Date of Birth: March 18, 1963 (60)
Birth Place: Bronx, NY, USA
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 nude 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).
From: Photo Coverage: HEY, LOOK ME OVER! Takes its Final Bows
From: Photo Flash: Remembering a Broadway Legend- Barbara Cook
From: Photo Flash: Remembering a Broadway Legend- Barbara Cook
From: Photo Flash: Vanessa Williams, George Takei and More at NCTF Gala
[1987]The Pick-up Artist Rae
[1988]Under the Gun Samantha Richards
[1991]Another You Gloria
[1991]Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man Lulu Daniels
[1996]Eraser Lee
[1997]Soul Food Teri
[1997]Hoodlum Francine Hughes
[1998]Dance with Me Ruby Sinclair
[1999]Light It Up Audrey McDonald
[1999]The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Queen of Trash
[2000]Shaft Carmen Vasquez
[2004]Johnson Family Vacation Dorothy Johnson
[2006]My Brother L'Tisha Morton
[2007]And Then Came Love Julie
[2009]Hannah Montana: The Movie Vita
[2012]Delhi Safari Begum
[2013]Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor Janice
[2013]He's Way More Famous Than You Vanessa Williams
[2014]When Marnie Was There Hisako
[2017]The Man from Earth: Holocene Carolyn
[2018]The Legend of Hallowaiian Fire Goddess
[2019]Miss Virginia Sally Rae
[2020]Bad Hair Zora
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
[ 2007-2008]Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies Mama Mirabelle
[ 2006-2010]Ugly Betty Wilhelmina Slater
[ 2010-2012]Desperate Housewives Renee Perry
[ 2012-2013]666 Park Avenue 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
[ 2016-2017]The Librarians 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
[ 2020-2021]Twenties Angela
Vanessa Williams, The Trip to Bountiful
Vanessa Williams, The Trip to Bountiful
Vanessa Williams, Into the Woods
Broadway stars Skylar Astin, Norm Lewis and Brian Stokes Mitchell will complete the glittering cast of Broadway luminaries for Everybody Rise! A Sondheim Celebration on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at the Hollywood Bowl. They are joined by previously announced three-time Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone, Sierra Boggess and Sutton Foster for this unforgettable concert program curated by Robert Longbottom and Kevin Stites and conducted by Stites.
Project1VOICE, an organization dedicated to supporting theatre and the performing arts by people of African descent has announced 63/60-A Joyful Celebration.
PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, has announced the release of the debut album from actor-singer Matthew Scott, who has been lighting up the Broadway stage since making his debut in Jersey Boys.
Get an exclusive first listen to Matthew Scott's “When the Earth Stopped Turning” off his upcoming album The Jesus Year: a letter from my dad.
The Segal Centre for Performing Arts will present the critically and multi-award-winning, Josephine: A Musical Cabaret starring Tymisha Harris and directed/choreographed by Sean Cheesman.
BroadwayWorld is thrilled to remind you to tune in tonight, May 12, to your local PBS station and go for a fantastic ride with GREAT PERFORMANCES: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best. We were lucky enough to receive an advance sneak peek and were enthralled for 1 hour and 26 minutes of some real razzle-dazzle.
PBS has shared a sneak peek of Sara Bareilles and Jessie Mueller singing 'She Used to Be Mine' from Waitress the Musical from tonight's Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best concert. The concert also features Sutton Foster, Corbin Bleu, Chita Rivera, Shoshana Bean, Jessica Vosk, and more. Watch the video now!
New videos from the upcoming Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best concert have been revealed! Watch Sutton Foster perform 'Being Alive' from Company, Corbin Bleu executing a tap number from Jelly’s Last Jam and Rob McClure honoring musicals like Book of Mormon, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, and more in an impressive 4 minute medley.
“Stars In The House” co-hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley are reuniting the cast of Almost Famous the Musical after their run on Broadway last fall.
This season, global superstar Mel B joins the returning judges, including platinum-selling recording artist, three-time Emmy®-winning producer and judge of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Michelle Visage; multi-Emmy and GRAMMY® nominee Vanessa Williams; and American drag superstar Trixie Mattel. Watch the video trailer now!
Today's subject Sarna Lapine is currently living her theatre life at the directing helm of Signature Theatre's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim's gothic musical masterpiece Sweeney Todd. The production begins performances on May 16th and will play through July 9th in Signature Theatre's MAX space. It is the fourth time Signature has produced the show, making it Signature Theatre's most produced Sondheim musical overtaking Assassins and Into The Woods with three productions each.
CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE will present Matt Baker’s “A Rhapsody of Gershwin” on Tuesday, June 6, at 7:00 PM.
PBS has shared a preview of Great Performances at 50: Broadway's Best, hosted by two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster. Watch a first look video from the concert, featuring Sara Bareilles, Chita Rivera, Rob McClure, James Monroe Iglehart, and more.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK opened on Broadway, Wednesday, April 26th, 2023, at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld was there to capture stars, including the New York, New York creative team, as they arrive on the red carpet. Check out the photos here!
New York, New York is open at last! Broadway celebrated opening night of its final musical of the season earlier this week and BroadwayWorld was there to celebrate. In this video, check out interviews with opening night guests including Chita Rivera, Joel Grey, Matthew Broderick, Robyn Hurder, David Hyde Pierce, Vanessa Williams, and more!
MCC Theater (Bernie Telsey and Will Cantler, Co-Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) have released a professional recording for the song “I Could Have Danced All Night” from the musical My Fair Lady, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, is available to stream now on all music platforms.
New York, New York, the final musical of the 2022-23 Broadway season is open at last! The show is now officially running at Broadway's St. James Theatre. We have photos from inside the opening night party!
Who says sadness isn't fun? Certainly not award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl. The Syracuse University Department of Drama closes its 2022/2023 season with Ruhl's “Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical,” directed by Daniella Caggiano, April 28 through May 7.
Next week, a trio of Broadway stars will take the stage at The White House as part of a state dinner for Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea.
PS CLASSICS will release the debut album from actor-singer Matthew Scott, who has been lighting up the Broadway stage since making his debut in Jersey Boys.
Vanessa Williams has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.
Vanessa Williams has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Vanessa Williams's first West End show was City of Angels which opened in 2020
Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Trip to Bountiful Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Trip to Bountiful and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods .
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