Ta-Tanisha (born Shirley Cummings on January 15, 1953 in The Bronx, New York) is an American character actress, best known for her role as Pam Simpson on the television series Room 222, which she played from 1970 to 1972.
Ta-Tanisha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shirley Cummings January 15, 1953 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1960-present |
| Spouse | Lee Weaver (since 1971) |
| Children | 1 |
Ta-Tanisha later appeared in the 1973 film The Sting, and appeared on Sanford and Son as "The Sanford Arms" tenant Janet Lawrence. Ta-Tanisha also appeared on Good Times three times (in three separate roles) as well as on What's Happening!!. Her husband is veteran actor Lee Weaver.
Career
editTa-Tanisha arrived in Los Angeles from Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s. In the early 1970s Ta-Tanisha began studying theatre at the Performing Arts Society Los Angeles (PASLA) where she performed in several plays including Blues for Mister Charlie and A Raisin in the Sun. Ta-Tanisha also appeared in The Black Girl in Search of God at the Mark Taper Forum.
After a while, Ta-Tanisha began to get roles in television shows and films such as Room 222, in a recurring role as Pam Simpson, Good Times, Sanford & Son and the Mod Squad. She co-starred as a deaf mute on the hit show Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series) and was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for this performance. Ta-Tanisha was also in the Academy Award-winning movie, The Sting.
This exposure to the production process inspired Ta-Tanisha to create a Media literacy program for inner-city youth, Ta-Tanisha named this program TechniVision and it was presented at a local art center and as an after school program in conjunction with Los Angeles City Schools and Girls, Inc.
Ta-Tanisha received an award from the City of Los Angeles for “helping to heal the city” after the uprising of the early '90s in the city.
Currently Ta-Tanisha is part of the Repertory Dance Theater of Los Angeles and is part of a team that is conducting an after school performance program. Ta-Tanisha has also written a play about Biddy Mason, an enslaved African American woman who never learned to read or write; Miz Biddy. The play is currently in development.[1]
Personal life
editSince July 10, 1971, she has been married to actor Lee Weaver. They reside in the Bronx and have one child, Leis La-Te, a daughter.[citation needed]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Halls of Anger | Claudine | |
| 1970 | Like It Is | Randy | |
| 1973 | Frasier, the Sensuous Lion | Also known as Frasier, the Lovable Lion | |
| 1973 | The Stone Killer | Salesgirl | |
| 1973 | The Sting | Louise Coleman | |
| 1977 | The Choirboys | Melissa | |
| 1991 | The Whereabouts of Jenny | Scranton's Secretary | |
| 1995 | Days of the Pentecost | Melena's mother |
Television film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Crosscurrent | Rainie Lewis | |
| 1983 | Baby Sister | Night Nurse | |
| 1982 | The First Time | Shari | |
| 1985 | Star Fairies | Nightsong | Voice role |
| 1987 | Convicted: A Mother's Story | ||
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | Tenant #1 | |
| 2017 | Last Resort: Sleep Tight |
Television series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Mod Squad | Leora Little | Season 2, Episode 7: Confrontation! |
| 1969 | Room 222 | Pam Arnold | Season 1, Episode 13: Seventeen Going on Twenty-Eight |
| 1970 | Room 222 | Pam Arnold | Season 1, Episode 17: Operation Sandpile |
| 1970 | Room 222 | Pam Simpson | Season 2, Episode 7: Only a Rose |
| 1970 | Room 222 | Pam Arnold | Season 2, Episode 8: The Fuzz That Grooved |
| 1970 | Room 222 | Pam Arnold | Season 2, Episode 15: Now, About That Cherry Tree |
| 1970 | The Bill Cosby Show | Georgianna Jones | Season 2, Episode 4: There Must Be a Party |
| 1970 | Mission: Impossible | Maryana "Gabby" Renfrow | Season 5, Episode 10: Hunted Nominated: NAACP Image Award |
| 1971 | Room 222 | Pam Simpson | Season 2, Episode 20: Hip Hip Hooray |
| 1971 | Room 222 | Pam Simpson | Season 3, Episode 1: K-W-W-H] |
| 1971 | Room 222 | Pam Simpson | Season 3, Episode 6:Suitable for Framing |
| 1971 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Judy | Season 1, Episode 3: Mid-term Dinner |
| 1972 | Room 222 | Pam Simpson | Season 3, Episode 18: We Hold These Truths |
| 1972 | Mannix | Gloria Logan | Season 5, Episode 21: Lifeline |
| 1972 | The Partridge Family | Mary Lou Trimper | Season 3, Episode 10: Ain't Love Grand |
| 1972 | Emergency! | Rosie | Season 2, Episode 16: Syndrome |
| 1973 | Adam-12 | Lizzie | Season 5, Episode 23: Keeping Tabs |
| 1974 | Cannon | Miranda | Season 3, Episode 23: Triangle of Terror |
| 1975 | Lucas Tanner | Jean | Season 1, Episode 15: What's wrong with Bobby? |
| 1975 | Sanford and Son | Janet Lawrence | Season 5, Episode 4: The Sanford Arms |
| 1976 | Sanford and Son | Janet Lawrence | Season 5, Episode 14: Can You Chop This? |
| 1976 | Executive Suite | Melida | Season 1, Episode 10: The Sounds of Silence |
| 1976 | What's Happening!! | Patrice Williams | Season 1, Episode 10: Puppy Love |
| 1974 | Good Times | Marcy | Season 1, Episode 13: My Son, the Lover |
| 1976 | Good Times | Mary Ann | Season 3, Episode 21: J.J. in Trouble |
| 1979 | Good Times | Zodiac Girl | Season 6, Episode 18:J.J. and T.C. |
| 1980 | The Jeffersons | Nurse #3 | Season 6, Episode 16: The Arrival: Part 2 |
| 1985 | Cagney & Lacey | Unknown | Season 5, Episode 9: Old Ghosts |
| 1986 | Hill Street Blues | Pregnant Lady | Season 6, Episode 18: Iced Coffey |
| 1987 | Amen | Mrs. Gordon | Season 2, Episode 4: Dueling Ministers |
References
editExternal links
edit- Ta-Tanisha at IMDb