20 years ago, Deliver Us From Eva was released, and it provided millions with a positive narrative of Black love with some laughs in between. Starring Gabrielle Union and LL Cool J, the film focused on Ray, a man paid by his friends to date the troublesome young Eva. The two eventually develop feelings for each other, complicating the story even further, and leading them down a path of passion and uncertainty.
Considered by many to be a modern update of William Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew, in the film Union plays Evangeline, oldest of the four Dandridge Sisters. After the untimely death of their parents, Eva began raising the girls, and has continued her motherly and overbearing nature, even now that her siblings are adults. Eva’s relationship with her sisters puts in place the series of events that made this 2003 film a staple in Black cinema.
Alongside Union and LL Cool J, Deliver Us From From stars an ensemble cast that included Meagan Good, Essence Atkins, Duane Martin, Mel Jackson, Kym Whitley, among others. It debuted to a modest opening weekend, and remains a highly watched film throughout several digital streaming platforms.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, let’s take a look at the cast of Deliver Us From Eva then and now.
One of the main characters in the film, Raymond ‘Ray’ Adams is a meat delivery worker and a “master player” when it comes to women.
Already an iconic hip-hop artist at the time Deliver Us From Eva was released, LL Cool J appeared in several films after 2003, including S.W.A.T. and Last Holiday, and has also been a cast member of NCIS: Los Angeles since 2009. At the time, he was still an active rapper, dropping four albums from 2004 – 2013.
Evangeline ‘Eva’ Dandridge works for The Los Angeles Health Department as an inspector, and has been taking care of her sisters since their parents died when they were young. As a result of the combination of her personality and her family’s circumstances, Eva’s level of involvement in her sisters’ lives causes a high level of tension between her and her sisters’ significant others.
After Deliver Us From Eva, Union appeared in over 30 films, 23 TV shows, and several music videos. She was also the star of BET’s Being Mary Jane for five seasons, and in 2014, Union married longtime partner Dwyane Wade. She was recently seen in The Inspection alongside Jeremy Pope.
Eva’s youngest sister.
Throughout the years, Meagan Good has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. She has starred in Roll Bounce, Stomp The Yard, Jumping The Broom, the Think Like A Man Franchise, and more. She can now be seen as Camille in Prime Video’s Harlem.
The second Dandridge sister.
Atkins later starred as Dee Dee Thorne in UPN sitcom Half & Half (2002–06), Suzanne Kingston-Persons in TBS comedy series Are We There Yet? (2010–13) and as Ashley Wayne in NBC sitcom Marlon (2016-18). In film, Atkins has appeared in Dance Flick, A Haunted House, A Haunted House 2, and The Noel Diary, released last year.
Eva’s sister and partner to Mel Jackson’s character, Tim.
Lee was a recurring cast member in House of Payne, and starred alongside Gabrielle Union in Being Mary Jane. She also played in films like Hitch, 13 Going on 30, Seven Pounds, and Fifty Shades Darker. Lee also appeared in an episode of Netflix’s Kaleidoscope earlier this year.
Kareenah’s boyfriend and friend of Ray.
Martin has crafted an amazing career in television throughout the past two decades. From 2003 – 2007 he starred in UPN’s All Of Us – which earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination, as well as in BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood from 2013 – 2016. He is now a recurring cast member on Peacock’s Bel-Air.
Friend of the Dandridge sisters and hair salon worker.
Whitley was nominated for a BET Comedy Award for her performance as Ormandy in Deliver Us From Eva. In recent years, she could be seen in Netflix’s BlackAF, BET’s Twenties, and The Upshaws alongside Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes.
