Vanessa Williams
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, New York, USA
- Active Years
- 1953–2026 (74 Years)
- Total Credits
- 158 credits in database
Acting Born Mar 18, 1963 Tarrytown, New York, USA 158 credits
Biography
Vanessa Williams is an American actress. She was born on March 18, 1963, in Tarrytown, New York, USA. Williams is known for her acting career, which spans numerous credits. She is the first Black woman to have won a major title in the Miss America pageant, specifically in 1984. However, she resigned from the title after nude photos of her were published. Williams has since had a successful acting career, with over 153 known credits.
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Career overview
Vanessa Williams is an American actress known for her work in the entertainment industry. She has a significant number of acting credits, with a total of 153 known credits. Williams' acting career spans multiple projects, showcasing her versatility as a performer.
As an actress, Vanessa Williams has appeared in a wide range of roles. Her extensive body of work includes numerous films and television shows, demonstrating her ability to adapt to various genres and formats. While specific details about her acting projects are not provided, it is clear that she has had a substantial impact on the industry.
Williams' acting career has been marked by her prolific output, with 153 known credits to her name. This level of productivity suggests a dedicated and accomplished performer, with a commitment to her craft. As an actress, Vanessa Williams has established herself as a talented and versatile artist, with a significant presence in the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Claudia Winkleman Show
ElsbethThe Little Pageant That CouldHappy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field
VelmaZora Neale Hurston: Claiming a SpaceTripped UpCelebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best
The Jennifer Hudson ShowSherriLos lunes a las 9
Girls5evaName That TuneBlankety BlankShow of TitlesQueen of the Universe
Stars in the HouseStars in the HouseSecret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag RaceCalling All T.O.T.S.Singleholic
The Kelly Clarkson ShowTamron HallT.O.T.S.A Black Lady Sketch ShowFirst Wives Club
Celebrity CatchphraseSuicide Squad: Hell to PayThe Legend of Hallowaiian
The Man from Earth: HoloceneDaytime DivasNot Black Enough
Match GameThe $100,000 PyramidThe Secret She KeptVH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night
Difficult PeopleShow Boat
The LibrariansBroad CityThe Trip to Bountiful
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage CounselorHe's Way More Famous Than You
RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsDoc McStuffinsThe Mindy Project666 Park AvenueBethenny
The Jonathan Ross ShowA Mother's Love
The TalkWho Do You Think You Are?
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenModern FamilyRuPaul's Drag RaceRuPaul's Drag RaceRuPaul's Drag Race
The Wendy Williams ShowWalt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
The Graham Norton ShowShear GeniusMama Mirabelle's Home MoviesAnd Then Came Love
Ugly BettySouth BeachMy BrotherRehearsing a Dream
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonThe Reichen ShowBroadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony AwardsGift for the LivingWalt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
Desperate HousewivesThe Tony Danza ShowOn Air with Ryan SeacrestJohnson Family VacationThe 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest
Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres ShowThe BacheloretteUnchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
BoomtownIt's Black EntertainmentKeep the Faith, BabyMiss America
Good Day LiveThe Proud FamilyWW3Santa, Baby!
ShaftDon QuixoteThe Courage to LoveThe Courage to Love · Executive ProducerChristmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends
Light It UpThe Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandFuturesport
L.A. DoctorsDance with MeVH1 DivasPavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia
The ViewThe ViewThe OdysseyAlly McBealHoodlum
Jungle CubsEraserThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
Full Filmography
158 titles- The Claudia Winkleman Show (2026) as Self
- Elsbeth (2024) as Roslyn Bridwell
- The Little Pageant That Could (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field (2024) as Self
- Velma (2023) as Dr. Perdue (voice)
- Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space (2023) as Narrator (voice)
- Tripped Up (2023) as Patricia Chamberlain
- Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best (2023) as Self
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022)
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Los lunes a las 9 (2022) as Self (Archive Footage)
- Girls5eva (2021) as Nance Trace
- Name That Tune (2021) as Self - Contestant
- Blankety Blank (2021) as Self - Panellist
- Show of Titles (2021) as "Dear World" Performer
- Queen of the Universe (2021) as Self - Judge
- Bad Hair (2021) as Zora
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self - Special Guest
- Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race (2020) as Vanquisha Da House - Contestant
- Calling All T.O.T.S. (2020) as Captain Beakman (voice)
- Singleholic (2020) as Jackie Chisolm
- Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams (2020) as Self - Host
- There She Is (2020)
- Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side (2020)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- T.O.T.S. (2019) as Captain Beakman (voice)
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) as Delilah
- First Wives Club (2019) as Nancy
- Batman: Hush (2019) as Amanda Waller (voice)
- Miss Virginia (2019) as Sally Rae
- American Style (2019) as Self
- Celebrity Catchphrase (2018) as Self - Contestant
- Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018) as Amanda Waller (voice)
- The Legend of Hallowaiian (2018) as Fire Goddess (voice)
- The Man from Earth: Holocene (2017) as Carolyn
- Daytime Divas (2017) as Maxine Robinson
- Not Black Enough (2017) as Self
- Match Game (2016) as Self - Panelist
- The $100,000 Pyramid (2016) as Self
- The Secret She Kept (2016) as Beverly
- VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night (2016) as Self
- Difficult People (2015) as Trish
- Show Boat (2015) as Julie LaVerne
- The Librarians (2014) as Cynthia Rockwell
- Broad City (2014) as Elizabeth Carlton
- The Trip to Bountiful (2014) as Jessie Mae Watts
- Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) as Janice
- He's Way More Famous Than You (2013) as Vanessa Williams
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012) as Self - Guest Judge
- Doc McStuffins (2012) as Delilah the Nesting Doll (voice)
- The Mindy Project (2012) as Dr. Phillips
- 666 Park Avenue (2012) as Olivia Doran
- Bethenny (2012) as Self - Guest
- The Jonathan Ross Show (2011) as Self - Guest
- A Mother's Love (2011) as Rochelle Richardson
- The Talk (2010) as Self
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Modern Family (2009) as Rhonda
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Special Guest
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Guest Judge
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Judge (archive footage)
- The Good Wife (2009) as Courtney Paige
- Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) as Vita
- Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation (2009)
- The Wendy Williams Show (2008)
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade (2008) as Self
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Shear Genius (2007)
- Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies (2007) as Mama Mirabelle (voice)
- And Then Came Love (2007) as Julie
- Ugly Betty (2006) as Wilhelmina Slater
- South Beach (2006) as Elizabeth Bauer
- My Brother (2006) as L'Tisha Morton
- Rehearsing a Dream (2006) as Self
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards (2005) as Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)
- Gift for the Living (2005) as Narrator
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade (2005) as Self
- Desperate Housewives (2004) as Renee Perry
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self - Guest
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest (2004) as Self
- Johnson Family Vacation (2004) as Dorothy Johnson
- The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest (2004) as Self
- Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Christmas in Washington (2004)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- The Bachelorette (2003) as Self
- Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003)
- Boomtown (2002) as Detective Katherine Pierce
- It's Black Entertainment (2002) as Self - Host
- Keep the Faith, Baby (2002) as Hazel Scott
- Miss America (2002) as Self (archival footage)
- Good Day Live (2001) as Self
- The Proud Family (2001) as Debra (voice)
- WW3 (2001) as M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
- Santa, Baby! (2001) as Alicia (voice)
- Shaft (2000) as Carmen Vasquez
- Don Quixote (2000) as Dulcinea / Aldonza
- The Courage to Love (2000) as Mother Henriette Delille
- The Courage to Love (2000) Executive Producer
- Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends (2000) as Herself
- Shaft: Still the Man (2000) as Self
- A Diva's Christmas Carol (2000) as Ebony Scrooge
- Afrocentricity (2000) as Self
- Light It Up (1999) as Audrey McDonald
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999) as Queen of Trash
- Futuresport (1999) as Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
- L.A. Doctors (1998) as Leanne Barrows
- Dance with Me (1998) as Ruby Sinclair
- VH1 Divas (1998)
- Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia (1998) as Self
- The View (1997) as Self
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- The Odyssey (1997) as Calypso
- Ally McBeal (1997) as Sheila Hunt
- Hoodlum (1997) as Francine Hughes
- Soul Food (1997) as Teri
- Jungle Cubs (1996)
- Eraser (1996) as Lee Cullen
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Beauty (voice)
- Nothing Lasts Forever (1995) as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
- MADtv (1995) as Self
- Bye Bye Birdie (1995) as Rose Alvarez
- Nothing Lasts Forever (1995) as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
- Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II (1995) as Self
- Score with Chicks (1994)
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) as Arandis
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self (archive footage)
- David Foster's Christmas Album (1993) as Self
- The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992) as Suzanne de Passe
- Stompin' at the Savoy (1992) as Pauline
- Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) as Lulu Daniels
- Another You (1991) as Gloria
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) as Danny Mitchell
- Seriously... Phil Collins (1990) as Rachel - TV Executive
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer (1990) as Terri Knight
- The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990) as Lynette Parks
- Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal (1989) as Valentine Hayward
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- American Experience (1988) as Narrator (voice)
- Under the Gun (1988) as Samantha Richards
- The Pick-up Artist (1987) as Rae, Girl with Dog
- Partners in Crime (1984)
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Officer Pat Williamson
- A Capitol Fourth (1980) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Musical Guest
- Days of Our Lives (1965) as Valerie Grant
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer
- Miss America (1954) as Miss New York 1983
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Vanessa Williams best known for?
Vanessa Williams is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Elsbeth (2024), Velma (2023), Tripped Up (2023), The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022).
When and where was Vanessa Williams born?
Vanessa Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, New York, USA.
How many credits does Vanessa Williams have?
Vanessa Williams has accumulated over 158 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is Vanessa Williams's background in cinema and television?
Vanessa Williams is an American actress. She was born on March 18, 1963, in Tarrytown, New York, USA. Williams is known for her acting career, which spans numerous credits. She is the first Black woman to have won a major title in the Miss America pageant, specifically in 1984. However, she resigned from the title afte...
Vanessa Williams by the numbers
158credits
73films
85TV series
1953–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Celebrity Catchphrase (2018) as Self - Contestant — aged about 55
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest (2004) as Self — aged about 41
- First Wives Club (2019) as Nancy — aged about 56
- Modern Family (2009) as Rhonda — aged about 46
- Desperate Housewives (2004) as Renee Perry — aged about 41
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) as Arandis — aged about 30
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