Tonye T. Patano
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present

Tonye T. Patano is an American actress. She may be best known as Heylia James on the television series Weeds.

She has appeared in television shows such as Law & Order, Sex and the City, Monk and Third Watch. Patano was in the original cast of the Broadway play, 45 Seconds from Broadway by Neil Simon.

Career

Film and television

Patano's first screen role was in the 1984 television film The Jesse Owens Story. She has appeared on several television series in guest roles, including Sex and the City,[1] Monk, Third Watch, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Elementary. Patano has played various characters throughout the Law & Order franchise.

She appeared as Carolyn in Highway Heartbreaker (1992),[2] and had a small role in A Price Above Rubies (1998).[3] Other film work includes Little Manhattan[4] and The Great New Wonderful, both released in 2005.[5]

In 2005, Patano landed the role of Heylia James,[6] a marijuana dealer, on Weeds.[7] She received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series alongside her Weeds co-stars in 2006.[8] Two years later, Patano earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series as Heylia.[9] Patano left the series at the conclusion of its third season, later returning in season 7 on a recurring basis.

Following Weeds, she portrayed Emily in Hallmark movie Loving Leah (2009).[10] Patano was Beverly, a counselor, in A Vigilante (2018).[11] She played a probation officer in drama Jack of the Red Hearts (2015).[12]

Stage

Patano portrayed Nurse O'Neil in a 1997 production of The Sunshine Boys at the George Street Playhouse. One reviewer claimed she was "excellent" in the role.[13] In 2000, she received a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for best ensemble after acting in From the Mississippi Delta.[14] Patano appeared on Broadway as Ms. Gravátt in 45 Seconds from Broadway (2001).[15]

She played the role of brothel owner Mama Nadi in Ruined for the Huntington Theater.[16] Her performance in this production received positive reception, with one critic calling her "delightful" and "magnetic."[17] Another found her superb in the role of Mama Nadi.[18]

Personal life

At age 35, she was diagnosed with diabetes, and she suffered a stroke in 2005.[19]

Filmography

Films

YearFilmRoleAwards
1984The Jesse Owens StoryLaverne Owens
1992Highway HeartbreakerCarolyn
1994FreshGirl #2
1998A Price Above RubiesEarring woman
1999The HurricaneWoman at prison
2004MessengersLinda Mabry
2004Imaginary HeroesBig Mean TeacherVoice role
2005RoomHomeless woman
2005The Great New WonderfulShirley
2005The Thing About My FolksNurse
2005Little ManhattanBirdie
2007The SavagesMrs. Robinson
2007Trainwreck: My Life as an IdiotMrs. Shelby
2009The Taking of Pelham 123Regina
2009Loving LeahEmilyTV movie
2009Bunker HillNurse EvansTV movie
2009Come What MayThema
2010The Company MenJoyce Robertson
2010PoniesCashier
2014The David DanceMrs. P.
2014Every Secret ThingClarice
2014Time Out of MindMs. Jackson
2015Jack of the Red HeartsMiz
2017Roxanne RoxanneMs. Denise
2018A VigilanteBeverly
2020TopsideViolet
2023EileenMrs. Stevens

Television

YearSeriesRoleEpisodes
1996New York UndercoverMrs. SamuelsEpisode 3.01: "A Time of Faith (Part 1)"
2000Now and AgainJimmy's MomEpisode 1.17: "Boy Wonder"
2000, 2003, 2009–12; 2022Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAnn, Sally, Judge Maskin9 episodes
2001DeadlineNurse AliceEpisode 1.08: "The Undesirables"
2003Sex and the CityRubyEpisode 6.11: "The Domino Effect"
2003Hope & FaithReceptionistEpisode 1.07: "Car Commercial"
2004Law & OrderFeldmanEpisode 14.11: "Darwinian"
2004MonkWoman on the TrainEpisode 3.01: "Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan"
2005Third WatchDanielleEpisode 6.18: "Too Little Too Late"
2005–2008, 2011WeedsHeylia James38 episodes
2006–2009Handy MannyMrs. ThompsonVoice role
2008Eli StoneJudge Flora Simms2 episodes
2009–12One Life to LivePhylicia EvansRecurring; Beginning from September 10, 2009
2011Curb Your EnthusiasmBoard Member #2Episode 8.10: "Larry vs. Michael J. Fox"
2013The AmericansViolaEpisodes 1.02: "The Clock" and 1.12: "The Oath"
2016The BlacklistJudy SicklerEpisode 3.14: "Lady Ambrosia"
2016ElementaryDolores MurphyEpisode 5.03: "Render, and Then Seize Her"
2017Sneaky PeteLibby MetzgerEpisodes 1.02: "Safe" and 1.03: "Ms. Success"
2018YoungerAkilahEpisode 5.07: "A Christmas Miracle"
2019SMILFAunt ValerieEpisode 2.07: "Smile More if Lying Fails"
2019Madam SecretaryVerline GrantEpisode 5.17: "The Common Defense"
2021–2023'Susan Barnes4 episodes

References

  1. ^ Smith, Jim (2004). Manhattan Dating Game: An Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Every Episode of Sex and the City. Virgin Books. p. 327. ISBN 9780753509258.
  2. ^ Marill, Alvin H. (2005). Movies Made for Television, 1964-2004: 1990-1999. Scarecrow Press. p. 229.
  3. ^ Monush, Barry & Willis, John (April 2000). Screen World 1999. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 35. ISBN 9781557834119.
  4. ^ Maltin, Leonard (September 2, 2014). Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide. Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN 9780698183612.
  5. ^ Seibert, Perry. "Tonye Patano". AllMovie. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Shapiro, Mitchell A. & Jicha, Tom (October 16, 2015). The Top 100 American Situation Comedies. McFarland & Company. p. 196. ISBN 9781476664040.
  7. ^ "'Weeds,' 10 p.m. Showtime". Bangor Daily News. p. D8.
  8. ^ "13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Nominations". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Archived March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "39th NAACP Image Awards". The Crisis. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 2008.
  10. ^ Marill, Alvin H. (October 11, 2010). Movies Made for Television: 2005-2009. Scarecrow Press. p. 61. ISBN 9780810876590.
  11. ^ Grant, Kevin (January 3, 2020). Vigilantes: Private Justice in Popular Cinema. McFarland & Company. p. 194. ISBN 9781476638683.
  12. ^ Goldstein, Gary (February 25, 2016). "Review: 'Jack of the Red Hearts' implausibly stacks the deck". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  13. ^ Klein, Alvin (October 12, 1997). "THEATER REVIEW; The Kind of Sniping That Gives Sustenance". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  14. ^ Rosenberg, David A. (July 25, 2000). "The winners are...". The Hour. p. D5.
  15. ^ Willis, John; Hodges, Ben; Lynch, Tom (July 2004). Theater World 2001-2002. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 34. ISBN 9781557836267.
  16. ^ Khodorovsky, Irina (January 7, 2011). "PHOTO CALL: Tonye Patano Stars in Ruined at the Huntington Theatre Company". Playbill. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  17. ^ Hurwitt, Robert (March 4, 2011). "'Ruined' review: Ray of hope amid rape in Congo". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  18. ^ Aucoin, Don (January 14, 2011). "Making the political personal". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  19. ^ "Tonye Patano Weighs Her Options" Women Health web site