Tanya Wright

Tanya Patrice Wright is an American entrepreneur, actress and author. Born and raised in South Bronx, NY, she studied Comparative Literature at Vassar College, and after her graduation, she went on to be offered her first main-line acting gig: Tanya Simpson on The Cosby Show. She is best known for her role as Phyllis Brooks on Buddies, as well as her recurring roles on 24 as Patty Brooks, NYPD Blue as Officer Maya Anderson, on True Blood as Deputy Kenya Jones, and as Crystal on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black. Tanya Wright was born in the Spring of 1971 in The Bronx to a 15 year old mother, Debra Fraser-Howze, who later became an AIDS activist. Her sister, Sheena Wright, is a nonprofit executive who is the first woman president of the United Way of New York City.Wright is an alumna of the Oliver Scholars Program and graduated high school from George School, a private Quaker school. She received a degree in Independent Studies/Comparative Literature at Vassar College. She studied at Harvard University in the Learning, Design, Innovation, and Technology (LDIT) program.