Tonya Williams

{{Short description|Canadian actress and director (born 1958)}} {{for|the former volleyball player sometimes known as Tonya Williams|Teee Sanders}} {{BLP sources|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | other_names = Tonya Lee Williams | honorific_prefix = | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|OC}} | alt = | image = Tonya Lee Williams at the 2013 Zanzibar International Film Festival.jpg | caption = Williams at the 2013 Zanzibar Film Festival | birth_name = Tonya Maxine Williams | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|7|12|mf=yes}} | birth_place = London, England | alma_mater = Ryerson University | occupation = Actress, producer, director, activist | years_active = 1977–present | organization = | spouse = {{marriage|Robert Simpson|1983|1991|end=divorced}} | children = | mother = | father = | awards = {{ubl|Daytime Emmy Award|NAACP Image Award|ACTRA|Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award }} | honours = Order of Canada }} '''Tonya Williams''' {{post-nominals|OC}} (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.

==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.<ref name="Ontario 1977" /> She was a student in 1977 and wanted to be a lawyer.<ref name="Ontario 1977">{{cite web |title=Miss Black Ontario, 1977, First, 18-year-old Tonya Maxine Williams was chosen Miss Oshawa and on Saturday she became Miss Black Ontario. The pageant w(...) |url=https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/204154/miss-black-ontario-1977-first-18yearold-tonya-maxine-wi |website=Toronto Public Library |access-date=August 21, 2025}}</ref>

Williams was married to Robert Simpson from 1983 to 1991.

==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.<ref>Byron Armstrong, [https://byblacks.com/entertainment/film-tv/item/2390-tonya-williams-marks-19-years-celebrating-black-stories-on-screen-at-reelworld-film-festival "Tonya Williams Marks 19 Years Celebrating Black Stories On Screen At ReelWorld Film Festival"]. ''ByBlacks'', October 10, 2019.</ref> In 2024, she was named as the recipient of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Changemaker Award at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards, for her work with Reelworld.<ref name=thiessen>Connie Thiessen, [https://broadcastdialogue.com/marilyn-denis-john-brunton-among-canadian-academy-special-award-recipients/ "Marilyn Denis, John Brunton among Canadian Academy 'Special Award' recipients"]. ''Broadcast Dialogue'', March 19, 2024.</ref>

In January 2025, Williams was named as the recipient of the Toronto Film Critics Association's Company 3 TFCA Luminary Award, in honour of her work with Reelworld and her other efforts to advocate on behalf of people of colour in the Canadian film industry.<ref>Nicholas Sokic, [https://playbackonline.ca/2025/01/28/tfca-to-honour-tonya-williams-j-stevens-at-awards-gala/ "TFCA to honour Tonya Williams, J Stevens at awards gala"]. ''Playback'', January 28, 2025.</ref> She selected film and television producer Leena Minifie as the recipient of the award's "pay it forward" grant.<ref>Alex Nino Gheciu, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/universal-language-wins-best-canadian-film-at-tfca-awards-while-any-other-way-the-jackie/article_7f3f1104-5d9b-5334-8cf5-f355ead2bf64.html "‘Universal Language’ wins best Canadian film at TFCA Awards, while ‘Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story’ named best documentary"]. ''Toronto Star'', February 24, 2025.</ref>

In 2026 she was named a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.<ref>Nicole Thompson, [https://www.timescolonist.com/the-mix/barbara-hannigan-james-cameron-win-governor-generals-performing-arts-awards-11870292 "Barbara Hannigan, James Cameron win Governor General's Performing Arts Awards"]. ''Victoria Times-Colonist'', February 11, 2026.</ref>

==Filmography== ===Actor===  {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Tonya Williams film and television acting credits ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | {{nowrap|1980–1983}} || ''Polka Dot Door'' || Host || |- | 1984 || ''Seeing Things'' || || Episode: "Second Sight" |- | 1985 || ''Check it Out!'' || Jennifer Woods || 22 episodes |- | 1986 || ''As Is'' || TV Commentator || TV movie |- | rowspan="7" | 1987 || ''What's Happening Now!!'' || Michelle || Episode: "The New Employee" |- | data-sort-value="Liberators, The" | ''The Liberators'' || Jenny || On ''Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' |- | ''Street Legal'' || Belinda / Reporter || 2 episodes |- | ''Gimme a Break!'' || Judy Mitchell || Episode: "Parents' Week: Part 1" |- | ''Hill Street Blues'' || Shirley || Episode: "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" |- | ''Falcon Crest'' || Chase's Secretary / Lois || 3 episodes |- | ''Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future'' || Chelsea Chandler || Episode: "And Study War No More" |- | 1988 || data-sort-value="Very Brady Christmas, A" | ''A Very Brady Christmas'' || Belinda || TV movie |- | 1989–1990 || ''Generations'' || Linda Dukes || unknown episodes |- | rowspan="3" | 1989 || ''Matlock'' || Dana Williams || Episode: "The Starlet" |- |''Nasty Boys'' || unknown || Nasty Boys (pilot) |- | data-sort-value="Peaceable Kingdom, A" | ''A Peaceable Kingdom'' || Colleen || 3 episodes |- | 1990–2005 | data-sort-value="Young and the Restless, The" | ''The Young and the Restless'' | Olivia Winters || May 1990–September 7, 2005 |- | rowspan="2" | 1990 || ''Spaced Invaders'' || Ernestine || |- | ''Piece of Cake'' || Tanya || TV movie |- | 1991 || data-sort-value="Borrower, The" | ''The Borrower'' || Desk Nurse || |- | rowspan="2" | 1993 || ''Counterstrike'' || Denise || Episode: "The Contender" |- | ''Getting By'' || Janet || Episode: "Shop till You Drop" |- | 1994 || ''Silk Stalkings'' || Loretta Cole || Episode: "The Last Campaign" |- | 1998 || ''PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal'' || Carole Sanderson || Episode: "Bad Dreams" |- | 2000 || ''Seventeen Again'' || Monique Donovan || |- | 2004 || ''Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee'' || Host || TV special |- | 2005 || data-sort-value="Perfect Note, A" | ''A Perfect Note'' || Jasmine || TV movie |- | rowspan="2" | 2007 || ''Poor Boy's Game'' || Ruth Carvery |- | ''Finding Father's Toe'' || Carole || Short film |- | 2007–2012 | data-sort-value="Young and the Restless, The" | ''The Young and the Restless'' | Olivia Winters || April 12–13, 2007, and October 23, 2008 – February 15, 2012 |- | 2009–2010 || data-sort-value="Border, The" | ''The Border'' || Octavia Jones || 5 episodes |- | 2010 || ''My Name is Khan'' || News Anchor || |- | rowspan="2" | 2011 | ''She's the Mayor'' || Maxine Williams || 13 episodes<ref name=hamilton>[http://www.thespec.com/article/753892 "She's the Mayor finds laughs in Hamilton"]. ''Hamilton Spectator'', April 16, 2010.</ref> |- | data-sort-value="Bold and the Beautiful, The" | ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' | Olivia Winters || Guest: 2 episodes (February 1–2, 2011) |- | 2012 || ''Cybergeddon'' || Donna Berg || 2 episodes |}

===Producer, writer and director===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Tonya Williams producer, writer and director credits |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" width=65 |Executive Producer ! scope="col" width=65 |Writer ! scope="col" width=65 |Director ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" | 2001 | ''Maple'' | {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || TV movie || |- ! scope="row" | 2004 | ''Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee'' | {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || TV special (Contributing writer) || |- ! scope="row" | 2004 | ''Da Kink in My Hair'' | {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || TV movie || |}

==Honours, awards and nominations== In 2025, Williams was conferred the honour of an Officer of the Order of Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/order-canada-appointees-june-30-2025|title=Order of Canada Appointees – June 30, 2025}}</ref>

In addition, she has had the following awards and nominations. {{Awards table|5|no_nominee=yes|sortable=yes|caption={{Screen reader-only| Tonya Williams awards and nominations}}|}} |- ! scope="row" | 1996 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 1996 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 1997 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 1998 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 1999 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2000 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2000 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{won}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2001 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2002 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{won}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2003 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2004 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2005 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2005 | ACTRA | National Award of Excellence | {{won}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2006 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2009 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2010 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2011 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2012 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series | {{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2012 | Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award | Film and television artistic contributions. | {{won}} | |- ! scope="row" | 2012 | Canadian Immigrant Award | Top 25 | {{won}} | <ref>{{Cite web|title=Canada's Top 25 Immigrants 2012|url=https://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants/canadas-top-25-immigrants-2012|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Canadian Immigrant|language=en-US}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2024 | 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Changemaker Award | {{won}} | <ref name=thiessen/> {{end}}

==References== {{reflist|2 http://www.actra.ca/press-releases/2005/11/tonya-lee-williams-to-receive-actra-national-award-of-excellence/}}

==External links== * {{TCMDb name|id=206939%7C0|name=Tonya Lee Williams}} * {{TCMDb name|id=1543383%7C0|name=Tonya Williams}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes person|tonya-lee-williams}} * [https://tv.apple.com/us/person/tonya-williams/umc.cpc.70xpcxfi8z25s0k5zofqzvxjv Tonya Williams] at [https://tv.apple.com/ Apple TV+] * {{IMDb name|0931845}} {{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Tonya Lee}} Category:1958 births Category:Black Canadian actresses Category:Canadian film actresses Category:Canadian soap opera actresses Category:Canadian television actresses Category:English emigrants to Canada Category:Canadian people of Jamaican descent Category:Canadian expatriates in England Category:Living people Category:Actresses from London Category:Actresses from Oshawa Category:Toronto Metropolitan University alumni Category:Film festival founders Category:Actresses from Toronto  Category:Actresses from Los Angeles Category:Canadian expatriates in the United States Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:Governor General's Award winners