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 a British born-American actor, film producer, and disc jockey.[2][3] He was the resident DJ for The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2003–2006 and again from 2008–2013 when he was replaced by Stephen "tWitch" Boss. He returned as a guest on 28 April 2014.
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 the 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 | |
| 2014 | Echo Park | Alex | |
| 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 |
| 2015-Present | Kids Say the Darndest Things Nigeria | Himself/Host | 2 episode |
Discography
Mixed compilations
- 2005: Hollywood Sessions, Vol. 1
- 2009: Total Dance 2009
- 2012: "A Night to Remember"
References
- 1 2 3 "Biography: Anthony Okungbowa", TV.com.
- 1 2 King, Susan, "Putting his spin on TV talk", Los Angeles Times, January 8, 2006.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 Cf. "Actor Bio: Tony Okungbowa" - Tony Okungbowa website information.
- ↑ Anderson, John (February 1, 2011). "Review: ‘Restless City’". Variety.
External links
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