An integral part of the Black sitcom boom of the 1990s, “Living Single” remains a timeless series among the rest. There are so many qualities about the show that makes it great television: satisfying growth for characters (even the supporting ones), sharp comedic writing; thoughtful episodes addressing workplace racism, sexism, homosexuality, and mental health; the portrayal of chosen family as a legitimate network of support. “Living Single” is like “Sex and the City” if it had a sitcom, network TV format.
It inspired series within its era and beyond — it was the partial inspiration for “Friends,” and paved the way for another all-Black female sitcom in the 2000s, “Girlfriends.” The lasting impact of the show makes it one of the best TV shows of the 1990s.
Above all, “Living Single” shines because of the lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry of the cast. Everyone was perfectly suited to the roles they played; each actor brought their own flair to the characters. For example, Kim Fields’ desire to avoid hairstyling every episode led her to wear wigs for simplicity, and that choice became an unforgettable quirk of Regine Hunter.
There’s only been one full (well, almost, sans Queen Latifah) cast reunion since the show ended in 1998 — a TV One special in 2008. Despite Latifah’s absence, there’s no love lost between her and the cast. They’ve for the most part gone their separate ways but continue to hold reverence for the show’s place in their respective careers.
Here’s where the “Living Single” actors are now.
Queen Latifah (Khadijah James)
Where do you even start with Queen Latifah? As the lead protagonist of the show, Queen Latifah kicked in Hollywood’s door with her role as ambitious magazine editor Khadijah James in “Living Single.” She began her career as a trailblazing rapper in a male-dominated genre,and concurrently started her acting career in the early ’90s with small roles in cultural touchstones like “House Party 2” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Her breakthrough role, however, was in “Living Single.” Not to make a theme song pun, but she really was the glue that held the show together.
After the show, Latifah has done pretty much everything one could do in Hollywood. In the late ’90s into the 2000s, she continued to joining ensemble casts in films such as “Set It Off,” “Scary Movie 3,” and “Beauty Shop,” which was a spin-off film she earned from her memorable appearance in “Barbershop 2.” She shocked the world with her singing voice as Matron “Mama” Morton in Academy Award-winning movie “Chicago.” She continued her singing career by releasing albums and portraying Motormouth Maybelle in the 2007 remake of “Hairspray.” Being an integral part of two of the best movie musicals of the 21st century? A huge flex!
Latifah has been the leading lady in romcoms like “Last Holiday” and “Just Wright.” She’s shown her emotional range in dramas such as “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Steel Magnolias.” She’s hosted her own talk show! She’s been a Covergirl!
In recent years, she’s not slowed down. She starred as Robyn McCall in CBS’s reboot of “The Equalizer” (seen above), which ended in May 2025 after five seasons. Latifah is currently in production for “Ice Age 6,” reprising her role as the mammoth Ellie in the series. If you want to catch up ahead of the release in 2026, familiarize yourself with the correct order to watch the films.
Kim Coles (Synclaire James)
Bringing her stellar sketch comedy skills from her stint on season one of “In Living Color,” Kim Coles brought a wholesome quirkiness to Khadijah’s cousin, Synclaire James that gave the show heart. Another example of the actor imbuing the character with their own backstory, Synclaire came out of her shell as the seasons went on, becoming confident in her improv abilities to the point of landing her own TV show. Plus, she married the man of her dreams, Overton Wakefield Jones.
After Syncloverton’s happily ever after, she played Judy Owens on “The Geena Davis Show” (seen above) and then had a recurring role was on sitcom “One on One” as Leilani Jones. But mostly, Coles has done a mix of character acting and guest appearances on reality, game show, and culture docuseries in the last 20 years. She’s appeared on “Celebrity Mole: Hawaii,” “Comics Unleashed,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Dark Side of the ’90s,” “The Surreal Life,” and “Dark Side of Comedy.” Most recently, she was a recurring character on “Days of Our Lives” from 2023 to 2025, and appeared on the comedy “Mid-Century Modern” in March 2025.
“Living Single” fans wanting more from her and the cast will also be delighted to learn that Coles currently hosts the “ReLiving Single” podcast with Erika Alexander, where the two actresses rewatch the series and provide their behind-the-scenes commentary.
