About Phynjuar

An incredibly generous woman, Penwah shares her gift by grooming and coaching up-and-coming talent. She was the sole guiding force behind the successful career of her daughter Michelle Thomas who was best known for her role as Myra Monkhouse on the long-running ABC Television hit show FAMILY MATTERS. Tragically, Michelle passed away in December of 1998 due to complications following surgery to remove an intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor, a rare soft tissue sarcoma.

Three years after her daughter journeyed to heaven, Penwah found strength and bounced back. In 2001 she discovered, and put on the map for the world to see, Mr. Tobias Truvillion who plays Vincent Jones on the ABC Television soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE. She's his personal acting coach and manager.

Today, Penwah works with and influences many actors, including Ms. Tasha Smith who credits Penwah as her inspiration for her portrayal of Angela in TYLER PERRY’S “WHY DID I GET MARRIED?” Ms. Smith said, “Penwah is by far one of the funniest and talented women you will ever hope to meet!”

Film Work

Penwah’s film work includes the title roles in YES MADAME directed by Magaly Colimon, and HUSH directed by Reg E. Gaines (Bring the Noise, Bring the Funk). She also had a recurring role on FAMILY MATTERS as Mitzi Monkhouse, the mother of Myra Monkhouse. When Penwah was cast in the role of Mitzi Monkhouse, the Casting Director had no idea that she and Michelle knew each other! According to Penwah “This was a major coup!”

Currently, Penwah is looking for a space where she can groom, coach and lead the influx of young actors knocking on her door. She has also commissioned a writer for a book chronicling her life with her daughter.