Biografia
If you combine Bette Midler’s flair with Lily Tomlin’s wit and the depth of Frances McDormand, you get a sense of who Trisha Simmons is.
Trisha grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city known for its loud, bold, and humorous spirit. Surviving the harsh weather and no-nonsense locals requires resilience in this blue-collar town where being a Steelers fan is almost mandatory. Luckily, Trisha fits right in—she hosts "The Steelers Dish With Trish" on YouTube and proudly dedicates both her car and a room in her home to celebrate the football team.
Her passion for the performing arts began during childhood visits to a Senior Center near Pittsburgh. Young Trisha and her mother volunteered doing nails and hair for the residents, who shared captivating stories of love, adventure, and loss that sparked her imagination and fueled her spirit. A treasured theater ticket gifted by one of the residents to see "Charlie’s Aunt" at the historic Heinz Hall planted the seed for her lifelong journey in performing, teaching, writing, and motivational speaking.
Raised by an inspiring mother familiar with thinkers like Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Oprah Winfrey, William Chow, and Tony Robbins, Trisha was encouraged to embrace new perspectives. Mentored by the legendary Zig Ziglar, she has traveled worldwide as a motivational speaker, working with organizations such as Blue Cross, Coleman, ORT, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, and Renault.
Trisha’s acting career extends far beyond performance—you can explore many of her acting, singing, dancing, and voice credits on IMDB. She committed herself to mastering and sharing skills learned through LAMDA, PPC, ACMT, KT, and her mentorship under the renowned Stella Adler. Her education enabled her to live, learn, and teach across the globe, including in England, China, Japan, and Thailand. She has taught at institutions like UCLA, Pepperdine, CAPA, and The Beijing Center. Inspired by diverse cultural practices, she expanded her career to encompass teaching and mentoring.
She founded The L.A. Film Actors Lab and later created KidsAct, coaching young talent who have gone on to work in film, television, and theater worldwide, many hailing from her hometown. Trisha has also worked on sets for Nickelodeon’s "100 Things to Do Before High School," Disney’s "Kickin’ It," and numerous other productions.
Her mentoring and coaching work has been highlighted in major publications, including a cover story in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Elle, and Backstage West. She has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, TBN, Pittsburgh Today, CBS, and many independent stations nationwide.
As an author, Trisha has written several books on acting and, during the pandemic, authored and narrated over twenty children’s books. She established The Simmons Scholarship Fund at Point Park University, directing a portion of her book proceeds to help young artists pursue their creative dreams.
Trisha’s sketch writing has been showcased on Nickelodeon and Disney programs as well as at venues like The Improv, The Laugh Factory, and The Comedy Store. She wrote, directed, and produced the series "The Funniest Kids In Town," available on YouTube, featuring many rising stars from her LAKidsAct students.
Her books "One Woman’s Treasure" and "Dash Across America," inspired by her beloved dog Dash, laid the foundation for an upcoming memoir. Trisha, a lifelong dog lover and advocate, shares her life with several furry companions, including her youngest, Miss Daisy Mae, who often makes surprise appearances on camera.
Her scriptwriting includes the movie-of-the-week "Always a Mother" and the produced pilot "Jenn’s Place," which showcased a young Aaron Carter's musical talents.
Returning to her roots—a lifelong curiosity and love for exploring perception—Trisha continues to nurture her passions for performing, coaching, and writing.
