Tonya Williams

Tonya Williams (born July 12, 1958) is a Canadian actress, producer, and activist. Sometimes credited as Tonya Lee Williams, she is best known for her role as Dr. Olivia Barber Winters on the American daytime drama The Young and the Restless from 1990 to 2005 and 2007 to 2012. She is the founder and executive director of Reelworld Film Festival.

For the former volleyball player sometimes known as Tonya Williams, see Teee Sanders.
Tonya Williams
Williams at the 2013 Zanzibar Film Festival
Born
Tonya Maxine Williams

(1958-07-12) July 12, 1958
London, England
NationalityBritish, Canadian, American
Other namesTonya Lee Williams
Alma materRyerson University
Occupation(s)Actress, producer, director, activist
Years active1977–present
Spouse
Robert Simpson
​
​
(m. 1983; div. 1991)​

Early life

Williams was born in London, England to Jamaican parents. She lived in London and Kingston, Jamaica as a young child. At age five, she contracted rheumatic fever; she and her mother then moved to Birmingham. In 1969 she and her family settled in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. As a teenager she modeled in Eaton's catalogues and danced on a television series called Boogie! which ran on Citytv. In 1977 Williams was crowned Miss Black Ontario.

Williams was married to Robert Simpson from 1983 to 1991, but she has never remarried.

Career

Williams' television debut was as a host of the Canadian children's show Polka Dot Door, from 1980 to 1983, after graduating from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1979. Appearances on the television series Check it Out! and Generations followed. Her involvement on Generations snagged her a role on The Young and the Restless, and has become her most lucrative role. Williams won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2000 and 2002.

Williams appeared on A Very Brady Christmas as Cindy's roommate.

In March 2004, Williams hosted the special event program Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee on CBC Television. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.

Williams is the founder, executive and artistic director of the Reelworld Film Festival, an annual film festival in Toronto that features talent from ethnically diverse communities.

Filmography

Film and television appearances
YearTitleRoleNotes
1980–1983Polka Dot DoorHost
1984Seeing ThingsEpisode: "Second Sight"
1985Check it Out!Jennifer Woods22 episodes
1986As IsTV CommentatorTV movie
1987What's Happening Now!!MichelleEpisode: "The New Employee"
The LiberatorsJennyOn Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
Street LegalBelinda / Reporter2 episodes
Gimme a Break!Judy MitchellEpisode: "Parents' Week: Part 1"
Hill Street BluesShirleyEpisode: "It Ain't Over Till It's Over"
Falcon CrestChase's Secretary / Lois3 episodes
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the FutureChelsea ChandlerEpisode: "And Study War No More"
1988A Very Brady ChristmasBelindaTV movie
1989–1990GenerationsLinda Dukesunknown episodes
1989MatlockDana WilliamsEpisode: "The Starlet"
Nasty BoysunknownNasty Boys (pilot)
A Peaceable KingdomColleen3 episodes
1990–2005, 2007–2012The Young and the RestlessOlivia WintersMay 1990–September 7, 2005
April 12–13, 2007
October 23, 2008–February 15, 2012
1990Spaced InvadersErnestine
Piece of CakeTanyaTV movie
1991The BorrowerDesk Nurse
1993CounterstrikeDeniseEpisode: "The Contender"
Getting ByJanetEpisode: "Shop till You Drop"
1994Silk StalkingsLoretta ColeEpisode: "The Last Campaign"
1998PSI Factor: Chronicles of the ParanormalCarole SandersonEpisode: "Bad Dreams"
2000Seventeen AgainMonique Donovan
2004Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel JubileeHostTV special
2005A Perfect NoteJasmineTV movie
2007Poor Boy's GameRuth Carvery
Finding Father's ToeCaroleShort film
2009–2010The BorderOctavia Jones5 episodes
2010My Name is KhanNews Anchor
2011She's the MayorMaxine Williams13 episodes[1]
2012CybergeddonDonna Berg2 episodes

Executive producer
YearTitleNotes
2001MapleTV movie
2004Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel JubileeTV movie
2004Da Kink in My HairTV movie

Director
YearTitleNotes
2004Da Kink in My HairTV movie

Writer
YearTitleNotes
2004Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel JubileeContributing writer; TV special

Awards and nominations
  • 1996: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Nomination
  • 1996: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 1997: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 1998: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 1999: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2000: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2000: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Win
  • 2001: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2002: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Win
  • 2003: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2004: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2005: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2005: ACTRA National Award of Excellence
  • 2006: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2010: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2011: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2012: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – Nomination
  • 2012: Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award for her film and television artistic contributions.
  • 2012: Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Winner[2]

References
  1. "She's the Mayor finds laughs in Hamilton". Hamilton Spectator, April 16, 2010.
  2. "Canada's Top 25 Immigrants 2012". Canadian Immigrant. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
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