[5] Alexander was discovered at 14 by independent film company Merchant Ivory when she was attending the fifth week of a six-week summer acting class at the New Freedom Theatre.

[5] She was also cast in Bill Gunn's The Forbidden City, the last play directed by Public Theater impresario Joseph Papp.

[6] In 1990, Alexander starred opposite Whoopi Goldberg in the civil rights epic drama film The Long Walk Home.

That same year, Alexander starred in the ABC comedy-drama series Going to Extremes, which centered on a group of American students at a medical school on a fictitious Caribbean island named Jantique.

Later in 1993, Alexander began starring as fan-favorite, super attorney Maxine Shaw in the Fox sitcom Living Single, a role she played for five years until 1998.

In 2001, Alexander starred in the comedy film 30 Years to Life, receiving a Black Reel Award for Best Independent Actress for her performance.

In 2002, Alexander played as probation officer Dee Mulhern in the Showtime drama series Street Time, which ran for two seasons.

From 2012 to 2015, Alexander had a recurring role as Carol Larabee, Mike and Vanessa's neighbor, in the ABC comedy series Last Man Standing.

[10] In 2014, Alexander had a supporting role in the comedy-drama Elsa & Fred starring Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer.