1963-03-18 Tarrytown, New York, USA
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.
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Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field | Self | 2024-09-20 |
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The Little Pageant That Could | Self (archive footage) | 2024-06-13 |
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Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best | Self | 2023-05-12 |
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Tripped Up | Patricia Chamberlain | 2023-10-20 |
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Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space | Narrator (voice) | 2023-01-17 |
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Show of Titles | "Dear World" Performer | 2021-06-13 |
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Bad Hair | Zora | 2021-05-05 |
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There She Is | 2020-10-21 | |
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Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side | 2020-12-05 | |
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Singleholic | Jackie Chisolm | 2020-03-27 |
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Batman: Hush | Amanda Waller (voice) | 2019-07-19 |
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Miss Virginia | Sally Rae | 2019-10-18 |
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The Legend of Hallowaiian | Fire Goddess (voice) | 2018-10-18 |
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Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay | Amanda Waller (voice) | 2018-03-23 |
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Not Black Enough | Self | 2017-04-28 |
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The Man from Earth: Holocene | Carolyn | 2017-10-13 |
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VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night | Self | 2016-12-05 |
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The Secret She Kept | Beverly | 2016-07-10 |
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Show Boat | Julie LaVerne | 2015-10-16 |
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The Trip to Bountiful | Jessie Mae Watts | 2014-03-08 |
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Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor | Janice | 2013-03-29 |
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He's Way More Famous Than You | Vanessa Williams | 2013-05-10 |
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A Mother's Love | Rochelle Richardson | 2011-02-22 |
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Hannah Montana: The Movie | Vita | 2009-04-10 |
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And Then Came Love | Julie | 2007-01-01 |
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My Brother | L'Tisha Morton | 2006-01-01 |
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Rehearsing a Dream | Self | 2006-08-25 |
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Gift for the Living | Narrator | 2005-11-01 |
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Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards | Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage) | 2005-08-07 |
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Johnson Family Vacation | Dorothy Johnson | 2004-04-07 |
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Christmas in Washington | 2004-12-15 | |
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The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest | Self | 2004-12-04 |
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Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? | Self (archive footage) | 2004-03-06 |
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Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives | 2003-02-10 | |
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It's Black Entertainment | Self - Host | 2002-02-08 |
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Keep the Faith, Baby | Hazel Scott | 2002-02-11 |
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WW3 | M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams) | 2001-07-12 |
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Santa, Baby! | Alicia (voice) | 2001-12-17 |
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Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends | Herself | 2000-09-05 |
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A Diva's Christmas Carol | Ebony Scrooge | 2000-12-13 |
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Don Quixote | Dulcinea / Aldonza | 2000-04-09 |
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Shaft: Still the Man | Self | 2000-01-01 |
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Shaft | Carmen Vasquez | 2000-06-15 |
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The Courage to Love | Mother Henriette Delille | 2000-01-24 |
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Afrocentricity | Self | 2000-08-01 |
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Light It Up | Audrey McDonald | 1999-11-04 |
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Futuresport | Alexandra 'Alex' Torres | 1999-09-30 |
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The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Queen of Trash | 1999-10-01 |
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Dance with Me | Ruby Sinclair | 1998-08-21 |
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Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia | Self | 1998-06-09 |
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Hoodlum | Francine Hughes | 1997-08-27 |
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Soul Food | Teri | 1997-09-26 |
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Eraser | Lee Cullen | 1996-06-21 |
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Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II | Self | 1995-03-06 |
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Bye Bye Birdie | Rose Alvarez | 1995-12-03 |
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Nothing Lasts Forever | Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter | 1995-11-04 |
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Score with Chicks | 1994-01-01 | |
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Stompin' at the Savoy | Pauline | 1992-04-19 |
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Another You | Gloria | 1991-07-26 |
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Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | Lulu Daniels | 1991-08-23 |
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The Kid Who Loved Christmas | Lynette Parks | 1990-12-14 |
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Seriously... Phil Collins | Rachel - TV Executive | 1990-09-08 |
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Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer | Terri Knight | 1990-05-20 |
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Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal | Valentine Hayward | 1989-02-05 |
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Under the Gun | Samantha Richards | 1988-04-25 |
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The Pick-up Artist | Rae, Girl with Dog | 1987-09-18 |
