Tonye Patano

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, 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), and had a small role in A Price Above Rubies (1998). Other film work includes Little Manhattan and The Great New Wonderful, both released in 2005.

In 2005, Patano landed the role of Heylia James, a marijuana dealer, on Weeds. 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. Two years later, Patano earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series as Heylia. 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). Patano was Beverly, a counselor, in A Vigilante (2018). She played a probation officer in drama Jack of the Red Hearts (2015).

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. In 2000, she received a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for best ensemble after acting in From the Mississippi Delta. Patano appeared on Broadway as Ms. Gravátt in 45 Seconds from Broadway (2001).

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

Personal life At age 35, she was diagnosed with diabetes, and she suffered a stroke in 2005.

Filmography

Films Year Film Role Awards 1984 The Jesse Owens Story Laverne Owens 1992 Highway Heartbreaker Carolyn 1994 Fresh Girl #2 1998 A Price Above Rubies Earring woman 1999 The Hurricane Woman at prison 2004 Messengers Linda Mabry 2004 Imaginary Heroes Big Mean Teacher Voice role 2005 Room Homeless woman 2005 The Great New Wonderful Shirley 2005 The Thing About My Folks Nurse 2005 Little Manhattan Birdie 2007 The Savages Mrs. Robinson 2007 Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot Mrs. Shelby 2009 The Taking of Pelham 123 Regina 2009 Loving Leah Emily TV movie 2009 Bunker Hill Nurse Evans TV movie 2009 Come What May Thema 2010 The Company Men Joyce Robertson 2010 Ponies Cashier 2014 The David Dance Mrs. P. 2014 Every Secret Thing Clarice 2014 Time Out of Mind Ms. Jackson 2015 Jack of the Red Hearts Miz 2017 Roxanne Roxanne Ms. Denise 2018 A Vigilante Beverly 2020 Topside Violet 2023 Eileen Mrs. Stevens

Television Year Series Role Episodes 1996 New York Undercover Mrs. Samuels Episode 3.01: "A Time of Faith (Part 1)" 2000 Now and Again Jimmy's Mom Episode 1.17: "Boy Wonder" 2000, 2003, 2009–12; 2022 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ann, Sally, Judge Maskin 9 episodes 2001 Deadline Nurse Alice Episode 1.08: "The Undesirables" 2003 Sex and the City Ruby Episode 6.11: "The Domino Effect" 2003 Hope & Faith Receptionist Episode 1.07: "Car Commercial" 2004 Law & Order Feldman Episode 14.11: "Darwinian" 2004 Monk Woman on the Train Episode 3.01: "Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan" 2005 Third Watch Danielle Episode 6.18: "Too Little Too Late" 2005–2008, 2011 Weeds Heylia James 38 episodes 2006–2009 Handy Manny Mrs. Thompson Voice role 2008 Eli Stone Judge Flora Simms 2 episodes 2009–12 One Life to Live Phylicia Evans Recurring; Beginning from September 10, 2009 2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Board Member #2 Episode 8.10: "Larry vs. Michael J. Fox" 2013 The Americans Viola Episodes 1.02: "The Clock" and 1.12: "The Oath" 2016 The Blacklist Judy Sickler Episode 3.14: "Lady Ambrosia" 2016 Elementary Dolores Murphy Episode 5.03: "Render, and Then Seize Her" 2017 Sneaky Pete Libby Metzger Episodes 1.02: "Safe" and 1.03: "Ms. Success" 2018 Younger Akilah Episode 5.07: "A Christmas Miracle" 2019 SMILF Aunt Valerie Episode 2.07: "Smile More if Lying Fails" 2019 Madam Secretary Verline Grant Episode 5.17: "The Common Defense" 2021–2023 FBI: Most Wanted Susan Barnes 4 episodes