Vanessa Morgan

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Vanessa Morgan
Morgan at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Vanessa Morgan Mziray

(1992-03-23) March 23, 1992 (age 32)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Alma materQueen's University
OccupationActress
Years active2000–present
Spouse
Michael Kopech
​
​
(m. 2020; div. 2021)​
Children1

Vanessa Morgan Mziray (born March 23, 1992[1]) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Beatrix "Bird" Castro in the MTV teen drama series Finding Carter, as Amanda Pierce in the Family teen comedy series The Latest Buzz, and as Sarah in the Disney Channel / Teletoon film My Babysitter's a Vampire and the television series of the same name. However, she is best known for portraying Toni Topaz in The CW teen drama series Riverdale from 2017 to 2023.

Early life[edit]

Morgan was born in Ottawa, Ontario.[2] Her mother, Catherine, is Scottish and her father, Loyar, is Tanzanian.[3][4] Morgan is the youngest of three children. She has two older siblings: an older sister[5] and an older brother.[6] Morgan began singing at the age of six. She sang at community events and telethons, performed for Childhelp, and was a regular guest entertainer for the College of the Desert scholarship foundation. She was spotted by a Hollywood agent in 1999 and earned a scholarship at a Hollywood acting academy.[7] In 1999, Morgan won the Junior Miss America pageant and won first place vocalist at the National Date Festival. In 2000, she won first place in the African-American Vocal Competition.[8][7] In her early life, she was a member of the competitive NTA tennis program at the Ottawa Athletic Club.[7] Morgan graduated from Colonel By Secondary School in 2010[8] and studied philosophy at Queen's University.[9]

Career[edit]

Acting[edit]

Morgan made her acting debut in the VH1 film A Diva's Christmas Carol in 2000 and another appearance in the film Frankie & Alice in 2010. She became known in 2007 for her role as Amanda Pearce in the Family teen comedy series The Latest Buzz as well as performing the theme song for the series. She also played Marion Hawthorne in the 2010 Disney Channel film Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars.[10]

The following year, Morgan played Sarah in the Teletoon / Disney Channel film My Babysitter's a Vampire, as well in the television series of the same name.[11] Morgan also appeared in the 2011 Disney Channel film Geek Charming.[10] She had a recurring role in season 2 of the Disney Channel comedy series A.N.T. Farm for four episodes.[12]

In 2013, Morgan appeared on Degrassi: The Next Generation for two episodes.[13]

In 2014, Morgan had a recurring role on the MTV show Finding Carter, playing Beatrix "Bird" Castro.

In 2017, she joined the main cast of the fantasy drama series The Shannara Chronicles as Lyria for the second season on Spike.[14] Morgan was then cast in the recurring role of Toni Topaz in The CW teen drama series Riverdale.[15] On May 2, 2018, it was announced that Morgan would be a series regular for the show's third season.[16]

Other work[edit]

Morgan competed in the first season of the CTV reality competition series The Amazing Race Canada with her sister, Celina Mziray. They finished the race in third place.[17]

Personal life[edit]

On July 3, 2019, Morgan became engaged to professional baseball player Michael Kopech.[18] They were married on January 4, 2020.[19] On June 19, 2020, Kopech filed for divorce.[20] On July 24, 2020, Morgan announced she was pregnant.[21] As of December 2020, the divorce case was pending.[22] In 2021, Morgan gave birth to a son.[23] In 2022, Morgan began dating Canadian professional basketball player James Karnik.[24]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2000 A Diva's Christmas Carol Young Ebony Television film
2007–2010 The Latest Buzz Amanda Pierce Main role
2010 Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars Marion Hawthorne Television film
2010 Frankie & Alice 16-year-old Frankie Film; credited as Vanessa Morgan Mziray
2010 My Babysitter's a Vampire Sarah Television film
2011–2012 My Babysitter's a Vampire Sarah Main role
2011 Geek Charming Hannah Mornell
2012 A.N.T. Farm Jeanne Gossamer / Vanessa LaFontaine 4 episodes
2013 Degrassi Vanessa 2 episodes
2013 Saving Hope Ricki Wilkins Episode: "Why Waste Time"
2013 The Amazing Race Canada Herself/Contestant Season 1 contestant, 3rd place
2014 Guilty at 17 Leigh Television film
2014 The Night Session Brittany / Intruder Short film
2014–2015 Finding Carter Beatrix "Bird" Castro Recurring role
2015 Some Assembly Required Jazlyn Sims Episode: "Award Show in a Box"
2017 The Shannara Chronicles Lyria Main role (season 2)
2017–2023 Riverdale Toni Topaz / Thomasina Topaz / Tracy / Raphael Recurring role (season 2), main role (season 3–7); 98 episodes
2018 Pimp Destiny Film[25]
2019 Lip Sync Battle Herself Episode: "Andy Grammer vs. Vanessa Morgan"
2022 Margaux Lexi Film[26]
2024 Wild Cards Max Mitchell Main role
Music videos
Year Title Artist(s) Ref.
2008 "Stand Up!" Herself [27]
2018 "Be My Joker" Herself
2019 "Higher Love" Kygo and Whitney Houston [28]

Discography[edit]

Released Song(s) Album Ref.
2018 "Be My Joker" N/A [29]
2018 "In", "The World According To Chris", "You Shine (Reprise)", and "A Night We'll Never Forget" Riverdale: Special Episode – Carrie the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack) [30]
2019 "Candy Store", "Big Fun", "Dead Girl Walking", "Seventeen", and "Seventeen (Encore)" Riverdale: Special Episode – Heathers the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack) [31]
2019 "Call Your Girlfriend" Riverdale: Season 3 (Original Television Soundtrack) [32]
2020 "Wicked Little Town", "Random Number Generation", "Tear Me Down", "Wig in a Box", "Sugar Daddy", and "Midnight Radio" Riverdale: Special Episode – Hedwig and the Angry Inch the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack) [33]
2020 "Cherry Bomb" Riverdale: Season 4 (Original Television Soundtrack) – EP [34]
2020 "Sleep When I'm Dead" N/A [35]
2021 "After Dark" N/A [36]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2009 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV series – Leading Young Actress (Comedy or Drama) The Latest Buzz Nominated [37]
2014 Planet Africa Awards Rising Star Herself Won [38]
2018 Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout TV Star Riverdale Won [39]
Choice Scene Stealer Riverdale Won
2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Musical Moment Riverdale Nominated [40]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Ship (with Madelaine Petsch) Riverdale Nominated [41]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dupre, Elyse (March 24, 2020). "Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan Receives a "Lysol Cake" for Her Birthday". E! Online. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  2. ^ Berry, Jennifer (August 31, 2017). "Guess Which Riverdale Star Vanessa Morgan Hopes Her Character Dates". Flare. Rogers Communications. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2020. She's an Ottawa native. Vanessa was born and raised in O-town...
  3. ^ Thompson, Phil. "'It's not language I continue to use:' Michael Kopech worries how offensive tweets will affect his family and girlfriend". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  4. ^ Morgan, Vanessa [@VanessaMorgan] (July 15, 2011). "Yes I'm canadian! but my mother is scottish and my father is east african so yes I'm mixed" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "All about Vanessa Morgan's parents and sister". StylesRant. July 31, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  6. ^ "'Riverdale' Star Vanessa Morgan Is "Overjoyed" That She's Expecting Her First Child". Bustle. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c D'Arcy, Dominic. "Vanessa Morgan". Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Miller, Jacquie (July 24, 2017). "Ottawa actress cast in Riverdale, the hit series based on Archie comics". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  9. ^ Amatangelo, Amy (September 15, 2014). "Catching Up With Vanessa Morgan of Finding Carter". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Miller, Jacquie (July 24, 2017). "Ottawa actress cast in Riverdale, the hit series based on Archie comics". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  11. ^ "The Celebrity Dish Twenty Minutes with Bruce McDonald and Vanessa Morgan". UrbamMoms.ca. October 5, 2010. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  12. ^ Jake, Robillard (August 8, 2017). "Riverdale Welcomes Ottawa Native as First Bisexual Character". Ottawa Life Magazine. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  13. ^ Jancelewicz, Chris (June 27, 2013). "Vanessa And Celina, 'Amazing Race Canada' Team: Ex-'Degrassi' Actress And Bikini-Model Sister Join Game". HuffPost. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (February 1, 2017). "'The Shannara Chronicles' Rounds Out Season 2 Cast As Production Begins In New Zealand". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  15. ^ Lofaro, Joe (July 24, 2017). "Ottawa-born actress Vanessa Morgan to star in hit Netflix series Riverdale". CBC News. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  16. ^ Holbrook, Damian (May 2, 2018). "'Riverdale' Ups Vanessa Morgan & Charles Melton to Series Regulars for Season 3". TV Insider. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  17. ^ Patch, Nick (December 13, 2013). "Amazing Race Canada sisters reflect on first season". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  18. ^ Merrett, Robyn (July 3, 2019). "Brielle Biermann's Ex Michael Kopech Engaged to Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan: 'I Love You Intensely'". People. Archived from the original on January 5, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  19. ^ Mizoguchi, aren (January 4, 2020). "Riverdale Actress Vanessa Morgan Weds MLB Star Michael Kopech". People. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  20. ^ Chung, Gabrielle (July 27, 2020). "Kopech Files for Divorce from Pregnant Riverdale Star Vanessa Morgan After 6 Months of Marriage". People. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  21. ^ Morgan, Vanessa [@vanessamorgan] (July 24, 2020). "Exciting news". Archived from the original on May 7, 2023 – via Instagram.
  22. ^ Swartz, Tracy (January 31, 2021). "Report: 'Riverdale' actress Vanessa Morgan welcomes son with estranged husband, White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021. Morgan and Kopech wed in January 2020 in Florida. He filed for divorce five months later in Morris County in northeast Texas, where he grew up. The case was sealed in July 2020 after a Tribune inquiry. The district clerk there told the Tribune in December 2020 the case was pending, but declined to comment further.
  23. ^ Cardoza, Riley (January 31, 2021). "Baby Boy! Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan Gives Birth to 1st Child". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  24. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  25. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (April 19, 2018). "Lee Daniels Boards Lesbian Love Story 'Pimp' as Producer (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  26. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (July 1, 2021). "Madison Pettis, Vanessa Morgan & Richard Harmon To Star In MPCA Horror Margaux". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  27. ^ "Stand Up - Vanessa Morgan & The Latest Buzz Cast". YouTube. December 30, 2008. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  28. ^ Bein, Kat (August 26, 2019). "Kygo & Whitney Houston's '80s-Esque 'Higher Love' Video Stars Vanessa Morgan: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  29. ^ "Be My Joker – Single". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  30. ^ "Riverdale: Special Episode – Carrie the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  31. ^ "Riverdale: Special Episode – Heathers the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  32. ^ "Riverdale: Season 3 (Original Television Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  33. ^ "Riverdale: Special Episode – Hedwig and the Angry Inch the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  34. ^ "Riverdale: Season 4 (Original Television Soundtrack) – EP". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  35. ^ "Sleep When I'm Dead – Single". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  36. ^ "After Dark (feat. Vanessa Morgan & Drew Ray Tanner) [From Riverdale: Season 5] – Single". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  37. ^ Akharume, Sadiq (July 7, 2019). "A quick biography of Vanessa morgan". MyWorld. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  38. ^ "Glitz and glamour at Planet Africa awards gala". Black Ottawa Scene. December 1, 2014. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  39. ^ Swift, Andy (June 22, 2018). "Teen Choice Awards 2018: Riverdale Leads Final Wave of TV Nominations". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  40. ^ Melas, Chloe (June 18, 2019). "MTV Movie & TV Awards 2019: See the full list of winners". CNN. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  41. ^ Moreau, Jordan (June 19, 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame,' 'Riverdale,' 'Aladdin' Top 2019 Teen Choice Award Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanessa Morgan.
  • Vanessa Morgan at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  • Vanessa Morgan on Twitter Edit this at Wikidata
  • Cast bios for Geek Charming – Vanessa Morgan "Hannah" @ Disney Channel Medianet (October 2011 archive copy)
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