Tanya Wright

Tanya Wright
Born	(1971-05-03) May 3, 1971 (age 54) Bronx, NY
Education	Vassar College (AB) Harvard University (MEd)
Occupations	Actress entrepreneur author
Years active	1986–present
Relatives	Sheena Wright (sister) Philip Banks III (brother-in-law) Terence Banks (brother-in-law) David C. Banks (brother-in-law)

Tanya Wright (born May 3, 1971) ^[1] 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 . ^[2]

Early life and education

Wright was born on May 3, 1978 in the Bronx ^{[1] [3]} to a 15-year-old mother, Debra Fraser-Howze, who later became an AIDS activist. ^{[4] [5]}

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. ^[6] She earned an master's of education from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education in 2022. ^[7] Her sister, Sheena Wright, is the First Deputy Mayor of New York City and formerly the president of the United Way of New York City.  

Career

Wright is well recognised for her iconic television parts. Wright appeared in several television shows early in her acting career, including "The Cosby Show" (1984–1992), "Family Matters" (CBS, 1989–1998), and "Parker Lewis" (Fox, 1990–92). She also starred in the television series "Living Single" (Fox, 1993–1998), "Beverly Hills 90210" (1990–2000), and "Burke's Law" (CBS, 1994–95). She appeared on "The Wayans Bros." (Warner Bros. Television Network, 1995–99), "Buddies" (ABC, 1995–96), and "The Jamie Foxx Show" (Warner Bros. Television Network, 1996–2001) as she maintained her humorous career in the 1990s. She took on roles on "The District" (2000–04), "24" (Fox, 2001–2010), and "The Handler" (CBS, 2003–04) in more recent times. She was in "Windfall" (NBC, 2006) as well. Wright's most recent role was in "The Carrie Diaries" (CW, 2013–14). Wright authored a book titled Butterfly Rising, ^[8] which was released on August 5, 2012. ^[2] Wright adapted the book to a screenplay, producing and directing a movie version of Butterfly Rising. ^[9]

Awards

• 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.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Wright received the SoBro's "Most Innovative Business" Award for HAI Riette.^{[ citation needed ]}

Filmography

Film

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

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

1. "Almanac: Today's Birthdays". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. May 3, 2024. p. A3. ProQuest   3050323228. TV personality Willie Geist (TV: "Today") is 49. Actor Christina Hendricks is 49. Actor Dule (doo-LAY') Hill is 49. Country singer Eric Church is 47. Actor Tanya Wright is 46. Dancer Cheryl Burke is 40. Soul singer Michael Kiwanuka is 37. See also:
   • "Today is Tuesday, May 3, the 124th day of 2016: Today's Birthdays". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. May 3, 2016. p. A2. ProQuest   1786234530. TV personality Willie Geist (TV: "Today") is 41. Actress Christina Hendricks is 41. Actor Dule Hill is 41. Country singer Eric Church is 39. Actress Tanya Wright (TV: "Orange is the New Black") is 38. Soul singer Michael Kiwanuka is 29.
2. Wright, Tanya (August 5, 2010). Butterfly Rising – Tanya Wright. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN   978-1453650363.
3. "Tanya Wright". www.tanya-wright.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
4. "40 Under 40 - Sheena Wright". Crain's New York Business. July 27, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
5. "Black community has new option for health care: The church". AP NEWS. June 17, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
6. Sanders, Janean (August 9, 2012). "True Blood's Tanya Wright Discusses Her Many Talents and Passions". True Blood Net. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
7. Hough, Lory (June 8, 2022). "Crimson Is the New Orange". Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
8. Chai (August 6, 2010). "Archive for the 'Tanya Wright' Category". Sookie Stackhouse. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
9. "Tanya Wright | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.