Patricia Tallman

Biography: When she portrayed "Lyta Alexander" in the Hugo Award-winning sci-fi series Babylon 5, Patricia Tallman was the most powerful telepath in the universe. Seems fitting, considering that the actress knew she was going to be in show business at the early age of two. It was then that she first appeared with her father, Jerry, on his midwest radio show, soloing on "Bicycle Built for Two."

By age fifteen, Pat was performing in summer stock at the Red Barn Theatre in Saugatuck, Michigan, doing ten shows in eleven weeks. She soon spent all of her high school vacations in professional summer stock, and eventually chose Carnegie Mellon University to earn her BFA in its prestigious theater arts program. While other theater majors waited tables to make ends meet, Pat worked her way through college performing in eighteen musicals at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Recognizing Pat's formidable talents, CMU presented her with an award for Outstanding Achievement In Acting. ImmediatelyWhen she portrayed "Lyta Alexander" in the Hugo Award-winning sci-fi series Babylon 5, Patricia Tallman was the most powerful telepath in the universe. Seems fitting, considering that the actress knew she was going to be in show business at the early age of two. It was then that she first appeared with her father, Jerry, on his midwest radio show, soloing on "Bicycle Built for Two."

By age fifteen, Pat was performing in summer stock at the Red Barn Theatre in Saugatuck, Michigan, doing ten shows in eleven weeks. She soon spent all of her high school vacations in professional summer stock, and eventually chose Carnegie Mellon University to earn her BFA in its prestigious theater arts program. While other theater majors waited tables to make ends meet, Pat worked her way through college performing in eighteen musicals at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Recognizing Pat's formidable talents, CMU presented her with an award for Outstanding Achievement In Acting.

Immediately after college, Pat moved to New York City, where she landed a role in the long running off-Broadway hit, Big, Bad Burlesque. She went on to score other parts on the New York stage, including her favorite, Rosalind in the Riverside Shakespeare Company's production of As You Like It. Television roles began shortly thereafter, when Pat was cast in a recurring role on the CBS soap opera, Guiding Light. This led to roles on virtually every New York-based daytime serial.

Film roles were not far behind. An opportunity to audition for George Romero for a lead in his new feature, Knightriders starring Ed Harris, arose and Pat was on her way back to Pittsburgh, acting in her first film. This led to a long working relationship with George Romero, who subsequently cast her in Monkeyshines and Creepshow II. CMU alumn Tom Savini cast her in the series Tales from the Darkside twice. He must have liked her work, for he then cast Pat in the film for which she is perhaps best known: Romero's remake of the 1962 cult film, Night of the Living Dead, which Savini directed.

Moving to L.A., Pat was soon cast as an underwear model, Billie, on the NBC soap, Generations. They loved her and created a new character for her, undercover cop "Christy Russell" which she played for several months. Her fencing skills landed her the role of an evil, sexy swashbuckler in the film, Ring of the Musketeers. Her athleticism and physical skills led her into stunt work on a number of films and television shows. However, she continued to act in various horror and science fiction productions. Her most recognizable character, Lyta Alexander of Babylon 5 was initially supposed to be a one-shot arrangement for the pilot episode "The Gathering", but her character was brought back as a priniple player in fianl episodes of the second season of the futuristic space drama.

Equally important to Patricia Tallman are her roles of wife -- she is married to Jeffrey Willerth (who played Ambassador Kosh on Babylon 5) -- and mother to Julian, their son. She also dedicates a fair amount of her time to fund-raising activities for the children of Penny Lane, a home for abused children in North Hills, California.

Through her tireless efforts within the science fiction community, Pat and her fans have contributed more than $50,000 to Penny Lane over the past several years, the bulk of which transformed the CARE Computer Lab dream into reality. The lab is a state-of-the-art facility at Penny Lane to introduce the young residents to computer skills.

Dedicated Patricia Tallman fans make a hobby of trying to spot her in her many stunt performances. An extremely athletic and fearless member of the Stunt Woman's Association of America, Pat has tumbled, slid and taken punches for the likes of Laura Dern (in Jurassic Park), Gates McFadden (in Star Trek: Generations), Geena Davis (in The Long Kiss Goodnight) and Hudson Leick (in Chill Factor).

Pat's fans mean the world to her. To give her fans (and all science fiction fans) a home on the internet, she and Jeffrey Willerth founded The Galactic Gateway -- www.TheGalacticGateway.com -- where fans can chat, participate in message boards, download video clips and purchase guaranteed authentic merchandise. Many science fiction actors participate in the Gateway.

Pat's roots as as stage actress have never left her, and she continues to tread the footlights in Los Angeles whenever film and TV work allow her the time. Pat recently appeared in a production of The Vagina Monologues in LA. She is a dedicated student of Charles Nelson Reilly, who is her teacher and mentor.… Expand