Tanya Wright
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Tanya Patrice Wright is an American entrepreneur, actress and author. Born and raised in South Bronx, NY, she 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 role as Phyllis Brooks on Buddies, 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.[citation needed]
Tanya Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tanya Patrice Wright New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Vassar College (BA) Harvard University (MEd) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Relatives | Sheena Wright (sister) |
Biography edit
Tanya Wright was born in the Spring of 1971 in The Bronx[1] to a 15 year old mother, Debra Fraser-Howze, who later became an AIDS activist.[2][3] Her sister, Sheena Wright, is a nonprofit executive who is the first woman president of the United Way of New York City.[4][5]
Wright 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.[6] She studied at Harvard University in the Learning, Design, Innovation, and Technology (LDIT) program.[7]
Career edit
Over the course of her career, Wright made the decision to start wearing her hair naturally.[8] Wright wrote a book entitled Butterfly Rising,[9] which was released on August 5, 2012.[10] Wright adapted the book to a screenplay, producing and directing a movie version of Butterfly Rising[11]
Wright started a haircare line called HAIRiette in which some the proceeds go to The Actor's Fund.[12]
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 edit
- Wright 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.[citation needed]
- Wright s the recipient of SOBRO's "Most innovative Business" Award for HAIRiette.[citation needed]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Mutiny | - | |
| 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 edit
| 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 edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sanders, Janean (August 9, 2012). "True Blood's Tanya Wright Discusses Her Many Talents and Passions". True Blood Net. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ Hough, Lory. "Crimson Is the New Orange". Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wright, Tanya (April 17, 2013), Butterfly Rising (Drama), Terrah Bennett Smith, Brooks Berry, Sean Blakemore, W Movies, retrieved July 12, 2023
- ^ "About". HAIRiette1. Retrieved March 3, 2020.