Biographie
Sonya Eddy, a native of Concord, California, graduated from the University of California, Davis, where she began pursuing her passion for acting while immersed in rigorous academic studies. Her stage career launched with the West Coast premiere of Zora, Is My Name!, written by acclaimed actress and playwright Ruby Dee. In the production, Sonya portrayed several characters, including the unforgettable Big Sweet, a bold, bawdy blues singer who became Ruby Dee’s personal favorite. She continued to build an impressive theatrical resume with performances as the Courtesan in Comedy of Errors, as well as roles in The Crucible, Pericles, and the Witch in Into the Woods. Her commanding performance as Bloody Mary in South Pacific earned her an Arty Award.
Over the course of a successful career spanning more than a decade in Los Angeles, Sonya became one of television’s most recognizable and beloved character actresses. She appeared in recurring and guest-starring roles on numerous hit series including ER, Joan of Arcadia, Seinfeld, The Drew Carey Show, Everybody Hates Chris, Malcolm in the Middle, Reba, CSI Crime Scene Investigation, Strong Medicine, Still Standing, The Hughleys, and many more. She notably became the only actor cast twice on ER.
Sonya also appeared opposite James Earl Jones in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation The Reading Room, was a series regular on Martin Short’s Primetime Glick, and performed on stage in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof alongside John Goodman and Brenda Fricker at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse.
She was perhaps best known and most beloved for her long-running role as the sharp, compassionate, and no-nonsense head nurse Epiphany Johnson on General Hospital, a role she also reprised on the primetime spinoff General Hospital Night Shift.
Her film credits showcased her remarkable versatility and included appearances in Coach Carter with Samuel L. Jackson, Bad News Bears opposite Billy Bob Thornton, Barbershop, Daddy Day Care, Matchstick Men, Surviving Christmas, and Year of the Dog starring Molly Shannon and Peter Sarsgaard.
Beyond acting, Sonya was an accomplished improvisational and sketch performer, vocalist with an impressive range from second soprano to first tenor, and an in-demand voice-over artist. Her talent and presence also made her a familiar face in numerous national commercial campaigns throughout her career.
In addition to her work in front of the camera, Sonya co-founded Eddy Ford Entertainment, a television and production company, as well as Eddy Ford Beverly Hills, a lifestyle brand, with her longtime creative and producing partner, Tyler Ford.
