| Tonya Pinkins | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birthdate: | May 30, 1962 |
| Birthplace: | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Role: | Alama Matobo |
Tonya Pinkins (born May 30, 1962; age 61) portrayed Alama Matobo during Season 7 of 24.
Biography and career
Tonya Pinkins was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father was a police officer and insurance salesman and her mother is a former postal worker. She was interested in the arts from a young age. In high school, she studied acting at the Goodman Theatre Young People's Program. She attended college for a time, but decided to pursue an acting career instead.
Pinkins started her professional television career in 1981, appearing in the series American Dream. Among her credited appearances is a recurring role over many years in the soap opera All My Children, as well as recurring roles in Army Wives and University Hospital.
Other television credits include shows like Crime Story (with Bill Smitrovich), The Guardian (with Myndy Crist), The Closer (with Raymond Cruz), and Nurse Jackie (with Paul Schulze). She also appeared in two different episodes of Law & order on different roles.
Pinkins has also appeared in films like Beat Street, Above the Rim, Romance & Cigarettes (with Eddie Izzard), Enchanted, and Newlyweeds. She is also an accomplished musical performer, and among other awards and honors, won Broadway's 1992 Tony Award as Best Actress.
Pinkins later returned to college, earning an undergraduate degree from Columbia College in Chicago, followed by graduate work at Carnegie Mellon's music theater program, and a year at California Western School of Law in San Diego.
24 credits
Selected filmography
- Aardvark (2017)
- Newlyweeds (2013)
- Premium (2008)
- Enchanted (2007)
- Romance & Cigarettes (2005)
Television appearances
- Scandal (2017)
- Gotham (2015-2016)
- Nurse Jackie (2015)
- Army Wives (2009)
- All My Children (1991-2009)
- The Closer (2008)
- Law & Order (1990, 2006)
- Cold Case (2006)
- Criminal Minds (2006)
- Sleeper Cell (2005)
- The Guardian (2002)
