Rowell is an Emmy-nominated actress, who co-starred in the hit prime time television series Diagnosis Murder for eight seasons while simultaneously continuing her role as "Drucilla Winters" on the daytime drama, The Young and the Restless. Born in Portland, Maine, Rowell was raised in foster care for 18 years. She trained as a dancer for eight years before turning professional and dancing with various companies, including the American Ballet Theater (ABT) II and the Twyla Tharp Workshop. After dancing, she pursued a career in modeling, and graced the pages of Seventeen and Mademoiselle magazines. Modeling led to acting -- she landed a recurring role on the highly-rated The Cosby Show. An advocate for foster children like herself, she founded the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan in 1990, which enriches the lives of foster children through artistic and athletic expression. Visit www.rowellfosterchildren.org.
Mother of a son, Jasper, with Branford Marsalis. Rowell, who was a foster child, founded the Rowell Foster Children's Fine Arts Scholarship Fund, which provides ballet classes for foster children. A professional dancer since the age of 17, Rowell received scholarships to the School of American Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre and the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She later went on to dance with the American Ballet Theatre II. During the first few years of the run of Diagnosis Murder, Rowell not only appeared on that show but also continued her long running role of "Drucilla" on The Young and the Restless. Is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated Ms. Rowell is mother of two children, Maya from a previous marriage and Jasper from jazz great Wynton Marsalis.