Archive: Rowell, Y&R reach terms on new contract. [Aug 29th, 2005]
News Archive: Rowell asks to be released from her contract. [Feb 5th, 2007]
News Archive: Rowell says she's open to Y&R return. [Mar 3rd, 2008]
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