Bryana “Baby Girl” Thomkins from The Bernie Mac Show is all grown up with two careers. Davis rose to fame as TV’s youngest regular, and she’s back on screen even as she shines on the court.
Dee Dee Davis’s net worth is $500,000, thanks to Coogan protections and residuals from 104 episodes.
Dee Dee Davis Net Worth
CelebrityNetWorth lists her 2025 net worth at $500,000, thanks to Coogan-account safeguards and residuals from the show’s 104 episodes. Even after moving away from big acting roles, she’s kept her savings intact.
Most of her earnings came from The Bernie Mac Show’s 104 episodes (2001–2006), with residuals still rolling in today.
She also appeared on ER (2004) and Strong Medicine (2003).
At Manhattan College, she averaged 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game—and under NCAA NIL rules, she leveraged her name and image for endorsements.
TV to Basketball Journey
Davis debuted at age 5 on The Bernie Mac Show (2001–2006, 104 episodes) and won a Young Artist Award in 2004.
Her natural talent in front of the camera led to more acting gigs. She made memorable guest appearances on “ER,” where she played a pediatric patient in a heartwarming episode. Davis also appeared on “Strong Medicine,” further showcasing her range as a young performer. These roles, while brief, helped establish Davis as more than just a one-show wonder.
After pausing acting for school, Davis reemerged as a top college player. At Manhattan College, she developed into a formidable player who consistently led her team in key statistics. With averages of 16.1 points per game along with strong rebound and assist numbers, Davis proved herself as a complete player on the court.
The transition from child star to college athlete isn’t one we see often in celebrity narratives. Most child actors either continue in entertainment or fade from public view entirely. Davis instead redirected her focus, discipline, and competitive nature into sports excellence.
In 2023–24, she moved into semi-pro basketball. Team details are scarce, but this step shows she’s serious about the sport. This move signals her continued commitment to basketball as more than just a hobby—it’s become a second career path that showcases her athletic abilities while building on the public recognition she gained through acting.
From sitcom star to standout athlete, Davis has built two strong careers on her terms.
Personal Life
Born on April 17, 1996, Dee Dee Davis is now 28 years old as of 2025. While she began her life in the public eye at a very young age, Davis has managed to maintain a level of privacy about certain aspects of her personal life that many child stars find difficult to achieve.
Davis has embraced social media as a way to connect with fans while controlling her public narrative. On Instagram, her 257,000 followers see throwbacks from The Bernie Mac Show and clips of her basketball workouts and games.
On TikTok, Davis has found a new generation of fans as clips from “The Bernie Mac Show” periodically go viral. Young viewers who may have discovered the show through streaming services are now connecting with Davis’s childhood performance, expanding her fan base beyond those who watched the original broadcast.
When it comes to relationships, Davis maintains a private stance. Unlike many celebrities who publicize their dating lives, Davis keeps this aspect of her life relatively guarded. While various gossip sites have attempted to speculate about her relationship status, verified information remains scarce, and Davis herself rarely addresses such matters publicly.
She engages with fans enough to maintain relevance without sacrificing her boundaries. Her social media presence focuses primarily on her professional achievements rather than seeking attention through controversy or oversharing.
How Dee Dee Grew Her Money
Understanding Dee Dee Davis’s $500,000 net worth requires looking at how child actors typically get paid and how she’s managed her finances since her early fame. Industry insiders say child actors start with modest fees—around $3,000 per episode—but can see rates jump over $10,000 in later seasons.
- Starting Paychecks on The Bernie Mac Show
- Child actors in early 2000s sitcoms often began around $3,000 an episode.
- As the show’s ratings climbed, Davis’s per-episode fee likely rose into the mid-four figures.
- Growing Earnings Over Five Seasons
- With 104 episodes under her belt, even modest pay bumps added up quickly.
- Steady raises meant she was earning thousands more per show by the later seasons.
- Coogan Account Protections
- California law locks away 15% of a child actor’s pay in a Coogan Account until adulthood.
- Those protected funds became available to Davis when she turned 18.
- Residual Checks from Syndication
- Every rerun or streaming play generates residuals—small checks that add up over time.
- A long-running, popular sitcom like hers keeps those checks arriving years later.
- Guest Appearances and Extra Roles
- Brief spots on shows like ER and Strong Medicine meant extra paychecks.
- Each guest gig boosted her acting resume—and her bank balance.
- College Basketball Name, Image & Likeness (NIL)
- NCAA rules now allow student-athletes to earn from endorsements.
- At Manhattan College, Davis could partner with brands or local sponsors to monetize her on-court success.
- Social Media Sponsorships
- With 257,000 Instagram followers, she’s an appealing partner for sports and lifestyle brands.
- Even modest influencer deals can bring in steady side income alongside her basketball career.
How She Stacks Up to Other Kid Stars
Dee Dee Davis’s $500,000 net worth in 2025 places her in an interesting position when compared to other actors from “The Bernie Mac Show” and child stars from her era. While this figure might seem modest compared to some Hollywood success stories, it represents solid financial stability, especially considering her unique career trajectory.
Camille Winbush, who played Davis’s older sister Vanessa on “The Bernie Mac Show,” reportedly maintains a net worth in the $4.5 million range. The difference likely stems from Winbush’s more extensive acting resume both before and after their shared sitcom, including roles on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and other projects.
Jeremy Suarez, who played Jordan on the show, has a reported net worth closer to Davis’s, estimated between $700,000 and $1 million. Like Davis, Suarez stepped back from consistent acting work after the show ended, which likely affected long-term earnings potential.
Looking at other child actors from early 2000s sitcoms reveals varied financial outcomes. Some, like the cast members from “Modern Family,” negotiated salaries that reportedly reached $100,000+ per episode in later seasons, building multi-million dollar net worths. Others from less successful shows or those who worked less consistently have financial profiles more similar to Davis’s.
What makes Davis’s financial story interesting is her successful transition to a completely different field. While many former child actors struggle to redefine themselves after early fame, Davis found a new passion and talent in basketball. This career switch likely meant trading potentially higher short-term earnings from continued acting for the pursuit of athletic goals—a trade-off that appears to have brought personal satisfaction, even if not maximum financial gain.
Davis’s current money situation reflects someone who has neither squandered her early earnings nor leveraged her childhood fame into massive wealth. Instead, she represents a balanced approach—maintaining financial stability while pursuing genuine interests beyond Hollywood.
The Value of Social Media Presence
With 257,000 Instagram followers, Dee Dee Davis has built a social media presence that connects her acting past with her athletic present. This online platform serves multiple purposes, from maintaining fan relationships to potentially generating income through partnerships or sponsored content.
Her 257K Instagram followers open doors for occasional sponsorships.
Davis typically shares content that falls into several categories. She posts nostalgic content from “The Bernie Mac Show,” which resonates with fans who remember her as “Baby Girl.” She also shares basketball highlights and training videos, which appeal to sports fans and help establish her credibility in that world. Occasionally, she offers glimpses into her personal life without oversharing, striking a balance that keeps followers engaged without sacrificing privacy.
On TikTok, clips from Davis’s acting days periodically go viral, introducing her to younger audiences who may discover “The Bernie Mac Show” through streaming services rather than original broadcasts. This cross-generational appeal expands her potential audience and maintains relevance in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Unlike some former child stars who rely heavily on their past fame, Davis seems to use social media strategically, acknowledging her acting history while actively building her identity as an athlete. This approach helps her control her public narrative rather than being defined solely by the work she did as a child.
For Davis, social media serves as both a connection to her past and a bridge to her future. Rather than distancing herself from her child actor roots, she embraces that chapter while also showcasing her evolution into adulthood and athletics.
What’s Next for Dee Dee Davis?
At 28 years old in 2025, Dee Dee Davis still has many potential career paths ahead. Her unique mix of acting and sports creates opportunities that wouldn’t be available to someone with just one of these backgrounds.
Davis’s reported move into semi-professional basketball suggests continued commitment to her athletic career. While specific details about her team affiliation aren’t widely publicized, this step represents a significant achievement for someone who came to competitive basketball later than many players. Whether she continues climbing the ranks in professional basketball or eventually transitions to coaching or sports commentary, her foundation in the sport is solid.
Davis’s ongoing connection with “The Bernie Mac Show” fans also suggests potential for reunion specials, documentary appearances, or convention opportunities related to the beloved sitcom. As streaming services continue to introduce classic shows to new audiences, interest in cast members often experiences resurgences.
Conclusion
“From ‘Baby Girl’ to ball-player, Dee Dee Davis proves you can follow your path.
What makes Davis’s story particularly compelling is how she’s defied the typical child actor narrative. Not just defined by her child acting on “The Bernie Mac Show,” she’s built an identity that honors that chapter while embracing new challenges on the basketball court. Her 257,000 Instagram followers get glimpses of both worlds—nostalgic throwbacks to her “Baby Girl” days alongside athletic achievements that showcase her growth and evolution.
Davis’s career reminds us that success takes different forms for different people. While some measure achievement purely in financial terms, Davis appears to value authenticity and personal fulfillment, choosing to pursue basketball excellence even when continuing in entertainment might have been the more lucrative path.
As she continues forward at age 28, Davis carries both the legacy of her childhood fame and the promise of her athletic talents. This unique combination creates possibilities that few others can claim, suggesting that no matter what direction she chooses next, Dee Dee Davis will continue to chart her course.