Patricia Tallman is an American actress and stunt performer best known for her role as Lyta Alexander on the sci-fi television series Babylon 5.
By age 15, Tallman 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 theatre arts program.
While other theatre majors waited tables, Pat worked her way through college performing in 18 musicals at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. 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 favourite, "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 then cast Pat in the film for which she is perhaps best known: Romero's remake of the 1968 cult classic, 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.
Her fencing skills landed her the role of an evil, sexy swashbuckler in the film, Ring of the Musketeers.
Other films include Sweet Justice, Benefit of the Doubt, Army of Darkness, and both Austin Powers films.
Television shows include Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Runners (a USA Network pilot), Dark Skies, Babylon 5 and The Universe and Harry Morgann (an Independent pilot).
Other projects include guest starring as the evil shamaness in Sheena, starring in the science fiction thriller Never Die Twice, and playing one of the leads, Lieutenant Richmond, in two audio plays, Lives of the Cat and Anne Manx: Ring of the Minotour.
In addition, Pat's voice can be heard in the cartoon Babylon 5 parodies Frightspace and Grudgematch.
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 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.
She is a dedicated student of Charles Nelson Reilly, who is her teacher and mentor. |
Lyta Alexander (Pilot)
