Vanessa Williams
Known for acting · Born 18 March 1963 · 63 · Tarrytown, New York, USA
155 credits
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.
Known for
Desperate Housewives
2004
Ugly Betty
2006
Eraser
1996
Shaft
2000
T.O.T.S.
2019
The Man from Earth: Holocene
2017
Hoodlum
1997
Dance with Me
1998
Johnson Family Vacation
2004
666 Park Avenue
2012
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
1991
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
1999
Acting (154)
2026The Claudia Winkleman ShowSelfSeries
2024ElsbethRoslyn BridwellSeries
2024Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia FieldSelfFilm
2024The Little Pageant That CouldSelf (archive footage)Film
2023VelmaDr. Perdue (voice) · 6 episodesSeries
2023Tripped UpPatricia ChamberlainFilm
2023Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a SpaceNarrator (voice)Film
2023Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's BestSelfFilm
2022The Jennifer Hudson ShowSeries
2022SherriSelf - GuestSeries
2022Los lunes a las 9Self (Archive Footage)Film
2021Bad HairZoraFilm
2021Girls5evaNance Trace · 3 episodesSeries
2021Queen of the UniverseSelf - Judge · 14 episodesSeries
2021Name That TuneSelf - ContestantSeries
2021Blankety BlankSelf - PanellistSeries
2021Show of Titles"Dear World" PerformerFilm
2020Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag RaceVanquisha Da House - ContestantSeries
2020Calling All T.O.T.S.Captain Beakman (voice) · 10 episodesSeries
2020SingleholicJackie ChisolmFilm
2020Vanessa Williams: Live From the West SideFilm
2020There She IsFilm
2020Stars in the HouseSelf, Self - Special GuestSeries
2020Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa WilliamsSelf - HostSeries
2019Batman: HushAmanda Waller (voice)Film
2019The Kelly Clarkson ShowSelfSeries
2019A Black Lady Sketch ShowDelilahSeries
2019The Tamron Hall ShowSelf - GuestSeries
2019T.O.T.S.Captain Beakman (voice) · 150 episodesSeries
2019First Wives ClubNancySeries
2019Miss VirginiaSally RaeFilm
2019American StyleSelf · 4 episodesSeries
2018Suicide Squad: Hell to PayAmanda Waller (voice)Film
2018The Legend of HallowaiianFire Goddess (voice)Film
2018Celebrity CatchphraseSelf - ContestantSeries
2017The Man from Earth: HoloceneCarolynFilm
2017Not Black EnoughSelfFilm
2017Daytime DivasMaxine Robinson · 10 episodesSeries
2016Match GameSelf - PanelistSeries
2016The $100,000 PyramidSelfSeries
2016The Secret She KeptBeverlyFilm
2016VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent NightSelfFilm
2015Difficult PeopleTrishSeries
2015Show BoatJulie LaVerneFilm
2014The LibrariansCynthia Rockwell · 4 episodesSeries
2014Broad CityElizabeth CarltonSeries
2014The Trip to BountifulJessie Mae WattsFilm
2013Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage CounselorJaniceFilm
2013He's Way More Famous Than YouVanessa WilliamsFilm
2012The Mindy ProjectDr. PhillipsSeries
2012666 Park AvenueOlivia Doran · 13 episodesSeries
2012RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsSelf - Guest JudgeSeries
2012Doc McStuffinsDelilah the Nesting Doll (voice)Series
2012BethennySelf - GuestSeries
2011The Jonathan Ross ShowSelf - GuestSeries
2011A Mother's LoveRochelle RichardsonFilm
2010Who Do You Think You Are?SelfSeries
2010The TalkSelfSeries
2009Modern FamilyRhondaSeries
2009Hannah Montana: The MovieVitaFilm
2009The Good WifeCourtney Paige · 4 episodesSeries
2009RuPaul's Drag RaceSelf - Special Guest, Self - Guest Judge, Self - Judge (archive footage)Series
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest · 4 episodesSeries
2008The Wendy Williams ShowSeries
2008Walt Disney World Christmas Day ParadeSelfFilm
2007The Graham Norton ShowSelfSeries
2007And Then Came LoveJulieFilm
2007Mama Mirabelle's Home MoviesMama Mirabelle (voice) · 26 episodesSeries
2007Shear GeniusSeries
2006Ugly BettyWilhelmina Slater · 85 episodesSeries
2006South BeachElizabeth Bauer · 8 episodesSeries
2006My BrotherL'Tisha MortonFilm
2006Rehearsing a DreamSelfFilm
2005The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonSelfSeries
2005The Reichen ShowSelfSeries
2005Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony AwardsWitch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)Film
2005Gift for the LivingNarratorFilm
2005Walt Disney World Christmas Day ParadeSelfFilm
2004Desperate HousewivesRenee Perry · 44 episodesSeries
2004Johnson Family VacationDorothy JohnsonFilm
2004On Air with Ryan SeacrestSelfSeries
2004The Tony Danza ShowSelf - Guest · 5 episodesSeries
2004Christmas in WashingtonFilm
2004The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas StarfestSelfFilm
2004Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?Self (archive footage)Film
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!SelfSeries
2003The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf · 3 episodesSeries
2003The BacheloretteSelfSeries
2003Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave NarrativesFilm
2002BoomtownDetective Katherine Pierce · 6 episodesSeries
2002Keep the Faith, BabyHazel ScottFilm
2002It's Black EntertainmentSelf - HostFilm
2002Miss AmericaSelf (archival footage)Film
2001The Proud FamilyDebra (voice)Series
2001WW3M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)Film
2001Good Day LiveSelfSeries
2001Santa, Baby!Alicia (voice)Film
2000ShaftCarmen VasquezFilm
2000Don QuixoteDulcinea / AldonzaFilm
2000A Diva's Christmas CarolEbony ScroogeFilm
2000The Courage to LoveMother Henriette DelilleFilm
2000Shaft: Still the ManSelfFilm
2000AfrocentricitySelfFilm
2000Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special FriendsHerselfFilm
1999The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandQueen of TrashFilm
1999FuturesportAlexandra 'Alex' TorresFilm
1999Light It UpAudrey McDonaldFilm
1998Dance with MeRuby SinclairFilm
1998L.A. DoctorsLeanne Barrows · 3 episodesSeries
1998VH1 DivasSeries
1998Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of LiberiaSelfFilm
1997The OdysseyCalypso · 2 episodesSeries
1997Ally McBealSheila HuntSeries
1997HoodlumFrancine HughesFilm
1997The ViewSelf · 6 episodes, Self - GuestSeries
1997Soul FoodTeriFilm
1996EraserLeeFilm
1996The Rosie O'Donnell ShowSelf - GuestSeries
1996Jungle CubsSeries
1995MADtvSelfSeries
1995Bye Bye BirdieRose AlvarezFilm
1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildBeauty (voice)Series
1995Nothing Lasts ForeverDr. Kathy 'Kat' HunterFilm
1995Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein IISelfFilm
1995Nothing Lasts ForeverDr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter · 2 episodesSeries
1994Score with ChicksFilm
1993Star Trek: Deep Space NineArandisSeries
1993Intimate PortraitSelf (archive footage)Series
1993David Foster's Christmas AlbumSelfFilm
1992The Jacksons: An American DreamSuzanne de Passe · 2 episodesSeries
1992Stompin' at the SavoyPaulineFilm
1992The Jaleel White SpecialSelfFilm
1991Harley Davidson and the Marlboro ManLulu DanielsFilm
1991Another YouGloriaFilm
1990The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirDanny MitchellSeries
1990Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced SingerTerri KnightFilm
1990The Kid Who Loved ChristmasLynette ParksFilm
1990Seriously... Phil CollinsRachel - TV ExecutiveFilm
1989Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes ScandalValentine HaywardFilm
1988LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf - Guest · 4 episodesSeries
1988American ExperienceNarrator (voice)Series
1988Under the GunSamantha RichardsFilm
1987The Pick-up ArtistRae, Girl with DogFilm
1985Motown Returns to the ApolloFilm
1984Partners in CrimeSeries
1982T. J. HookerOfficer Pat WilliamsonSeries
1980A Capitol FourthSelf · 46 episodesSeries
1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - Musical Guest · 2 episodesSeries
1965Days of Our LivesValerie Grant · 3 episodesSeries
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelfSeries
1956Tony AwardsSelf - PerformerSeries
1954Miss AmericaMiss New York 1983Series
1953The OscarsSelfSeries
—Women Like UsFilm
Production (1)
2000The Courage to LoveExecutive ProducerFilm