Where Are They Now? The Cast of Waiting to Exhale
Celebrating 21 years of greatness.
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Waiting to Exhale (1995) - It's officially been 21 years since Waiting to Exhale, one of the most powerful film representations of sisterhood and the ins and outs of love, was released. Featuring an all-star cast including the late Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, Angela Bassett, and more, the movie went on to become an instant classic. Now, two decades later, we revisit the stars to see what they're up to today. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)
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Angela Bassett (Bernadine Harris) - Angela Bassett had one of the most iconic scenes — if not the most iconic scene — in the film, when she burned her husband's clothes and car and sold the rest of his things for $1 after learning he was leaving her for a white woman. After this massive role, Bassett went on to score several major leads in A-list projects including How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Alias, Akeelah and the Bee, Notorious, American Horror Story, and Chi-Raq.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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Loretta Devine (Gloria Matthews) - This Hollywood veteran played Glo, a beauty-salon owner and single mother who found out that her ex-husband and the father of her son came out of the closet as gay. Since then, Loretta Devine has remained booked to capacity, having starred in several film and television projects including The Preacher's Wife, Kingdom Come, Crash, Girlfriends, Dreamgirls, Madea's Big Happy Family, Grey's Anatomy and, most recently, BET's very own Being Mary Jane.(Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images)
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Lela Rochon (Robin Stokes) - Lele Rochon played a powerful business executive who was also the Russell's (played by Leon) mistress. After she left him, she had a hard time finding something substantial with another man. After the release of Waiting to Exhale, the actress landed roles in other movie blockbusters like Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and even dabbed in television, featuring in Reed Between the Lines and Let the Church Say Amen.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Terry McMillan - Serving as executive producer of the film, Terry McMillan had a huge say in its progression, especially since she also wrote the novel and the screenplay. After the film's success, she went on to also executive produce and write a couple more movies including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Disappearing Act. She became a household name in another regard in 2010 when she sat on Oprah Winfrey's couch and discussed her post-divorce relationship with her ex-husband, who is gay.(Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)
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Babyface - The original music score for the film was composed by R&B legend Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. For the film, he produced some smashes including "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" and "My Funny Valentine." Since then, he wrote more music for other major projects like Booty Call, Soul Food and Friends, and went on to even act in Soul Food, Josie and the Pussycats, and Hav Plenty. In 2014, he released a joint album with Toni Braxton titled Love, Marriage & Divorce, which scored him a Grammy for Best R&B Album. Most recently, he competing on Dancing With the Stars but didn't make it far.(Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
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Forest Whitaker (Director) - Forest Whitaker put on a couple of hats for this film: director and soundtrack executive producer. This film, being his feature film directorial debut, made many take notice of his skills in that role. Since then he has directed three more films (Hope Floats, Black Jaq and First Daughter). On the acting front, he has starred in several high-profile projects including The Great Debaters, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Black Nativity, Taken 3 and Dope. He also won an Oscar in 2007 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in The Last King of Scotland.(Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images)
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Gregory Hines (Marvin King) - Fans know Gregory Hines for his portrayal of Marvin King in the film. After the film's success, he went on to star in several TV movies and series including Will & Grace, Bojangles, Santa, Baby!, Law & Order and The Root, to name a few.(Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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Dennis Haysbert (Kenneth Dawkins) - Before becoming famously known as "the Allstate guy," Dennis Haysbert played Kenneth Dawkins, Savannah's (played by Whitney Houston) married lover. Since the film, he blew up even more, starring in just a bit of everything, including Love & Basketball, Soul Food, Static Shock, Justice League, 24, Kung Fu Panda 2 and Dear White People. But, of course, we all known him best for gracing our TV screens in those ever-so-frequent Allstate Insurance ads.(Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
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Donald Faison (Tarik Matthews) - Since playing Gloria's teenage son in the film, an all-grown-up Donald Faison went on to take Hollywood by storm, starring in everything from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch to Scrubs. He is currently set to star in the 2016 films The Perfect Match and Hot Bot.(Photo: Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
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Leon (Russell) - After playing Robin's married lover in the film, the actor went on to star in B*A*P*S, Ali, and Oz, and even played Little Richard in a TV movie based on his life. He currently has a few movies slated to premiere soon including Soul Ties and Busted.(Photo: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images)
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Wesley Snipes (James Wheeler) - Wesley Snipes played James Wheeler in the film, and after its massive success his résumé just got longer and longer. The actor went on to star in Blade I, II, and Trinity, The Art of War, The Expendables, and, most recently, Chi-Raq. He is set to appear in an upcoming film called Chronicles of the Mayan Tunnel that is yet to receive a release date.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Kenya Moore (Denise) - Before she started stirring up mess on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kenya Moore had a small role in the film as Denise. Since then, she has made more small appearances in shows and films like Martin, Smart Guy, The Steve Harvey Show, and Deliver Us from Eva. Today, she stars as herself in the Bravo reality series the Real Housewives of Atlanta where she shows off her newest project, her home, Moore Manor.(Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images)