Biography

Emmy-nominated actress Tonja Walker is a singer, writer, producer, wife, mother, and passionate journalist. Tonja portrayed Alex Olanov on ABC’s One Life to Live, Olivia Jerome on General Hospital and began her career in Daytime Television on CBS' critically acclaimed Capitol as Lizbeth Bachman. She also had runs on NBC's Passions, CBS' Guiding Light, and the acclaimed Emmy winning Web-soap, The Bay.

She is known for her unforgettable sinister, yet often comedic characters. She has won awards for her wide range of character portrayals from best villain to best comedienne. Tonja feels blessed to have co-starred with major stars during her career, including Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe, William Shatner, Nathan Fillion, Calista Flockhart, Doug Jones, Michael Nouri, Joan Collins, and many more.

Tonja currently Hosts and Produces the successful YouTube Podcast series "One Day To Love" welcoming celebrity guests to discuss their lives and the ever fascinating world of Hollywood and beyond!

During her 15 years in Daytime television Tonja also made singing tours across the country opening with national recording artists and in her own one-woman show in LA, New York, and Las Vegas. Tonja has also starred in pilots for television, episodic TV, and films. She has been called “a walking sound bite” and is requested frequently for interview shows and magazine articles.

Her first venture into production, earned her a Tony nomination for BEST PLAY, as the associate producer of Enchanted April. She created Tonja Walker Productions in 2005 and successfully produced her first film, The Derby Stallion.

Tonja discovered Zac Efron and cast him in Derby in his first lead role in film. This film also won many awards including the New York Independent Film and Video Award for Best Picture, The Dove Award, and The London Children’s Film Festival Award.

Tonja married entrepreneur Edward Davidson in 1997 and is the proud mother of two beautiful girls and three stepchildren. Philanthropy is of paramount importance to Tonja. She has performed in countless benefits with Liza Minnelli, Victor Garber, Michael McDonald, Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, and others. As Miss Maryland and finalist in Miss USA at age 18, she has always gone after her dreams.

Her latest film The Last Culprit a mystery, thriller is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Storyline: Five outlaw contestants are invited to a remote mansion for a game organized by a famous crime writer J.P. Lewis with his under-wrap money provider Adam who just receives the inheritance from a family deceased. At the welcome dinner, Mr. Lewis rephrases the rules of the game as "only one will be expelled and the other four will be compensated with half a million". (note: "expels" means dies or quits). But if two of them die or quit, then the game will be terminated. Per Mr. Lewis' assumption, this specific rule is to limit their violence since killing is everyone's strong suit. That night, one of the contestants dies of likely a natural cause diagnosed by a mysterious doctor who comes in the middle of the night. As the four remaining contestants presumably have a good night's sleep and wait for the money rewards the next day, strange things happen one by one. Does anyone survive and beat the odds? And who's the last culprit behind the curtain?

IN TONJA'S WORDS

During my life I have always loved quality entertainment. I love truly balanced news, feature stories about great people, stories about interesting places and I love covering and making appearances at special events. I love creating a connection with people. My audiences have fed and followed me for over 40 years and they mean so much to me. Of course, their appreciation has always meant the world to me but it means more now than ever.

I was a Mass Communications Major in college and was always involved in the newspaper, yearbook, student government and planning special events. During my child rearing years, I’ve worked for political campaigns, made videos for my husband’s business, and created my own “Best Kept Secrets” show for my Real Estate company. I produced my first film, paid for it myself, got distribution for it and won several awards for it including Best Feature from the New York Film and Video festival. I found Zac Efron right before High School Musical, as I have always had an excellent eye for talent. The movie was The Derby Stallion and I’m now working to bump it up to 2K for Ad based VOD release. I was propelled into philanthropy as a Board Member of UCP, Project Love in Ohio, was awarded Woman of the Year Awards for my work with UCP in New York and with The American Cinema Club Foundation and have been honored by The Actor’s Fund. I was so pleased to be asked this week to serve on the board of the United Council for Community and Urban Redevelopment. “UCCUR”, by Dr. Darrell Scott.

Recently, I was a guest at The 4th Annual Salute to Fallen and Wounded Soldiers in Rochester Falls Michigan and plan to bring that event to the desert.

As I mentioned I have been active in Real Estate, owned and built several homes, and I had a New York and Connecticut Real Estate license. I worked with Coldwell Banker and then Berkshire Hathaway. I still hold my referral license in Connecticut.

I’ve been coming to the desert regularly for 40 years. My husband and I were going to move here after he got well. I stayed the course when he passed.

As a finalist years ago in the Miss USA pageant, I spoke about how much I wanted to be an actress, and sing. I also told the world that I loved being informed and helping others stay informed. After years of television,

I worked in radio. I love the immediacy of news in radio and of course in live TV, too. With the internet now, all news can be immediate. But is it true honest news? 

I believe Americans deserve to be completely informed and that they should not be forced to rely on slanted, opinionated or confusing information. I dig, call and investigate as much as possible before I speak about what I’ve “heard”. That’s the case in all of my life. I don’t spread rumors and never have.

I have always loved top quality entertainment. Whether it be sports, theatre, television, film, or comedy, I love watching the best of the best do their thing, and I love attending events and cheering these GOATS on! It takes so much determination, stamina, faith and dedication, to keep pursuing your personal best, and showing up for your dreams. I am still dedicated to that myself.

I love to read and write stories about great people, those I have met and those I want to meet. I love travel stories about interesting places to write about those places I have been. My life has been a big one, and I want to share that with you.

To those who have fed and followed me for over 40 years you all mean so much to me! I have had the tremendous good fortune to have played in memorable storylines with characters that you all have supported vociferously.