Actor / Singer / Writer / Comedienne, Toronto, ON / Detroit, MI. Born: USA (became a Canadian citizen in 2008).
Satori Shakoor is a veteran of live performance. As a singer, she recorded and performed with The Brides of Funkenstein, as well as multiple Grammy Award winners David Foster, Sly Stone, Luther Vandross and George Clintonâs Parliament/Funkadelic. As a stand-up comedienne, she has opened for Joan Rivers, with appearances at The Improvisation, Comedy Store and at Yuk Yukâs (Toronto). Selected theatre, TV and film credits include, Intimate Apparel, Da Kink In My Hair (Toronto, San Diego, London, England), The Adventures of a Black Girl In Search of God, Boy Gets Girl, El Paso, Harlem Duet, The Hurricane and The Famous Jett Jackson Show.
Honours: Nominee, Dora Award (1997), for her self-written play, Who She Wasnât; two nominations, Gemini Award, Best Writing/Best Performance, Thick ân Thin (1998); NAACP Award Best Ensemble Cast, Da Kink In My Hair (2007); Harold Award, Excellence in Theatre (2007); profile in Who’s Who in Black Canada 2 (2006).
Other: Founding Member, Obsidian Theatre Co.
Education: Music Performance, Michigan State University; Drama, University of Hawaii;Â Interdisciplinary Studies, Wayne State University.
Hero: My mother, Annie Lou McGruder.
Motto: Think and plan, then DO.
Favourite book? Fall On Your Knees by Ann Marie MacDonald. Riveting and engaging. I couldn’t read another fiction novel for months.
Favourite quote? âIn the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and God said, âLet there be… and there was.â
Given the chance, what would you love to do that you haven’t done yet? Pay in full for my granddaughter Oliviaâs college education.
Who or what inspires you? Courage of human spirit.
Why do you do what you do? I do what I do because itâs who I am; itâs what I love. To not do it would be inauthentic and out of my integrity.