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Vanessa Williams

Film Actress / Stage Actress / Television Actress / Model (person) / Lyricist / Actress / Voice Actress / Songwriter | * 03/18/1963 (61) | Tarrytown, New York (United States of America (USA))
Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, model, producer, and dancer. She gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984, but resigned her title amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs of her being published in Penthouse magazine. Thirty-two years later, Williams was offered a public apology during the Miss America 2016 pageant for the events. Williams rebounded from the scandal with a successful career as a singer and actress. In 1988, she released her debut studio album The Right Stuff, whose title single saw moderate success as well as "Dreamin'" that peaked at number 8 in the United States in 1989. With her second and third studio albums, The Comfort Zone (1991) and The Sweetest Days (1994), she saw continued commercial success and received multiple Grammy Award nominations; this included her number-one single and signature song, "Save the Best for Last", which she performed live at the 1993 Grammy Awards ceremonies. Her later studio albums include Everlasting Love (2005) and The Real Thing (2009). As an actress, Williams enjoyed success on stage and screen. She made her Broadway debut in 1994 with Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 2002, she starred ... ()
Photo of Vanessa Williams

An American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, and actress. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal involving nude photographs caused her to relinquish her title early. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations.Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, which spawned the hits "The Right Stuff," a #1 on Hot Dance Songs, and "Dreamin'," a #1 on R&B and #8 on Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, The Comfort Zone, in 1991 topped the Billboard R&B Album Chart, and spawned the number-one hit, "Save the Best for Last."In 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song, "Colors of the Wind," from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas. It went on to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.Williams's first major movie role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996. She also starred in the movies Soul Food, Dance with Me, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Shaft and Johnson Family Vacation.From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of self-absorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty. In 2009, Williams released her eighth studio album, The Real Thing. In 2010 she joined the ensemble cast of the series Desperate Housewives as spoiled rich woman Renee Perry.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Comedies | Kids & Family

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Vanessa Williams

Theatre World Award Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame Mary Pickford Award Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical Grammy Award for Best New Artist
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Movies with Vanessa Williams as Actress(50)

as Patricia Chamberlain2023 Tripped Up
as Narrator (voice)2023 Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space
as Zora2021 Bad Hair
as Jackie Chisolm2020 Singleholic
as Amanda Waller (voice)2019 Batman: Hush
as Sally Rae2019 Miss Virginia
as Fire Goddess (voice)2018 The Legend of Hallowaiian
as Amanda Waller (voice)2018 Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
as herself2017 Not Black Enough
as Beverly2016 The Secret She Kept
as Julie LaVerne2015 Show Boat
as Jessie Mae Watts2014 The Trip to Bountiful
as Julie2007 And Then Came Love
as L'Tisha Morton2006 My Brother
as Witch (segment "Into the Woods")2005 Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
as Dorothy Johnson2004 Johnson Family Vacation
as Self - Host2002 It's Black Entertainment
as Hazel Scott2002 Keep the Faith, Baby
as Alicia (voice)2001 Santa, Baby!
as Carmen Vasquez2000 Shaft
as herself2000 Shaft: Still the Man
as Ebony Scrooge2000 A Diva's Christmas Carol
as Mother Henriette Delille2000 The Courage to Love
as Dulcinea / Aldonza2000 Don Quixote
as Alexandra 'Alex' Torres1999 Futuresport
as Audrey McDonald1999 Light It Up
as Ruby Sinclair1998 Dance with Me
as Teri1997 Soul Food
as Francine Hughes (as Vanessa L. Williams)1997 Hoodlum
as Lee Cullen1996 Eraser
as Rose Alvarez1995 Bye Bye Birdie
as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter1995 Nothing Lasts Forever
as Gloria1991 Another You
as Lynette Parks1990 The Kid Who Loved Christmas
as Valentine Hayward1989 Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
as Samantha Richards1988 Under the Gun
as Rae, Girl with Dog1987 The Pick-up Artist

TV Shows/Series with Vanessa Williams as Actress(49)

as Nance Trace2021 Girls5eva
as Self - Judge2021 Queen of the Universe
as Self - Special Guest / Vanqueisha De House2020 Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race
as Self - Guest2019 Tamron Hall
as Captain Beakman (voice)2019 T.O.T.S.
as Maxine Robinson2017 Daytime Divas
as Herself - Panelist2016 Match Game
as Francine West2014 The Flash
as Cynthia Rockwell2014 The Librarians
as Olivia Doran2012 666 Park Avenue
as Rhonda2009 Modern Family
as Self - Judge2009 RuPaul's Drag Race
as Self - Judge (archive footage)2009 RuPaul's Drag Race
as Mama Mirabelle (voice)2007 Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies
as Willhelmina Slater2006 Ugly Betty
as Elizabeth Bauer2006 South Beach
as herself2005 The Reichen Show
as Renee Perry2004 Desperate Housewives
as herself2003 The Bachelorette
as Detective Katherine Pierce2002 Boomtown
as herself2001 Good Day Live
as Dr. Leanne Barrows1998 L.A. Doctors
as herself1997 The View
as Self - Guest1997 The View
as Self - Guest1996 The Rosie O'Donnell Show
as herself1995 MADtv
as Self (archive footage)1993 Intimate Portrait
as Suzanne de Passe1992 The Jacksons: An American Dream
as Danny Mitchell1990 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
as Self - Guest1988 LIVE with Kelly and Mark
as Narrator (voice)1988 American Experience
as Self - Musical Guest1975 Saturday Night Live
as Valerie Grant1965 Days of Our Lives

Movies with Vanessa Williams as Crew(1)

Production/Executive Producer2000 The Courage to Love

Full Name: Vanessa Lynn Williams
Born: Monday, 03/18 1963 (March) in Tarrytown, New York (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 61 years + 11 days)
Zodiac sign: Pisces (Chinese zodiac sign: Rabbit)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: Syracuse University, Horace Greeley High School
Member of: Alpha Kappa Alpha
Record Label: Concord Records, Mercury Records, Lava Records, Atlantic Records, Wing Records, Polydor Records
Net worth estimate: 28,000,000 USD
Spouses (current/former): Rick Fox, Ramon Hervey II, Jim Skrip
Children: Jillian Hervey, Sasha Fox
Siblings: Chris Williams
Father: Milton Augustine Williams
Other names for Vanessa Williams (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Vanessa L. William"
"Vanessa Lynn Williams"
"Van" (Nickname)
"V" (Nickname)
"Ness" (Nickname)
Vanessa Williams frequently works together with these people:
Andy Samberg (31x, Actor)
Bill Hader (21x, Actor)
Fred Armisen (21x, Actor)
Kenan Thompson (21x, Actor)
Kristen Wiig (17x, Actress)
RuPaul (16x, Actor)
Tom Cavanagh (15x, Actor)
Will Forte (14x, Actor)
Amy Poehler (13x, Actress)
Martin Short (13x, Actor)
LeAnn Rimes (13x, Actress)

Other people with this name: Vanessa Williams (US)

WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:4384, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 02/29/2024