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Vanessa Williams

Birth Place: Bronx, NY, USA

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BIO

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 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).

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

The Devil Wears Prada The Devil Wears Prada
[West End]
2024
Miranda Priestly
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2022
Margaret
City of Angels City of Angels
[West End]
West End Revival, 2020
Carla/Alaura
Hey, Look Me Over! Hey, Look Me Over!
[Off-Broadway]
City Center Encores! Production, 2018
Performer
Sondheim on Sondheim Sondheim on Sondheim
[Los Angeles]
Hollywood Bowl Revival, 2017
After Midnight After Midnight
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2013
Special Guest Star [Replacement]
[Replacement]
The Trip to Bountiful The Trip to Bountiful
[Broadway]
2013
Performer
Sondheim on Sondheim Sondheim on Sondheim
[Broadway]
Roundabout Production, 2010
Into the Woods
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2002
Witch
Into the Woods
[Los Angeles]
Los Angeles Revival (Pre-Broadway), 2002
Kiss of the Spider Woman
[Broadway]
Broadway Production, 1993
Spider Woman/Aurora [Replacement]
Spider Woman / Aurora [Replacement]
Spider Woman/Aurora [Replacement]
Spider Woman / Aurora [Replacement]
Mule Bone
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1991
Bootsie
Daisy (Understudy)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
Sarafina!
[Broadway]
Broadway Transfer, 1988
Vanessa
Death and the King's Horseman
[Broadway]
1987
Ensemble

Productions

Movies

The Pick-up Artist
[ 1987 ] Rae
Under the Gun
[ 1988 ] Samantha Richards
Another You
[ 1991 ] Gloria
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
[ 1991 ] Lulu Daniels
Eraser
[ 1996 ] Lee
Hoodlum
[ 1997 ] Francine Hughes
Soul Food
[ 1997 ] Teri
Dance with Me
[ 1998 ] Ruby Sinclair
Light It Up
[ 1999 ] Audrey McDonald
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
[ 1999 ] Queen of Trash
Shaft
[ 2000 ] Carmen Vasquez
Johnson Family Vacation
[ 2004 ] Dorothy Johnson
My Brother
[ 2006 ] L'Tisha Morton
And Then Came Love
[ 2007 ] Julie
Hannah Montana: The Movie
[ 2009 ] Vita
Delhi Safari
[ 2012 ] Begum
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor
[ 2013 ] Janice
He's Way More Famous Than You
[ 2013 ] Vanessa Williams
When Marnie Was There
[ 2014 ] Hisako
The Man from Earth: Holocene
[ 2017 ] Carolyn
The Legend of Hallowaiian
[ 2018 ] Fire Goddess
Miss Virginia
[ 2019 ] Sally Rae
Bad Hair
[ 2020 ] Zora

TV Shows

Partners in Crime
Roselle Robins
The Redd Foxx Show
Jessica
T.J. Hooker
Officer Pat Williamson
The Love Boat
Pearl
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
Valentine Hayward
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Lynette Parks
Seriously... Phil Collins
Rachel, TV Executive
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer
Terri Knight
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Danny Mitchell
Stompin' at the Savoy
Pauline
The Jacksons: An American Dream
Suzanne de Passe
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Beauty
Nothing Lasts Forever
Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
Bye Bye Birdie
Rose Alvarez
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Arandis
The Odyssey
Calypso
Futuresport
Alex Torres
L.A. Doctors
Dr. Leanne Barrows
Don Quixote
Dulcinea, Aldonza
A Diva's Christmas Carol
Ebony Scrooge
The Courage to Love
Mother Henriette Delille
Santa, Baby!
Alicia voice
WW 3
M.J. Blake
The Proud Family
Debra
Keep the Faith, Baby
Hazel Scott
Ally McBeal
Sheila Hunt
Boomtown
Detective Katherine Pierce
South Beach
Elizabeth Bauer
The Beautiful World of Ugly Betty
Wilhelmina Slater
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies
[ 2007-2008 ] Mama Mirabelle
Ugly Betty
[ 2006-2010 ] Wilhelmina Slater
Desperate Housewives
[ 2010-2012 ] Renee Perry
666 Park Avenue
[ 2012-2013 ] Olivia Doran
The Trip to Bountiful
Jessie Mae Watts
The Good Wife
Courtney Paige
The Mindy Project
Dr. Phillips
Royal Pains
Olympia Houston
Fantasy Life
Terry
Broad City
Elizabeth Carlton
The Librarians
[ 2016-2017 ] General Cynthia Rockwell
Daytime Divas
Maxine Robinson
Modern Family
Rhonda
Difficult People
Trish
Me, Myself and I
Kelly Frasier
False Profits
Suzanne
Doc McStuffins
Delilah
First Wives Club
Nancy
Happy Accident
Sherri
Twenties
[ 2020-2021 ] Angela
Girls5eva
Nance Trace
Kenan
Tasha

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2013 - Distinguished Performance Award

Vanessa Williams, The Trip to Bountiful

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2013 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Vanessa Williams, The Trip to Bountiful

Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Vanessa Williams, Into the Woods

Videos

More Videos

News


Photos: Michael Urie Visits Vanessa Williams at 54 Below Photo
Photos: Michael Urie Visits Vanessa Williams at 54 Below
by Bruce Glikas - Feb 26, 2026

Michael Urie recently paid a visit to Vanessa Williams during her performance at 54 Below earlier this month. Check out photos of the pair and learn more here!
Video: Hamish Linklater Guest Stars as Biohacker in New ELSBETH Sneak Peek Clip Photo
Video: Hamish Linklater Guest Stars as Biohacker in New ELSBETH Sneak Peek Clip
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 25, 2026

Hamish Linklater guest stars as a wealthy biohacker in the new episode of Elsbeth, debuting on Thursday. In a sneak peek clip from the episode, the Broadway alum receives a visit from Elsbeth, who has a few questions following the untimely death of his friend. Check it out now.
Ariana DeBose and Solea Pfeiffer to Honor Vanessa Williams at Signature Theatre Gala Photo
Ariana DeBose and Solea Pfeiffer to Honor Vanessa Williams at Signature Theatre Gala
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 24, 2026

Virginia’s Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor star of stage and screen Vanessa Williams with the company’s fifteenth Stephen Sondheim Award.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld February 20, 2026- CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Heads Into Rehe Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld February 20, 2026- CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Heads Into Rehearsal and More
by - Feb 20, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is February 20, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Olly Alexander and Iz Hesketh Join Cast for UK Reading of RIGHT BEFORE I GO Photo
Olly Alexander and Iz Hesketh Join Cast for UK Reading of RIGHT BEFORE I GO
by Stephi Wild - Feb 19, 2026

Olly Alexander and Iz Hesketh will join Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry in a UK reading of Stan Zimmerman's suicide awareness play, RIGHT BEFORE I GO, at London's Soho Theatre.
Constance Wu and Anna Camp Join ELSBETH Season 3 as Guest Stars Photo
Constance Wu and Anna Camp Join ELSBETH Season 3 as Guest Stars
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 18, 2026

Constance Wu and Anna Camp are the latest Broadway alums to join as guest stars for the ongoing third season of the CBS series, Elsbeth. This season will also feature Broadway alums Beanie Feldstein, Joanna Gleason, Mark Linn-Baker, Didi Conn, and more as guest stars.
SIGNS OF LIFE Concept Album Featuring Shoshana Bean, Jenn Colella and More to be Rele Photo
SIGNS OF LIFE Concept Album Featuring Shoshana Bean, Jenn Colella and More to be Released
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 17, 2026

The concept album for the new musical in development, Signs of Life, will be released on all streaming platforms. The album will feature Shoshana Bean, Jenn Colella and more.
Review: VANESSA WILLIAMS Brings Superstar Energy To 54 Below Photo
Review: VANESSA WILLIAMS Brings Superstar Energy To 54 Below
by Stephen Mosher - Feb 17, 2026

It's nights like this that keep 54 Below an essential part of New York nightlife.
Vanessa Williams and More to Perform at 54 Below Next Week Photo
Vanessa Williams and More to Perform at 54 Below Next Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 13, 2026

Next week, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Vanessa Williams, Sondheim Unplugged, and more. 
SIGNS OF LIFE Will Host One-Night-Only Concert Event This Month Photo
SIGNS OF LIFE Will Host One-Night-Only Concert Event This Month
by Stephi Wild - Feb 10, 2026

SIGNS OF LIFE will present a special one-night-only concert event, offering a unique musical experience. Scheduled for February 23, the event promises an evening of compelling performances.
Ben Platt Will Lead UK Premiere of MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET, Directed by David Crome Photo
Ben Platt Will Lead UK Premiere of MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET, Directed by David Cromer
by Nicole Rosky - Feb 9, 2026

Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award winner Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen, Parade), will make his Menier stage debut in Midnight at The Never Get with book music and lyrics by Golden Globe® and Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Mark Sonnenblick (“Golden”, KPop Demon Hunters).
Black Theatre United Announces BTU Collective & New Board Members Photo
Black Theatre United Announces BTU Collective & New Board Members
by Nicole Rosky - Feb 6, 2026

Black Theatre United (BTU) just announced the BTU Collective, a new wave of leadership within the organization. The BTU Collective is a dynamic collective of leaders, artists, and advocates committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the theater industry.
Vanessa Williams Joins U.K. Industry Reading Of Stan Zimmerman's RIGHT BEFORE I GO Photo
Vanessa Williams Joins U.K. Industry Reading Of Stan Zimmerman's RIGHT BEFORE I GO
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 4, 2026

Tony Award-nominee Vanessa Williams will take part in a U.K. industry reading of Right Before I Go, a suicide awareness play written by Stan Zimmerman, on March 2 at Soho Theatre.
Joanna Gleason, Mark Linn-Baker, & Didi Conn Join ELSBETH Season 3 as Guest Stars Photo
Joanna Gleason, Mark Linn-Baker, & Didi Conn Join ELSBETH Season 3 as Guest Stars
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 2, 2026

Stage and screen veterans Joanna Gleason, Mark Linn-Baker, and Didi Conn are all set to appear in Episode 16 of the ongoing third season of the CBS series Elsbeth.
Signature Theatre to Honor Vanessa Williams with 2026 Stephen Sondheim Award Photo
Signature Theatre to Honor Vanessa Williams with 2026 Stephen Sondheim Award
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 2, 2026

Signature Theatre will honor star of stage and screen Vanessa Williams with the company’s fifteenth Stephen Sondheim Award. The Stephen Sondheim Award will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit.
Video: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, & More in New Trailer for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 Photo
Video: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, & More in New Trailer for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 2, 2026

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci return in the official trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2, opening in theaters on May 1, 2026. Check it out now.
Best Cabaret in February 2026: Patti LuPone, Isaac Mizrahi, Tony Danza & More Photo
Best Cabaret in February 2026: Patti LuPone, Isaac Mizrahi, Tony Danza & More
by Rebecca Kaplan - Feb 1, 2026

See some of the biggest names performing at cabaret venues this month, at a range of budget points including Dianna Agron, Jeff Harnar, Melissa Errico and more.
Vanessa Williams, Tony Danza and More to Perform at 54 Below in February Photo
Vanessa Williams, Tony Danza and More to Perform at 54 Below in February
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2026

Next month, 54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Vanessa Williams, Tony Danza and more. 
John Tartaglia, Karla Puno Garcia and More Set for The Muny Season 108 Productions Photo
John Tartaglia, Karla Puno Garcia and More Set for The Muny Season 108 Productions
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2026

The Muny has selected the seven teams of directors, choreographers, music directors and lead designers whose creative visions will shape the Tony Award-winning theatre’s 2026 season in Forest Park.
Beanie Feldstein Joins ELSBETH Season 3 as Guest Star Photo
Beanie Feldstein Joins ELSBETH Season 3 as Guest Star
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 29, 2026

Beanie Feldstein is the latest Broadway star set to appear on the CBS series Elsbeth. Currently on a mid-winter break, she will be featured as a guest star in a future Season 4 episode of the fan-favorite series.
More News

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Vanessa Williams been in?

Vanessa Williams has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.

How many West End shows has Vanessa Williams been in?

Vanessa Williams has appeared on London's West End in 2 shows.

What was Vanessa Williams's first West End show?

Vanessa Williams's first West End show was City of Angels which opened in 2020

What awards has Vanessa Williams been nominated for?

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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