Tony Okungbowa

Tony Okungbowa
Born Anthony Victor Okungbowa
December 6, 1967 [1]
London, England, UK
Other names Tony Okungbowa, DJ Tony O.
Occupation Actor, DJ
Years active 1994–present

Anthony "Tony" Victor Okungbowa (born December 6, 1967)[1] is an English American actor, film producer, and disc jockey.[2][3] He was the resident DJ for The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Background and career

Okungbowa is of Nigerian descent and was raised in Nigeria and London.[1] He has a degree in drama from Middlesex University in London.[4] He relocated to the United States in 1992, when he came to do post-graduate work at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City, later moving to Los Angeles in 1998.[2][4]

His acting roles include guest spots on The X-Files, NYPD Blue, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and NCIS: Los Angeles in 2014.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show features a DJ to provide musical accompaniment, a role Okungbowa began in 2003 to end of season three of the show in 2006, when he left to further his acting career. He was replaced at the beginning of season four by Jon Abrahams. He returned in 2007 for occasional substitute appearances, and returned to DJ full-time for the sixth season which began September 8, 2008. Okungbowa also DJ'd the 2004 Grammy Awards.

He was executive producer of and acted in the film Restless City which had its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011.[5]

It was announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on January 7, 2013, that Okungbowa had passed his citizenship test, becoming a citizen of the United States.

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2002 The Wild Thornberrys Movie Ranger Voice
2003 Gate to Heaven Amadou
2008 Miracle of Phil Seth
2009 The One Last Time Scarecow
2011 Restless City Bekay
CIS: Las Gidi The Tax Man
2013 Mother of George Biyi
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1994 The Punk Punk Friend #2 1 episode
1999 The X-Files Barnes' Driver 1 episode
2000 Arli$$ Homeless Joe 1 episode
2001 NYPD Blue Tristan L. Gibbs 1 episode
2001-10 The Bold and the Beautiful Diver/Dempsey 6 episodes
2003–06; 2008–13 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Himself/DJ 1,672 Episode
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Bakari 1 episode
2014 NCIS Los Angeles: S5 Episode 23 Bakari Deng 1 episode

Discography

Mixed compilations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Biography: Anthony Okungbowa", TV.com.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 King, Susan, "Putting his spin on TV talk", Los Angeles Times, January 8, 2006.
  3. ↑ Kugel, Allison, "Tony Okungbowa: Resident Deejay on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Blazes His Own Trail in Hollywood", pr.com, June 1, 2006. Interview with Tony Okungbowa.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cf. "Actor Bio: Tony Okungbowa" - Tony Okungbowa website information.
  5. ↑ Anderson, John (February 1, 2011). "Review: ‘Restless City’". Variety.

External links