Tanya Wright
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Tanya Wright (born May 3, 1971) See also: * is an American entrepreneur, actress, and author. Born and raised in
South Bronx The South Bronx is an area of the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The area comprises neighborhoods in the southern part of the Bronx, such as Concourse, Bronx, Concourse, Mott Haven, Bronx, Mott Haven, Melrose, B ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, Wright studied
Comparative Literature Comparative literature studies is an academic field dealing with the study of literature and cultural expression across language, linguistic, national, geographic, and discipline, disciplinary boundaries. Comparative literature "performs a role ...
at
Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States. The college be ...
. After her graduation, she joined the cast of ''
The Cosby Show ''The Cosby Show'' is an American television sitcom created by (along with Ed. Weinberger and Michael J. Leeson) and starring Bill Cosby that originally aired on NBC from September 20, 1984, to April 30, 1992, with a total of 201 half-hour e ...
'' as Tanya Simpson. She is known for her role as
Phyllis Brooks Phyllis Brooks (July 18, 1915 – August 1, 1995) was an American actress and model. She was born Phyllis Seiler in Boise, Idaho. Some sources have also inaccurately cited 1914 as her year of birth, but 1915 is the correct year according to So ...
on '' Buddies'', as well as her recurring roles on '' 24'' as
Patty Brooks The following is a list of characters in the American serial drama television series '' 24'', '' 24: Live Another Day'', and '' 24: Legacy'' by season and event. The list first names the actor, followed by the character. Some characters have their ...
, ''
NYPD Blue ''NYPD Blue'' is an American police procedural television series set in New York City, exploring the struggles of the fictional 15th Precinct detective squad in Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwines several plots involving an ensemble ca ...
'' as Officer Maya Anderson, on ''
True Blood ''True Blood'' is an American fantasy Horror fiction, horror Drama (film and television), drama television series produced and created by Alan Ball (screenwriter), Alan Ball. It is based on ''The Southern Vampire Mysteries'', a series of novels ...
'' as Deputy Kenya Jones, and as Crystal on the
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
original series ''
Orange Is the New Black ''Orange Is the New Black'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''OITNB'') is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan for Netflix. The series is based on Piper Kerman's memoir '' Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Pr ...
''.


Early life and education

Wright was born on May 3, 1978 in the Bronx to a 15-year-old mother, Debra Fraser-Howze, who later became an AIDS activist. Wright is an alumna of the Oliver Scholars Program and graduated high school from
George School George School is a private Quaker (Society of Friends) boarding and day high school located on a rural campus in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania ( Newtown postal address). It has been at that site since its founding in 1893, an ...
, a private
Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...
school in Pennsylvania. She received a degree in Independent Studies/Comparative Literature at
Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States. The college be ...
. She earned an master's of education from
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
's Graduate School of Education in 2022. Her sister, Sheena Wright, is the First Deputy Mayor of New York City and formerly the president of the
United Way United Way is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit organization, nonprofit fundraising affiliates. Prior to 2015, United Way was the largest nonprofit organization in the United States by donations from the public. Individual Un ...
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'', which was released on August 5, 2012. Wright adapted the book to a screenplay, producing and directing a movie version of ''Butterfly Rising''.


Awards

* Wright is a two-time winner of the
Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...
(SAG) Award, Best Acting Ensemble for her portrayal of Crystal Burset in ''Orange Is the New Black''. * Wright received the SoBro's "Most Innovative Business" Award for HAI Riette.


Filmography


Film


Television


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Tanya Living people 1978 births Actresses from the Bronx American film actresses American television actresses American stage actresses 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 African-American actresses 20th-century American actresses 21st-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American women writers Novelists from New York (state) Film directors from New York City American women film producers George School alumni 21st-century American screenwriters African-American novelists 21st-century African-American women writers 21st-century African-American writers Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni