American actress Megalyn Echikunwoke was born on May 28, 1983 in Spokane, Washington. Despite having been raised in a Native American reservation in Chinle, Arizona, she isn’t of that descent; her father is of Nigerian descent, while her mother is of European descent. She was discovered when she was 14 years old, after performing in a play at summer camp, and has since auditioned for roles, initially via video tape. Her efforts finally bore fruit in 1998, when she got a supporting role in the television movie Creature.
She played numerous television roles afterwards, until she got her first regular television role in 2001, when she joined the cast of the short-lived MTV drama Spyder Games, playing the role of coffee house singer Cherish Pardee. She then joined the cast of the action series 24, where she played Nicole Palmer, the daughter of senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert). She was also part of the cast of the short-lived television series Like Family. She also played guest roles in shows like What I Like About You, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Veronica Mars, and also played a recurring guest role in That ‘70s Show.
In 2006, Echikunwoke joined the cast of the science fiction series The 4400. She played the adult version of Isabelle Taylor, the daughter of Richard Tyler (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali) and Lily Moore (Laura Allen). She is not among the 4400 (having been conceived after Lily returned from abduction), who nevertheless acquires mysterious powers. She played the role until the show concluded the next year. She is set to take on another regular television role, as the new coroner in the crime drama CSI: Miami, replacing Khandi Alexander.
Echikunwoke’s other acting credits include the films Great Lengths and Camjackers, and guest roles in Supernatural, ER and For the People.
-Her last name is Nigerian and it means "leader of men."
-She was raised on a Navajo Indian Reservation in Chinle, Arizona.
-She loves to sing and is passionate about pursuing a career in music, as well. Other hobbies include surfing, dancing and traveling.
Echikunwoke was a series regular in the sci-fi series The 4400, playing the adult version of the mysterious Isabelle Tyler since the beginning of season 3. Echikunwoke left the show in 2007 after her character sacrificed herself. Not long after Echikunwoke left the show, it was dropped by its production company. Echikunwoke has previously starred in the MTV soap opera Spyder Games as Cherish Pardee, a coffee house singer. Other notable characters include the daughter in Like Family. She has had guest roles in numerous shows including The Steve Harvey Show, Boston Public, ER, What I Like About You, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, That '70s Show, Veronica Mars, and most recently Supernatural. She also had a recurring role during the first season of 24.
She will join the main cast of CSI: Miami as the new coroner, replacing Khandi Alexander.
(on "The 4400")
-In the beginning, I was so curious and really nervous. How do you approach this type of character? She's a woman but she's a newborn; she's powerful and learns practically at the speed of thought; she's telekinetic.
(on "The 4400")
-Basically! [Laughs] They don't really reveal anything to us, except episode by episode, so we're just as curious as our audience. We read the scripts and are like, "Oh my god!"