Donzaleigh Abernathy
| Donzaleigh Abernathy | |
|---|---|
 Donzaleigh Abernathy speaking at the Virginia Military Institute | |
| Born | August 5, 1957 |
| Alma mater | Emerson University |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, director and writer |
| Home town | Atlanta, Georgia |
Donzaleigh Abernathy is an American actor, producer, director and writer.[1]
Early Life
Abernathy grew up in Atlanta, Georgia during the heart of the civil rights movement. She attended the Northside High School for the Performing Arts. Her father was Rev. Ralph Abernathy, an influential civil rights leader, so she was able to join her father and witness first-hand many significant events of the Civil Rights movement.[2] Her family was very close to that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., another prominent figure of the civil rights movement. Both of the families would get together on various holidays. According to Abernathy herself, children from both families would hold performances for their parents on these occasions with Yolanda King, one of King's daughter, acting as the director and Dr. King filming the performances. Abernathy acknowledges that "that's really when [she] started acting."[3]
Career
After graduating from Emerson College in Boston, Abernathy moved to New York. She landed her first job after auditioning for a role with the Off Off Broadway production.[3] Since then, Abernathy has a played minor roles in many different T.V. shows and movies. One of her more well-known roles is in the historical drama "Gods and Generals," in which she portrays a slave by the name of Martha. Although the film itself was not critically well-received, Abernathy was praised for her part. One reviewer states that "Abernathy's image of Martha combines strength with glamour." As a child of the South, Abernathy was heavily influenced by the civil rights movement. As a result, she was able to connect with the role on a personal level.[4]
Filmography
- Murder in Mississippi (TV) (1990) – Sue Brown
- Ghost Dad (1990) – E.R. Nurse
- Grass Roots (TV) (1992) – Cora Mae Turner
- Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life (TV) (1993) – Effie Pettit
- Night of the Running Man (1994) – Francine, The Hacker
- Out of Darkness (TV) (1994) – MHA
- NYPD Blue (TV) (1994) – Mrs. Danton
- Camp Nowhere (1994) – Dorothy Welton
- Family Album (TV) (1994) – Lorrie
- Dangerous Minds (TV) (1996) – Irene Timmons
- Miss Evers' Boys (TV) (1997) – Nurse Betty
- EZ Streets (TV) (1997) – City Council Person Wyler
- The Burning Zone (TV) (1997) – Nora Dawson
- Don King: Only in America (TV) (1997) – Henrietta King
- The Pretender (TV) (1998) – Susan Healy
- Chicago Hope (TV) (1998) – Porschia Tate
- The Tempest (TV) (1998) – Mambo Ezeli
- Stranger in My House (1999) – Nurse
- Any Day Now (1998–2002) – Sara Jackson
- 24 (2003) – Assistant
- Gods and Generals (2003) – Martha
- Strong Medicine (TV) (2003) – Child Psychologist
- Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (2003) – Esmerelda
- The Closer (2005) – Mistress of Ceremonies
- House M.D. (TV) (2006) – Brady
- Commander-in-Chief (TV) (2005–2006) – Reporter Patricia
- Grilled (2006) – Karen
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV) (2008) – Carolina Bell
- Lincoln Heights (TV) (2008–2009) – Hazel Glass
- The Walking Dead (TV) (2012) – Dr. Stevens – 3 episodes
Books
- Partners to History: Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and the Civil Rights Movement (Crown, 2003) ISBN 978-0-609-60914-9
References
- ↑ "Donzaleigh Abernathy: A Connection with Martin Luther King Jr.". Retrieved 2010-01-25.
- ↑ "Donzaleigh Abernathy". Literature Resource Center. 2008. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ralph Abernathy's daughter, Donzaleigh, gets role in TV western drama, 'Ned Blessing'". Jet Magazine 84: 38–39. 23 August 1993.
- ↑ Pryce, Vinette K. (13 February 2003). "Civil rights daughter fights civil war for 'Gods and Generals'". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Donzaleigh Abernathy. |
- Official website
- Donzaleigh Abernathy at the Internet Movie Database
- Donzaleigh Abernathy at AllMovie
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