Tonya Pinkins
Biography: Tonya Pinkins was born in Chicago, Illinois. She has four children. Her father was a police officer and insurance salesman and her mother is a former postal worker. She has two brothers, Eric Swoope and Thomas Swoope and a sister Tamera Swoope from whom she is estranged. She was interested in the arts from a young age. In high school, she studied acting at the Goodman Theatre Young People's Program. Aged 18, she briefly attended college and decided to pursue an acting career instead. She 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. Pinkins is probably most admired for her stage work. She won a Tony Award for her performance as Sweet Anita in Jelly's Last Jam. She was nominated for her roles in Play On! and in Caroline, or Change, where she played the title role. Her additional Broadway credits include Merrily We Roll Along, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, The Wild Party, House of Flowers, Radio Golf, A Time To Kill and Holler If Ya Hear Me. Pinkins has performed in several Off Broadway productions, including the comic role of Mopsa, the Shepherdess, in The Winter's Tale produced by the Riverside Shakespeare Company at The Shakespeare Center in 1983. In 2011, Pinkins starred in the world premiere of Kirsten Greenidge’s Milk Like Sugar at La Jolla Playhouse, and received a 2012 Craig Noel nomination for Best featured Actress in a Play. She reprised her role in the Playwrights Horizons in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, and garnered a 2012 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. In 2012 Pinkins starred in Katori Hall's play Hurt Village, the gritty drama about life and change in a Memphis housing project made its world-premiere at Off-Broadway's Signature Theatre Company as part of the theatre's inaugural season. The play also Marsha Stephanie Blake, Ron Cephas Jones, Saycon Sengbloh, Lloyd Watts, Charlie Hudson III, Nicholas Christopher, Corey Hawkins, Ron Cephas Jones and Joaquina Kalukango. In 2014, Pinkins appeared in New Federal Theatre's revival of Ed Bullins' The Fabulous Miss Marie opposite Roscoe Orman; in the Broadway production of Holler If Ya Hear Me; and the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' War at Yale Repertory. She has also had a prolific television career making guest appearances on such television shows as Army Wives, 24, Law & Order, The Cosby Show, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, and The Guardian among others. During the mid-1980s Pinkins created the role of Heather Dalton on the CBS soap, As the World Turns. In 1991 she was cast as Livia Frye in All My Children. Pinkins left All My Children in 1995 but returned to her role in 2003. She was later put on contract with the show from March 2004 until June 2006, when she was downgraded to recurring status. She has played Amala Motobo on the popular television show 24. She has appeared in several films in supporting roles, including Newlyweeds, Home, Fading Gigolo opposite Woody Allen, Enchanted, Premium, Romance & Cigarettes, Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom and Above the Rim among others.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: May 30, 1962
Deathday: N/A
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Known For
Romance & Cigarettes
2005-09-13
Romance & Cigarettes
Overview: Ironworker Nick lives with his wife, Kitty, and three daughters. When he meets a significantly younger woman, Tula, he starts an affair with her, much to the chagrin of his wife, and his life is thrown into upheaval. Kitty kicks Nick out of the house, and he is forced to make some difficult decisions.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2005-09-13
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An Act of Terror
2017-01-01
An Act of Terror
Overview: The true story of Virginia Christian, a 16-year-old African American girl accused of murder in the Jim Crow South.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2017-01-01
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Home
2013-11-22
Home
Overview: The story of a man suffering from mental illness who attempts to rebuild his life.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-11-22
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Newlyweeds
2013-09-18
Newlyweeds
Overview: A match made in stoner heaven turns into a love triangle gone awry when Lyle can't decide which matters most, Nina or Mary Jane.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-09-18
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See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989-05-12
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Overview: A murder takes place in the shop of David Lyons, a deaf man who fails to hear the gunshot being fired. Outside, blind man Wally Karue hears the shot but cannot see the perpetrator. Both are arrested, but escape to form an unlikely partnership. Being chased by both the law AND the original killers, can the pair work together to outwit them all?
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1989-05-12
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Against Their Will: Women in Prison
1994-10-29
Against Their Will: Women in Prison
Overview: Behind prison walls, corruption, sex and power make criminals out of the guards and heroes out of the guarded. For more than a decade, the lawless guards inside a maximum security women's prison have reigned with impunity - rape, sex for money and illegal favors have become the norm until one woman decides to battle the system. Leading a group of inmates on a risky life-or-death struggle for justice, a ten year silence is finally broken, exposing the twisted truth to the world and enabling the prisoners the freedom to live without fear.
Genres: TV Movie Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-10-29
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The Evolution of Horror Cinema Worldwide
2025-09-18
The Evolution of Horror Cinema Worldwide
Overview: Why do people no longer see this type of stories nowadays? How can this notion be awakened? Which films should begin to feed back from the past and balance them with the current horror?
Genres: Documentary Horror
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2025-09-18
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American Dream
1981-04-26
American Dream
Overview: A family moves from an affluent Chicago suburb to the mixed inner-city neighborhood where the father grew up, with the idea of giving the kids, who are becoming materialistic snobs, the feel of a big city environment.
Genres: TV Movie Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-04-26
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Aardvark
2018-04-13
Aardvark
Overview: The aardvark has evolved to be one of a kind. You could say the same of Josh Norman.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-04-13
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The Book of Henry
2017-06-16
The Book of Henry
Overview: Susan, a single mother of two, works as a waitress in a small town. Her son, Henry, is an 11-year-old genius who not only manages the family finances but acts as emotional support for his mother and younger brother. When Henry discovers that the girl next door has a terrible secret, he implores Susan to take matters into her own hands.
Genres: Drama Crime Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2017-06-16
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The Life of Peter Gottlieb
2024-09-24
The Life of Peter Gottlieb
Overview: As community college professor Peter Gottlieb's life spirals out of control, a strange friendship blossoms with one of his students, Sabrina Carbonowitz. When Sabrina goes missing, Peter is pinned for the whole thing.
Genres: Comedy Romance Thriller Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2024-09-24
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Mr. Talented
2018-08-11
Mr. Talented
Overview: Inspired by a true story, Mr. Talented follows a space-obsessed photographer whose life and sanity unravels as he struggles to make a name for himself in the art world.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-08-11
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Jammin': Jelly Roll Morton on Broadway
1992-11-02
Jammin': Jelly Roll Morton on Broadway
Overview: A behind the scenes look at the Broadway production of Jelly's Last Jam, including a tribute to jazz musician and composer Jelly Roll Morton. Gregory Hines and George C. Wolfe, who wrote the book for Jelly's Last Jam, are interviewed. Includes scenes from the show.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1992-11-02
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Above the Rim
1994-03-23
Above the Rim
Overview: Story of a promising high school basketball star and his relationships with two brothers, one a drug dealer and the other a former basketball star fallen on hard times and now employed as a security guard.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-03-23
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Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened...
2016-11-18
Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened...
Overview: This film from acclaimed theater director Lonny Price charts the journey of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" in the 30-plus years since the musical debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1981.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2016-11-18
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The Surrogate
2021-07-09
The Surrogate
Overview: Jess is thrilled to be the surrogate for her best friend and his husband, but when a prenatal test comes back, it creates a moral dilemma that threatens their friendship.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2021-07-09
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My Days of Mercy
2018-03-31
My Days of Mercy
Overview: The daughter of a man on death row falls in love with a woman on the opposing side of her family's political cause.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-03-31
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Collective: Unconscious
2016-08-05
Collective: Unconscious
Overview: A man and his grandmother hide out from an ominous broadcast. The Grim Reaper hosts a TV show. The formerly incarcerated recount and reinterpret their first days of freedom. A suburban mom's life is upturned by the beast growing inside of her. And a high school gym teacher runs drills from inside a volcano. What happens when five of independent film's most adventurous filmmakers join together to literally adapt each other’s dreams for the screen?
Genres: Drama Mystery Horror Fantasy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2016-08-05
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Enchanted
2007-11-20
Enchanted
Overview: The beautiful princess Giselle is banished by an evil queen from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn't operate on a "happily ever after" basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer who has come to her aid - even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince back home - she has to wonder: Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?
Genres: Comedy Family Fantasy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2007-11-20
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The Artist's Wife
2020-09-25
The Artist's Wife
Overview: Claire Smythson, wife of the renowned abstract artist Richard Smythson, is plunged into a late-life crisis when her husband is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and is in danger of not completing the paintings for his final show.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2020-09-25
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Rasheeda Speaking
2015-10-01
Rasheeda Speaking
Overview: This tense workplace thriller examines the realities of so-called “post-racial” America. Co-workers are driven apart by the machinations of their boss, and a chilling power struggle ensues that spins wildly out of control.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2015-10-01
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The School for Wives
2020-10-24
The School for Wives
Overview: The School For Wives, at its core, is about gender power dynamics. We are looking forward to telling this classic 17th century French tale through the lens of a contemporary aesthetic and an all female, primarly non-white cast to further bring into focus the inherent power of justice and equality over racism and sexism. Furthermore, by casting a Black woman in the central role of ARNOLPHE - a white man of power and privilege, who is forced to realize that he cannot control or snuff out ANYONE's humanity - we are shining a light on the ultimate absurdity of similar American systems of oppression.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2020-10-24
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Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom
2008-10-26
Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom
Overview: As Noah and Wade prepare to marry in Martha's Vineyard, the personal problems of their friends - and the unexpected arrival of rapper Baby Gat - threatens to permanently end their relationship.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2008-10-26
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Everybody Dies!
2016-03-03
Everybody Dies!
Overview: In this recreated public access television show, Ripa the Grim Reaper teaches black kids about the day they'll die.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2016-03-03
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Red Pill
2021-03-12
Red Pill
Overview: Set over Halloween weekend 2020, this political thriller follows six friends as they head into "red" country to canvas white women to vote. They are armed with idealism and determination, but they should have brought heavy artillery. As they explore the creepy house they booked for the weekend distressing clues indicate that they should get out of there, but they decide to stay. They should have brought heavy artillery.
Genres: Horror Thriller Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2021-03-12
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