سيرة
T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh (pronounced Ta-KEE-ah Kristle KEE-Mah) is a versatile performer, writer, producer, and director best known for her work on "In Living Color" and her roles as Erica Lucas Hall on "Cosby" and Tonya Baxter on "That's So Raven." A performer since childhood, she studied theater, dance, voice, and pantomime in high school. She declined a business scholarship to earn a Theatre degree from Florida A&M University, also completing co-op studies at Florida State University and graduating with honors. Originally from Chicago, Keymáh began her career as a singer, dancer, and actress. She won Miss Black Illinois and was first runner-up in the Miss Black American pageant. After impressing casting directors with her original piece "In Black World..." at an open call, she moved to Los Angeles.
This opportunity led to Fox's groundbreaking and internationally acclaimed sketch comedy series "In Living Color," which won Emmy and TV Land Awards. As the only female cast member throughout all five seasons, Keymáh delivered sharp impressions of Whoopi Goldberg, Edith Bunker, and others; created memorable characters such as Hilda Headley ("Hey Mon") and Shawanda Harvey ("Go On Girl"); and introduced her own characters like Cryssy ("In Black World") and LaShawn. Following "In Living Color," she guest-starred on various live-action and animated shows and starred in six other series, including ABC's "On Our Own" as contractor Scotti Decker; Fox's "The Show" as writer Denise Everett; Damon Wayans' animated "Waynehead" voicing multiple characters; CBS's "Cosby" as Erica Lucas Hall, a flight-attendant-turned-lawyer-turned-pastry-chef-turned-teacher; Disney's "That's So Raven" as Tanya Baxter, a caring mother; and Seeso's "There's Johnny" as Johnny Carson's gatekeeping secretary.
Keymáh’s theater roots remain strong, having performed two runs and toured nationally with her award-winning solo show "Some of My Best Friends." She has also written, produced, and often directed her stage projects, including "T'Keyah Live... Mostly: A True Variety Show," "Sellout!?!," and "Don't Get Me Started." She produced Margaret Laurena Kemp's "Creative Instructions" and directed most of her own shows as well as Keisha Nickole's "S.I.S.T.E.R.," the world premiere of "Route 66: Finding Nat King Cole" at Amun Ra Theatre, and Pearl Cleage's "The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years" at Florida A&M University. Other regional theater credits include "A Raisin in the Sun," "Miss Evers' Boys," "Love Letters," "The Five Heartbeats Live," "The Piano Lesson," "Crowns," and "School Girls, or The African Mean Girls Play."
Known for wearing her hair naturally on television since her "In Living Color" days—when it was uncommon—Keymáh has inspired many women to embrace their natural hair. In her popular coffee-table book, Natural Woman/Natural Hair, she lovingly shares styling tips for African American natural hair and recounts her own experiences. She is proud that her work has influenced not only young women worldwide but also single and weekend fathers, interracial families, and older women who credit her for their natural hair journeys.
After over two decades of continuous work in theater, television, and film, Keymáh’s life took a new direction when her grandmother fell seriously ill. While starring on "That's So Raven," she cared for the grandmother who raised her and battled Alzheimer's disease. During this time, she built strong relationships with the cast, gained a new generation of fans, and even directed an episode. At the end of the show's final season, Keymáh chose to pause her performing career to focus on her grandmother’s care through her final transition.
Currently, Keymáh hosts "The Cool Crystal Show," a cultural magazine-style variety show on her own online platform, The Keymáh Network. Launched in response to the 2020 global pandemic, the show received excellent feedback. After a brief hiatus to return to school, she is now preparing for the second season. Her latest book is "Cycle of Love: 28 Days of Organization, Rejuvenation, and Meditation for Inspired Self-Care.
