T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh
Keymáh in July 2019
Born	Crystal Walker (1962-10-13) October 13, 1962 (age 62) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Education	Florida A&M University
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1982–present
Known for	In Living Color Cosby That's So Raven
Awards	2012 – TV Land Groundbreaking Show Award (In Living Color)

T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh (born Crystal Walker; October 13, 1962) is an American actress and singer. She is famous for being one of the first cast members on the TV show In Living Color (1990–1994). Keymáh also played Erica Lucas on the sitcom Cosby (1996–2000). Many know her as Tanya Baxter from the Disney Channel show That's So Raven (2003–2005). She also stars in and hosts The Cool Crystal Show (2020–present).

Early Life and Name Change

T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh was born Crystal Walker on October 13, 1962. She was born in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in a Catholic family on the South Side of the city. Her mother, Arlene Carter, passed away when Keymáh was two years old. Her father, William Walker Sr., was a state police officer. He had Seminole Indian family roots.

Keymáh was raised by her grandparents. Her grandmother, Mary Louis Zeno, was a social worker. Her grandfather, Carneil Carter, sold insurance. From a young age, Keymáh loved to entertain. She sang, danced, and told stories starting at age three. She wrote her first play and song in elementary school.

Keymáh graduated from the Academy of Our Lady in 1981. She performed comedy in high school. Later, she studied at Florida A&M University. In 1988, she chose her stage name, "T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh." She felt her old last name, Walker, was a slave name. She wanted a name that connected to her African heritage.

Acting Career Highlights

After college, Keymáh taught theater, dance, and mime. She also performed in many plays. She produced and directed films too.

One of her first big roles was on In Living Color. This was a popular sketch comedy show on Fox. She was an original cast member for five seasons. She played many characters, including Cryssy. She also sang and danced on the show.

After In Living Color, she appeared in other TV shows. She played Scotti Decker in On Our Own. She was also Denise Everett in The Show. She lent her voice to characters like Roz and Shavonne in Waynehead.

For four years, Keymáh was a regular on Cosby. She played Erica Lucas Hall, a character with many different jobs. Later, she joined the Disney show That's So Raven. She played Raven's mom, Tanya Baxter, for three seasons. She left the show in season four to care for her grandmother. In 2022, it was announced she would return as Tanya Baxter on Raven's Home.

Characters on The Cool Crystal Show

Characters on In Living Color

Impressions on In Living Color

Other Impressions

Stage Shows and Performances

Keymáh has created and performed several solo stage shows.

Don't Get Me Started!

This was a solo show where Keymáh sang and did impressions. She also talked about important social issues. She first performed this show in 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

T'Keyah Live!

T'Keyah Live! is a variety show. It is Keymáh's third show that she produced herself. She has performed it across the U.S. since 1999. She often had different guest performers join her.

Some of My Best Friends

Some of My Best Friends is a series of monologues. It features a dozen different characters. The show is funny, emotional, and makes people think. It debuted in Chicago in 1991 to sold-out audiences. Keymáh wrote most of the show. Critics praised her ability to play many different characters. The show won several awards and nominations.

Personal Life and Interests

Keymáh enjoys gardening and is a vegetarian. She is also an active member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Her brother is Major General William J. Walker. He is the current Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives.

Keymáh has written and published three books. Cycle of Love is a self-help book with recipes and meditations. Some of My Best Friends: A Collection of Characters is the book version of her stage show. Natural Woman / Natural Hair is a guide for natural hair care. She has also written essays for other books.

Keymáh's Legacy

T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh has left a lasting impact. The artist Flyy Moon honored Keymáh's "In Black World" performance. She used lines from it in her 2021 song "Black."

There is a special fund called the Keymáh Cultural Fund. It helps young people attend theater shows. It also supports art groups for teens and children. Keymáh also has scholarships named after her. One is a theater scholarship at her old university, Florida A&M University. Another is a medical scholarship at Meharry Medical College.

Keymáh as an Educator

T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh worked as a substitute teacher for four years. She taught students from kindergarten to eighth grade. She has also led workshops for actors. These workshops teach about preparing for acting roles. She has given lectures in other countries too.

In 2017, Keymáh was an Artist-in-Residence at Florida A&M University. She directed a play and taught an acting class. She also mentored students and led workshops.

Film Roles

Television Roles

Video Game Roles