Person Details

Birthday: 1963-03-18 14:25:01

Aliases: Vanessa L. William , Vanessa Lynn Williams

Gender: Female

Place of birth: Tarrytown, New York, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 34

TV Involvements: 26


Most Famous Work

Biography

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 Famous Work

Tony Awards
Average
5

Tony Awards

(1956) Self - Performer
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Average
8
RuPaul's Drag Race
Average
8

RuPaul's Drag Race

(2009) Self - Special Guest
Days of Our Lives
Average
6

Days of Our Lives

(1965) Valerie Grant
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Average
7
Intimate Portrait
Average
5

Intimate Portrait

(1993) Self (archive footage)
American Experience
Average
8

American Experience

(1988) Narrator (voice)
The Librarians
Average
7

The Librarians

(2014) Cynthia Rockwell

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2023 Patricia Chamberlain
N/A
N/A
Narrator (voice)
2021 Self - Judge
Nance Trace
Zora
2020 Self - Host
N/A
Self - Special Guest / Vanqueisha De House
Captain Beakman (voice)
Jackie Chisolm
2019 Sally Rae
Self - Guest
Delilah
Amanda Waller (voice)
Captain Beakman (voice)
N/A
2018 Fire Goddess (voice)
Amanda Waller (voice)
2017 Carolyn
Maxine Robinson
Self
2016 Beverly
Herself - Panelist
2015 Julie LaVerne
2014 Cynthia Rockwell
Jessie Mae Watts
Elizabeth Carlton
2013 Vanessa Williams
Janice
2012 Herself
N/A
Olivia Doran
Dr. Phillips
Self - Guest
2011 Rochelle Richardson
2009 Rhonda
Vita
N/A
Self - Judge
Self - Judge (archive footage)
Self - Special Guest
2008 N/A
2007 Mama Mirabelle (voice)
N/A
Julie
2006 Willhelmina Slater
N/A
Elizabeth Bauer
L'Tisha Morton
2005 Self
Witch (segment "Into the Woods")
Self
2004 N/A
Self
Renee Perry
Self - Guest
Dorothy Johnson
Self
2003 Self
N/A
Self
2002 Detective Katherine Pierce
Hazel Scott
Self - Host
2001 Alicia (voice)
Self
M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
2000 Ebony Scrooge
Herself
Carmen Vasquez
Dulcinea / Aldonza
Mother Henriette Delille
Self
1999 Audrey McDonald
Queen of Trash
Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
1998 Dr. Leanne Barrows
Ruby Sinclair
Self
N/A
N/A
1997 Teri
Francine Hughes
Self
Self - Guest
Calypso
1996 N/A
Lee Cullen
Self - Guest
1995 Rose Alvarez
Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
Self
Beauty (voice)
1994 N/A
N/A
1993 Self (archive footage)
Arandis
1992 Suzanne de Passe
Pauline
1991 Lulu Daniels
Gloria
1990 Lynette Parks
Danny Mitchell
Terri Knight
1989 Valentine Hayward
1988 Narrator (voice)
N/A
Self - Guest
Samantha Richards
1987 Rae, Girl with Dog
1984 N/A
1982 N/A
1975 Self - Musical Guest
1965 Valerie Grant
1956 Self - Performer
1954 N/A
1953 Self
Year Character Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
2000 Executive Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

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