Rance Nix (OWN courtesy photo) Karen LeBlanc (OWN courtesy photo) Yaani King Mondschein (OWN courtesy photo) Ebonee Noel (OWN courtesy photo)
Los Angeles โ OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today four cast members set to star in โThe Kings of Napa,โ the new drama from acclaimed writer/producer Janine Sherman Barrois (โClaws,โ โSelf-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walkerโ) and Warner Bros. Television. Sherman Barrois, who created the series, will serve as showrunner and executive produce alongside Michelle Listenbee Brown (โLove Is__,โ โReal Husbands of Hollywoodโ) and Oprah Winfrey. Academy Awardยฎ winner Matthew A. Cherry (โHair Loveโ) will direct the first two episodes of the series.
โThe Kings of Napaโ is focused on a gorgeous and picturesque Napa Valley, California vineyard owned by the Kings, an aspirational African American family whose wealth and status lands them on the pages of design magazines and society pages. The wine business has brought the family success and acclaim, but following the patriarchโs sudden exit from the company, his three children must grapple for the reigns to the kingdom โ to their own power, wealth, and legacy.
The series regulars include:
- Ebonee Noel (โFBI,โ โWreckedโ) plays the role of August King, the middle King sibling and the familyโs brilliant marketing whiz. She is passionate about wine and always looking for new ways to expand the business.
- Rance Nix (โZero Issue,โ โAmsterdam Ave.โ) plays the role of Dana King, Augustโs older brother and the savvy CFO of the winery. He and August often butt heads when it comes to the family business.
- Karen LeBlanc (โRansom,โ โJack Ryanโ) plays the role of Vanessa King, the matriarch of the King family. Vanessa is a former news reporter who gave up her career to help run the winery in Napa. She and her husband Reginald seemingly had a picture-perfect marriage โ until she discovered things about his past.
- Yaani King Mondschein (โFor All Mankind,โ โBad Hairโ) plays the role of Bridgette Peele, Augustโs cousin and right hand who works as the vineyard manager for King Estate Wines. When secrets threaten to change the family forever, her life turns upside down.
Information about the cast:
- Ebonee Noelโs credits include the CBS drama series โFBIโ for creator/producer Dick Wolf and ABCโs โStill Star Crossedโ produced by Shonda Rhimes. Additional credits include Amazonโs โHarlem,โ TBSโs comedy series โWrecked,โ Jason Blumโs โEye Candy,โ โLaw & Order: SVU,โ and the features โI Love You Daddyโ and โLong Nights, Short Mornings.โ
- Rance Nix, starred as lead character Nabo Sensugali in โLas Meninas,โ a play by noted playwright Lynn Nottage. Most recently, Nix starred in the indie feature film โTrapeze USAโ directed by Mark Anthony Green. Nix also cohosted โLove is Quarantine,โ a viral Instagram-dating show based on the Netflix hit โLove is Blind.โ
- Karen LeBlanc began her career in the lead role in the hit musical โRent.โ Her most recent film and television credits include lead roles on โRansom,โ โJack Ryan,โ โInsomnia,โ โKilljoysโ as well as โFrontier.โ She recently guest starred on โLovecraft Country,โ โGinny & Georgiaโ and โHudson & Rex.โ LeBlancโs current movie credits include โMobile Homesโ and โAstronaut.โ She can be seen next in upcoming episodes of โDepartureโ and โLost in Space.โ
- Yaani King Mondschein joined the cast of โThe Alchemistโ Off Broadway at the Classic Stage Company. Her television credits include a series regular role on โSaving Graceโ with Holly Hunter; recurring roles on โMad Men,โ โThe Haves and the Have Notsโ and guest starring roles on โBluff City Law,โ โThe Magicians,โ โBoomerang,โ โThe Residentโ and โMagnum P.I.โ among many others. She can also be seen in the film โThe Prince & Me,โ Sundance-selected film โBad Hairโand โSneakerheads.โ