Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams
Biography
An American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, and actress. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal involving nude photographs caused her to relinquish her title early. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations. Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, which spawned the hits "The Right Stuff," a #1 on Hot Dance Songs, and "Dreamin'," a #1 on R&B and #8 on Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, The Comfort Zone, in 1991 topped the Billboard R&B Album Chart, and spawned the number-one hit, "Save the Best for Last." In 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song, "Colors of the Wind," from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas. It went on to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Williams's first major movie role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996. She also starred in the movies Soul Food, Dance with Me, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Shaft and Johnson Family Vacation. From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of self-absorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty. In 2009, Williams released her eighth studio album, The Real Thing. In 2010 she joined the ensemble cast of the series Desperate Housewives as spoiled rich woman Renee Perry.
Known For
Actor
as Patricia Chamberlain
as Narrator (voice)
as Dr. Perdue (voice)
as Self - Guest
as Dr. Eleanor Berger
as Zora
as Self - Judge
as Nance Trace
as Self - Contestant
as Jackie Chisolm
as Self - Host
as Self - Special Guest / Vanqueisha De House
as Captain Beakman (voice)
as Self
as Self - Special Guest
as Sally Rae
as Amanda Waller (voice)
as Self - Guest
as Delilah
as Captain Beakman (voice)
as Self
as Fire Goddess (voice)
as Amanda Waller (voice)
as Carolyn
as Self
as Maxine Robinson
as Beverly
as Self
as Self - Panelist
as Julie LaVerne
as Jessie Mae Watts
as Cynthia Rockwell
as Elizabeth Carlton
as Vanessa Williams
as Self - Guest Judge
as Olivia Doran
as Dr. Phillips
as Self - Guest
as Rochelle Richardson
as Self
as Vita
as Rhonda
as Courtney Paige
as Self - Guest
as Self - Special Guest
as Self - Judge
as Self - Judge (archive footage)
as Julie
as Mama Mirabelle (voice)
as Self
as L'Tisha Morton
as Willhelmina Slater
as Elizabeth Bauer
as Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)
as Self
as Dorothy Johnson
as Renee Perry
as Self - Guest
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Hazel Scott
as Self - Host
as Detective Katherine Pierce
as Alicia (voice)
as M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
as Self
as Debra (voice)
as Ebony Scrooge
as Self
as Carmen Vasquez
as Dulcinea / Aldonza
as Mother Henriette Delille
as Self
as Audrey McDonald
as Queen of Trash
as Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
as Ruby Sinclair
as Dr. Leanne Barrows
as Teri
as Francine Hughes
as Self
as Self - Guest
as Calypso
as Lee Cullen
as Self - Guest
as Rose Alvarez
as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
as Self
as Beauty (voice)
as Self (archive footage)
as Arandis
as Pauline
as Suzanne de Passe
as Lulu Daniels
as Gloria
as Lynette Parks
as Rachel - TV Executive
as Terri Knight
as Danny Mitchell
as Valentine Hayward
as Samantha Richards
as Narrator (voice)
as Self - Guest
as Rae, Girl with Dog
as Self
as Self - Musical Guest
as Valerie Grant
as Self - Performer
as Self
Producer
as Executive Producer