Tanya Wright
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (May 2022) |
Tanya Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1,1981 New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Vassar College (BA) Harvard University (MEd) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Relatives | Sheena Wright (sister) |
Tanya Wright is an American entrepreneur, actress, and author. Born and raised in South Bronx, New York, Wright studied Comparative Literature at Vassar College. After her graduation, she joined the cast of The Cosby Show as Tanya Simpson. She is 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.[1]
Early life and education[edit]
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]
Wright is an alumna of the Oliver Scholars Program and graduated high school from George School, a private Quaker school in Pennsylvania. She received a degree in Independent Studies/Comparative Literature at Vassar College.[5] She studied at Harvard University.[6]
Career[edit]
Over the course of her career, Wright made the decision to start wearing her hair naturally.[7] Wright wrote a book entitled Butterfly Rising,[8] which was released on August 5, 2012.[1] Wright adapted the book to a screenplay, producing and directing a movie version of Butterfly Rising[9]
Wright started a hair care line called HAI Riette in which some of the proceeds go to The Actor's Fund.[10]
She starred in the play The Little Birch Tree in elementary school which started her acting career. While attending Vassar, she auditioned and landed a role in The Cosby Show.
Awards[edit]
- Wright is a two-time winner of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award, Best Acting Ensemble for her portrayal of Crystal Burset in Orange Is the New Black.[11]
- Wright received the SOBRO's "Most Innovative Business" Award for HAI Riette.[12]
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]
- ^ a b Wright, Tanya (August 5, 2010). Butterfly Rising – Tanya Wright. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1453650363.
- ^ "https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=cc005963104b6c94JmltdHM9MTcxMzMxMjAwMCZpZ3VpZD0wODNjZmQ1NS03OWI0LTZkNzgtMTFmMi1lOTUyNzg5MTZjYTkmaW5zaWQ9NTE1Mg&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=083cfd55-79b4-6d78-11f2-e95278916ca9&psq=tanya+wright+biography&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9tYXJyaWVkYmlvZ3JhcGh5LmNvbS90YW55YS13cmlnaHQtYmlvZ3JhcGh5Lw&ntb=1". www.bing.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
{{cite web}}:|archive-url=requires|archive-date=(help); External link in|title= - ^ "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.
- ^ 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 (June 8, 2022). "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 (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.
- ^ www.bing.com https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=d0925fbf6faa37adJmltdHM9MTcxMzMxMjAwMCZpZ3VpZD0wODNjZmQ1NS03OWI0LTZkNzgtMTFmMi1lOTUyNzg5MTZjYTkmaW5zaWQ9NTI5Mw&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=083cfd55-79b4-6d78-11f2-e95278916ca9&psq=tanya+wright+biography&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW1kYi5jb20vbmFtZS9ubTA5NDI4NTkv&ntb=1. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Tanya Wright | Actress, Director, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved April 17, 2024.