Sonya Eddy

Sonya Eddy
Eddy in Seinfeld (1998)
Born(1967-06-17)June 17, 1967
DiedDecember 19, 2022(2022-12-19) (aged 55)
OccupationActress
Years active1990–2022

Sonya Eddy (June 17, 1967 – December 19, 2022)[1][2][3] was an American actress. She was best known for playing Epiphany Johnson in the American ABC soap opera General Hospital (2006—2022) for which she won a posthumous Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2023.[4][5][6]

Early life and education

Eddy was born in Concord, California, on June 17, 1967.[7][8] She majored in theatre and dance at University of California, Davis and received her B.A. in 1992.[9]

Career

Eddy made her acting debut in the West Coast premiere of Ruby Dee's play Zora Is My Name in 1990.[7] Other stage credits included The Comedy of Errors, The Witch in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods and Bloody Mary in South Pacific.[10] In 1995, Eddy moved to Los Angeles and appeared in such sitcoms as Married... with Children, The Drew Carey Show, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld and Home Improvement. She made her big screen debut playing nurse in the 1996 comedy film High School High. The following years, Eddy played "nurse" roles in a number of movies, include Sour Grapes (1998), Patch Adams (1998), Inspector Gadget (1999), and Seven Pounds (2008).[11] Often playing comedic parts, Eddy appeared in films Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), Barbershop (2002), Daddy Day Care (2003), Surviving Christmas (2004) and Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016). From 2004 to 2005, she had a recurring role on Joan of Arcadia. She also played dramatic role in the 2006 biographical film Coach Carter.[11]

In 2006, Eddy was cast as no-nonsense head nurse Epiphany Johnson on the ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital on a recurring basis. Eddy was upgraded to contract status in August 2007. From 2007 to 2008, she was a regular cast member on the prime time spin-off series, General Hospital: Night Shift for Soapnet. She was downgraded to recurring status in 2011.[12] She appeared on soap until October 20, 2022. She received a posthumous Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2023.[6]

Eddy also made guest-starring appearances on Reba, Monk, House, ER, Desperate Housewives, Mike & Molly, 2 Broke Girls, The Middle, Mom and Castle. She played Ramona, another no-nonsense personal nurse, in the FX sitcom Legit from 2013 to 2014.[13] From 2016 to 2019, she played Tammy in the truTV comedy series, Those Who Can't. She also had recurring roles on Fresh Off the Boat, Black Jesus and the miniseries The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Her final screen appearance was in the 2023 musical comedy film Dicks: The Musical.[14]

Death

Eddy died on December 19, 2022, at the age of 55.[11] Her cause of death was an infection after non-emergency surgery.[15][16]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996 High School High Nurse
1997 Blast Bena
Motel Blue Motel Blue Maid April Swanson
1998 Sour Grapes Nurse Loder
The Godson Bank Clerk
Patch Adams Annie
Sorcerers Ruth
1999 Blast from the Past Patrice
Inspector Gadget Hospital Secretary Mary Blakeson
2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Marie the Heavyset Woman
Dish Dogs May Video
Ten Grand Aunt Ruthie Video
2001 The Jennie Project Donna TV movie
2002 Strange Hearts Lynette
Buying the Cow Rhonda
Barbershop Janelle
The Third Society Arlene McGregor
The Fine Line Between Cute and Creepy Thelma Short
2003 A Single Rose Carlene Short
Mi Casa, Su Casa Belinda
Daddy Day Care Sandy
Matchstick Men Maureen Fisher
Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood Yolanda Video
2004 Y.M.I. DVD's Mom
One Last Ride Sally
Promised Land Claire
Surviving Christmas Elaine
Office Max: Motivational Poster Marla Short
2005 Coach Carter Worm's Mother
Come Away Home Sonya Warfield
Bad News Bears Ruby
The Reading Room Mrs. Carr TV movie
Lost in Plainview Joy
2006 Gridiron Gang Theresa Wendal
2007 Year of the Dog Nurse Willheima
2008 Player 5150 Jean
Disfigured Pam Jones
Seven Pounds Nurse Edna
2009 The Perfect Game Rose Bell
2010 Trim Liz
2011 Answers to Nothing Nurse Edwards
Dorfman Lil G
2012 K-11 Teresa Luna
2013 Miss Dial Refried Bean Caller
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Hanna
RockBarnes: The Emperor in You Shante
2014 The Hive Nurse Tessa Jean
2016 Pee-wee's Big Holiday Wanda
2017 OH BABY Nurse McQueen Short
Fixed Wang
Thumper Nurse Daniels
2021 The Good Balloon Denise Short
Good on Paper Judge Harriet Gold
I Live Alone Olivia Short
2022 Frank and Penelope Nurse
V/H/S/99 Debra Segment: "Ozzy's Dungeon"
2023 Dicks: The Musical Sonya the Old Lady

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Drew Carey Show Marie 1 episode
Married... with Children Arlene / Betty 2 episodes
1996 Martin Lucille 1 episode
1997 Beverly Hills, 90210 Nurse Carla 1 episode
Saved by the Bell: The New Class Angie 1 episode
Murphy Brown Estelle 1 episode
Family Matters Esther 1 episode
Arli$$ Nurse Brooks 2 episodes
1997–98 Tracey Takes On... Sonya 2 episodes
Seinfeld Rebecca DeMornay Episode: "The Muffin Tops" & "The Bookstore"
1998 3rd Rock from the Sun Joanne 1 episode
Any Day Now Jasmine 1 episode
Martial Law Anne 1 episode
To Have & to Hold Delilah 1 episode
USA High Lady 1 episode
1999 Home Improvement Gayle 1 episode
Malibu, CA Bertha 1 episode
Touched by an Angel Mrs. Taggert 1 episode
Providence Impatient #1 1 episode
Popular Receptionist 1 episode
2000 Strip Mall Nurse 1 episode
Gilmore Girls Cashier 1 episode
2001 Even Stevens Mrs. Walters 1 episode
Lizzie McGuire Photographer 1 episode
The Invisible Man The Maid 2 episodes
Diagnosis: Murder Mrs. Troobnik 1 episode
Resurrection Blvd. Hospital Receptionist 1 episode
Spyder Games Hospital Nurse 1 episode
The Mind of the Married Man - 1 episode
2001; 2006 ER Student Affairs Secretary / Harriet 3 episodes
2001–02 Primetime Glick Miss Gathercole's Nurse Recurring role, 5 episodes
2002 Felicity Cop 1 episode
Reba Susan 1 episode
Still Standing Carla 1 episode
2003 The Pitts Meter Maid 1 episode
Monk Opal 1 episode
MADtv Star Jones 1 episode
2004 Phil of the Future Miss Donaldson 1 episode
House Sally 1 episode
2004–05 Joan of Arcadia Female Custodian God 4 episodes
2005 Less than Perfect Security Woman 1 episode
Inconceivable Nurse Dawson 1 episode
2006 Malcolm in the Middle Mabel 1 episode
Day Break Waitress 1 episode
2006–22 General Hospital Epiphany Johnson Main role, 543 episodes
2007 In Case of Emergency Sonya 1 episode
Everybody Hates Chris DMV Clerk 1 episode
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Cab Dispatcher 1 episode
2007–08 General Hospital: Night Shift Epiphany Johnson Main role, 25 episodes
2008 Desperate Housewives Vanessa 1 episode
2010 Good Luck Charlie Verna 1 episode
2011 Glee Angry Mom 1 episode
Mike & Molly Kay 1 episode
2011–12 The Middle Senora Porter 2 episodes
2012 2 Broke Girls Freddie 1 episode
2013 Partners Denise 1 episode
Monday Mornings Joanne Whitman 1 episode
Bad Samaritans Regina 1 episode
Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous - 1 episode
Baby Daddy Priest 1 episode
2013–14 Legit Ramona Recurring role, 12 episodes
2014 Girl Meets World Geralyn Thompson 1 episode
Mulaney Gerta 1 episode
2015 Mom Angela 1 episode
2016 Castle Olivia "Mama" Toussaint 1 episode
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Professor Andrade 1 episode
Adam Ruins Everything Pet Store Owner 1 episode
2016–19 Those Who Can't Tammy Recurring role, 31 episodes
2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show Principal Dixon 1 episode
Black Jesus Miss Emma 4 episodes
2020 Tommy CPS Worker 1 episode
2021 PEN15 Grace 1 episode
2022 The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey Miss Delia Miniseries, 2 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Saints Row 2 Various
2011 Driver: San Francisco Additional Voices
2012 Guild Wars 2 Lyra Lancetooth, Riel Darkwater

References

  1. ^ Ausiello, Michael (December 20, 2022). "Sonya Eddy, Beloved General Hospital Vet, Dead at 55". TVLine. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Mistretta, Amy (February 23, 2021). "General Hospital Star Shares Loss of Dear Friend: 'My Heart Is Broken, My Spirit Is Troubled'". Soaps.com. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "'General Hospital' Actress Sonya Eddy Dead At 55, Octavia Spencer Announces". TMZ. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sonya Eddy Wins Posthumous Daytime Emmy for 'General Hospital' 1 Year After Her Death". Peoplemag.
  5. ^ Lewis, Errol (April 26, 2023). "DAYTIME EMMYS: Sonya Eddy Receives Posthumous Nomination for Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress". Soap Opera Network. United States. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations" (PDF). New York/Los Angeles: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "About GH: About the Actors - Sonya Eddy - General Hospital". Soapcentral. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  8. ^ Soap Opera Digest: Birthdays. p. 76, June 24, 2013 (DAYS CAN'T-MISS PREVIEW!) issue.
  9. ^ "Sonya Eddy Playing Epiphany Johnson on General Hospital". Soaps.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "About the Actors | Sonya Eddy". SoapCentral. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "Sonya Eddy, 'General Hospital' Actress, Dies at 55". The New York Times. December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "GH's Eddy Bumped To Recurring!". ABC Soaps in Depth. abc.soapsindepth.com. March 2, 2011. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  13. ^ "Sonya Eddy as Ramona in Legit on FX". FX.
  14. ^ Hirsch, Shari (October 11, 2023). "Exclusive: Megan Mullally Says Dicks: The Musical Is Her Favorite Thing She's Done". MovieWeb.
  15. ^ "'General Hospital' Actress Sonya Eddy Dead At 55, Octavia Spencer Announces". TMZ. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  16. ^ "Sonya Eddy, 'General Hospital' Actress, Dies at 55". The Hollywood Reporter. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.