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
(1956) Self - PerformerStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
(1993) ArandisRuPaul's Drag Race
(2009) Self - Special GuestDays of Our Lives
(1965) Valerie GrantHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
(1995) Beauty (voice)Intimate Portrait
(1993) Self (archive footage)American Experience
(1988) Narrator (voice)The Librarians
(2014) Cynthia RockwellActing
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 |