Tonea Stewart
Tonea Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 3, 1947 Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Other names | Tommie Stewart |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Actress/professor |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Employer | Alabama State University |
| Television | In the Heat of the Night |
| Parent(s) | Hattie Juanita and Thomas Harris |
Tonea Stewart (born February 3, 1947),
She had a recurring role as Aunt Etta Kibby in the American television series
From the beginning of her acting career until 2019, Stewart concurrently worked as an actress and educator; she did not act full time until her retirement from teaching.[3][4]
Early life and education
Stewart was born in Greenwood, Mississippi,[5] the daughter of Hattie (née Leonard) and Thomas Harris.[1] Her father worked as an electrician and plumber, while Stewart's mother was an educator.[5] They would divorce when Stewart was 4 years old.[5] Her sister, Beverly Branson, is a singer, and the two have performed together on stage.[6]
Her original intention was to become a doctor, and she studied biology at
Acting career
Stewart's first performance on screen was in TV movie Nightmare in Badham County (1976).[7] She appeared as Mrs. Walker in film Mississippi Burning (1988).[1] From 1991 to 1993, Stewart played Aunt Etta Kibby on In the Heat of the Night.[8] On the series, she had previously portrayed a different character, and returned under this new role as producers were impressed with her performance.[9] Stewart acted in the feature films Body Snatchers,[10] Livin' Large,[11] Mississippi Damned and Girls Trip.[4]
She has made guest appearances on television series
The majority of Stewart's work has been in television films.[1] She acted in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige (portraying the mother of Satchel Paige)[14] and The Rosa Parks Story, where she appeared as Johnnie Carr.[15] In 1994, Stewart appeared in the TV movies One Christmas as Evangeline[16] and A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story as Henrietta.[17] She portrayed Memaw, the grandmother of Halle Downing, in the Oprah Winfrey Network movie First Christmas.[18]
Teaching career
Stewart began teaching in 1971,[4] educating high school students.[1] At her alma mater, Jackson State University, she taught speech to her students.[19] By 1983, Stewart was assistant professor for the dramatics and speech departments at Jackson.[20]
Starting in 1990, she was a professor at the College of Visual and Performing Arts for
In 2020, Stewart was appointed by Alabama state governor Kay Ivey to represent the fifth district of the Alabama State Board of Education.[22]
Personal life
She is married to Allen Stewart, with whom she has three children.[1] One of her grandchildren is Jennifer Dallas.
Filmography
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2018) |
Television
Guest Starring Roles
- Walker, Texas Ranger "Rise to the Occasion" (1999) as Principal Rivers
- Walker, Texas Ranger "The Trial of LaRue" (1997) as Judge Loretta Paxton
- Memphis Beat "I Want to be Free" as Miss Angelina
- Matlock "The Juror" (1993) as Henrietta Dorsey
- In the Heat of the Night (198?) as Ms. Gray in Season 2 episode "Prisoners" as Ms. Gray, the mother of slain prison victim, Eric Gray.
- Cora
Starring Roles
- In the Heat of the Night (1988) as Aunt Etta (Virgil's widowed maternal aunt Etta Kibbee. She resides with Virgil and Althea Tibbs and is caretaker of their twins, William Calvin and Sarah Ruth. (Seasons 4–7) Prior to her role as Kibbee, Stewart also appeared on the Season 2 episode "Prisoners" as Ms. Gray, the mother of slain prison victim, Eric Gray.
Film
- Same Kind of Different as Me (2017) as Big Mama
- Girls Trip (2017) as Aunt Marian
- The Hollars (2015) as Latisha
- Mississippi Damned (2009) as Alice
- A Time to Kill (1996) as Gwen Hailey
- Mississippi Burning (1988) as Mrs. Walker
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) as Lillie (credited as Tommie Stewart)
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1978) as Mrs. Avery (credited as Tommie Stewart)
- Nightmare in Badham County (1976) – Alma (credited as Tommie Stewart)
References
- ^ ISBN 9780786458042.
- ^ a b c Catherine Bullock (February 12, 2016). ASU Dean honored with Mississippi Governor’s Arts Award. Montgomery Advertiser. Accessed January 2018.
- ^ Hane, Bobb (August 17, 2007). "District's opening summit speaker calls to mind the strength, wisdom of our grandmothers, urges teachers to find it". The Herald Independent. p. 3.
- ^ The Amsterdam News. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "JSU alum, actor Tonea Stewart talks growing up in 'The Sip' and role in new Netflix biopic". Jackson State University. April 17, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ Daniel, Clifton (December 15, 1994). "2 sisters stage 'Four Women'". Star-News. p. D1.
- Times Daily. February 19, 1993. p. 8B.
- Gadsden Times. p. C1.
- ^ Franks, Randall (January 1, 2003). "'Aunt Etta' still sharing her wisdom". Calhoun Times. p. 4A.
- ISBN 9780253211200.
- ISBN 9781557831354.
- ^ "Stewart is making it on her own terms". Indianapolis Recorder. July 12, 1997. p. B1.
- ^ Gaul, Lou (July 26, 1996). "'A Time to Kill' stirs emotions, forces thought". The Beaver County Times. p. 6.
- ISBN 9781476607856.
- ^ Cobb, Mark Hughes (March 12, 2002). "Actress, educator to perform for fund-raiser". The Tuscaloosa News. p. D1.
- ISBN 9780231132770.
- Scarecrow Press. p. 390.
- Deadline. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ISBN 9780738553283.
- ^ "Actress To Perform In Albany". The Albany Herald. April 3, 1983. p. 3A.
- ^ Hines, Ree (July 5, 2022). "Hoda Kotb Surprises tWitch With Former Theater Coach". Yahoo!. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- Governor of Alabama. January 7, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
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