Sonya Eddy Explained

Sonya Eddy
Birth Date:17 June 1967
Birth Place:Concord, California, U.S.
Death Place:Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1990–2022

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). Often playing comedic parts, Eddy appeared in films (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.

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, for Soapnet. She was downgraded to recurring status in 2011.[11] 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.[12] 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 .[13]

Death

Eddy died on December 19, 2022, at the age of 55.[14] Her cause of death was an infection after non-emergency surgery.[15] [16]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996High School High Nurse
1997 Blast Bena
Motel Blue Motel Blue Maid April Swanson
1998Sour 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 Marie the Heavyset Woman
Dish Dogs MayVideo
Ten Grand Aunt RuthieVideo
2001The Jennie Project DonnaTV 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 CarleneShort
Mi Casa, Su Casa Belinda
Daddy Day Care Sandy
Matchstick Men Maureen Fisher
YolandaVideo
2004Y.M.I. DVD's Mom
One Last Ride Sally
Promised Land Claire
Surviving Christmas Elaine
Office Max: Motivational Poster MarlaShort
2005 Coach Carter Worm's Mother
Come Away Home Sonya Warfield
Bad News Bears Ruby
The Reading Room Mrs. CarrTV movie
Lost in PlainviewJoy
2006 Gridiron Gang Theresa Wendal
2007 Year of the Dog Nurse Willheima
2008 Player 5150 Jean
Disfigured Pam Jones
Seven Pounds Nurse Edna
2009The Perfect Game Rose Bell
2010Trim Liz
2011Answers to Nothing Nurse Edwards
Dorfman Lil G
2012K-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
2016Pee-wee's Big Holiday Wanda
2017OH BABY Nurse McQueenShort
Fixed Wang
Thumper Nurse Daniels
2021The Good Balloon DeniseShort
Good on Paper Judge Harriet Gold
I Live Alone OliviaShort
2022Frank and PenelopeNurse
V/H/S/99DebraSegment: "Ozzy's Dungeon"
2023Sonya the Old Lady

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995The Drew Carey ShowMarie1 episode
Married... with ChildrenArlene / Betty2 episodes
1996MartinLucille1 episode
1997Beverly Hills, 90210Nurse Carla1 episode
Angie1 episode
Murphy Brown Estelle1 episode
Family Matters Esther1 episode
Arli$$Nurse Brooks2 episodes
1997–98Tracey Takes On... Sonya2 episodes
Seinfeld Rebecca DeMornay Episode: "The Muffin Tops" & "The Bookstore"
19983rd Rock from the SunJoanne1 episode
Any Day NowJasmine1 episode
Martial LawAnne1 episode
To Have & to HoldDelilah1 episode
USA HighLady1 episode
1999Home Improvement Gayle1 episode
Malibu, CABertha1 episode
Touched by an AngelMrs. Taggert1 episode
ProvidenceImpatient #11 episode
PopularReceptionist1 episode
2000Strip Mall Nurse1 episode
Gilmore GirlsCashier1 episode
2001Even Stevens Mrs. Walters1 episode
Lizzie McGuire Photographer1 episode
The Invisible ManThe Maid2 episodes
Mrs. Troobnik1 episode
Resurrection Blvd.Hospital Receptionist1 episode
Spyder GamesHospital Nurse1 episode
The Mind of the Married Man-1 episode
2001; 2006ER Student Affairs Secretary / Harriet3 episodes
2001–02Primetime Glick Miss Gathercole's NurseRecurring role, 5 episodes
2002Felicity Cop1 episode
Reba Susan1 episode
Still StandingCarla1 episode
2003The Pitts Meter Maid1 episode
Monk Opal1 episode
MADtvStar Jones1 episode
2004Phil of the Future Miss Donaldson1 episode
House Sally1 episode
2004–05Joan of Arcadia Female Custodian God4 episodes
2005Less than Perfect Security Woman1 episode
Inconceivable Nurse Dawson1 episode
2006Malcolm in the Middle Mabel1 episode
Day Break Waitress1 episode
2006–22General Hospital Epiphany JohnsonMain role, 543 episodes
2007In Case of Emergency Sonya1 episode
Everybody Hates Chris DMV Clerk1 episode
Cab Dispatcher1 episode
2007–08 Epiphany JohnsonMain role, 25 episodes
2008Desperate Housewives Vanessa1 episode
2010Good Luck Charlie Verna1 episode
2011Glee Angry Mom1 episode
Mike & Molly Kay1 episode
2011–12The Middle Senora Porter2 episodes
20122 Broke Girls Freddie1 episode
2013Partners Denise1 episode
Monday Mornings Joanne Whitman1 episode
Bad SamaritansRegina1 episode
Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous -1 episode
Baby DaddyPriest1 episode
2013–14Legit RamonaRecurring role, 12 episodes
2014Girl Meets World Geralyn Thompson1 episode
Mulaney Gerta1 episode
2015Mom Angela1 episode
2016Castle Olivia "Mama" Toussaint1 episode
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Professor Andrade1 episode
Adam Ruins EverythingPet Store Owner1 episode
2016–19Those Who Can't TammyRecurring role, 31 episodes
2019A Black Lady Sketch Show Principal Dixon1 episode
Black Jesus Miss Emma4 episodes
2020Tommy CPS Worker1 episode
2021PEN15 Grace1 episode
2022The Last Days of Ptolemy GreyMiss DeliaMiniseries, 2 episodes

Video games

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ausiello . Michael . 2022-12-20 . Sonya Eddy, Beloved General Hospital Vet, Dead at 55 . 2022-12-20 . TVLine . en-US.
  2. Web site: Mistretta . Amy . 2021-02-23 . General Hospital Star Shares Loss of Dear Friend: 'My Heart Is Broken, My Spirit Is Troubled' . 2022-12-20 . Soaps.com.
  3. Web site: 'General Hospital' Actress Sonya Eddy Dead At 55, Octavia Spencer Announces . 2022-12-20 . TMZ . December 20, 2022 . en.
  4. Web site: Sonya Eddy Wins Posthumous Daytime Emmy for 'General Hospital' 1 Year After Her Death. Peoplemag.
  5. Web site: DAYTIME EMMYS: Sonya Eddy Receives Posthumous Nomination for Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress . Lewis. Errol. April 26, 2023 . Soap Opera Network. United States . June 2, 2023.
  6. Web site: The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations . emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences . May 13, 2023. 2023. New York/Los Angeles.
  7. Web site: About GH: About the Actors - Sonya Eddy - General Hospital. Soapcentral. 23 October 2014.
  8. Soap Opera Digest: Birthdays. p. 76, June 24, 2013 (DAYS CAN'T-MISS PREVIEW!) issue.
  9. Web site: Sonya Eddy Playing Epiphany Johnson on General Hospital. Soaps.com . 23 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100516192231/https://soaps.sheknows.com/generalhospital/actor/477/Sonya_Eddy/. 2010-05-16.
  10. Web site: About the Actors | Sonya Eddy. SoapCentral. December 20, 2022.
  11. Web site: GH's Eddy Bumped To Recurring!. ABC Soaps in Depth. abc.soapsindepth.com. September 8, 2012. March 2, 2011. June 16, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110616045541/http://abc.soapsindepth.com/2011/03/ghs-eddy-bumped-to-recurring.html. live.
  12. Web site: Sonya Eddy as Ramona in Legit on FX. FX.
  13. Web site: Exclusive: Megan Mullally Says Dicks: The Musical Is Her Favorite Thing She's Done. Shari. Hirsch. October 11, 2023. MovieWeb.
  14. Web site: Sonya Eddy, 'General Hospital' Actress, Dies at 55. The New York Times. December 24, 2022. December 25, 2022.
  15. News: 'General Hospital' Actress Sonya Eddy Dead At 55, Octavia Spencer Announces . 20 December 2022 . . 20 December 2022.
  16. Web site: Sonya Eddy, 'General Hospital' Actress, Dies at 55. The Hollywood Reporter. December 20, 2022. December 20, 2022.