Tate Elizabeth Hanyok is a writer-director-actor known for her bold, female-driven comedies. 

From the Hulu Original Feature Film Sex Appeal, which she wrote and produced alongside American High— to the globe-trotting hit stage play Dog Mom, Tate’s work doesn’t stay in one lane. The indie feature Love and Baseball—which she produced, starred in, and adapted from the play of the same name—landed on HBO Max. She stepped behind the camera to direct the wickedly fun thriller Friends Until The End for A&E.

A Virginia native who fled her Civil War reenactment upbringing for a West Coast theatre company, Tate began her storytelling career on stage, honing the character-driven, empathetic voice that defines her genre-spanning work with a perspective steeped in the unpredictable (and hilarious) reality of the underdog, and the strength and magic of community.  

Tate penned romantic comedy The Pet Nup which is in pre-production with Mucho Mas, as is her elevated horror feature Zeus. She’s also been hired to adapt novels into motion pictures: A female-driven soccer romance for PictureStart and a Catholic school whodunnit for WattPad. Selected for the Warner Bros. Discovery Access TV Directing Program, Tate was invited to shadow on Abbott Elementary. 

Additionally, as an actress, Tate has guest starred in many notable shows and films including The Office, Superstore, The Detour, Community, Shameless, Transparent, Burt Wonderstone, and has appeared in nearly 100 commercials. 

Named one of MovieMaker’s Top 25 Writers to Watch, and with multiple “Best Director” and festival wins for holiday comedy What The Elf?!— Tate brings a dynamic tonal range to her work—blending humor, heart, and suspense with a sharp focus on complex, resilient female protagonists.