Actors

Jo Ann Pflug’s Net Worth, Husband, Divorce – Biography. Today

Published

3 months ago

January 31, 2024

• Jo Ann Pflug was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Winter Park, Florida.
• She studied art and acting at Rollins College and the University of Miami, graduating with a BA in Broadcasting and a minor in American history.
• She was the first woman in the late 1960s to have a live weekly television talk show in Los Angeles and co-hosted “Good Morning L.A.” with Regis Philbin.
• She made her film debut in 1966 and starred in the 1970 film “MASH”.
• She was a series regular in “The Fall Guy” from 1978 to 1979 and starred in the 1984-85 soap opera “Rituals”.

Contents

1 Early life, family, educational background
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 Hobbies, favorite things, and interesting facts
5 Appearance
6 Net worth and salary

Early life, family, educational background

American television and film actress Jo Ann Pflug, was born on 2 May 1940, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She was raised in Winter Park, Florida, by her father, J. Lynn Pflug, and her mother, Kelly Pflug. Her father was elected mayor of Winter Park in 1958, which was the same year she matriculated from Winter Park High School. She has not publicly spoken about any siblings.

In an interview for The Palm Beach Post with Leslie Streeter, Jo Ann said that her parents were fully supportive of her decision to go into show business. She added that although most parents are not supportive of this choice, her father was a poet, so he understood her desire to pursue her dream, ‘He was brilliant. And he encouraged me.’ She studied art and acting at Rollins College before attending the University of Miami, where she studied drama but did not like the capacity of students in the department.

She decided to transfer to the Radio and Television department where she ‘was the only girl,’ and graduated with a BA in Broadcasting, with a minor in American history.

Career

Radio

While attending college, she had a weekly radio show in which she was known as Miss Make-Believe. Her show was called “The Magic Carpet,” and she would tell stories. She also hosted a weekly interview talk show for four years called “Montage,” and her experience enabled her to become the first woman in the late 1960s to have a live weekly television talk show in Los Angeles. She got to interview Christopher Reeve, director Gary Marshall, Senator Barry Goldwater, astronaut Alan Sheppard, and author Ray Bradbury among many others.

She entered several pageants too, including Miss Miami Beach 1961 and Miss Sunny Florida, which she won.

Part of her winning the pageant was that she could work on-air at the Miami ABC affiliate, but that didn’t happen. Jo Ann decided to move to New York and tried to get a job on the “Today” show, but they turned her down and told her she was too young and should first make a name for herself.

She went to California, and there studied with Lee Strasburg, a famous acting teacher, meantime booking a lot of television appearances and commercials. At first, she wanted to be known as Jo Ann Kelly professionally to honor her mother, but chose to use her actual surname in hopes that it would make her stand out. In an interview, she explained, ‘People said, ‘Is Pflug your real last name?’ and I would say, ‘If it wasn’t, would I pick Pflug?’ I would have to spell it, and people would say, ‘Oh, you’re the one with the funny name!’’

Jo Ann Pflug

She hosted the Special Olympics for NBC, co-hosted “Good Morning L.A.” along with Regis Philbin, and hosted a Children’s Special for CBS, which received an Emmy Award.

Film

In 1966 she debuted in a small role in “Cyborg 2087,” a science-fiction movie directed by Franklin Adreon, part of a nine-piece series produced by United Pictures Corporation. The films were all low-budget and made for television, but they were released in theaters.

In 1970 she played her first major role as a US Army nurse in “MASH,” Lt. Maria ‘Dish’ Schneider. The black comedy war movie was directed by Robert Altman and starred Donald Sutherland, Tom Skerritt, and Elliott Gould, adapted by Ring Lardner Jr. and based on “MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors,” written by Richard Hooker.

Even though the majority of her scenes were cut out of the movie, Jo Ann’s performance in the film was impressive enough to land her numerous lead roles in television shows. The film was one of 20^th Century Fox’s biggest movies in the 1970s, and was the only MASH film released into theaters. The film follows a group of medical professionals during the Korean War, who are stationed at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH). When speaking about the film, Jo Ann said, ‘It was such a great group of people… Bob was very creative and scary as a director…Elliot Gould, who played Trapper John and had been on Broadway. He was so good at improv.’

In 1971 she played Christina in “Catlow,” and the following year, she was Alice Gilligan in “Where Does It Hurt?”, starring Peter Sellers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_s8megH8gJ/

In 1997 she played Boss Jack’s wife in “Traveller”, and her last role was later that year as Cynthia Vaughan in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” The American crime drama starred Kevin Spacey and John Cusack, and was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. John Lee Hancock adapted John Berendt’s 1994 eponymous novel about an antique dealer who is on trial for allegedly murdering a male prostitute.

Television

In 1966 she made her television debut with a small role in “The Beverly Hillbillies”, then the following year she became a cast member in “Fantastic Four”, the animated series based on the Marvel comic book series about four scientists who get superpowers and fight against villains. Jo Ann voiced Invisible Girl/Susan Storm, one of the lead scientists and superheroes.

In 1970 Jo played ailing nurse, Paula Lynch, in the episode, “To Carry the Sun in a Golden Cup” in the show “Marcus Welby, M.D.”, then co-starred in the television movie, “The Night Strangler” in 1973, which was the sequel to the 1972 television movie, “The Night Stalker,” and was followed up by the television series, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” which aired from 1974 to 1975.

From 1978 to 1979, she played Lt. Katherine O’Hara in “Operation Petticoat” – the comedy series also featured Jim Varney, Melinda Naud, and Richard Brestoff.

From 1973 to 1981 Jo was often a panelist on the television game show “Match Game”, and co-hosted “Candid Camera” with Allen Funt during the 1970s, meantime in 1974 starring alongside Clint Walker and Peter Graves in the television movie “Scream of the Wolf.”

She was a series regular in the 1981 to 1982 season of the action-adventure series “The Fall Guy”, which aired on ABC from November 1981 to May 1986, and starred Douglas Barr as Howie Munson, Lee Majors as Colt Seavers, and Heather Thomas as Jody Banks. The show followed the three leads who played stunt performers in Hollywood, and who work as bounty hunters at night. Colt uses his knowledge and physical skills from working as a stuntman to catch criminals, and works with his cousin, Howie, who is studying to become a stuntman in Nashville; Colt regularly refers to him as ‘Kid.’ They are sometimes joined by Jody, who is a fellow stunt performer.

Jo Ann was the first actress to portray Taylor Chapin in “Rituals” in 1984. The American soap opera aired from September 1984 to September 1985 on Telepictures. Charlene Keel wrote the novel entitled “Rituals,” and worked with Ken Corday and Gene Palumbo to write the show loosely based on her book. The series was based in Wingfield, a fictional town in Virginia, where some of the residents were employees of Chapin Industries or Wingfield Mills, and the town also housed Haddon Hall, which was an all-girls boarding school. The soap opera centered around the Robertson, Gallagher, and Chapin families, and people connected to them professionally or personally. There were 260 episodes in total of 25 minutes each.

#HappyBirthday to #JoAnnPflug, perhaps best known on television for her role as Samantha 'Big Jack' Jack on #TheFallGuy, btd 1940. pic.twitter.com/ZCNtoRYOyl

— Silver Age Television 📺 (@SilverAgeTV) May 2, 2019

Jo Ann was replaced with Tina Louise after her public departure from the show; according to Soap Opera Digest, she left because her character was involved in sexual scenes with partners she was not married to, and those scenes went against Jo Ann’s religious beliefs. Jo also guest-appeared in various series, such as “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “One Day at a Time,” “The Love Boat,” among many others.

Other

She took a break at the end of the 1980s, and in 1997 returned to work, continuing in acting while still creating and presenting etiquette training sessions for business professionals and children. She retired after two films. In 2011 when living in Tequesta, Florida, she interviewed Johnny Mathis, Pat Boone, Mary Wilson, Shirley MacLaine, and other celebrities on her Saturday morning show on Seaview Radio, “The Jo Ann Pflug Show.”

: Suzanne Malveaux

Personal life

On 21 December 1972, she married Chuck Woolery, an American game show host, in Orlando, Florida, at the Rollins College Knowles Memorial Chapel. Together they had a daughter, Melissa, but they divorced in 1980.

On 14 May 1988, she married Charles Stuck Young, and they are still together. She shared that she became a born-again Christian and was baptized in Shirley and Pat Boone’s home swimming pool. She then became a motivational speaker, and toured to share her story.

She returned to Florida to take care of her mother, Kelly, who passed away in 2010. In her interview with The Palm Beach Post, she said, it was ‘a joy and an honor to go through the stages of aging with her. Her name means ‘Warrior’ in Gaelic, and she was a feisty little warrior.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTm5wEFF4Pb/

She also shared that she was writing a handbook on how to take care of the elderly, as she took care of her mother.

Hobbies, favorite things, and interesting facts

In 1972 she rejected the role as Valerie Perrine in “Slaughterhouse-Five” because of the sexual content. She also turned down the role of Bonnie Franklin’s mom in “One Day at a Time,” a television sitcom aired from 1975. ‘After “MASH,” I was sought to do nudity. All nude roles… I’m not going to wait 30 years from now and have my children saying, ‘Oh, there’s mommy on the screen, nude.’ I don’t think so.’

Appearance

She has brown hair, brown eyes, and is 5ft 7in (1.7m) tall.

Net worth and salary

Jo Ann’s net worth is estimated at $5 million, as of mid-2020.

Actors

What is Michael Learned (Waltons) doing now? Spouse, Net Worth

Published

2 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Daniel Wanburg

Contents

1 Who is Michael Learned?
2 Education and early life
3 Roles in TV series
4 Roles in movies
5 Other credits
6 Awards and nominations
7 Love life and husbands
8 Interesting facts and hobbies
9 Height, eyes and wealth

Who is Michael Learned?

American actress Michael Learned was born in Washington D.C. USA, on 9 April 1939, making Aries her zodiac sign. She’s appeared in over 70 TV series and movies, and is probably still known best for playing of the main characters Olivia Walton in 168 episodes of the romantic family series “The Waltons”, which also starred Mary Beth McDonough and Jon Walmsley, and was created by Earl Hamner Jr. It follows the members of the Walton family living in the Virginian mountains in the 1930s and 1940s, the series aired from 1972 through 1981 and won 33 of its 86 award nominations.

Michael’s still today active in the film industry, and has recently finished shooting for the 2022 biographical crime mini-series “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”, which won six of its 21 award nominations.

Image source

Education and early life

Michael and her five younger sisters were raised on a farm in Connecticut by their father Bruce Learned who was a diplomat, and mother Elizabeth Duane ‘Betti’ (nee Hooper) who was a housewife; Michael’s sisters’ names are Philippa, Dorit, Sabra, Susan and Greti.

She was 11 when she moved to Austria, after her father began working for the US State Department there; Michael eventually moved to Hertfordshire, England where she studied at Arts Education School, Tring, and it was around this time that she discovered theatre and became passionate about acting.

She eventually returned to the US and enrolled at local high school, from which she matriculated in 1958; Michael then began pursuing a career as an actress, rather than a college degree.

Roles in TV series

Michael made her debut TV series appearance in a 1961 episode of the drama “Encounter”, then from 1961 through 1966, she played Cariola and various other characters in the drama “Festival”.

In 1973 and 1974, Michael portrayed Sister Janet in the drama “Insight”, which starred Ellwood Kieser, Pat McGeehan and Efrem Imbalist Jr, and follows a group of people as they’re searching for love, freedom and meaning; the series won nine of its 16 award nominations. The remainder of the ‘70s saw Michael appear in an episode or two of the crime action “Police Story” and the biographical historical drama “The Lives of Benjamin Franklin”.

In 1981 and 1982, she played the lead character Mary Benjamin in all the 25 episodes of the drama “Nurse”, created by Sue Grafton, and which also starred Robert Reed and Hattie Winston. It follows supervising nurse Mary Benjamin whose husband’s recently passed away, while she’s now returned to work at Grant Memorial Hospital; the series won two of its three award nominations. Michael appeared in a couple of other series in the ‘80s, such as the comedy “St. Elsewhere”, the romantic comedy “American Playhouse” and the drama “Hothouse”.

What marked the ‘90s for her was perhaps voicing Abigail Adams in all the six episodes of the historical war documentary “The American Revolution”, which starred William Daniels, Charles Durning and Kelsey Grammer, and follows the American Colonies’ rebellion against England.

Michael had only a couple of TV series roles in the 2000s, appearing in several episodes of the romantic drama “One Life to Live”, the comedy “Scrubs” and the crime mystery “Cold Case”.

She appeared in 23 episodes of the soap opera “General Hospital” in 2010, and in 2011 in 14 episodes of another soap opera, the long-running “The Young and the Restless”; Michael’s since appeared in only one TV series: the above mentioned “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”.

Roles in movies

Michael’s debut film appearance was in the 1964 romantic comedy “Twelfth Night”, while her following three roles were in the 1974 drama “Hurricane”, the 1974 comedy “It Couldn’t Happen to a Nicer Guy”, and the 1976 drama “Widow”.

In 1978, she played the main character Eleanor ‘Teach’ Tennant in the biographical sports drama “Little Mo”, directed by Daniel Haller, and which also starred Anne Baxter and Glynnis O’Connor; it follows the life of professional tennis player Maureen Connolly, who was the first woman to win all Grand Slams in a single year.

The year 1980 saw Michael appear in five movies, including the drama “Off the Minnesota Strip”, the family drama “The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons” and the drama “Touched by Love”. What marked the ‘80s for her was probably playing Skipper in the1987 drama “Mercy or Murder?”, written and directed by Steve Gethers, and which starred Robert Young, Frances Reid and Eddie Albert. It follows the case of Roswell Gilbert who killed his wife Emily after 51 years of marriage, because she had begged him to do so as she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease; Roswell was tried and convicted of murder.

Some of Michael’s most notable performances in the ‘90s were perhaps in the 1991 drama “Keeping Secrets”, the 1993 biographical action “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”, and the 1998 drama “A Father for Brittany”.

She starred as Sheridan in the 2005 drama “Loggerheads”, written and directed by Tim Kirkman, and which also starred Kip Pardue and Tess Harper; the movie follows three estranged families from North Carolina, and won three of its four award nominations. Some of Michael’s following roles were in the 2005 thriller “Lethal Eviction”, the 2007 short horror thriller “The Killer” and the 2009 family drama “An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong”.

She’s since appeared in only a couple of movies, with her three most recent roles having been in the 2014 short comedy “The Parcel”, the 2017 comedy “Life Interrupted”, and the 2019 short drama “Second Acts”.

Other credits

Michael sang various songs in six episodes of the series “The Waltons” from 1973 through 1978.

She received special thanks for the 1991 documentary movie “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse”.

Some of Michael’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Entertainment Tonight”, “Why I’ll Never Make It” and “Slasher Scotty”.

Awards and nominations

Michael’s won 11 of her 22 award nominations, including for Primetime Emmy wins for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1973, 1974 and 1976 for “The Waltons”, and in 1982 for “Nurse”.

Some of her other wins include a 2019 Hollywood Women’s Film Festival Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Short, a 2019 Las Vegas International Film & Screenplay Festival Lifetime Achievement Award and a 2019 Carole Film Festival, Venice Italy Award for Best Actress, all for her performance in “Second Acts”.

Love life and husbands

Michael’s married four times. She exchanged vows with her first husband, the late American-Canadian actor Peter Donat in 1956, at the age of 17; she gave birth to their three sons Lucas, Christopher and Caleb, but Michael and Peter’s marriage was dissolved in 1972.

Her second husband was American non-celebrity man Glen Chadwick; they married in 1974 but divorced three years later.

Michael married her third husband, American screenwriter and actor William Parker in 1979, and their divorce was finalized in 1988.

Also in 1988, Michael married her fourth husband, American attorney John Doherty, and they’ve been together ever since.

She’s yet to speak of other men whom she’s perhaps dated, Michael’s married to her fourth husband John Doherty as of April 2023, and has three children with her first husband Peter Donat.

Interesting facts and hobbies

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUZ80Yulk2w/

Michael is a reformed alcoholic, but has been sober since 1977.

She honed her acting skills with the San Francisco ACT Company, while she and her first husband Peter also appeared in a number of theatre plays with them.

Michael and American actress Sherry Miller are lookalikes.

She once asked her father why he gave her a male name, and all that he said was that she would’ve been Caleb if she was born male.

Michael’s last name is pronounced Lear-ned, rather than as in ‘learned something’.

Her favorite actor is Jon Voight, while some of her favorite movies include “Surviving the Wild”, “Roe v. Wade” and “Woodlawn”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Michael’s age is 84. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, is 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall and weighs around 145lbs (65kgs).

Michael’s net worth’s been estimated at over $4 million, as of April 2023.

Actors

How Becki Newton Went from a Waitress to a TV Star – Biography

Published

8 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Daniel Wanburg

Contents

1 Who is Becki Newton?
2 Education and early life
3 Roles in TV series
4 Roles in movies
5 Other credits
6 Awards and nominations
7 Love life and marriage
8 Interesting facts and hobbies
9 Height, eyes and wealth

Who is Becki Newton?

American actress Rebecca Sara ‘Becki’ Newton was born in New Haven, Connecticut USA, on 4 July 1978, making Cancer her zodiac sign. She’s appeared in 25 TV series and movies, but is probably known best for playing Amanda Tanen in all the 85 episodes of the romantic comedy series “Ugly Betty”, which Fernando Gaitan and Silvio Horta created, and which starred Tony Plana, Eric Mabius and America Ferrera. It follows ‘Ugly’ Betty who’s begun working at a large fashion company, the series aired from 2006 through 2010, and won 54 of its 176 award nominations.

Image source

Education and early life

Becki was raised in New Haven by her mother Jennifer Newton (nee Chase), who’s probably known best for being the daughter of the late American composer and music arranger Robert Bruce Chase, and father Thomas Newton; Becki’s brother Matthew’s an actor, moviemaker and acting coach.

Becki studied at a local high school in New Haven, appearing in a couple of plays performed at the school, while she was also passionate about sports, playing both softball and soccer for school teams. She matriculated in 1996, and then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000.

While attending college, as well as at the start of her acting career, Becki worked as a waitress to financially support herself; she moved to New York City in 2000, and attended several auditions prior to winning her first role.

Roles in TV series

Becki launched her career in 2001, when she appeared in the comedy “Burly TV”, while she was then cast to appear in the 2003 episode “Look Again” of the crime mystery “Cold Case” and several episodes of the soap opera “Guiding Light” in 2003 and 2004.

In 2008 and 2009, she played Amanda Tanen in 12 episodes of the comedy “Mode After Hours”, while the year 2011 saw her cast as the main character Annie Matopoulos in all the nine episodes of the romantic comedy “Love Bites”, created by Cindy Chupack, and which also starred Greg Grunberg and Constance Zimmer. The series follows the life of a young woman who’s all about love, and it was nominated for two awards.

In 2012 and 2013, Becki played Quinn in 10 episodes of the hit romantic comedy “How I Met Your Mother”, while the year 2013 also saw her star as Chloe Goodwin in all the eight episodes of the comedy “The Goodwin Games”; it was created by Carter Bays and Chris Harris, also starred Scott Foley and Melissa Tang, and follows three estranged siblings who’ve met at their father’s funeral, and who won’t be able to inherit his $23 million unless they bond through several games invented by their father.

Becki’s three most recent roles in TV series have been in seven episodes of the 2019 thriller “Tell Me a Story”, 12 episodes of the 2019 comedy “Divorce”, and 11 episodes of the 2022 crime mystery “The Lincoln Lawyer”.

Roles in movies

Becki made her debut film appearance in the popular 2004 fantasy comedy “P. S.”, written and directed by Dylan Kidd, and which starred Laura Linney, Topher Grace and Marcia Gay Harden. It follows a divorced woman who’s fallen for a young man who highly resembles her high school sweetheart, and the series won three of its seven award nominations.

Becki’s following film role came in 2007, when cast to play Jennifer in the critically acclaimed musical “August Rush”, directed by Kirsten Sheridan, and which starred Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. It follows a musical prodigy who’s using his talent to find his biological parents, and the movie won four of its 16 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song.

Becki’s since appeared in only three movies: the 2011 drama “The Chamberland Sisters”, the 2016 comedy “Winning Ugly” and the 2019 comedy “Otherhood”.

Other credits

Becki sang the song “Gene Simmons is My Daddy” in the 2007 episode “A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding”, and the song “Milkshake” in the 2008 episode “A Thousand Words by Friday” of the series “Ugly Betty”.

Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “Entertainment Tonight”, “Live with Kelly and Mark” and “All About”.

Awards and nominations

Becki was nominated for a 2007 Gold Derby Award for Ensemble of the Year and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2007 and 2008, all three for her and her colleagues’ performance in “Ugly Betty”.

She was also nominated for a 2009 The Webby Award for Best Performance – Webisodes, for “Mode After Hours”.

Love life and marriage

Becki’s quite open when it comes to speaking about her marriage with Canadian actor Chris Diamantopoulos, but hasn’t mentioned other men whom she’s perhaps dated.

She and Chris met while waiting for a train at a New York City subway station; Chris has more than 110 acting credits to his name, and is perhaps known best for starring as Savvas in the 2021 crime thriller mini-series “True Story”. Becki revealed on 1 July 2010 that she and Chris were expecting their first child together, and Becki gave birth to their son in November; their daughter followed sometime in the first half of the 2014.

Becki’s married to Chris Diamantopoulos as of April 2023, and they have two children together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgf5ya9Lm7G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Interesting facts and hobbies

Becki’s a huge fan of American actor and singer Patrick Swayze, and some of her favorite movies include “Dirty Dancing”, “Ghost”, and “Jump!”

She’s an avid salsa dancer.

Becki can speak Greek, German and Spanish.

Her aunt Stephanie Chase is a famous American classical violinist.

Becki isn’t active on Instagram, as she dislikes social media networks.

She’s passionate about fashion, and reads a number of fashion magazines on a daily basis.

Becki’s a philanthropist, and has worked with charity organizations which aim to help underprivileged children and abandoned animals.

Height, eyes and wealth

Becki’s age is 44. She has green eyes and blonde hair, is 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall and weighs around 120lbs (54kgs).

Becki’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of April 2023.

Actors

Tatyana Ali: The Harvard Graduate Who Starred in a Hit Sitcom

Published

8 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Daniel Wanburg

Contents

1 Who is Tatyana Ali?
2 Education and early life
3 Roles in TV series
4 Roles in movies
5 Other credits
6 Awards and nominations
7 Love life and relationships
8 Interesting facts and hobbies
9 Height, eyes and wealth

Who is Tatyana Ali?

American actress and singer Tatyana Marisol Ali was born in North Bellmore, New York State USA, on 24 January 1979, making Aquarius her zodiac sign. She’s appeared in nearly 100 TV series and movies, but is probably still known best for playing Ashley Banks in the evergreen sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, which starred Alfonso Ribeiro, James Avery and Will Smith, and was created by Susan and Andy Borowitz. It follows a poor young adult who’s been sent to live with his wealthy cousins, the series aired from 1990 through 1996, and won 15 of its 43 award nominations.

Image source

Education and early life

Tatyana was raised alongside her sisters Kimberly and Anastasia in North Bellmore, by their Afro-Panamanian mother Sonia Ali and Indo-Trinidadian father Sheriff Ali; her father was a police officer, while her mother was a registered nurse.

Tatyana fell in love with acting at the age of five, when she began watching TV series on a daily basis with her sisters, and was nine when she made her debut film appearance, playing Park Girl in the 1988 action adventure comedy movie “Crocodile Dundee II”; in the following year, Tatyana played Michelle in the episode “Life After Death” of the action “A Man Called Hawk”.

She then continued acting while being simultaneously focused on her education. Tatyana studied at Marymount High School in Los Angeles, California, and upon matriculating in 1997 enrolled at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 2002.

Roles in TV series

In 1989, Tatyana played Girl in the episode “Shall We Dance?” of the critically acclaimed romantic family comedy “The Cosby Show”, and the following years saw her appear in an episode or two of the family comedy “Getting By”, the fantasy horror “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” and the comedy “In the House”.

From 1984 through 1997, she played various characters in 12 episodes of the popular adventure comedy “Sesame Street”, which today stars Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz and Jim Henson, and was created back in 1969 by Lloyd Morrisett Jr. and Joan Ganz Cooney. The series follows a group of children and muppets, and has won 247 of its 583 award nominations.

In 2002, Tatyana played Shelly in the episode “Girls Own Juice” of the action crime comedy “Fastlane”, and the following year saw her play Olivia in the “The Big Condom-Nation Episode” of the comedy “Half & Half”. Her following role came in 2009, when cast to star as Quinci in the comedy “Buppies”, created by Julian Breece, and which also starred Robin Thede and Preston Davis; it follows the lives of several black actors and actresses, and the series won one of its six award nominations.

Tatyana portrayed Maya in 10 episodes of the 2013 comedy “Second Generation Wayans”, and from 2007 through 2013 played Roxanne in 53 episodes of the long-running soap opera “The Young and the Restless”.

Most recently, from 2018 through 2022, she voiced Mrs James in the animated adventure comedy “Fancy Nancy”, created by Krista Tucker and Jamie Mitchell, and which starred Mia Sinclair Jenness, Dana Heath and Alyson Hannigan. It follows the life of a young girl who likes to wear colorful clothes, and the series was nominated for six awards.

Roles in movies

In 1995, Tatyana portrayed Rita in the family comedy “Kidz in the Wood”, and some of her following film roles were in the 1996 thriller “Fall Into Darkness”, the crime mystery “Kiss the Girls” and thecomedy “Fakin’ Da Funk” both in 1997.

The year 1998 saw her play Monica in the horror mystery thriller “The Clown at Midnight”, directed by Jean Pellerin, and which starred Christopher Plummer and Margot Kidder; it follows seven teenagers who are being chased by a serial killer. Tatyana’s following notable performance was playing Cherie Smith in the popular 2001 romantic comedy “The Brothers”, written and directed by Gary Hardwick, and which starred Morris Chestnut, Shemar Moore and D. L. Hughley; it tells the story of four best friends as they’re maturing, and the film won one of its nine award nominations. Some of Tatyana’s notable performances in the remainder of the decade were in the 2007 romantic comedy “The List”, the 2008 comedy “Nora’s Hair Salon II” and the 2009 romantic drama “Mother and Child”.

She starred as Victoria in the 2014 comedy “The Divorce”, written and directed by Donald Welch, and which also starred Jonelle Allen; it follows the wealthy anchorwoman Yolanda Massey’s celebration of her recently finalized divorce.

Tatyana’s three most recent movie roles have been in the 2022 thriller “Vanished: Searching for My Sister”, the 2022 drama “It Snows All the Time” and the 2023 biographical drama “Giving Hope: The Ni’cola Mitchell Story”; she’s currently shooting for the upcoming film “Christmas Kennel”.

Other credits

Tatyana has seven producing credits, which include the 2008 comedy movie “Nora’s Hair Salon II”, the 2012 short film “October 31”, and the 2018 romantic musical movie “Jingle Belle”.

She received special thanks for both the 2020 short animated movie “Canvas” and the 2023 mystery thriller film “Missing”.

Tatyana’s made a guest appearance in close to 100 talk-shows, most recently in “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Tamron Hall”.

Awards and nominations

Tatyana’s won seven of her 18 award nominations. She won a 1991 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series and a 1997 YoungStar Award for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series, both for her performance in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, and four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series from 2011 through 2014, all for “The Young and the Restless”.

Love life and relationships

Tatyana avoids speaking about her love life in public, but has still shared the details of two men whom she’s been with. She began dating the late American actor Jonathan Gregory Brandis in 1995, but they split three years later; Jonathan committed suicide by hanging on 11 November 2003.

Tatyana revealed in March 2016 that she and Dr. Vaughn Rasberry had become engaged; he’s today an assistant professor of English language at Stanford University, and the two met on the dating website eHarmony. Tatyana and Vaughn exchanged vows on 17 July 2016, and she gave birth to their first son Edward Aszard Rasberry on 16 September 2016, while their second son Alejandro Vaughn Rasberry followed on 15 August 2019.

The family of four’s today splitting their time between Los Angeles and Stanford.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CrJFbqyLXBa/

Interesting facts and hobbies

Tatyana enjoys being active on Instagram; close to 900,000 people are following her on the network today, and she’s posted more than 1,300 pictures, with many of these showing her spending time with her friends.

One of her closest friends is famous American actor, screenwriter and producer Will Smith.

Tatyana’s fluent in Spanish, and can also speak some Hindi.

She loves to read books in her spare time, and her favorite is “The Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield.

Tatyana wanted to pursue music in the ‘90s, and her debut album “Kiss the Sky” came out in 1998, however, she then chose to focus on acting.

Her favorite actors are the late Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracy, while some of Tatyana’s favorite movies include “The Harder They Fall”, “The Left Hand of God” and “The Caine Mutiny”.

Her sister Anastasia N. Ali appeared in two episodes of the series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”.

Tatyana’s been featured in “King’s Magazine” twice.