Amber Riley

Get Amber Riley Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Amber Riley BIO

Amber Riley is best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee (2009–2015). For her performance on the series, she and the rest of the cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and have been nominated for three Teen Choice Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and a Grammy Award.

In December 2015, she portrayed Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, in NBC's live performance of The Wiz.

In 2016, Riley originated the lead role of Effie White in the West End debut of Dreamgirls. She won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance in 2017 for her work.

Riley won season 17 of Dancing with the Stars in 2013. In 2017, Riley appeared as a judge on BBC One musical theatre talent show Let It Shine and formed a musical theatre supergroup with Beverley Knight and Cassidy Janson, known collectively as Leading Ladies and signed to East West Records/Warner. Her debut album, Songs from the Stage, was released on November 17, 2017.

In 2022, Riley won season 8 of The Masked Singer.

Amber Riley Photos

Amber Riley STAGE CREDITS

[Regional (US)]
2019 Pasadena Playhouse Production, 2019
Audrey II

[West End]
West End Premiere Production, 2016
Effie White

[New York]
NBC Live Television Production, 2015
Addaperle


Amber Riley Movies

[2002]St. Sass Toby

[2009]Glee: Director's Cut Pilot Episode Mercedes Jones

[2015]One Christmas Wish Jackie Turner

[2015]The Wiz Live! Addapearle

[2016]Straight Outta Oz Brenda

[2018]Nobody's Fool Kalli

[2019]The Little Mermaid Live! Daughters of Triton Emcee

[2020]Infamous Elle

[2021]Christmas Déjà Vu

[2022]Single Black Female Simone

[2022]Step Into... The Movies


Amber Riley TV Shows

The Simpsons Amber Riley

Chelsea Lately Mercedes Jones

[ 2009-2015]Glee Mercedes Jones

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Dream Ghost #2

[ 2019-2021]A Black Lady Sketch Show Lori, Fantasia, Britnaye

Amber Riley Awards and Nominations

Amber Riley Videos

Amber Riley News


Photos: Katy Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kylie Minogue & More Attend Billboard Event

Hosted by Award-winning actor and producer Tracee Ellis Ross at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park, the star-studded evening featured electric performances and inspiring speeches from some of the top women dominating the music industry, including Charli XCX, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Tinashe, and more. Check out the photos!

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld March 7, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 7, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Loretta Devine, Amber Riley & More to Star in THE PREACHER'S WIFE World Premiere

The Alliance Theatre has revealed the cast and creative team of its world premiere musical, THE PREACHER’S WIFE. See who is starring and on the creative team along with ticketing information and more.

MESSY WHITE GAYS Will Hold Four Public Readings In April

The Fabulous Invalid has announced that Messy White Gays, a new play written by Drew Droege, will have a four performance public reading at the SoHo Playhouse.

Interview: ''It's Been a Blast': TV Competition Winners Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley on Joining MAMMA MIA! in the West End

BroadwayWorld recently attended a rehearsal of Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre in the West End. The cast and crew are preparing for Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley, the winners of the Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream televised competition, to join the show as Sophie and Sky.

MAMMA MIA! I HAVE A DREAM Winners Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley Join the Musical This Month

Ahead of its 25th anniversary on 6 April 2024, Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley, the winners of ITV’s MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream, will join the production of the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! in the respective roles of Sophie and Sky at London’s Novello Theatre from Monday 29 January 2024. 

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld December 19th, 2023

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is December 19, 2023 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Photos/Video: First Look at DICK VAN DYKE 98 YEARS OF MAGIC Special on CBS With Amber Riley, Jason Alexander & More

CBS' DICK VAN DYKE 98 YEARS OF MAGIC will include Jason Alexander performing “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite”; Zachary Levi will perform “Jolly Holliday”; Skylar Astin and Amanda Kloots will perform “Put on a Happy Face”; Amber Riley will sing “Chim Chim Cheree”; and more. Watch videos and check out photos now!

Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley Win MAMMA MIA! I HAVE A DREAM

After eight weeks of singing, dancing, and acting their way to a place in the final, Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley have tonight been crowned the winners of MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream, securing them a money can't buy prize – the lead roles of Sophie and Sky in the West End production of MAMMA MIA!

Video: Watch a Sneak Peek From the Final of MAMMA MIA! I HAVE A DREAM!

Ahead of the live final on Sunday 10 December, a sneak peek of a pre-recorded performance MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream, has been released. The video includes the four finalists, Esme, Stevie, Tobias and Owen, singing a medley of MAMMA MIA! hits.

Listen: Hear GLEE Stars Reunite to Honor Naya Rivera With Unreleased Single

The stars of Glee reunited to honor Naya Rivera with a previously unreleased single this year. “Prayer for the Broken,” which was initially recorded by Rivera in 2012, will now include background vocals from Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Amber Riley, Heather Morris, Vanessa Lengies and Ashley Fink.

Amber Riley Joins Gay Men's Chorus Of South Florida For 'Celebrate The Holidays' Concert

Award-winning actress and singer Amber Riley (Glee) will join the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF) for its “Celebrate the Holidays'' concert at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

Shoshana Bean Returning to The Apollo Theater for Annual Holiday Concert

The Broadway star will take the audience on a soul-filled musical joyride with her powerful vocals, magnetic stage presence and impeccable interpretations of holiday classics. Shoshana will be joined by her Arranger/Music Director David Cook, an extraordinary band and some very special guest stars who will be announced in the coming weeks.

Photos: First Look at Episode 1 of MAMMA MIA! I HAVE A DREAM

Check out all-new photos of the first episode of ITV's new musical theatre talent show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream!

ITV's MAMMA MIA! I HAVE A DREAM Reveals Contestants

ITV's Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream has revealed its contestants.

Video: Teaser Released For ITV's MAMMA MIA! I HAVE A DREAM, Hosted by Zoe Ball

The first teaser has been released for ITV1 and ITVX's highly anticipated theatrical competition, MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream. See first look video!

Amber Riley & Taye Diggs Join ARIEL Animated Series Inspired By THE LITTLE MERMAID

Broadway, film and television stars Taye Diggs (“Rent”) and Amber Riley (“Glee”) will voice King Triton and Ursula in “Disney Junior’s Ariel,” an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of “The Little Mermaid.” Mykal-Michelle Harris (“Raven’s Home”) has been cast in the lead role of Ariel.

Amber Riley and Samantha Barks to Judge ITV's MAMMA MIA! I HAVE A DREAM, Hosted by Zoe Ball

Radio and TV stalwart Zoe Ball will serve as the host of ITV1 and ITVX's highly anticipated theatrical competition, MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream.   

Harlem Stage Announces 2023 WaterWorks Emerging Artists Cohort

Harlem Stage has announced the 2023 cohort for its WaterWorks Emerging Artists program.

VIDEO: Lea Michele & Julie Benko Featured on THE SIMPSONS

Funny Girl stars Lea Michele and Julie Benko's names were featured on a recent episode of The Simpsons. During the episode, several cars pulled up to a crime scene, two of which read 'Fanny Brice Imitations.' One of the cars was labeled as Lea Michele and the other was labeled as Julie Benko. Watch a video clip from the episode now!

Amber Riley FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Amber Riley has not appeared on Broadway.

Amber Riley has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.

Amber Riley's first West End show was Dreamgirls which opened in 2016

Amber Riley has been nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at the Olivier Awards for her role in Dreamgirls.

Amber Riley won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Dreamgirls.

Get Amber Riley Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos