Vanessa Williams
Born: 1963-03-18 in Tarrytown, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American singer, actress, producer, dancer, and model. She was the first Black woman to win Miss America in 1984, but resigned after nude photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine. Williams has since had a successful career in music and acting, selling millions of albums and earning critical acclaim.
Filmography
2026
- The Claudia Winkleman Show as Self
2024
- Elsbeth as Roslyn Bridwell
- The Little Pageant That Could as Self (archive footage)
- Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field as Self
2023
- Velma as Dr. Perdue (voice)
- Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best as Self
- Tripped Up as Patricia Chamberlain
- Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space as Narrator (voice)
2022
- The Jennifer Hudson Show
- Sherri as Self - Guest
- Los lunes a las 9 as Self (Archive Footage)
2021
- Girls5eva as Nance Trace
- Name That Tune as Self - Contestant
- Queen of the Universe as Self - Judge
- Bad Hair as Zora
- Show of Titles as "Dear World" Performer
2020
- Stars in the House as Self
- Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race as Vanquisha Da House - Contestant
- Calling All T.O.T.S. as Captain Beakman (voice)
- Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams as Self - Host
- Singleholic as Jackie Chisolm
- There She Is
- Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side
2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
- A Black Lady Sketch Show as Delilah
- T.O.T.S. as Captain Beakman (voice)
- First Wives Club as Nancy
- Batman: Hush as Amanda Waller (voice)
- American Style as Self
- Miss Virginia as Sally Rae
2018
- Celebrity Catchphrase as Self - Contestant
- Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay as Amanda Waller (voice)
- The Legend of Hallowaiian as Fire Goddess (voice)
2017
- The Man from Earth: Holocene as Carolyn
- Daytime Divas as Maxine Robinson
- Not Black Enough as Self
2016
- Match Game as Self - Panelist
- The $100,000 Pyramid as Self
- VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night as Self
- The Secret She Kept as Beverly
2015
- Difficult People as Trish
- Show Boat as Julie LaVerne
2014
- The Librarians as Cynthia Rockwell
- Broad City as Elizabeth Carlton
- The Trip to Bountiful as Jessie Mae Watts
2013
- Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor as Janice
- He's Way More Famous Than You as Vanessa Williams
2012
- The Mindy Project as Dr. Phillips
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars as Self - Guest Judge
- Doc McStuffins as Delilah the Nesting Doll (voice)
- 666 Park Avenue as Olivia Doran
- Bethenny as Self - Guest
2011
- The Jonathan Ross Show as Self - Guest
- A Mother's Love as Rochelle Richardson
2010
- Who Do You Think You Are? as Self
2009
- Modern Family as Rhonda
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- The Good Wife as Courtney Paige
- RuPaul's Drag Race as Self - Special Guest
- Hannah Montana: The Movie as Vita
- Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies as Mama Mirabelle (voice)
- Shear Genius
- And Then Came Love as Julie
2006
- Ugly Betty as Wilhelmina Slater
- South Beach as Elizabeth Bauer
- My Brother as L'Tisha Morton
- Rehearsing a Dream as Self
2005
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- The Reichen Show as Self
- Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards as Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)
- Gift for the Living as Narrator
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade as Self
2004
- Desperate Housewives as Renee Perry
- The Tony Danza Show as Self - Guest
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest as Self
- Johnson Family Vacation as Dorothy Johnson
- Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? as Self (archive footage)
- Christmas in Washington
- The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest as Self
2003
2002
- Boomtown as Detective Katherine Pierce
- It's Black Entertainment as Self - Host
- Keep the Faith, Baby as Hazel Scott
2001
- Good Day Live as Self
- The Proud Family as Debra (voice)
- WW3 as M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
- Santa, Baby! as Alicia (voice)
2000
- Shaft as Carmen Vasquez
- Don Quixote as Dulcinea / Aldonza
- A Diva's Christmas Carol as Ebony Scrooge
- The Courage to Love as Mother Henriette Delille
- Shaft: Still the Man as Self
- Afrocentricity as Self
- Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends as Herself
1999
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland as Queen of Trash
- Futuresport as Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
- Light It Up as Audrey McDonald
1998
- L.A. Doctors as Leanne Barrows
- Dance with Me as Ruby Sinclair
- VH1 Divas
- Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia as Self
1997
- The View as Self
- Ally McBeal as Sheila Hunt
- The Odyssey as Calypso
- Hoodlum as Francine Hughes
- Soul Food as Teri
1996
- Jungle Cubs
- Eraser as Lee Cullen
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self - Guest
1995
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as Beauty (voice)
- MADtv as Self
- Nothing Lasts Forever as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
- Nothing Lasts Forever as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
- Bye Bye Birdie as Rose Alvarez
- Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II as Self
1994
1993
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Arandis
- Intimate Portrait as Self (archive footage)
1992
- The Jacksons: An American Dream as Suzanne de Passe
- Stompin' at the Savoy as Pauline
1991
- Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man as Lulu Daniels
- Another You as Gloria
1990
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Danny Mitchell
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer as Terri Knight
- Seriously... Phil Collins as Rachel - TV Executive
- The Kid Who Loved Christmas as Lynette Parks
1989
- Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal as Valentine Hayward
1988
- American Experience as Narrator (voice)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
- Under the Gun as Samantha Richards
1987
- The Pick-up Artist as Rae, Girl with Dog
1984
1982
- T. J. Hooker as Officer Pat Williamson
1980
- A Capitol Fourth as Self
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
1965
- Days of Our Lives as Valerie Grant
1962
1956
- Tony Awards as Self - Performer
1954
- Miss America as Miss New York 1983
1953
- The Oscars as Self