Pam Trotter on ABC’s hit comedy Abbott Elementary has a famous television connection of her own. Trotter, who portrays Dia on the popular series, is the daughter of veteran actor Ernest Lee Thomas, best known by generations of television fans as Raj from What’s Happening!! and Mr. Omar from Everybody Hates Chris.
Ernest Thomas became a household name playing Roger “Raj” Thomas on the classic 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! The series followed a group of teenage friends navigating life, friendship, family, and growing up. Thomas reprised his role in the follow-up series What’s Happening Now!!
Years later, Thomas introduced himself to a new generation of television viewers as Mr. Omar, the memorable funeral director on the Chris Rock-inspired sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.
His performances in both shows helped establish his place in television comedy history.
Now, his daughter Pam Trotter is making her own mark in the entertainment industry. While having a well-known actor as a father is an interesting part of her story, Trotter has built an acting résumé that includes numerous television appearances and film credits of her own.
Some of her notable television credits include:
- Abbott Elementary – Dia
- Life in Pieces – Pam
- My Name Is Earl – Daneesha
- Everybody Hates Chris – Bernardette
- NCIS: Los Angeles – Loretta Dawson
- Superstore – Sheila
- Swarm – Black Mom
- American Auto – Elaine
- Doctor Odyssey – Wife
- Shifting Gears – Nurse Mooney
- Shameless – Nurse’s Aide
- Good Trouble – Sister Wanda
- The Middle – Ms. Conrad
- The Goldbergs – Woman
- Stumptown – Housekeeper
- One Day at a Time – Ariana
- Maggie – Janice
Her film credits include:
- Dreamgirls (2006) – Rhonda
- Fort Bliss (2014) – Beth Ann
- Tell Me How I Die (2016) – Nurse Lamis
- Unlovable (2018) – Bonnie
- Under the Influencer (2024) – Margo Carre
Trotter is an accomplished stage performer with experience in musical theater, dramatic productions, and live performances.
One of her major theatrical accomplishments was joining the national touring production of the Broadway musical The Color Purple, portraying Sofia. She toured throughout the United States and Canada in the production.
Her other notable theater credits include:
- The Color Purple – Sofia (National Broadway Tour)
- Hairspray – Motormouth Maybelle
- Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Musical theater production
- Smokey Joe’s Café – Musical theater production
- Big River – Musical theater production
- Blues in the Night – Musical theater production
- An Octoroon – Minnie
- Inherit the Wind – Pasadena Playhouse production
- The Red Suitcase – Stage production
- Stella’s Last J-Date – Dawn
- Suicidal Blonde – Felicia
Virtual Flowers to Pam Trotter!
Instagram: PammyTrotter
TikTok: Pam.Trotter
