Tonya Lee Williams

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Tonya Lee Williams

Tonya Lee Williams attends The Canadian Film Centre cocktail reception celebrating the Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab held at Avalon Hotel on March 9, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.
Born Tonya Maxine Williams
(1958-07-12) July 12, 1958
London, England
Years active 1971-present
Spouse(s) Robert Simpson (1983-1991)

Tonya Lee Williams (born Tonya Maxine Williams on July 12, 1958) is a British-born Canadian actress of Jamaican descent. She is best known for her role as Dr. Olivia Barber Winters on the American soap opera The Young and the Restless, from 1990 to 2005, and for a brief time in 2007. She returned to the series in the fall of 2008.

Early life

Williams was born in London, England to Jamaican parents. She lived in London and Kingston, Jamaica as a young child. At age 5, she contracted rheumatic fever; she and her mother went to live in Birmingham. In 1969, she and her family settled in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. As a teenager, she modeled in Eaton's catalogues and danced on a television series called Boogie! which ran on Citytv. In 1977, Williams was crowned Miss Black Ontario.

Williams was married to Robert Simpson from 1983 to 1991. She has not remarried since.

Career

Her television debut was as a host of the Canadian children's show Polka Dot Door after graduating from Ryerson University in 1979. Appearances on the television series Check it Out! and Generations followed. Her involvement on Generations snagged her a role on The Young and the Restless, and has become her most lucrative role. Williams won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2000 and 2002.

She also appeared on A Very Brady Christmas as Cindy's roommate.

In March 2004, she hosted the special event programming Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee, on CBC Television. She is an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.

Williams is also the founder and president of the ReelWorld Film Festival, an annual film festival in Toronto that features talent from diverse visible communities.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1971Polka Dot Door Hostunknown episodes
1983Skullduggeryunknownuncredited
1985Check it Out!Jennifer Woods Ep."No Cause for Alarm"
1986As IsTV Commentator TV
1987[[What's Happening Now!!]]||Michelle ||Ep."The New Employee"
The LiberatorsJennyTV
Street LegalBelinda / Reporter2 episodes
Gimme a Break!Judy Mitchell Ep."Parents' Week: Part 1"
Hill Street BluesShirleyEp."It Ain't Over Till It's Over"
Falcon CrestChase's Secretary / Lois3 episodes
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the FutureChelsea Chandler Ep."
1988A Very Brady ChristmasBelindaTV
1989-1990''GenerationsLinda Dukesunknown episodes
1989MatlockDana WilliamsEp."The Starlet"
Nasty BoysunknownNasty Boys (Original Pilot)
A Peaceable KingdomColleen3 episodes
1990–2005,2007,2008–presentThe Young and the RestlessDr. Olivia Barber WintersRole Since:May 1990-September 7, 2005
April 12–13, 2007
October 23, 2008–present
recurring role
1990Spaced Invaders Ernestine TV
Piece of CakeTanyaTV
1991The BorrowerDesk Nurse
1993CounterstrikeDeniseEp."The Contender"
Getting ByJanetEp."Shop till You Drop"
1994Silk StalkingsLoretta Cole Ep."The Last Campaign"
1998PSI Factor: Chronicles of the ParanormalCarole Sanderson Ep."Bad Dreams"
2000Seventeen AgainMonique Donovan Disney Channel Movie
2004Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel JubileeHost
2005A Perfect NoteJasmineTV
2007Poor Boy's GameRuth Carvery
Finding Father's ToeCarole-
2009–2010The BorderOctavia JonesTV
2010My Name is Khan News AnchorFilm
2011She's the MayorMaxine WilliamsTV[1]
2012CybergeddonDonna Berg-

Producer

Year Title Credit Note(s)
2001Mapleexecutive producer
2004Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel JubileeTV
Da Kink in My HairTV

Director

Year Title Credit Note(s)
2004Da Kink in My HairDirectorTV

Writer

Year Title Credit Note(s)
2004Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubileecontributing writerTV

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "She's the Mayor finds laughs in Hamilton". Hamilton Spectator, April 16, 2010.

External links

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