Imani Hakim (born August 12, 1993) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Tonya Rock on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris as well as portraying Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas in the 2014 Lifetime original movie The Gabby Douglas Story. Hakim acted in the films Chocolate City and Burning Sands, and had a supporting role on the Apple TV+ television series Mythic Quest.
Career Hakim was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She has two older brothers and three younger brothers. When she was seven, she studied acting at Karamu House Theater in Cleveland. She convinced her parents to allow her to pursue a professional acting career when she was 11 and moved to Los Angeles with her father to find work. They experienced homelessness during that time and frequently slept in their car. However, within a few months, she booked her first role as Chris's little sister Tonya on Everybody Hates Chris. The series was on-air for four seasons, from 2005 to 2009. During that time, she was homeschooled. In California, Hakim continued to study acting at Alexander's Workshop School in Lakewood and at The Young Actor's Space in Burbank.
Hakim later starred as Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas in the Lifetime biopic The Gabby Douglas Story (2014). The next year she acted in a supporting role in the film Chocolate City starring Robert Ri'chard.
As of 2020, she portrays Dana, a video game tester, on the Apple TV+ comedy series Mythic Quest. The series was renewed for a third and fourth season in 2021. She also co-starred in the film Dinner Party in 2020.Imani Hakim cast bio on The CW, archived at The Wayback Machine
Personal life Hakim follows a carnivorous diet. She enjoys painting in her free time. Hakim is engaged to fellow Mythic Quest actor Chris Naoki Lee, with whom she gave birth to their first child, Kazuo-Marley Hakim Lee, on February 2, 2025.
Filmography + Television and film roles Year Title Role Notes 2005–2009 Everybody Hates Chris Tonya Rock Main role 2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Darcy Episode: "The Unusual Suspect" 2007 Reign Over Me Jocelyn Johnson Film 2008 The Replacements Tiffany Voice role; 2 episodes 2009 ER Anastasia Johnson 3 episodes 2009 Wizards of Waverly Place Jump Rope Girl Episode: "Marathoner Helper" 2014 The Gabby Douglas Story Gabby Douglas Television film 2015Chocolate City Carmen Film 2016 Sharknado: The 4th Awakens Gabrielle Television film 2017 Chocolate City: Vegas Strip Carmen Direct-to-video film 2017 Sollers Point Cadance Film 2017 Burning Sands Rochon Film 2018 Down for Whatever Sonya Television film 2018 Cam Hannah Darin / Baby Film 2020–2025 Mythic Quest Dana Main role; Director: "The Room Where It Happens"2023Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Beth 2 episodes2023–2025Pokémon Concierge Alisa Voice role (English Dub) 2023 A Southern Hunting LuLa Main role 2025 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia N/A Director: "Frank Is in a Coma"2026Criminal Minds: EvolutionKaliyah BurkeEpisode: "Body Count"
References
External links