Otherworldly Talent Resumes Quirky Alien Matriarch Role on Friday Nights This Fall!
Toks Olagundoye, world traveler? Check. Space traveler? Also check.
Born in Nigeria, actress Toks (pronounced ‘Tokes’) Olagundoye arrived in Hollywood by way of Europe, Massachusetts, New York and most recently… Zabvron!
Toks is currently starring in ABC’s “The Neighbors,” a quirky sci-fi comedy about a middle-class family who moves into a New Jersey gated community only to discover that it is entirely populated by aliens from the planet Zabvron. Toks plays alien matriarch ‘Jackie Joyner-Kersee’ (all of her fellow extraterrestrials have also adopted the names of famous athletes), who does her very – and often hilarious – best to integrate human culture into her every day…even if she comes off as a bit manic and Stepford Wife-y.
The series also stars Jami Gertz and Lenny Venito as the human heads of the ‘Weaver’ family, and Simon Templeman as ‘Larry Bird,’ ‘Jackie’s’ husband and supreme commander of the Zabvronians. Toks can be seen reprising her hilarious role this fall on Friday nights at 8:30pm.
Born to a Nigerian father (a banker) and Norwegian mother (a fashion designer) in Lagos, Toks later attended boarding school in England and then Smith College in Massachusetts, attaining a BFA in theatre. She moved to NYC and quickly dove into the professional acting world before moving to Los Angeles and landing her series regular role on “The Neighbors,” where her physical comedy and uncanny ability to do accents and impressions are on full display. She also sang on the Emmy-nominated song Alan Menken composed for “The Neighbors,” titled ‘More or Less the Kind of Thing You May or May Not Possibly See on Broadway.”
Toks has racked up guest-starring credits on such shows as “NCIS,” “Prime Suspect” and ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth,” her other credits including “CSI: NY,” “Law & Order,” and “Ugly Betty.” On the big screen, Toks has appeared in the films DEMOCRACY AT WORK, A BEAUTIFUL SOUL, THE SALON, and BROWN SUGAR. Her off-Broadway and regional theatre credits include “Saint Lucy’s Eyes,” in which Toks originated one of the lead roles alongside veteran Oscar nominee, Grammy and Emmy winner Ruby Dee. She also originated the role of ‘Rachael Robinson’ in “National Pastime, ” the first official story about Jackie Robinson.
Toks spends a large portion of her free time creating, writing and producing small projects through her production company, Unlimited Ceiling. Incredibly health conscious, she is a Paleo pescatarian, runs almost every day, and enjoys pilates. Toks also enjoys archery and marksmanship, copious amounts of tea and kombucha, and is a self-professed Twitter addict. An animal lover, Toks lends her voice to many such causes and lives in LA with her dog, Georgie, a Chuihuahua mix from Brooklyn, who Toks rescued after seeing a post on Facebook.
Links:
http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-neighbors
http://www.twitter.com/toksolagundoye
http://www.toksolagundoye.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/UnlimitedCeiling
