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Vanessa Williams

Birth Place: Bronx, NY, USA

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BIO

Williams initially gained recognition as the first woman of African-American descent to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984 in 1983. However, a scandal arose the following year when, a few weeks prior to the end of her reign, Williams learned that Penthouse magazine would be publishing now "iconic" unauthorized photographs of her in an upcoming issue. Amid growing media controversy and scrutiny, Williams resigned as Miss America in July 1984 (under pressure from the Miss America Organization) and was replaced by first runner-up Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles. Thirty-two years later, Miss America CEO Sam Haskell offered her a public apology (during the Miss America 2016 pageant) for the events of 1984.


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 before "Dreamin'" peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart 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 hit (in early 1992) 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 both stage and screen, receiving an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Teri Joseph in the film Soul Food (1997). Her best-known television roles are that of Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (2006–10), for which she was nominated three times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, and Renee Perry on Desperate Housewives (2010–12).

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2022
Margaret

[West End]
West End Revival, 2020
Carla/Alaura

[Off-Broadway]
City Center Encores! Production, 2018
Performer

[Los Angeles]
Hollywood Bowl Revival, 2017
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2013
Special Guest Star [Replacement]

[Broadway]
2013
Performer

[Broadway]
Roundabout Production, 2010
Performer

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2002
Witch

[Los Angeles]
Los Angeles Revival (Pre-Broadway), 2002
Witch

[Broadway]
Broadway Production, 1993
Spider Woman/Aurora [Replacement]

Spider Woman / Aurora [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1991
Bootsie

Daisy (Understudy)

[Broadway]
Broadway Transfer, 1988
Vanessa

[Broadway]
1987
Ensemble

Productions


Movies

The Pick-up Artist
[ 1987 ] Rae
Under the Gun
[ 1988 ] Samantha Richards
Another You
[ 1991 ] Gloria
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
[ 1991 ] Lulu Daniels
Eraser
[ 1996 ] Lee
Soul Food
[ 1997 ] Teri
Hoodlum
[ 1997 ] Francine Hughes
Dance with Me
[ 1998 ] Ruby Sinclair
Light It Up
[ 1999 ] Audrey McDonald
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
[ 1999 ] Queen of Trash
Shaft
[ 2000 ] Carmen Vasquez
Johnson Family Vacation
[ 2004 ] Dorothy Johnson
My Brother
[ 2006 ] L'Tisha Morton
And Then Came Love
[ 2007 ] Julie
Hannah Montana: The Movie
[ 2009 ] Vita
Delhi Safari
[ 2012 ] Begum
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor
[ 2013 ] Janice
He's Way More Famous Than You
[ 2013 ] Vanessa Williams
When Marnie Was There
[ 2014 ] Hisako
The Man from Earth: Holocene
[ 2017 ] Carolyn
The Legend of Hallowaiian
[ 2018 ] Fire Goddess
Miss Virginia
[ 2019 ] Sally Rae
Bad Hair
[ 2020 ] Zora

TV Shows

Partners in Crime
Roselle Robins
The Love Boat
Pearl
The Redd Foxx Show
Jessica
T.J. Hooker
Officer Pat Williamson
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
Valentine Hayward
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer
Terri Knight
Seriously... Phil Collins
Rachel, TV Executive
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Lynette Parks
Stompin' at the Savoy
Pauline
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Danny Mitchell
The Jacksons: An American Dream
Suzanne de Passe
Nothing Lasts Forever
Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
Bye Bye Birdie
Rose Alvarez
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Beauty
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Arandis
The Odyssey
Calypso
Futuresport
Alex Torres
L.A. Doctors
Dr. Leanne Barrows
A Diva's Christmas Carol
Ebony Scrooge
The Courage to Love
Mother Henriette Delille
Don Quixote
Dulcinea, Aldonza
WW 3
M.J. Blake
Santa, Baby!
Alicia voice
Keep the Faith, Baby
Hazel Scott
Ally McBeal
Sheila Hunt
The Proud Family
Debra
Boomtown
Detective Katherine Pierce
South Beach
Elizabeth Bauer
The Beautiful World of Ugly Betty
Wilhelmina Slater
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies
[ 2007-2008 ] Mama Mirabelle
Ugly Betty
[ 2006-2010 ] Wilhelmina Slater
Desperate Housewives
[ 2010-2012 ] Renee Perry
666 Park Avenue
[ 2012-2013 ] Olivia Doran
The Trip to Bountiful
Jessie Mae Watts
The Good Wife
Courtney Paige
Royal Pains
Olympia Houston
Fantasy Life
Terry
The Mindy Project
Dr. Phillips
Broad City
Elizabeth Carlton
Daytime Divas
Maxine Robinson
Modern Family
Rhonda
The Librarians
[ 2016-2017 ] General Cynthia Rockwell
Difficult People
Trish
False Profits
Suzanne
Me, Myself and I
Kelly Frasier
Doc McStuffins
Delilah
Happy Accident
Sherri
First Wives Club
Nancy
Kenan
Tasha
Girls5eva
Nance Trace
Twenties
[ 2020-2021 ] Angela

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2013 - Distinguished Performance Award

Vanessa Williams, The Trip to Bountiful

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2013 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Vanessa Williams, The Trip to Bountiful

Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Vanessa Williams, Into the Woods

Videos

News


Photos: A WONDERFUL WORLD Cast Parades to Studio 54

A special event was held yesterday, September 5, to celebrate the box office opening for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. Check out photos here!
Broadway's Norm Lewis Will Kick Off MPAC's 30th Anniversary

Three decades in the making, Mayo Performing Arts Center’s 30th anniversary season will officially kick off on Friday, September 20 at 8 pm with a performance by Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee Norm Lewis.
Elton John Left With 'Limited Vision' Due to Eye Infection

Elton John has revealed that he was left with 'limited vision' due to a 'severe eye infection.' The EGOT winner took to Instagram to share a health update that he had been facing throughout the summer during the pre-West End run of The Devil Wears Prada. It is also unclear if he will travel to the US to work on Tammy Faye: A New Musical.
MOVING PICTURES: SONGS FROM THE SCREEN to Debut at The Triad Theater

MOVING PICTURES: SONGS FROM THE SCREEN will debut at The Triad Theater. The event will showcase a variety of musical numbers that have defined cinematic history. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Branford Marsalis Joins Broadway Music Team For A WONDERFUL WORLD

Branford Marsalis joins the Broadway music team for A WONDERFUL WORLD: THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL, alongside Daryl Waters, Zane Mark, and Darryl G. Ivey.
INTO THE WOODS Comes to Austin Next Month

Austinites will step Into the Woods as City Theatre concludes its 2024 summer season with Stephen Sondheim’s most popular and successful musical.
Photos: Inside Rehearsals for A WONDERFUL WORLD- THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical is now in rehearsal! The production opens on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Previews begin on October 16, 2024. Go inside the rehearsal room in new photos below!
Whoopi Goldberg, Ariana DeBose, Patti LuPone, & More Named Honorary Co-Chairs For the Black Theatre United 2024 Gala

Black Theatre United has announced a star-studded lineup of Honorary Co-Chairs for its second annual Gala on Monday, September 30, 2024 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. Learn more here!
See Norm Lewis with Seth Rudetsky at the White Plains Performing Arts Center

The White Plains Performing Arts Center will present Tony and Grammy Nominee Norm Lewis with Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky in concert and conversation. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Video: Ingrid Michaelson Performs A PIPPIN/FALSETTOS Mashup At MISCAST24

Check out video of The Notebook composer, Ingrid Michaelson, performing an emotional mashup of, 'With You' from Pippin and 'What More Can I Say?' from Falsettos at Miscast 2024 here!
Video: James Monroe Iglehart Performs 'What a Wonderful World'

Watch James Monroe Iglehart perform the title song from A Wonderful World, coming to Broadway this October!
Nyla Watson Brings AN ODE TO AUDRA to 54 Below

54 Below will present Hadestown star Nyla Watson in An Ode to Audra on Sunday, August 18 at 9:30pm with a livestream option at 9:45pm ET.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld July 11, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is July 11, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Video: Vanessa Williams Talks Singing New Elton John Songs in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Vanessa Williams stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show on Wednesday to discuss the new musical version of The Devil Wears Prada. She is currently playing the role of Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep in the film) in the stage musical, which features an Elton John score. Watch the interview!
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld July 10, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is July 10, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Video: Vanessa Williams Shares THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Musical Borrows Dialogue From the Film

Vanessa Williams is now playing the iconic role of Miranda Priestly in the musical adaptation of the film The Devil Wears Prada. Performances are currently underway in the UK's Theatre Royal Plymouth, prior to a run in the West End in October. Check out a video of her discussing the show here!
Video: Vanessa Williams is Miranda Priestly in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Teaser

Get a first look at Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA in the teaser video here!
THE 24 HOUR PLAYS is Coming to Shelter Island in July

The 24 Hour Plays bring their unique, one-night-only live performances to Shelter Island's Rams Head Inn on July 12, 2024. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Are We In a Sondheim Renaissance?

This time, the reader question was: Have there been a lot of Sondheim productions in New York City since the legendary composer and lyricist passed away?
Video: Watch Jinkx Monsoon Sing 'One Day More' at MISCAST24

Check out a video of Jinkx Monsoon performing 'One Day More' at Miscast 2024 here!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Vanessa Williams been in?

Vanessa Williams has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.

How many West End shows has Vanessa Williams been in?

Vanessa Williams has appeared on London's West End in 2 shows.

What was Vanessa Williams's first West End show?

Vanessa Williams's first West End show was City of Angels which opened in 2020

What awards has Vanessa Williams been nominated for?

Vanessa Williams has been nominated for the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for The Trip to Bountiful. She received a nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Trip to Bountiful. Additionally, she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for Into the Woods.

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