# Tonye Patano

Tonye T. Patano (born October 16, 1961) is an American actress. She may be best known as Heylia James on the television series Weeds.
She has appeared in television shows such as Law & Order, Sex and the City, Monk and Third Watch. Patano was in the original cast of the Broadway play, 45 Seconds from Broadway by Neil Simon.

## Career
### Film and television

Patano's first screen role was in the 1984 television film The Jesse Owens Story. She has appeared on several television series in guest roles, including Sex and the City, Monk, Third Watch, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Elementary. Patano has played various characters throughout the Law & Order franchise.
She appeared as Carolyn in Highway Heartbreaker (1992), and had a small role in A Price Above Rubies (1998). Other film work includes Little Manhattan and The Great New Wonderful, both released in 2005.
In 2005, Patano landed the role of Heylia James, a marijuana dealer, on Weeds. She received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series alongside her Weeds co-stars in 2006. Two years later, Patano earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series as Heylia. Patano left the series at the conclusion of its third season, later returning in season 7 on a recurring basis.
Following Weeds, she portrayed Emily in Hallmark movie Loving Leah (2009). Patano was Beverly, a counselor, in A Vigilante (2018). She played a probation officer in drama Jack of the Red Hearts (2015).

### Stage

Patano portrayed Nurse O'Neil in a 1997 production of The Sunshine Boys at the George Street Playhouse. One reviewer claimed she was "excellent" in the role. In 2000, she received a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for best ensemble after acting in From the Mississippi Delta. Patano appeared on Broadway as Ms. Gravátt in 45 Seconds from Broadway (2001).
She played the role of brothel owner Mama Nadi in Ruined for the Huntington Theater. Her performance in this production received positive reception, with one critic calling her "delightful" and "magnetic." Another found her superb in the role of Mama Nadi.

## Personal life

At age 35, she was diagnosed with diabetes, and she suffered a stroke in 2005.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Film | Role | Awards |
| 1984 | The Jesse Owens Story | Laverne Owens | |
| 1992 | Highway Heartbreaker | Carolyn | |
| 1994 | Fresh | Girl #2 | |
| 1998 | A Price Above Rubies | Earring woman | |
| 1999 | The Hurricane | Woman at prison | |
| 2004 | Messengers | Linda Mabry | |
| 2004 | Imaginary Heroes | Big Mean Teacher | Voice role |
| 2005 | Room | Homeless woman | |
| 2005 | The Great New Wonderful | Shirley | |
| 2005 | The Thing About My Folks | Nurse | |
| 2005 | Little Manhattan | Birdie | |
| 2007 | The Savages | Mrs. Robinson | |
| 2007 | Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot | Mrs. Shelby | |
| 2009 | The Taking of Pelham 123 | Regina | |
| 2009 | Loving Leah | Emily | TV movie |
| 2009 | Bunker Hill | Nurse Evans | TV movie |
| 2009 | Come What May | Thema | |
| 2010 | The Company Men | Joyce Robertson | |
| 2010 | Ponies | Cashier | |
| 2014 | The David Dance | Mrs. P. | |
| 2014 | Every Secret Thing | Clarice | |
| 2014 | Time Out of Mind | Ms. Jackson | |
| 2015 | Jack of the Red Hearts | Miz | |
| 2017 | Roxanne Roxanne | Ms. Denise | |
| 2018 | A Vigilante | Beverly | |
| 2020 | Topside | Violet | |
| 2023 | Eileen | Mrs. Stevens | |

### Television

| Year | Series | Role | Episodes |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Mrs. Samuels | Episode 3.01: "A Time of Faith (Part 1)" |
| 2000 | Now and Again | Jimmy's Mom | Episode 1.17: "Boy Wonder" |
| 2000, 2003, 2009–12; 2022 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Ann, Sally, Judge Maskin | 9 episodes |
| 2001 | Deadline | Nurse Alice | Episode 1.08: "The Undesirables" |
| 2003 | Sex and the City | Ruby | Episode 6.11: "The Domino Effect" |
| 2003 | Hope & Faith | Receptionist | Episode 1.07: "Car Commercial" |
| 2004 | Law & Order | Feldman | Episode 14.11: "Darwinian" |
| 2004 | Monk | Woman on the Train | Episode 3.01: "Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan" |
| 2005 | Third Watch | Danielle | Episode 6.18: "Too Little Too Late" |
| 2005–2008, 2011 | Weeds | Heylia James | 38 episodes |
| 2006–2009 | Handy Manny | Mrs. Thompson | Voice role |
| 2008 | Eli Stone | Judge Flora Simms | 2 episodes |
| 2009–12 | One Life to Live | Phylicia Evans | Recurring; Beginning from September 10, 2009 |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Board Member #2 | Episode 8.10: "Larry vs. Michael J. Fox" |
| 2013 | The Americans | Viola | Episodes 1.02: "The Clock" and 1.12: "The Oath" |
| 2016 | The Blacklist | Judy Sickler | Episode 3.14: "Lady Ambrosia" |
| 2016 | Elementary | Dolores Murphy | Episode 5.03: "Render, and Then Seize Her" |
| 2017 | Sneaky Pete | Libby Metzger | Episodes 1.02: "Safe" and 1.03: "Ms. Success" |
| 2018 | Younger | Akilah | Episode 5.07: "A Christmas Miracle" |
| 2019 | SMILF | Aunt Valerie | Episode 2.07: "Smile More if Lying Fails" |
| 2019 | Madam Secretary | Verline Grant | Episode 5.17: "The Common Defense" |
| 2021–2023 | FBI: Most Wanted | Susan Barnes | 4 episodes |