Tonya Pinkins

About

Tonya Pinkins was born in Chicago, Illinois. She has four children. Her father was a police officer and insurance salesman and her mother is a former postal worker. She has two brothers, Eric Swoope and Thomas Swoope and a sister Tamera Swoope from whom she is estranged. She was interested in the arts from a young age. In high school, she studied acting at the Goodman Theatre Young People's Program. Aged 18, she briefly attended college and decided to pursue an acting career instead. She later returned to college, earning an undergraduate degree from Columbia College in Chicago, followed by graduate work at Carnegie Mellon's music theater program, and a year at California Western School of Law in San Diego. Pinkins is probably most admired for her stage work. She won a Tony Award for her performance as Sweet Anita in Jelly's Last Jam. She was nominated for her roles in Play On!...

Known for

Law & OrderSeries • 1990Criminal MindsSeries • 2005Nurse JackieSeries • 200924Series • 2001ElementarySeries • 2012GothamSeries • 2014The CloserSeries • 2005All My ChildrenSeries • 1970Cold CaseSeries • 2003ScandalSeries • 2012Madam SecretarySeries • 2014BullSeries • 2016Fear the Walking DeadSeries • 2015The Cosby ShowSeries • 1984The StrainSeries • 2014Army WivesSeries • 2007The GuardianSeries • 2001Crime StorySeries • 1986Wu-Tang: An American SagaSeries • 2019God Friended MeSeries • 201811.22.63Series • 2016East New YorkSeries • 2022EnchantedMovie • 2007HostagesSeries • 2013