LaTanya Richardson Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LaTanya Richardson Jackson
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Jackson in 2005
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| Born |
LaTanya Richardson
October 21, 1949 |
| Education | Spelman College (BA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
LaTanya Richardson Jackson (born October 21, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for her many roles in movies and TV shows. She started her acting journey in plays before taking on supporting roles in films and on television. For many years, her performances were credited under her birth name, LaTanya Richardson.
LaTanya Richardson Jackson has appeared in popular films like Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Malcolm X (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and The Fighting Temptations (2003). On television, she has been in shows such as 100 Centre Street (2001–2002), Luke Cage (2016–2018), and Grey's Anatomy (2017–2023).
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About LaTanya Richardson Jackson
LaTanya Richardson Jackson was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She went to Spelman College, an all-female college for Black students. In 1970, while at college, she met actor Samuel L. Jackson. He was a student at Morehouse College, an all-male college for Black students nearby.
She and Samuel L. Jackson got married in 1980. They have one daughter, Zoe Jackson, who was born in 1982. Zoe is now a film and television producer. After her daughter was born, LaTanya took a break from working regularly to focus on her family.
Her Acting Career
LaTanya Richardson Jackson has had a long and successful career in acting. In 2003, she played Paulina Pritchett in the musical movie The Fighting Temptations. She has also acted in four movies with her husband, Samuel L. Jackson. These films include Juice (1992), Losing Isaiah (1995), Freedomland (2006), and Mother and Child (2009).
Broadway and Stage Work
In 2014, LaTanya Richardson Jackson was nominated for a Tony Award. This award is one of the highest honors for plays on Broadway. She was nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Play for her role in A Raisin in the Sun. This was her second time acting on Broadway. Her first Broadway show was in 2009 in Joe Turner's Come and Gone. She also appeared in the Broadway play To Kill a Mockingbird during the 2018–2019 season.
From 2017 to 2023, she often appeared on the popular TV show Grey's Anatomy. She played Diane Pierce, who was the adoptive mother of a character named Maggie Pierce.
In September 2022, LaTanya Richardson Jackson tried something new. She directed a Broadway play for the first time! She directed a new version of August Wilson's play The Piano Lesson at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Movies and TV Shows
Here are some of the movies and TV shows LaTanya Richardson Jackson has been in.
Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Fried Green Tomatoes | Janeen |
| 1992 | Malcolm X | Lorraine |
| 1993 | Sleepless in Seattle | Harriet |
| 1994 | When a Man Loves a Woman | Dr. Gina Mendez |
| 1995 | Losing Isaiah | Caroline Jones |
| 1996 | Lone Star | Priscilla Worth |
| 1998 | U.S. Marshals | Deputy Marshal Savannah Cooper |
| 2003 | The Fighting Temptations | Paulina Pritchett |
| 2006 | Freedomland | Marie |
| 2009 | Mother and Child | Carol |
| 2019 | Juanita | Kay-Rita |
| 2023 | You Hurt My Feelings | Sylvia |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Law & Order | Lorraine | Episode: "Life Choice" |
| 1993 | Cheers | Moderator | Episode: "Woody Gets an Election" |
| 1994 | Party of Five | Jane Gideon | Episode: "Private Lives" |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Sister Cecilia | Episode: "Heavin' Can Wait" |
| 1999 | Ally McBeal | Attorney Yvette Rose | 2 episodes |
| 2001–2002 | 100 Centre Street | Atallah Sims | 8 episodes |
| 2013 | The Watsons Go to Birmingham | Grandma Sands | TV film |
| 2014–2015 | Blue Bloods | Lt. Dee Ann Carver | Recurring role in Season 5 |
| 2015 | Show Me a Hero | Norma O'Neal | TV miniseries |
| 2016–2018 | Luke Cage | Maybelline "Mama Mabel" Stokes | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2023 | Grey's Anatomy | Diane Pierce | 5 episodes |
Theatre Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Playwright | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Joe Turner's Come and Gone | Bertha Holly | August Wilson | Belasco Theatre, Broadway |
| 2014 | A Raisin in the Sun | Lena Younger | Lorraine Hansberry | Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway |
| 2018–2019 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Calpurnia | Aaron Sorkin | Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
| 2022 | The Piano Lesson | N/A | August Wilson | Director; Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway |
Awards and Nominations
LaTanya Richardson Jackson has been recognized for her talent with several awards and nominations.
| Year | Award | Category | Project | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Audie Award | Audiobook of the Year | Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales | Won |
| 2010 | Audie Award | Multi-Voiced Performance | Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales | Won |
| 2014 | Tony Award | Best Actress in a Play | A Raisin in the Sun | Nominated |
| 2014 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV Movie | The Watsons Go to Birmingham | Nominated |
| 2016 | Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Limited Series | Show Me a Hero | Nominated |
