Rachel Luttrell
Born
Rachel Zawadi Luttrell

(1971-01-19) 19 January 1971
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
OccupationActress
Years active1986–present
Spouse
Loyd Bateman
​
​
(m. 2007; div. 2021)​
Children2
RelativesErica Luttrell (sister)

Rachel Zawadi Luttrell (born 19 January 1971) is a Tanzanian-Canadian-American actress best known for her role as Teyla Emmagan, an Athosian warrior leader on Stargate Atlantis.

Early life

Luttrell was born 19 January 1971,[1] in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania,[2] the daughter of Veronica Makihio Shenkunde Luttrell[3] of the Washambala tribe of the Usambara Mountains, and Dr. William Leon Luttrell[3] from Bossier City, Louisiana. She is one of four daughters.[3] Her family emigrated to Canada when she was five years old,[2] and she was raised in Toronto.[2] Her family has several musical roots; her father, a former member of the critically acclaimed Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, trained Luttrell's soprano voice. She studied ballet at the Russian Academy of Classical Ballet School[4] and also studied piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.[2][4]

Career

Luttrell made her professional debuts in Canada's premier production of Miss Saigon in Toronto, and as "The Enchantress" in the Canadian production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. She would go on to appear in many other stage productions, such as Once On This Island, Goblin Market, and the premier performance of Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Lynn Nottage's Las Meninas.[1]

Following a move to Los Angeles, Luttrell became frustrated with some of the minor roles she was offered to her at the time,[4] and considered giving up on her acting career to enroll at the UCLA to study architecture.[5] She ventured to the UK instead and studied at the British American Drama Association on a midsummer course at Balliol College, Oxford.[5]

In 2004, Luttrell was cast in a main role as Athanosian warrior-leader Teyla Emmagan[2] on Stargate Atlantis.[4] She remained in this role for 99 episodes until the end of the series in 2009.[2][4]

She also appeared in the Canadian movie A Dog's Breakfast, which was directed by her Stargate Atlantis co-star David Hewlett.[1]

In 2011 Luttrell ventured into jazz music, releasing her first album I Wish You Love, produced by Gerrit Kinkel and featuring artists like double bass player Jennifer Leitham, Graham Dechter, and Konrad Paszkudzki, and drummer Jeff Hamilton.[5]

Personal life

Luttrell married Loyd Bateman, a former stunt performer in 2007;[6][2] they have two children together, her son Caden (born 2007)[5] and daughter Ridley (born 2012).[5] Luttrell has two younger sisters, Erica Luttrell,[3] who is also an actress, and Amanda Luttrell Garrigus,[3] who is an on-air personality for fashion and entertainment.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Courage Bobby's Daughter TV film
1992 Personal Effects Short film
1995 House
1996 Joe's So Mean to Josephine Girl in Bar
2001 Feast of All Saints Lisette TV film
2001 Impostor Scan Room Nurse
2003 Everyday Use Dee
2004 Stop Thief! Nicky Short film
2005 The Aviary Portia
2007 A Dog's Breakfast Ratcha
2009 Hardwired Candace
2019 Zombieland: Double Tap Terrified Woman in Snow

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1989-1993 Street Legal Veronica Beck 20 episodes
1992 Forever Knight Officer Norma Alves "Hunters"
1993 Maniac Mansion Lorrie "Tina and the Teardrops"
1995 The Great Defender Reporter "Naked Truth", "Camille"
1997 Dogs Mimi "1.1"
1997 In the House Daphne "The Cruise: Parts 1 & 2"
1998 Damon Brenda "Under Covers"
1998 Sleepwalkers "Cassandra"
2001 Charmed Janna "Exit Strategy"
2001 ER Paramedic "Rampage"
2002 Touched by an Angel Marla "The Sixteenth Minute"
2004-2009 Stargate Atlantis Teyla Emmagan 91 episodes
2011 True Justice Lt. Humphreys "Urban Warfare: Part 1"
2011 NCIS Navy Lt. Cmmdr. Stephanie Mosner "Sins of the Father"
2013 NCIS: Los Angeles CIA Agent Yvette Lowell "Big Brother"
2015 No Sleep Till 18 Jill "Everyone's Got an Opinion"
2016 Arrow Rosie "Code of Silence"
2018 Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce Oona Falcone 2 episodes
2019 The I-Land Brooke "The Dark Backward"

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rachel Luttrell". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Interview: Rachel Luttrell talks Stargate Atlantis". denofgeek.com. 12 August 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Veronica Makihio Shenkunde Luttrell – mother of actress Rachel Luttrell". myheritage.com. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "One on One with Rachel Luttrell". hobotrashcan.com. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Man magazine issue 12". issuu.com. Man Magazine. 10 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Me and my baby celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. It isn't always easy. It's not meant to be. But man is it worth it!!! We err, but we love and we strive. Beautiful, amazing kids, and a life that is rich. I love this woman! Here's to 50 more!!!". facebook.com.
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