Tanya Wright
Tanya Wright | |
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Born | Tanya Patrice Wright May 3, 1971 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1986–present |
Relatives | Sheena Wright (sister) |
Tanya Patrice Wright (born May 3, 1971) is an American entrepreneur, actress and author. Born and raised in South Bronx, NY, Tanya has always been drawn to a life in the arts. Her first creative award was given to her in 5th grade as "best writer," which she was given for her imaginative story about a Christmas tree. Tanya studied Comparative Literature at Vassar College, and after her graduation, she went on to be offered her first main-line acting gig: Tanya Simpson on The Cosby Show. She is best known for her starring on Buddies as Phyllis Brooks, as well as her recurring roles on 24 as Patty Brooks, NYPD Blue as Officer Maya Anderson, on True Blood as Deputy Kenya Jones, and as Crystal on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black.[1]
Biography[]
Tanya Wright was born in the Spring of 1971 in The Bronx[2] to a 15 year old mother, Debra Fraser-Howze, who later became an AIDS activist.[3][4] Her sister, Sheena Wright, is a nonprofit executive who is the first woman president of the United Way of New York City.[5][6]
Tanya is an alumna of the Oliver Scholars Program and graduated high school from George School, a private Quaker school. She received a degree in Independent Studies/Comparative Literature at Vassar College.[7]
Career[]
Over the course of her career, Tanya made the decision to start wearing her hair naturally.[8] Tanya wrote a book entitled Butterfly Rising,[9] which was released on August 5, 2012.[10] Tanya is also a screenwriter, having written the screenplay for her book, for which she will also be directing and producing.[7]
Wright started a haircare line called HAIRiette in which some the proceeds go to The Actor's Fund.[11]
She starred in the play The Little Birch Tree in elementary school which started her acting career. While attending Vassar, she audition and landed a role in The Cosby Show.
Awards[]
- Tanya is a two-time winner of the Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) Award, Best Acting Ensemble for her portrayal of Crystal Burset in Orange is the New Black.
- Tanya is the recipient of SOBRO's "Most innovative Business" Award for HAIRiette.[1]
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Mutiny | - | [12] |
2001 | The Brothers | LaMuzindah | |
2005 | Ralph & Stanley | Dr. Reynolds | Short |
2011 | Butterfly Rising | Rose | |
Aide-de-Camp | Anna | Short | |
2012 | Why Stop Now | Lisa | |
2018 | My Christmas Inn | Ellis | TV Movie |
Television[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | The Cosby Show | Tanya Simpson | Episode: "The Card Game" & "Man Talk" |
1991 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Girlfriend | Episode: "Boy Meets Girl" |
1994 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Assistant | Episode: "Intervention" |
1995 | Living Single | Tanya | Episode: "If the Crew Fits" |
Family Matters | India | Episode: "We're Going to Disney World: Part 2" | |
Burke's Law | Scrub Nurse | Episode: "Who Killed the King of the Country Club?" | |
1996 | The Wayans Bros. | Toya | Episode: "The Odd Couples" |
Buddies | Phyllis Brooks | Main Cast | |
The Jamie Foxx Show | Casey Coles | Episode: "Burned Twice by the Same Flame" | |
1998 | Police Academy: The Series | Cassandra Cunningham | Recurring Cast |
Mama Flora's Family | Ernestine | Episode: "Episode #1.1 & #1.2" | |
1999 | Moesha | Andrea | Episode: "Good Vibrations?" & "Fired Up" |
2000–01 | The District | Laura Clayson/Annette Haywood | Episode: "Imperfect Victims" & "Running Towards Fire" |
2001–02 | 24 | Patty Brooks | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
2002 | NYPD Blue | Officer Maya Anderson | Guest: Season 9, Recurring Cast: Season 10 |
2003–04 | The Handler | Marcy | Main Cast |
2004 | Strong Medicine | Lily's Mother | Episode: "Touched by an Idol" |
2006 | Windfall | Dr. Bailey | Episode: "Urgent Care" |
2007 | ER | Megan Strand | Episode: "Sea Change" |
Standoff | Diana Marsh | Episode: "Lie to Me" | |
2008–14 | True Blood | Deputy Kenya Jones | Recurring Cast |
2013 | The Carrie Diaries | - | Episode: "Express Yourself" |
2013–18 | Orange Is the New Black | Crystal Burset | Recurring Cast: Season 1-4, Guest: Season 6 |
2014 | The Good Wife | Liana Depaul | Episode: "Message Discipline" |
2018 | I'm Dying Up Here | Nurse | Episode: "Deathbed Confessions" |
Madam Secretary | Dana Cook | Episode: "E Pluribus Unum" |
References[]
- ^ a b "Tanya Wright". IMDb. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ Wilkov, Jennifer (February 22, 2011). ""Your Book Is Your Hook!" – Actress Tanya Wright's Debut Novel & Operation Virtual Agent". Women's Radio. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ "40 Under 40 - Sheena Wright". Crain's New York Business. July 27, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ "Black community has new option for health care: The church". AP NEWS. June 17, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ "Trail Blazer | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ "To Believe Despite the Odds". The New York Times. December 26, 2009. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Sanders, Janean (August 9, 2012). "True Blood's Tanya Wright Discusses Her Many Talents and Passions". True Blood Net. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ Chai (June 10, 2012). "True Blood Actress Tanya Wright Discusses Her Natural Hair". Transitioning Movement. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ Chai (August 6, 2010). "Archive for the 'Tanya Wright' Category". Sookie Stackhouse. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
- ^ Wright, Tanya (August 5, 2010). Butterfly Rising – Tanya Wright. ISBN 978-1453650363.
- ^ "About". HAIRiette1. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "Tanya Wright". IMDb. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
External links[]
- Tanya Wright at IMDb
- Tanya Wright on Twitter
- Living people
- Actresses from New York City
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- American stage actresses
- African-American actresses
- African-American women writers
- African-American screenwriters
- 21st-century American novelists
- American women novelists
- Writers from the Bronx
- African-American film directors
- African-American film producers
- Film producers from New York (state)
- Screenwriters from New York (state)
- Vassar College alumni
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century American women writers
- 1971 births
- Novelists from New York (state)
- Film directors from New York City
- American women film producers
- George School alumni
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- Entertainers from the Bronx
- African-American novelists
- 20th-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American writers