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)
- Tripped Up as Patricia Chamberlain
- Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space as Narrator (voice)
- Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best as Self
2022
- The Jennifer Hudson Show
- Sherri as Self - Guest
- Los lunes a las 9 as Self (Archive Footage)
2021
- Name That Tune as Self - Contestant
- Girls5eva as Nance Trace
- Blankety Blank as Self - Panellist
- 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
- Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side
- There She Is
2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- The Tamron Hall Show 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
- Daytime Divas as Maxine Robinson
- The Man from Earth: Holocene as Carolyn
- Not Black Enough as Self
2016
- The $100,000 Pyramid as Self
- Match Game as Self - Panelist
- The Secret She Kept as Beverly
- VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night as Self
2015
- Difficult People as Trish
- Show Boat as Julie LaVerne
2014
- Broad City as Elizabeth Carlton
- The Librarians as Cynthia Rockwell
- 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
- Doc McStuffins as Delilah the Nesting Doll (voice)
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars as Self - Guest Judge
- 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
- The Talk as Self
- Who Do You Think You Are? as Self
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- RuPaul's Drag Race as Self - Special Guest
- Modern Family as Rhonda
- The Good Wife as Courtney Paige
- Hannah Montana: The Movie as Vita
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)
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade as Self
- Gift for the Living as Narrator
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
- The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest as Self
- Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? as Self (archive footage)
- Christmas in Washington
2003
2002
- Boomtown as Detective Katherine Pierce
- It's Black Entertainment as Self - Host
- Keep the Faith, Baby as Hazel Scott
- Miss America as Self (archival footage)
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
- The Courage to Love as Mother Henriette Delille
- A Diva's Christmas Carol as Ebony Scrooge
- Don Quixote as Dulcinea / Aldonza
- Shaft: Still the Man as Self
- Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends as Herself
- Afrocentricity as Self
1999
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland as Queen of Trash
- Light It Up as Audrey McDonald
- Futuresport as Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
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
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self - Guest
- Eraser as Lee
1995
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as Beauty (voice)
- MADtv as Self
- Nothing Lasts Forever as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
- Bye Bye Birdie as Rose Alvarez
- Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II as Self
- Nothing Lasts Forever as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
1994
1993
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Arandis
- Intimate Portrait as Self (archive footage)
- David Foster's Christmas Album as Self
1992
- The Jacksons: An American Dream as Suzanne de Passe
- Stompin' at the Savoy as Pauline
- The Jaleel White Special as Self
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
- The Kid Who Loved Christmas as Lynette Parks
- Seriously... Phil Collins as Rachel - TV Executive
1989
- Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal as Valentine Hayward
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
- American Experience as Narrator (voice)
- 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