Toks Olagundoye
| Toks Olagundoye | |
|---|---|
|
Olagundoye at a PR shoot in April 2013 | |
| Born |
Olatokunbo Susan Olasobunmi Abeke Olagundoye September 16, 1975[1] Lagos, Nigeria[2] |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Website | www.toksolagundoye.com |
Olatokunbo Susan Olasobunmi Abeke "Toks" Olagundoye (born September 16, 1975) is a Nigerian television and film actress, writer and producer.[1] She is known for her role as Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the ABC TV sitcom The Neighbors.
Early life
Olatokunbo Susan Olasobunmi Abeke Olagundoye was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a Norwegian mother and a Nigerian father.[2] As a youth, she was educated in Nigeria, Switzerland, and England.[3] Her name is pronounced "Tokes Awlahgoondawyay".[4] She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre from Smith College.[4]
Career
Olagundoye made her screen debuts on both TV and the big screen in 2002; in an episode of the television series The Education of Max Bickford; and in the film Brown Sugar later that same year. She appeared opposite Ruby Dee in an off-Broadway production Saint Lucy's Eyes in April 2001,[5] and in 2005 she cofounded the theater company Three Chicks Theatre, which produced Andrea Lepcio's One Nation Under in 2008.[1] Olagundoye has guest-starred on Ugly Betty, Law & Order, CSI: NY, Switched at Birth, NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Prime Suspect. Her film credits include A Beautiful Soul, Come Back to Me, Absolute Trust and The Salon.
In 2012 Olagundoye was cast as a series regular in the ABC comedy series The Neighbors,[6][7][8][9] playing the part of Jackie Joyner-Kersee until the series was canceled after two seasons in 2014.[10] She later had starring roles in the two television pilots: Feed Me, opposite Mary-Louise Parker for NBC; and Amazon's Salem Rogers, co-starring with Leslie Bibb.[11][12] Olagundoye joined the cast of ABC comedy-drama Castle in 2015 as a series regular in the role of Hayley Shipton.[13]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Brown Sugar | Sidney's LA Assistant | |
| 2005 | The Salon | Peaches | |
| 2009 | Absolute Trust | Kelly | |
| 2010 | Mom Squad | Mom | Short film |
| 2010 | Dorito-hibition! | Danielle | Short film |
| 2011 | Most Wanted | Operative Keel | |
| 2011 | Come Back to Me | Seritou | |
| 2011 | Life Begins at Rewirement | Nurse | Short film |
| 2012 | A Beautiful Soul | Theresa Whitaker | |
| 2012 | Democracy at Work | Meghan Oliver | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Education of Max Bickford | Hannah | Episode: "An Open Book" |
| 2004 | Law & Order | Janette Gardner | Episode: "C.O.D." |
| 2006 | 3 lbs | Mary | Episode: "Of Two Minds" |
| 2008 | Ugly Betty | Sales Girl | Episode: "Bad Amanda" |
| 2010 | Law & Order | Claire | Episode: "Blackmail" |
| 2010 | CSI: NY | Reporter | Episode: "Hide Sight" |
| 2011 | Switched at Birth | Cooking Class Teacher | Episode: "The Persistence of Memory" |
| 2011 | NCIS | Rebeka Hooper | Episode: "Safe Harbor" |
| 2011 | Prime Suspect | Lucy Martin | Episode: "Wednesday's Child" |
| 2012–2014 | The Neighbors | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | Main cast |
| 2014 | Steven Universe | Nanefua | Episode: "Beach Party" |
| 2015 | The Fosters | Faith | Episodes: "More Than Words", "Lucky" |
| 2015 | Castle | Hayley Shipton | Main cast (season 8) |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Game of Thrones | Beskha (voice) |
References
- 1 2 3 Toks Olagundoye: Biography at TVGuide.com
- 1 2 Toks Olagundoye at ABC MediaNet
- ↑ Toks Olagundoye at the Internet Movie Database
- 1 2 Get To Know Toks at her official website
- ↑ Matthew Murray (2001-04-12). "Saint Lucy's Eyes Theatre Review by Matthew Murray". Talkin' Broadway.com, Inc. Matthew Murray. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
Though the new play, Saint Lucy's Eyes, which opened last night,
- ↑ The Neighbors: First Look at ABC's New Alien Family Comedy, TVovermind.com, 15 May 2012.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (December 11, 2011). "Pilot Castings: Four In Dan Fogelman Comedy, Jeff Eastin Drama Adds One". Deadline.com. PMC. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
- ↑ The Neighbors at ABC
- ↑ 31 Fresh Faces of Fall TV 2012, Zimbio.com
- ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (May 9, 2014). "ABC Cancels 'The Neighbors'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Toks Olagundoye Joins NBC Pilot ‘Feed Me’, JoBeth Williams In ‘Your Family Or Mine’ - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "'The Neighbors' Actress Joins Amazon Comedy Pilot (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "'Castle' Enlists 'Neighbors' Favorite as Regular for Season 8". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 July 2015.