PJ Torokvei

PJ Torokvei
Torokvei inThe New Avengersin 1977
Born	Peter Torokvei (1951-03-19)March 19, 1951
Died	July 3, 2013(2013-07-03)(aged 62)
Occupation(s)	Actor, writer
Years active	1977-1995

PJ Torokvei(bornPeter Torokvei;March 19, 1951 – July 3, 2013) was aCanadianscreenwriter,actor.Atrans woman,her professional credits are generally under her former name. In 2001, she announced to friends and family her intention totransitionfrom heroriginal sex at birthand undergosex reassignment surgery.

Torokvei was involved with bothThe Second CityandSCTV.Her notable works in film include the screenplays forReal Genius,Armed and Dangerous,Back to SchoolandGuarding Tess.Her most notable work for television was as a producer and head writer onWKRP in Cincinnati.She appeared in and wrote for various television shows and films from the 1970s through the 1990s. She died at homefromliver failureon July 3, 2013, at the age of 62.

Filmography

Actor

• The New Avengers(1977)
• SCTV(1981)
• I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood(1989)
• Hostage for a Day(1994)
• Falling for You(1995)
• Stuart Saves His Family(1995)

Producer

• WKRP in Cincinnati(Producer - 2 episodes) (1981-1982)

Writer

• SCTV(1981)
• WKRP in Cincinnati(1979-1982)
• Real Genius(withNeal IsraelandPat Proft) (1985)
• Back to School(withHarold Ramis,Steven KampmannandWill Porter) (1986)
• Armed and Dangerous(withHarold Ramis) (1986)
• Caddyshack II(withHarold Ramis) (1988)
• The Earth Day Special(1990)
• Guarding Tess(withHugh Wilson) (1994)
• Hostage for a Day(withKari HildebrandandRobert David Crane) (1994)
• A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes(1995)

Career

In 1977 Torokvei joined the Toronto branch ofSecond City,where she met writer/performer Steven Kampmann andMartin Short.Torokvei, Kampmann, and Short collaborated on a short comedy film calledThe Cisco Kid,which involveddubbingcomic dialogue and sound effects onto an older western (much likeWoody Allen'sWhat's Up, Tiger Lily?). The film was later broadcast on Canadian TV as an "extra" episode onSCTV.In 1979, Kampmann and Torokvei went to Los Angeles afterThe Cisco Kidcame to the attention ofHugh Wilson,who invited them to come in and pitchWKRPscript ideas. Torokvei would eventually become head writer and stay until near the end of the final season. Many of the show's most memorable and imaginative episodes, including "Real Families," "Daydreams," and "Rumors" were written by Torokvei.

Awards

In both 1981 and 1982, Torokvei (as Peter Torokvei) was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at thePrimetime Emmy Awardsin her role as producer onWKRP in Cincinnati.She is often cited as one of the first transgender people to be nominated for an Emmy.

External links

• PJ TorokveiatIMDb