Leslie Uggams
Biography
Leslie Marian Uggams is an American actress and singer born on May 25, 1943, in Harlem, New York City, New York. She began her career as a child actor in the early 1950s. Uggams garnered acclaim for her role in the Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby!, winning a Theatre World Award in 1967 and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968. She is also recognized for portraying Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries Roots in 1977, earning Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her performance. Later in her career, she received renewed notice with appearances alongside Ryan Reynolds as Blind Al in the films Deadpool and Deadpool 2, and in a recurring role on the television series Empire.
Career overview
Leslie Marian Uggams is an American actress and singer born on May 25, 1943, in Harlem, New York City, New York. She began her career as a child in the early 1950s. Over the course of her extensive career, she has established herself across both stage and screen.
Uggams earned high acclaim for her role in the Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby!, winning a Theatre World Award in 1967 followed by the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968. She later received widespread recognition for portraying Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries Roots in 1977, earning both Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her performance.
Later in her career, Uggams received renewed notice with appearances alongside Ryan Reynolds as Blind Al in the films Deadpool in 2016 and Deadpool 2 in 2018. She also took on a recurring role in the television series Empire.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
83 titles- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) as Blind Al
- Fallout (2024) as Betty Pearson
- Extrapolations (2023) as Isabel Zucker
- American Fiction (2023) as Agnes Ellison
- My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023) as Grandma (voice)
- Dotty and Soul (2023) as Dotty
- The Gilded Age (2022) as Ernestine Brown
- Nanny (2022) as Kathleen
- The Ravine (2022) as Joanna
- The Bite (2021) as Dr. Hester Boutella
- Show of Titles (2021) as "Hallelujah, Baby!" Performer
- Stars in the House (2020) as Madame Arcati
- Blithe Spirit (2020) as Madame Arcati
- The Apollo (2019) as Self
- New Amsterdam (2018) as Mamma Reynolds
- Deadpool 2 (2018) as Blind Al
- Once Upon a Deadpool (2018) as Blind Al
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017) as Sadie
- Deadpool (2016) as Blind Al
- Empire (2015) as Leah Walker
- Just the Three of Us (2014)
- The Good Wife (2009) as Suzanne Packer
- Nurse Jackie (2009) as Vivian
- Toe to Toe (2009) as Grandma
- Words and Music by Jerry Herman (2007) as Self
- Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) as Self
- Remembering Roots (2002) as Self
- Family Guy (1999) as Leslie Uggams (voice)
- The Early Show (1999) as Self
- Live from Broadway: Hello, Dolly! (1995)
- Sugar Hill (1994) as Doris Holly
- Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl (1994) as Self
- The Ice Capades with Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano (1989)
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988) as Self
- A Different World (1987) as Dr. Eileen Redding
- Christmas at Radio City Music Hall (1986) as Self - Special Guest
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- The Cosby Show (1984) as Kris Temple
- Reading Rainbow (1983) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Hotel (1982)
- Sizzle (1981) as Vonda
- Magnum, P.I. (1980) as Alexis Carter
- CBS News Sunday Morning (1979) as Self
- Backstairs at the White House (1979) as Lillian Rogers Parks
- A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978) as Self
- Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring (1978)
- The Love Boat (1977) as Marion Blake
- The Love Boat (1977) as Callie Reason
- Roots (1977) as Kizzy Reynolds
- Roots (1977) as Kizzy Reynolds Moore
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star
- Poor Pretty Eddie (1975) as Elizabeth 'Liz' Wetherly
- Easter Is (1974) as (voice)
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- The Bobby Darin Show (1973)
- Skyjacked (1972) as Lovejoy Wells
- Black Girl (1972) as Netta
- S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin (1972) as Self
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970) as Self
- Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970) as Saloon Singer
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) as Self (archive footage)
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969) as Self
- The Leslie Uggams Show (1969)
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- That's Life (1968)
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) as Natasha Brimstone
- The Dean Martin Show (1965)
- Hullabaloo (1965) as Self
- Hullabaloo (1965) as Self - Host
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self - Singer
- The Danny Kaye Show (1963) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) as Chanteuse
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Startime (1959) as Self
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter / Nominee / Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Leslie Uggams best known for?
Leslie Uggams is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), Fallout (2024), Extrapolations (2023), American Fiction (2023).
When and where was Leslie Uggams born?
Leslie Uggams was born on May 25, 1943 in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA.
How many credits does Leslie Uggams have?
Leslie Uggams has accumulated over 83 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2024.
What is Leslie Uggams's background in cinema and television?
Leslie Marian Uggams is an American actress and singer born on May 25, 1943, in Harlem, New York City, New York. She began her career as a child actor in the early 1950s. Uggams garnered acclaim for her role in the Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby!, winning a Theatre World Award in 1967 and the Tony Award for Best Act...