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Tonea Stewart

Tonea Stewart

Actor · Born February 3, 1947 (79) · Greenwood, Mississippi, USA

Tonea Stewart, a native of Greenwood, Mississippi, has lived in Montgomery Alabama since 1990. She is a professional actress, play director, national museum exhibit director, tenured Professor and the Dean of the College of Visual & Performing Arts at Alabama State University. As Dean of the College of Visual & Performing Arts, Tonea serves as administrator over the Departments of Art, Music, and Theatre. She also serves as professor, role model, motivator, and mentor to the students. Since her arrival, the number of Theatre majors, minors, and the number of graduates from the Department of Theatre Arts have soared. Over seventy-five percent of the ASU theatre graduates have received full scholarships to major graduate universities such as Brown, Yale, University of California, Los Angeles, University Of Louisville, Washington State, New York University and Louisiana State University to name a few. Youth and adults from the Montgomery area and across the nation have been touched by Tonea's artistry through T.A.P.S. (Theater Artists Performance School), Camp 3T (Teaching Through Theatre), TTI (Technical Theatre Initiative), ARPAC (Adult Repertory Performing Arts Camp) and Camp Gifted for persons with disabilities; all are summer performance and enrichment programs. After receiving a B.S. degree in Speech and Theater from Jackson State University and an M.A. in Theater Arts from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Tonea completed her Ph.D. in Theatre Arts at Florida State University (FSU), in 1989. She was the first African American female to receive a doctorate from the FSU school of Theatre and the first McKnight Doctoral Fellow in Theatre Arts. During her study at FSU, Tonea also received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities. As an actress, Tonea is perhaps best known for her recurring role of Miss Etta Kibbee in In The Heat of the Night. She earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for her role in the film adaptation of John Grisham's A Time to Kill and a New York World Festival Gold Medal Award for the narration of Public Radio International's series "Remembering Slavery." Tonea began her acting career in 1969 and became the first African American to direct and star in a leading role on stage at New Stage Theatre, the most prestigious equity theater in Mississippi. Since then, she has directed major museum exhibitions such as the Rosa Parks Museum, African American Museum of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and The International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, N.C. Stewart has performed in Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Scotland, Turkey and throughout the United States, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Her screen and television credits include: A Time To Kill, The Rosa Parks Story, Mississippi Burning, Invasion of the Body Snatchers III, Living Large, My Stepson/ My Lover, "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Memphis Beat" "Matlock," "Leave of Absence," "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," "ER", "Touched by an Angel", "Mississippi Damned" and several Lifetime Movies, the latest being " The Wronged Man." Tonea has served as spokesperson for "One Church, One Child" of Alabama and for NOSAP, a Texas based organization aimed at youth development. She was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame and she holds honorary doctorates from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas and Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. Tonea is a member of the Order of The Golden Circle, a life member of the NAACP, SCLC, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and a dedicated member of Hutchinson Missionary Baptist church. She is married to Dr. Allen Stewart. They have three children and five grandchildren.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
February 3, 1947 (79)
From
Greenwood, Mississippi, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on Motif · 39 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 40% in 30 days

What are Tonea Stewart's films like?

Across their 9 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
42%
Society
30%
Bonds
16%
Survival
6%
Power
4%
Ideas
3%
Betrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 6 · Intense 0

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Hopeful
5
Melancholic
6
Bittersweet
3
Contemplative
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Hopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet5
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Tonea Stewart's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 27 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tonea Stewart's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

39 credits, 27 with a Motif page.

  • Where is Your Faith(2026)

    as Ruth Hazel Reynolds

  • Black Adam(2022)

    as Wizard #7

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Doretha's Blues (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    as Doretha

  • First Christmas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Memaw

  • The Golden Voices(2018)

    as Dean Vickie Wilson

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Come Sunday(2018)

    as Lillie Ruth Pearson

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Same Kind of Different as Me(2017)

    as Big Mama

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Girls Trip(2017)

    as Aunt Marian

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Hollars(2016)

    as Latisha

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • American Hero(2015)

    as Gladis

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Wronged Man(2010)

    as Ms. Newton

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • A West Texas Children's Story(2007)

    as Elderly Woman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Constellation(2005)

    as Reverand

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Alabama Love Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • The Rosa Parks Story(2002)

    as Johnnie Carr

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Tara(2001)

    as Vetta Taylor

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Confession of a Florist (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Connie

  • Mama Flora's Family (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bessie

  • My Stepson, My Lover(1997)

    as Delia Gray

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • A Time to Kill(1996)

    as Gwen Hailey

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Sister-in-Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Libby

  • Gramps (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Rae Ellen

  • One Christmas(1994)

    as Evangeline

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Lois

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Pearl

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Leave of Absence(1994)

    as Cora Winsor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story(1994)

    as Henrietta

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Body Snatchers(1993)

    as Teacher

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Loretta Paxton · as Principal Rivers

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Caroline?(1990)

    as Diane

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mississippi Burning(1988)

    as Mrs. Walker

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Courtship (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Aunt Charity

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Elena · as Henrietta Dorsey

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Mistress of Paradise (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Sister Sarah

  • Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige(1981)

    as Mama Paige

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings(1979)

    as Lillie

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mrs. Avery

  • Minstrel Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as Carla

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Diane

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 38 titles from 1951 to 2022; peak year 2016.

Highest rated

The Rosa Parks Story (2002)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Where is Your Faith (2026)

Film career

19512022

Peak 2016 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting38 of 38: 38 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s5 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
9313

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Tonea Stewart's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of the 22 of 23 with a score; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

The Golden Voices (2018)

99th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Mississippi Burning (1988)

Midcredits 97th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Tonea Stewart work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tonea Stewart's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; M. Legend Brown shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Composers and editors