Current Recipient: Christine Toy Johnson

The Patrick Quinn Award for Distinguished Service to Actors was established in 2007 by  his estate to recognize and reward those who give so much of themselves to improve the lives of Equity members. Patrick Quinn served three terms as President of Actors’ Equity and, before his untimely passing, had just assumed the role of Executive Director, an historic first. Patrick was a tireless, charismatic and passionate leader who inspired confidence in the members as well as attracting many others to the service of the union. 

Christine Toy Johnson exemplifies the spirit of the Patrick Quinn Award with her 30-year contribution to diversity and inclusion in the American theater, not only for AAPI actors and those from historically excluded communities specifically, but for actors in general.

She is the recipient of several awards for her work breaking down the long tradition of casting barriers, including the Rosetta LeNoire Award from Actors’ Equity Association and a shared Obie Award and Tony Honor as co-founder of the Asian American Performers Action Coalition. Having served from 1992-2020 as part of the elected leadership of AEA (22 years as a chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee), and as a writer and current Officer of the Dramatists Guild, her focus has grown even wider, and includes writing plays and musicals with great leading roles not only for AAPI actors but for performers with disabilities, and advocating for theatre writers across the country. She is one of the inaugural recipients of a Catalyst for Change Fellowship from the Dramatists Guild Foundation (Class of 2023-2025) to create The Asian American Theatre Artists Collective.