Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
March 18, 1963
Place of Birth:
Tarrytown, New York, USA
Social Media
Vanessa Williams
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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Roslyn Bridwell |
| 2023 | Velma | Dr. Perdue (voice) |
| 2022 | The Jennifer Hudson Show | |
| 2022 | Sherri | Self - Guest |
| 2021 | Queen of the Universe | Self - Judge |
| 2021 | Girls5eva | Nance Trace |
| 2021 | Name That Tune | Self - Contestant |
| 2020 | Stars in the House | Self |
| 2020 | Stars in the House | Self - Special Guest |
| 2020 | Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race | Self - Special Guest / Vanqueisha De House |
| 2020 | Calling All T.O.T.S. | Captain Beakman (voice) |
| 2020 | Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams | Self - Host |
| 2019 | Tamron Hall | Self - Guest |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Delilah |
| 2019 | American Style | Self |
| 2019 | T.O.T.S. | Captain Beakman (voice) |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show | |
| 2017 | Daytime Divas | Maxine Robinson |
| 2016 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Self |
| 2016 | Match Game | Self - Panelist |
| 2015 | Difficult People | Trish |
| 2014 | Broad City | Elizabeth Carlton |
| 2014 | The Librarians | Cynthia Rockwell |
| 2012 | 666 Park Avenue | Olivia Doran |
| 2012 | The Mindy Project | Dr. Phillips |
| 2012 | Bethenny | Self - Guest |
| 2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Self - Guest Judge |
| 2011 | The Jonathan Ross Show | Self - Guest |
| 2010 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Self |
| 2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Self - Special Guest |
| 2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race | |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Self - Guest |
| 2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Self - Guest Judge |
| 2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Self - Judge (archive footage) |
| 2009 | Modern Family | Rhonda |
| 2009 | The Good Wife | Courtney Paige |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show | |
| 2007 | Shear Genius | |
| 2007 | Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies | Mama Mirabelle (voice) |
| 2007 | The Graham Norton Show | Self |
| 2006 | South Beach | Elizabeth Bauer |
| 2006 | Ugly Betty | Willhelmina Slater |
| 2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Self |
| 2005 | The Reichen Show | Self |
| 2004 | The Tony Danza Show | Self - Guest |
| 2004 | Desperate Housewives | Renee Perry |
| 2004 | On Air with Ryan Seacrest | Self |
| 2003 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Self |
| 2003 | The Bachelorette | Self |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Self |
| 2002 | Boomtown | Detective Katherine Pierce |
| 2001 | Good Day Live | Self |
| 2001 | The Proud Family | Debra (voice) |
| 1998 | LateLine | |
| 1998 | L.A. Doctors | Leanne Barrows |
| 1998 | VH1 Divas | |
| 1997 | The View | Self |
| 1997 | The Odyssey | Calypso |
| 1997 | The View | Self - Guest |
| 1997 | Ally McBeal | Sheila Hunt |
| 1997 | The View | |
| 1996 | Jungle Cubs | |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Self - Guest |
| 1995 | MADtv | Self |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Beauty (voice) |
| 1995 | Nothing Lasts Forever | Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope | |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Arandis |
| 1993 | Intimate Portrait | Self (archive footage) |
| 1992 | The Jacksons: An American Dream | Suzanne de Passe |
| 1990 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Danny Mitchell |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark | Self - Guest |
| 1988 | American Experience | Narrator (voice) |
| 1984 | Partners in Crime | |
| 1982 | T. J. Hooker | Officer Pat Williamson |
| 1980 | A Capitol Fourth | Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Musical Guest |
| 1965 | Days of Our Lives | Valerie Grant |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Self |
| 1956 | Tony Awards | Self - Performer |
| 1953 | The Oscars | Self |