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Vanessa Williams

Birth Place: Bronx, NY, USA

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Vanessa Williams 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).

Vanessa Williams Photos

Vanessa Williams 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

Vanessa Williams Productions


Vanessa Williams 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

Vanessa Williams 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

Vanessa Williams 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

Vanessa Williams Videos

Vanessa Williams News


Alicia Keys, Linda Twine, and Maxine Williams Will Be Honored at the 2024 Black Theatre United Gala

Black Theatre United will host its second annual Gala on Monday, September 30, 2024 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York. Learn more about how to attend here!
Georgie Buckland, Amy Di Bartolomeo, and More Join THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Musical

The Devil Wears Prada has announced additional casting for its upcoming production. Learn more here!
Georgie Buckland & Amy Di Bartolomeo to Star as Andy & Emily in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA in London

Georgie Buckland and Amy Di Bartolomeo have joined the cast of The Devil Wears Prada in London as Andy and Emily! Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
Video: A WONDERFUL WORLD Star James Monroe Iglehart Shares His Top 3 Louis Armstrong Songs

Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin, Hamilton, Spamalot) will return to Broadway as jazz icon Louis Armstrong in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. See the star reveal his top 3 Louis Armstrong songs! Watch the video!
Inkwell Singers Bring BROADWAY BABIES: Our Favorite Showtunes to The Triad in June

INKWELL SINGERS will debut their new show BROADWAY BABIES: Our Favorite Showtunes on June 6th and June 8th, 2024, at 7:00pm at The Triad Theater.
Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Kara Lindsay & More to Join 2024 WP Theater Gala

WP Theater has revealed the presenters and performers for its 2024 Annual Gala. See who is taking part and learn how to purchase tickets.
MCC Theater's MISCAST24 Digital Broadcast Extended Through Mid May

You can now watch MCC Theater's Miscast24 through mid May! Learn more about Miscast and see how to watch!
Video: Mykal Kilgore Performs 'Stars and the Moon' at MISCAST24

Miscast features the biggest stars of stage and screen who take the stage to perform songs from roles in which they would not traditionally be cast. Check out a video of Mykal Kilgore performing 'Stars and the Moon' here!
Video: Vanessa Williams Releases Music Video for New Single 'Legs (Keep Dancing)'

Watch Vanessa Williams' new video for her single 'Legs (Still Dancing)' here!
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld April 23, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 23, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Photos: Vanessa Williams and Bebe Neuwirth Announce the 2024 Drama League Award Nominations

Two-time Emmy and two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth, and Grammy, Emmy, and Tony nominee Vanessa Williams, announced the 2024 Drama League Awards Nominations this morning, Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10:00AM. Check out photos from the event here!
What Do the Drama League Nominations Mean for the 2024 Tony Awards?

Bebe Neuwirth and Vanessa Williams announced the 2024 Drama League Awards nominees. What does the news mean for the rest of awards season? Does love from the Drama League usually mean that a Tony nomination will follow?
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, CABARET & More Lead in Nominations for 2024 Drama League Awards

Read the full list of 2024 Drama League Nominations! Nominations include Cabaret, Merrily We Roll Along and more.
Bebe Neuwirth and Vanessa Williams To Announce 2024 Drama League Nominations

Broadway stars Bebe Neuwirth and Vanessa Williams join forces to announce the 2024 Drama League Nominees, marking a significant event in the theatre industry.
Exclusive: Watch Lauren Patten Sing 'One Song, Glory' at MISCAST24

The best of Broadway was miscast by MCC earlier this week! This year's event was held on Monday, April 15 at the Hammerstein Ballroom and you can check out an exclusive clip of Tony winner Lauren Patten's performance from Rent in this video!
Elizabeth Stanley to Perform at A.R.T. Gala in June

Elizabeth Stanley (Jagged Little Pill) will perform at American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)'s 2024 Gala. Learn more!
Video: Vanessa Williams & Bebe Neuwirth Announce the 2024 Drama League Awards Nominees

In this video, watch as Grammy, Emmy, and Tony nominee Vanessa Williams and Bebe Neuwirth co-host the 2024 Drama League Awards Nominations announcement from the Lincoln Center’s New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. You can watch the live stream exclusively here at BroadwayWorld.
Photos: Exclusive! Go inside Kristin Chenoweth's KRISTIN: AN EVENING WITH FRIENDS FOR TODD! for Roundabout Theater Company

On Monday, Roundabout Theatre Company presented Emmy & Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth in KRISTIN: AN EVENING WITH FRIENDS FOR TODD, a special benefit concert. BroadwayWorld went inside the star-studded event! Check out photos of Kristin along with some very special guests!
Tickets on Sale for A WONDERFUL WORLD: THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL - Watch a Teaser

Tickets are now on sale for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical starring James Monroe Iglehart. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.
Photos: On the Red Carpet for MISCAST24, Honoring Jason Robert Brown and Nicole Suazo

The best of Broadway was on hand at the Hammerstein Ballroom where MCC celebrated MISCAST24, honoring Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown and MCC Youth Company Alum Nicole Suazo. Check out photos from the red carpet arrivals.

Vanessa Williams 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 1 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 several awards, including the Distinguished Performance Award by the Drama League Awards for her role in The Trip to Bountiful. She was also nominated for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play by the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production. Additionally, Williams received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for her performance in Into the Woods.

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