ABOUT ROLONDA
journalist, talk show host, actor, producer, novelist, and voice-over talentHer name, face, and now even her distinctive voice are known by audiences everywhere, thanks to her works in radio, television, the Internet, and film. Most know her as simply, Rolonda, from her internationally syndicated talk show, “The Rolonda Show,” produced by King World and her Watts Works Productions. The groundbreaking talker ran for four successful seasons, with Rolonda also being part owner and supervising producer of the show.
Ro began her television career as a local CBS news reporter in Greensboro, North Carolina, before moving on to larger markets. She landed a reporting and anchoring job at the New Jersey Network, becoming part of one of the first duo-women anchor teams in the country. While there, she was selected for the cover of New Jersey Monthly Magazine as “a person to watch.” She then moved on to the Big Apple, joining WNBC-TV news team, where she also anchored the local morning news cut-ins for the “Today Show.” While at WNBC-TV, Ro received an Emmy nomination for her “Live Spot News Coverage” of a deadly train crash. She later moved on to WABC-TV “Eyewitness News” in New York to anchor, report, and moderate “Eyewitness News Conference,” the station's weekly political forum.
Ready to spread her wings outside of local news, Ro gained national exposure and attention when she became host of Lifetime Television’s talk show, “Attitudes.” There, she received a Cable Ace nomination for “Best Talk Show.” After that, the award-winning journalist went on to tackle news around the world, joining the “Inside Edition” news magazine team as senior correspondent, weekend anchor, and producer. One international lead story took Ro to Iceland where she investigated the growing teenage alcoholism problem there.
But Rolonda got the big break of her life when TV tycoon Roger King of King World Productions made her an offer she couldn’t refuse – her very own internationally syndicated talk show. Using the talker as her platform, Rolonda helped get kids out of gangs, kept families together, prevented suicides, and even stood by a teenage mom who went into labor on her set. Rolonda is still known for the dignity she brought to talk TV and the integrity she continues to give to life stories. Refusing to fall into the sleaze pattern of talk TV at the time, Rolonda decided to instead take off to Hollywood where she discovered a plethora of other unique talents, skills, and careers.
Rolonda brought “The Ro Show” to radio, working with Gloria Steinam and Jane Fonda in launching Greenstone Media Network for women.
Ro also hosted a television reality show, called “Lie Detector” for PAX-TV.
She currently hosts an Internet talk show, called “A BraveHearTView.” Bringing conscious TV to the Internet.
And, Rolonda is proud to call herself a novelist now, having just completed her first romance novel, entitled, Destiny Lingers.
To see Ro’s
Hosting Reel
That Distinctive, Warm, and Recognizable Voice
Rolonda has now also emerged as one of the leading voice-over talents in America. She is the Announcer and radio/TV promo voice of “The Judge Joe Brown Show.” She was the Announcer for the game show, “Temptation.”
In animation, Ro is the voice of Professor Wiseman in "Curious George” (PBS) for Universal Studios. It remains the number one animated series for children 1-5 years old. She voices the role of “Queen Contra Bass” in the animated feature film, “The Great Music Caper,” for the Weinstein Company. Ro also voices the role of Ms. Chief in a new action animation pilot, called “Go! Figure!” for Disney.
In TV commercials, Ro was the principle lead for Aleve and Alka Seltzer. She is currently the voice of Boeing, and is heard on commercials for Wells Fargo Bank, Tropicana, Southwest Airlines, Big Lots, Children’s Hospital, Wendy’s -- and more.
From New York to Hollywood
Rolonda’s Hollywood dreams continue to come true as she just starred in her first lead role in a feature film, called “House Arrest,” expected to be released in 2010. Ro has worked with some of Hollywood’s most talented directors, including, Spike Lee, John Landis, Charles Winkler, and the late Carrie Hamilton, who cast Ro in the role of Dorothy Dandridge, portraying the Hollywood legend the hour before her death. Ro also played the role of Josephine Baker.
Rolonda has demonstrated her comedic and dramatic talents in various television and feature films, including “JAG,” “The West Wing,” “The District,” “Boston Public,” “Yes Dear,” “Sister, Sister” “My Wife and Kids,” and many more. She has also recurred in the daytime drama series “Days of Our Lives,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
Ro’s
Acting Reel
Community Service
New York City and Newark, NJ each established an official “ROLONDA DAY” for her journalistic, community, and humanitarian works. And the McDonald’s Corporation just honored Rolonda as a “Broadcast Legend.” The Spelman College Alumna Association awarded her for her community service.
Rolonda has served on the Board of Directors for Literacy Volunteers of New York City, the Board of Advisors for the Rahway State Prison's Lifers Group, the Board of Advisors for New York University School of Dentistry, and the Board of Advisors for the United Negro College Fund. She has volunteered as a tutor for H.E.L.P. - the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project. She is a member of Women in Film, AFTRA, and SAG.
Rolonda currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Little Black Pearl Workshop Arts School in Chicago, which she recently helped launch the “Art of Community Giving Campaign.” Ro is also on the Board of the Tom Joyner Scholarship Foundation.
Education
From Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ro attended Salem Academy, and was graduated Magna Cum Laude from Spelman College in Atlanta, where she double-majored in Theatre Arts and English. She holds a Master of Science degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Rolonda also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Winston-Salem State University.
Rolonda is CEO/President of her own production company, Watts Works Productions. She is single and lives in Los Angeles with her Maine Coon cat, Wolfe.
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CONTACT
Acting & Hosting Agent
TruVision Entertainment
Agent: Laura Wagner
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Commercial & Voiceover Agent
Voiceover: Rita Vennari or Mary Ellen Lord
Television: Pam Sparks
Sutton, Barth, and Vennari
145 South Fairfax Ave., Ste 310
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(O) 323.938.6000
www.sbvtalentagency.com
Literary Agent
The Literary Group International
Agent: Frank Weiman
The Literary Group International
The Stanford Building
51 East 25th Street, Suite 401
New York, NY 10001
(O) 212. 274.1616
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Koerner Kronenfeld Partners (KKP)
Agent: Ivan Kronenfeld
20 West 20th Street Suite 807
New York, NY 10011
(O) 212.448.9141 x101
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Direct to Rolonda
Rolonda Watts
Watts Works Productions
137 N. Larchmont Blvd. #652
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(O) 323.465.5100
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