Tonye T. Patano is a celebrated American actress, born October 16, 1961. Her acting career kickstarted in 1984 marking her first debut in the television film The Jesse Owens Story.Since then she has made numerous appearances on a variety of well-acclaimed television series, retaining diverse roles which truly reflected her acting forte. Prominently, she being recognized as Heylia James from the television series Weeds brought her significant accolades. Some of her contributions can be seen in popular shows such as Law & Order, Sex and the City, Monk, and Third Watch. Not only does her prolific career span the realm of television, but her talent has also graced the Broadway stage. While she starred in a Neil Simon play called 45 Seconds from Broadway, her portrayal of Nurse O'Neil in 1997 production of The Sunshine Boys won challenger her an 'excellent' performance review. The year 2000 saw her bagging the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for best ensemble for her role in From the Mississippi Delta. In her personal life, she was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 35 and courageously overcame a stroke in 2005.