Biography
Dubbed by Daily Variety's legendary Army Archerd; "a great physical comedian." Tanya "Cha-Cha" Sandoval-McMahon was baptized into the biz as the original action actress by actor Clint Eastwood. She has been working steadily in the entertainment business as a standup comic, song impressionist, writer, actress, and producer for over three decades. A quadruple threat.
Cha Cha comically breaks the stereotype narrative for Latinas in Hollywood. She pokes fun at the Latina stereotypes she has had to audition for and play--pretending to fail at being a good Mexican, and slamming the Hollywood system--through songs, characters, beautifully-crafted dialogue and performances. Finally a Mexican-American voice for Latinas that sounds unlike any other voice on the comedy scene today. Sandoval busts the Hollywood maid, uneducated cholo, and 2nd class nympho-maniac stereotypes by talking about her true life. Marrying a white man (a British illegal) and making him the legal alien, Sandoval humanizes the 'step & fetch' version of Latina, by intelligently "reversing" the roles of Hollywood's hot and emotional Latina victim.
Beginning her career as a classical singer, as a soloist with the iconic group The Young Americans, Cha Cha soon applied her prodigious athletic skills, and became one of Hollywood's top stuntwomen working under the name Tanya Russell. Not accepted into the Hollywood Latino circuit--seen as an odd ball, made fun of for not being a good Latina--she decided to change her name and made her own way as a stunt performer in Hollywood. She founded United Stuntwomen's Association. As Tanya Russell, she was Stunt Coordinator and 2nd unit director for Jonathan Demme's Last Embrace.
Some of her featured acting appearances include Jerry Maguire, Bronco Billy (Clint Eastwood), and the controversial TV series, "Nothing Sacred," Casa Di Mi Padre (Will Ferrell), and a featured role on a new TV Pilot on Comedy Central; "Terry." Nominated for a performance Emmy in two-hour special Hill Street Blues. Featured performer for Cesar Chavez before his passing. Over 75 TV and movie credits.
Also of note: Cha Cha became the first regularly paid Latinas at the world famous Comedy Store and Hollywood Improv. She produced the first and highly successful all-Latino comedy shows at the Hollywood Improv and Comedy Store. Then, given the green light by the late Mitzi Shore, went on to produce the Comedy Store's first and all ethnically-based women's comedy show with co-Biz-partner Lydia Nicole called "Funny Ladies of Color." Successfully brought Comedy to Cal State Northridge College to sold out Latino crowds ahead to the Latino comedy boom in L.A. and across the nation. She has opened for Jimmy Fallon, Drew Carey, George Lopez, Gabriel Iglesias, and the late Sam Kinison, who brought her into the Comedy Store.
Cha Cha continues to work as a stand-up comic, actress, and playwright, having her recent production of "Four Tamales Missing in Action" nominated for a NoHo Award. As of 2023, writing the one women show about her life being one of the first standup comics / stunt women in Hollywood. She keeps busy, producing "Comedy at Palermos" in Los Feliz." Also, awarded by Hispanic Magazine for her contributions to the film industry.
More achievements will be coming due to the impact she has made in Hollywood and her activism for Mexican-American women, globally.
