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 | 2023-06-15 | |
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Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best | 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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Bad Hair | Zora | 2021-05-05 |
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Singleholic | Jackie Chisolm | 2020-03-27 |
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Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side | 2020-12-05 | |
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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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The Man from Earth: Holocene | Carolyn | 2017-10-13 |
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Not Black Enough | Self | 2017-04-28 |
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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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Rehearsing a Dream | 2006-08-25 | |
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My Brother | L'Tisha Morton | 2006-01-01 |
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Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards | Witch (segment "Into the Woods") | 2005-08-07 |
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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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Johnson Family Vacation | Dorothy Johnson | 2004-04-07 |
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Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives | 2003-02-10 | |
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Keep the Faith, Baby | Hazel Scott | 2002-02-11 |
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It's Black Entertainment | Self - Host | 2002-02-08 |
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WW 3 | 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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Shaft: Still the Man | Self | 2000-01-01 |
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Afrocentricity | Self | 2000-08-01 |
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Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends | Herself | 2000-09-05 |
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The Courage to Love | Mother Henriette Delille | 2000-01-24 |
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Don Quixote | Dulcinea / Aldonza | 2000-04-09 |
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Shaft | Carmen Vasquez | 2000-06-15 |
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A Diva's Christmas Carol | Ebony Scrooge | 2000-12-13 |
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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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Light It Up | Audrey McDonald | 1999-11-04 |
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Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia | Self | 1998-06-09 |
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Dance with Me | Ruby Sinclair | 1998-08-21 |
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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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Nothing Lasts Forever | Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter | 1995-11-04 |
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Bye Bye Birdie | Rose Alvarez | 1995-12-03 |
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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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Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | Lulu Daniels | 1991-08-23 |
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Another You | Gloria | 1991-07-26 |
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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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The Kid Who Loved Christmas | Lynette Parks | 1990-12-14 |
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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 |
