Real Name : Aaliyah Dana Haughton
Nick Name : Li Li
Birth : 16 January 1979, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Death : 25 August 2001, Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas (airplane crash)
Height : 5' 7 1/2"
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Talented. Beautiful. Modest. These three words described R&B singer-turned-actress Aaliyah perfectly. Born in Brooklyn, New York but raised in Detroit, Aaliyah got her first major exposure appearing on the syndicated television series _"Star Search" (1983)_ (qv) where she awed the audience with her amazing voice and talent. Withdrawing from the celebrity scene for a few years, Aaliyah lived the life of a normal teenage girl, attending Detroit's Performing Arts High School where she majored in dance. It was around this same time that Aaliyah met singer/composer 'R. Kelly' (qv). Kelly assisted Aaliyah with the production of her debut album "Age Ain't Nothing But A number" which scored several number hits, specifically "Back and Forth." The album's title was a brief reference to her short-lived marriage to 'R. Kelly' (qv) (she was 15 years of age at the time, and he was in his 20s). Thir marriage was annulled due to her status as a minor. During her senior year, Aaliyah went on to record "One In A Million" which featured the songwriting talents of major R&B producers/writers 'Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott' (qv) and 'Tim Mosley (I)' (qv). That album was a major success and sealed Aaliyah's fame forever. After seeing her at an awards show and in the video for her hit song "Are You that Somebody?" (from the 'Eddie Murphy (I)' (qv) film _Doctor Dolittle (1998)_ (qv)), film producer 'Joel Silver (I)' (qv) (producer of _Matrix, The (1999)_ (qv) and other major actor films) asked Aaliyah to audition for a role in an upcoming romance/action film called _Romeo Must Die (2000)_ (qv). With her determination and sex appeal, Aaliyah won Silver over and was cast in her first major film role. _Romeo Must Die (2000)_ (qv) was a hit at the box office. This film led to her being cast as one of the stars of the film based on 'Anne Rice (I)' (qv)'s _Queen of the Damned (2002)_ (qv) and in the two sequels to the major box office hit, _Matrix, The (1999)_ (qv). During the busy schedule of her film career, Aaliyah took time to record her third album, the self-titled "Aaliyah". July 2001 was a busy time for Aaliyah. After the sucess of her song "Try Again" for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award and won several MTV Video Awards, Aaliyah finally released her "Aaliyah" album. Debuting at number two on the Billboard charts, "Aaliyah" was a sales success despite many lack-lustre reviews it received. In August 2001, Aaliyah took time off from her busy album promotional tour to fly to the Bahamas to film a video for the song "Rock the Boat". The video, filmed on Abaco Island, was directed by 'Hype Williams' (qv), a major music video director known for his style and wit. On August 25, 2001, after filming the video, Aaliyah and about 9-11 of her entourage took off from Marsh Harbour airport at 6:50pm EDT in a small Cessna 404 en route to Opa-Locka, Florida. A few minutes after take-off, the plane crashed about 200 feet from the runaway killing Aaliyah and many others instantly. Four passnegers were pulled alive from the wreckage, and one later died at a hospital in Nassau. Aaliyah was only 22 years old. Aaliyah's short-lived, but brillant career was a true success story for a young African-American woman who went against all odds to be herself in an industry where originality is scarce. Truly missed by her family, friends, and fans, her music and film contributions will live forever. On January 16th 1979 the world was blessed with the birth of Aaliyah Dana Haughton in Brooklyn, New York. Aaliyah was raised by her father, mother and brother 'Rashad Haughton' (qv) in Detroit. At age 9 she appeared on _"Star Search" (1983)_ (qv), the TV program and sang "My Funny Valentine", a song which her mother had sung years earlier. At age 11, she sang with 'Gladys Knight' (qv) in a five-night stint in Las Vegas. In 1992, she began to work on her debut album with the help of singer 'R. Kelly' (qv). The album, "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number" was released in 1994 and received heavy praise. Aaliyah came under attack shortly after when reports suggested she was married to 'R. Kelly' (qv). At the time, she was 15, he was 27. The marriage was apparently annulled. In 1995, she began to work on her 2nd album, alongside 'Jermaine Dupri' (qv), 'Tim Mosley (I)' (qv), 'Slick Rick (I)' (qv) and Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott'. The album, titled 'One In A Million' was released on August 27th 1996. In 1998 she released the single, 'Are you that somebody?' from the _Doctor Dolittle (1998)_ (qv) soundtrack, it was produced by her friends 'Tim Mosley (I)' (qv). Later that year she released the single 'Journey to the past', from the _Anastasia (1997)_ (qv) soundtrack. In 2000, she made her film acting debut and starred as Trish O'Day in the smash hit, hip-hop, kung fu film, _Romeo Must Die (2000)_ (qv) alongside 'Jet Li' (qv). The producer was so impressed by her performance she got parts in _Matrix Reloaded, The (2003)_ (qv) and _Matrix Revolutions, The (2003)_ (qv). She made numerous records for the soundtrack and released 'Try Again', for which she was nominated with 'Best female video' and 'Best Video in a film' with MTV. In 2001 she was nominated with 2 awards for MTV, the 'Breakthrough female' and 'best performing female'. In July 2001 she released her third album, the self-titled, 'Aaliyah'. In early August of the same year she filmed the video for the single 'More Than a woman', taken off the album and on the 23rd August she started filming for 'Rock The Boat', on Abaco Island, in the Bahamas. On 25th August, filming was completed and her and eight of her crew members including her hair stylist and bodyguard boarded a small plane. Shortly after take off, the plane crashed and exploded, Aaliyah and all on board, perished. Aaliyah's funeral was held on Friday August 31st in New York, and 22 white doves were flown to celebrate each year of her life. Soon after her death, the hit singles 'More Than a woman' and 'Rock The Boat' were released from her third album. In 2002, the film _Queen of the Damned (2002)_ (qv) by 'Anne Rice (I)' (qv) was released in which Aaliyah played the lead, Queen Akasha. She was nominated for best Villain at the MTV movie awards 2002. Looking back at her biography, it's no wonder her name means 'Highest, most exhalted one; the best', she had achieved so much in her short life of 22 years.
Biography written by: James Bryant
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- 'Romeo Must Die' Movie Special (2000) (TV) [Performer]
- 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003) (TV) (archive footage) [Herself]
- 2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) [Herself - Presenter] <26>
- 2001 MTV Movie Awards (2001) (TV) [Herself - Presenter] <3>
- 70th Annual Academy Awards, The (1998) (TV) [Herself - Performer]
- 74th Annual Academy Awards, The (2002) (TV) (archive footage) [Herself (Memorial Tribute)]
- Aaliyah: Making of 'Journey to the Past' (2006) (V) [Herself]
- BET Tonight Special: Aaliyah (2001) (TV) [Herself]
- Burly Man Chronicles, The (2004) (V) (archive footage) [Herself (extended version)]
- Christmas in Washington (1997) (TV) [Herself]
- Essence Awards (2001) (TV) [Herself]
- Gift of Song, The (1997) (TV) [Herself]
- Hip-Hop VIPs (2002) (V) [Herself]
- Losing Aaliyah (2001) (V) [Aaliyah]
- Magical Journey of 'Anastasia', The (1997) (V) [Herself - Presenter] <1>
- Making of 'Romeo Must Die', The (2000) (V) [Herself]
- MTV Icon: Janet Jackson (2001) (TV) [Herself]
- MTV Video Music Awards 2000 (2000) (TV) [Herself]
- Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die - The Remaster, The (2004) (V) [Herself (segment "One More Chance")]
- Queen of the Damned (2002) [Queen Akasha] <1>
- Rock da Boat (2001) (TV) {{SUSPENDED}} [Herself] <1>
- Romeo Must Die (2000) [Trish O'Day] <2>
- "Behind the Music" (1997) {Aaliyah: The Life and Death} [Herself]
- "CNN World Beat" (1998) {Aaliyah} [As Herself]
- "HBO First Look" (1992) {Making 'Romeo Must Die' (#7.3)} [Herself]
- "New York Undercover" (1994) {Fade Out (#3.13)} [Herself]
- "Rosie O'Donnell Show, The" (1996) {(1997-10-13)} [Herself]
- "Rosie O'Donnell Show, The" (1996) {(2000-04-17)} [Herself]
- "Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The" (1992) {(2001-07-25)} [Herself]
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- 'R. Kelly' (qv) (30 August 1994 - 7 February 1995) (annulled)
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- _Losing Aaliyah (2001) (V)_ (qv)
- _Aaliyah: Making of 'Journey to the Past' (2006) (V)_ (qv)
- _"E! True Hollywood Story" (1996) {Aaliyah}_ (qv)
- _BET Tonight Special: Aaliyah (2001) (TV)_ (qv)
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- "Femme Fatales" (USA), September/October 2002, Vol. 11, Iss. 10/11, pg. 10-13, by: Craig Reid, "Memories of Aaliyah: A look at the life and tragic end of a multi-talented performer."
- "Femme Fatales" (USA), September/October 2002, Vol. 11, Iss. 10/11, pg. 14, by: Chuck Wagner, "Enduring Spirit: She went from pop princess, to Egyptian Vampire Queen, to immortal icon."
- "Entertainment Weekly" (USA), 7 September 2001, Vol. 1, Iss. 612, pg. 16-17+24, by: Tom Sinclair, "Mourning Aaliyah"
- "The Ottawa Citizen" (Canada), 26 August 2001, pg. 2-3, "Aaliyah confirmed dead in plane crash saturday August 25 2001 at 6:50 pm in the Bahamas"
- "details" (USA), April 2000, pg. 138, by: Josh Dean, "Trading ballads for bullets "
- "Teen People" (USA), June 1999, pg. 66-67, by: April P. Bernard, "21 Hottest Stars Under 21"
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- "Playboy" (USA), November 2002, Vol. 49, Iss. 11, pg. 77, by: Jamie Malanowski, "Sex In Cinema 2002"
- "Celebrity Skin" (USA), March 2002, Vol. 24, Iss. 103, pg. 8, by: staff, "Pop Tarts: One In A Million"
- "Maxim" (USA), May 2001, Iss. Special, pg. 22, by: Barron Claiborne, "Maxim Hot 100 2001: #14"
- "FHM" (France), October 2000, Iss. 15, pg. 36, by: Jeff Dunas, "Une Bombe Platine"
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- "Celebrity Skin" (USA), October 2002, Vol. 24, Iss. 109
- "Hitkrant" (Netherlands), 6 April 2002, Iss. 14
- "Vibe" (USA), August 2001
- "Mixmag" (UK), August 2001, Iss. 123
- "Black Men" (USA), December 2000, Vol. 4, Iss. 6
- "Hitkrant" (Netherlands), 24 June 2000, Iss. 25
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- Music video for 'Tim Mosley (I)' (qv): "Here We Come"
- Most famous for mega hit songs "Back and Forth," "One in a Million," and "Are You that Somebody."
- Noted for her well-choreographed music videos.
- Model for 'Tommy Hilfiger' (qv).
- Album, "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number," Blackground/Jive/BMG Records 01241-41533, 1994.
- Album, "One in a Million," Blackground/Atlantic Records 92715, 1996.
- Album, "Aaliyah," Blackground/Virgin/EMI Records V2-10082, 2001.
- Album, "I Care 4 U," Blackground/Universal Records 060 097, 2002.
- Music video, "Try Again" (2000).
- Music video for The Notorious B.I.G.: "One More Chance"
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- Usually covered her left eye with her hair.
- Often wore sunglasses in front of the covered left eye.
- Usually wore black leather, or white clothing in her music videos.
- Had on black nail polish in nearly all of her music videos.
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- [interview in July 2001 with Germany's "Die Zeit" newspaper that eerily predicts her death] It is dark in my favorite dream. Someone is following me. I don't know why. I'm scared. Then suddenly I lift off. Far away. How do I feel? As if I am swimming in the air. Free. Weightless. Nobody can reach me. Nobody can touch me. It's a wonderful feeling.
- [from "MTV Diary: Aaliyah"] want people to remember me as a full-on entertainer and a good person.
- It's hard to say what I want my legacy to be when I'm long gone.
- [her advice for aspiring artists) Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want. If God gave you the talent, you should go for it. But don't think it's going to be easy. It's hard!
- Everything is worth it. The hard work, the times when you're tired, the times where you're a bit sad . . . In the end, it's all worth it because it really makes me happy. There's nothing better than loving what you do.
- Sensual is being in tune with your sensual self.
- When I'm long gone, I want to be remembered not just as an actress or singer, but as a full-on entertainer.
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- Auditioned for a role on the television sitcom _"Family Matters" (1989)_ (qv).
- (1999) Chosen as one of Teen People Magazine's "21 Hottest Stars Under 21."
- 3 tattoos: her initial and a star on her hand, a music symbol on her ankle and a dove on her lower back.
- (2000) Voted First Place by the readers of Black Men Magazine for "The 10 Sexiest Women of the Year."
- Performed with 'Gladys Knight' (qv) at age eleven in Las Vegas.
- (July 17, 2001) Aaliyah's self-titled long awaited third album is released.
- Got her dove tattoo as a tribute to her grandmother.
- Graduated from the Detroit High School of the Performing Arts with a 4.0 GPA.
- Got her big break on the television show _"Star Search" (1983)_ (qv).
- (25 August 2001) Died in a plane crash on a return trip from shooting a music video in the Bahamas. The crash, which happened in Marsh Harbour, located on Abaco Island in the Bahamas, was determined to have been caused by the plane being overloaded.
- She got her middle name Dana from her grandmother.
- At the time of her death, Aaliyah and her boyfriend, Roc-A-Fella co-CEO 'Damon Dash' (qv), had plans to wed.
- Parents: Micheal and Diane Haughton. Brother: 'Rashad Haughton' (qv) (born 6 August 1977).
- At the age of 5, she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she grew up.
- At the time of her death, she was scheduled to reloop her dialogue in _Queen of the Damned (2002)_ (qv) and to film the majority of her role for _Matrix Reloaded, The (2003)_ (qv) and _Matrix Revolutions, The (2003)_ (qv).
- (Jan 2002) Posthumous single "More Than A Woman" reaches #1 in the UK.
- (Jan 2002) The first female artist to have a posthumous number one single in the UK record charts.
- In January 2002 she reached No. 1 in the UK with her single "More Than A Woman". She was knocked off the top spot a week later by another deceased artist - 'George Harrison (I)' (qv).
- At her funeral, 22 white doves were released from the steps of the church. One dove for each year of her life.
- Sister of 'Rashad Haughton' (qv).
- Auditioned for the 'Elton John' (qv) Broadway show, Aida.
- Her uncle, 'Barry Hankerson' (qv), was formerly married to singer 'Gladys Knight' (qv).
- Her mother Diane was once a promising solo singer but gave it up to raise her children Aaliyah and 'Rashad Haughton' (qv).
- She had a close friendship with producer/musical artist 'Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott'.
- It was announced in November 2002 that good friend 'Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott' is to produce a tribute album to Aaliyah which will include stars finishing off songs Aaliyah was working on before her death in August 2001. In the same month, it was announced that a posthumous Aaliyah album will be released entitled 'I care 4 u'.
- Was considered for the role of Alex in _Charlie's Angels (2000)_ (qv), but casting directors deemed her too young and the part went to 'Lucy Liu' (qv).
- Was considered for the part of Maggie in _Get Over It (2001)_ (qv), but was already committed to _Romeo Must Die (2000)_ (qv). 'Zoe Saldana' (qv) was eventually cast in the role.
- Was the first choice to play Valerie in _Josie and the Pussycats (2001)_ (qv), but had already signed on for the lead role in _Queen of the Damned (2002)_ (qv). 'Rosario Dawson' (qv) eventually got the part.
- Was almost the voice of Leah in _Osmosis Jones (2001)_ (qv), but could not accept due to schedule conflicts. The part was eventually voiced by 'Brandy Norwood' (qv).
- Her grandmother was Native American.
- She was close friends with 'Nicole Richie' (qv).
- Was originally cast in the title role in _Honey (2003)_ (qv) but died before production began. 'Jessica Alba (I)' (qv) won the part after her death.
- Best friend was 'Kidada Jones' (qv).
- Ranked #36 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
- In Arabic, the name Aaliyah means "highest, most exalted one.".
- Her planned appearance in _State Property 2 (2005)_ (qv) was recast with 'Mariah Carey' (qv) after her death.
- Had a 4.0 voice - she was a "soubrette soprano".
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