Background
Sykes was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of a postal worker
Sykes was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of a postal worker
She was discovered on The Dating Game. Sykes played Jim Brown"s love interest in Black Gunn. According to Brown, he was responsible for her being cast in the role, an effort he made because he was attracted to her in real life.
From 1973-1974, she co-starred on Ozzie"s Girls as a college student boarding with Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.
She played the character Mandy, one of Jimmie Walker"s girlfriends on the 1970s sitcom, Good Times, made a starring role appearance on the first season of The Streets of San Francisco, and as Summer Johnson on the Columbia Broadcasting System series, Executive Suite. Sykes was married to musician Gil Scott-Heron and is the mother of poet Gia Scott-Heron.
