Candace Kita is an American actress and former fashion model. She became known after starring with Mel Gibson in the ABC series Complete Savages.
Kita was born in Los Angeles, California, and also lived in Antwerp, Belgium and London, England before her family settled in Texas. Kita attended Austin College where she graduated with a degree in philosophy and religion and was a Fellowship Scholar. After completing her studies, she worked on a Master's degree in sociology, but left to pursue her acting career.
Kita's first appearance was in FOX's Masked Rider, from 1995 to 1996. She appeared as a series regular lead in all 40 episodes. Kita also portrayed a frantic stewardess in a music video directed by Mark Pellington for the British group, Catherine Wheel, entitled, "Waydown" in 1995. This video received so much attention an article was written about it in the Los Angeles Times newspaper and Kita was spoofed by MTV's Beavis and Butthead. In 1996, Kita also appeared with Pamela Anderson in the film Barb Wire (1996) and guest starred on The Wayans Bros.. She also guest starred in Miriam Teitelbaum: Homicide with Saturday Night Live alumni Nora Dunn, Wall To Wall Records with Jordan Bridges, Stealing Time with Jennifer Garner, Even Stevens, Felicity with Keri Russell, V.I.P. with Pamela Anderson, Girlfriends, The Sweet Spot with Bill Murray, and Movies At Our House She also had recurring roles on the FX spoof, Son of the Beach from 2001 to 2002, ABC-Family's Dance Fever and Oxygen Network's Running With Scissors. Kita also appeared in the films Little Heroes (2002) and Rennie's Landing (2001).
Shooting "Ugly Betty" with Betty White
During this time, Kita guest starred on Method and Red and Quintuplets in 2004 and Two and a Half Men in 2005. She is most known for her breakthrough series recurring role as Mel Gibson's girlfriend in ABC-TV's Complete Savages from 2004 to 2005. Mel Gibson was executive producer and would cameo as Officer Steve Cox. Whenever he appeared, Kita would appear as Misty, his girlfriend doomed to die a horrible death at the end of every episode like Kenny in South Park. This included death by hot tub, death by eating too much turkey on Thanksgiving and death on a motorcycle without a helmet. She held the title of Miss Hawaiian Tropic Japan in 2004. She also appeared in Bad News Bears (2005) with Billy Bob Thornton and Greg Kinnear.
In 2005 to 2007, Kita continued work on Complete Savages. She also appeared in the independent films, Faith Happens (2006) and Falling (2007). In 2006, she was in the pilot for the television series Smith, with Ray Liotta and played a prison inmate in Pepper Dennis with Rebecca Romijn. She appeared with Adam Sandler and Kevin James in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007).
Taken at a Los Angeles Night Club
Candace Kita at a Spa Event
Credited as Candace Camille for her earliest appearance, on the cover of "No, No, No, Cha Cha Cha," the 1993 release by Brave Combo. Kita was represented for 5 years by the prestigious modeling agency, Wilhelmina, in Los Angeles before focusing on acting. She appeared in campaigns and walked the catwalk for clients such as Diesel, XOXO, Chinese Laundry, West Cigarettes, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Marshall Field's and Brighton among others before focusing on acting.
She appeared in over a dozen national commercials including: Hyundai, MSN, IBM, Bacardi and Cola, and Coca-Cola. She starred in a commercial for Harvard Medical HMO that was featured on America's Funniest Commercials. Kita was also an official spokesperson in several voice over and commercial spots for the Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network.
Mel Gibson has a reputation for being a prankster on the set. Gibson encouraged Kita to help him prank the cast and crew of Complete Savages. Gibson had Kita wear prosthetic chest and stomach hair for the hot tub scene in the episode, “Hot Water”. During rehearsals, Kita wore a bikini with chest hair and Gibson wore a police uniform underwater much to the delight of cast and crew.
Kita publicly supports a variety of causes especially animal rights issues. She endorses Branded J Collections, a cruelty-free cosmetics line. She is also a women's safety advocate and speaks publicly on women's safety issues. She has written several articles on the subject and has campaigned to make the anti-stalking laws in the state of California more stringent.
* Held the title of Miss Hawaiian Tropic Japan in 2004.
* Candace is left-handed.
* Candace is in two commercials for AXE Bodyspray as the sexy heroine.
* She is fluent in American Sign Language.
* In over a dozen national commercials including: Hyundai, MSN, IBM, Barcardi and Cola, and Coke.
* She starred in a commercial for Harvard Medical HMO that was featured on "America's Funniest Commercials."
* She was an official spokesperson in several voice over and commercial spots for the Food Network, HGTV and DIY.
* She was directed by Antoine Fuqua for three Sprite spots starring rappers Eve and Millie Jackson.
* "The Daily Noise Online Magazine" (USA) 18 July 2005, by: Jimmy Diggs and Kaan Soler, "Candace Kita"
* "Inside Kung Fu" (USA) December 2003, pg. 136, "Candace Kita: Pursuing A Passion"
* "Femme Fatales" (USA) December 2001, Vol. 10, Iss. 6, pg. 48-51, by: Michael Beeler, "Candace Camille: From TV to Movies to
Music Videos, this Mainstream Maiden is Living the Good Life."
* "Femmes Fatales" (USA) June 1996, Vol. 4, Iss. 8, pg. 19, by: Michael Beeler, "Spicing Up Barb Wire"
* "Femmes Fatales" (USA) March 1996, Vol. 4, Iss. 6, pg. 56-60, by: Michael Beeler, "Asian Beauty: Star of FOX-TV's Sci-Fi
Series Debates Racism, Clive Barker, Bugs, Etc."
* "Transpacific" (USA) 1995, Iss. 63, pg. 10-12, "Family Bender"
* “Asiance Magazine” (USA) September 2007, by Jaymie Moran, “I Now Pronounce You Candace Kita”
* “E3girls” (USA) by Michael Hash, “An Interview With the E3 Uberbabe”
* “IGN.com” (USA) by Justin Kaehler, July 14, 2004, “An Interview with Candace Kita”
