Theresa Randle, best known for originating the role of Theresa Burnett in the Bad Boys franchise, was arrested earlier this month on a felony domestic violence charge.
According to court records obtained by TMZ, Randle was booked on March 1 on suspicion of corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, a felony offense under California law. She was released two days later after authorities determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed further. Specific details surrounding the alleged incident—including who was involved and what led to the arrest—have not been publicly disclosed.
The situation occurred less than two years after a separate legal incident in October 2024. In that case, police were called to a Los Angeles-area residence over a reported assault. Randle was not present when officers initially responded, but a follow-up call two days later, referencing a potential domestic dispute and restraining order violation, led to her arrest. Prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges in that case shortly after her booking.
Although now retired, Randle’s name carries weight for audiences who grew up on ’90s cinema. She broke through with roles in Malcolm X and later became widely recognized as Theresa Burnett in Bad Boys, starring opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Her filmography also includes Beverly Hills Cop III, Space Jam, and Spawn.
She later returned to the Bad Boys universe for Bad Boys II and 2020’s Bad Boys for Life, her first major on-screen appearance in roughly a decade. In 2023, however, it was announced that Tasha Smith would step into the role for the franchise’s next installment.
Beyond film, Randle’s career included television appearances on shows like A Different World, Seinfeld, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where she briefly served as an assistant district attorney.
In the mid-’90s, she also took on a rare leading role in Girl 6, a Spike Lee film that explored the darker edges of fame and identity.
More recently, Randle drew public attention in 2023 after a video circulated showing her using a walker in Los Angeles’ Skid Row. Later, she clarified that she was recovering from a broken femur and was in the area to support the local community.
Representatives for Randle have not publicly responded to requests for comment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or thehotline.org.
