PJ Torokvei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
PJ Torokvei
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Torokvei in The New Avengers in 1977
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| Born |
Peter Torokvei
March 19, 1951 |
| Died | July 3, 2013 (aged 62) |
| Occupation | Actor, writer, producer |
| Years active | 1977-1995 |
PJ Torokvei (born Peter Torokvei; March 19, 1951 – July 3, 2013) was a talented Canadian screenwriter, actor, and television producer. She was known for her creative work in both movies and TV shows.
Torokvei was involved with famous comedy groups like The Second City and SCTV. She wrote screenplays for popular films such as Real Genius, Armed and Dangerous, Back to School, and Guarding Tess. For television, she was a producer and head writer for the show WKRP in Cincinnati. She worked on many TV shows and films from the 1970s to the 1990s. PJ Torokvei passed away on July 3, 2013, at the age of 62.
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PJ Torokvei's Work in Film and TV
PJ Torokvei had many roles in the entertainment industry. She worked as an actor, a producer, and a writer.
As an Actor
Torokvei appeared in several TV shows and movies:
- The New Avengers (1977)
- SCTV (1981)
- I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood (1989)
- Hostage for a Day (1994)
- Falling for You (1995)
- Stuart Saves His Family (1995)
As a Producer
She helped create TV shows behind the scenes:
- WKRP in Cincinnati (Producer - 2 episodes) (1981-1982)
As a Writer
Torokvei wrote scripts for many projects:
- SCTV (1981)
- WKRP in Cincinnati (1979-1982)
- Real Genius (with Neal Israel and Pat Proft) (1985)
- Back to School (with Harold Ramis, Steven Kampmann and Will Porter) (1986)
- Armed and Dangerous (with Harold Ramis) (1986)
- Caddyshack II (with Harold Ramis) (1988)
- The Earth Day Special (1990)
- Guarding Tess (with Hugh Wilson) (1994)
- Hostage for a Day (with Kari Hildebrand and Robert David Crane) (1994)
- A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes (1995)
Her Career Journey
In 1977, Torokvei joined the Toronto branch of The Second City, a famous comedy group. There, she met writer and performer Steven Kampmann and Martin Short.
Early Collaborations
Torokvei, Kampmann, and Short worked together on a short comedy film called The Cisco Kid. This film involved dubbing, which means adding new funny dialogue and sound effects over an older western movie. It was similar to Woody Allen's What's Up, Tiger Lily?. The Cisco Kid was later shown on Canadian TV as an extra episode of SCTV.
Working on WKRP in Cincinnati
In 1979, Kampmann and Torokvei moved to Los Angeles. This happened after The Cisco Kid caught the attention of Hugh Wilson. He invited them to share their ideas for the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati. Torokvei eventually became the head writer for the show. She stayed until near the end of its final season. Many of the show's most memorable and creative episodes, like "Real Families," "Daydreams," and "Rumors," were written by Torokvei.
Awards and Recognition
PJ Torokvei was recognized for her excellent work in television.
Emmy Nominations
In both 1981 and 1982, Torokvei was nominated for an Emmy Award. This was for Outstanding Comedy Series for her role as a producer on WKRP in Cincinnati. The Emmy Awards are a big honor in television. She is often seen as a trailblazer in the industry for her achievements.
