Tanya Wright
Born
Tanya Patrice Wright

New York City, U.S.
EducationVassar College (BA)
Harvard University (MEd)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • entrepreneur
  • author
Years active1986–present
RelativesSheena Wright (sister)

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.

Biography

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

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

  • 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.
  • Wright s the recipient of SOBRO's "Most innovative Business" Award for HAIRiette.

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. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ "40 Under 40 - Sheena Wright". Crain's New York Business. July 27, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Black community has new option for health care: The church". AP NEWS. June 17, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Trail Blazer | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  5. ↑ "To Believe Despite the Odds". The New York Times. December 26, 2009. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ Sanders, Janean (August 9, 2012). "True Blood's Tanya Wright Discusses Her Many Talents and Passions". True Blood Net. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  7. ↑ Hough, Lory. "Crimson Is the New Orange". Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  8. ↑ Chai (June 10, 2012). "True Blood Actress Tanya Wright Discusses Her Natural Hair". Transitioning Movement. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ Chai (August 6, 2010). "Archive for the 'Tanya Wright' Category". Sookie Stackhouse. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  10. ↑ Wright, Tanya (August 5, 2010). Butterfly Rising – Tanya Wright. ISBN 978-1453650363.
  11. ↑ Wright, Tanya (April 17, 2013), Butterfly Rising (Drama), Terrah Bennett Smith, Brooks Berry, Sean Blakemore, W Movies, retrieved July 12, 2023
  12. ↑ "About". HAIRiette1. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
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