Vanessa Williams

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.

Known For

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Modern Family

Desperate Housewives

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Good Wife

The Graham Norton Show

Saturday Night Live

All Movies (71)

• Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field2024 · as Self
• The Little Pageant That Could2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tripped Up2023 · as Patricia Chamberlain
• Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best2023 · as Self
• Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space2023 · as Narrator (voice)
• Los lunes a las 92022 · as Self (Archive Footage)
• Show of Titles2021 · as "Dear World" Performer
• Bad Hair2021 · as Zora
• Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side2020
• There She Is2020
• Singleholic2020 · as Jackie Chisolm
• Miss Virginia2019 · as Sally Rae
• Batman: Hush2019 · as Amanda Waller (voice)
• The Legend of Hallowaiian2018 · as Fire Goddess (voice)
• Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay2018 · as Amanda Waller (voice)
• The Man from Earth: Holocene2017 · as Carolyn
• Not Black Enough2017 · as Self
• VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night2016 · as Self
• The Secret She Kept2016 · as Beverly
• Show Boat2015 · as Julie LaVerne
• The Trip to Bountiful2014 · as Jessie Mae Watts
• He's Way More Famous Than You2013 · as Vanessa Williams
• Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor2013 · as Janice
• A Mother's Love2011 · as Rochelle Richardson
• Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation2009
• Hannah Montana: The Movie2009 · as Vita
• Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade2008 · as Self
• And Then Came Love2007 · as Julie
• Rehearsing a Dream2006 · as Self
• My Brother2006 · as L'Tisha Morton
• Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade2005 · as Self
• Gift for the Living2005 · as Narrator
• Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards2005 · as Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)
• Christmas in Washington2004
• The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest2004 · as Self
• Johnson Family Vacation2004 · as Dorothy Johnson
• Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?2004 · as Self (archive footage)
• Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives2003
• Keep the Faith, Baby2002 · as Hazel Scott
• It's Black Entertainment2002 · as Self - Host
• Miss America2002 · as Self (archival footage)
• Santa, Baby!2001 · as Alicia (voice)
• WW32001 · as M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
• A Diva's Christmas Carol2000 · as Ebony Scrooge
• Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends2000 · as Herself
• Afrocentricity2000 · as Self
• Shaft2000 · as Carmen Vasquez
• Don Quixote2000 · as Dulcinea / Aldonza
• The Courage to Love2000 · as Mother Henriette Delille
• Shaft: Still the Man2000 · as Self
• Light It Up1999 · as Audrey McDonald
• The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland1999 · as Queen of Trash
• Futuresport1999 · as Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
• Dance with Me1998 · as Ruby Sinclair
• Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia1998 · as Self
• Soul Food1997 · as Teri
• Hoodlum1997 · as Francine Hughes
• Eraser1996 · as Lee Cullen
• Bye Bye Birdie1995 · as Rose Alvarez
• Nothing Lasts Forever1995 · as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
• Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II1995 · as Self
• Score with Chicks1994
• Stompin' at the Savoy1992 · as Pauline
• Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man1991 · as Lulu Daniels
• Another You1991 · as Gloria
• The Kid Who Loved Christmas1990 · as Lynette Parks
• Seriously... Phil Collins1990 · as Rachel - TV Executive
• Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer1990 · as Terri Knight
• Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal1989 · as Valentine Hayward
• Under the Gun1988 · as Samantha Richards
• The Pick-up Artist1987 · as Rae, Girl with Dog

All TV Shows (85)

• The Claudia Winkleman Show2026 · as Self
• Elsbeth2024 · as Roslyn Bridwell
• Velma2023 · as Dr. Perdue (voice)
• The Jennifer Hudson Show2022
• Sherri2022 · as Self - Guest
• Queen of the Universe2021 · as Self - Judge
• Blankety Blank2021 · as Self - Panellist
• Girls5eva2021 · as Nance Trace
• Name That Tune2021 · as Self - Contestant
• Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams2020 · as Self - Host
• Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race2020 · as Vanquisha Da House - Contestant
• Calling All T.O.T.S.2020 · as Captain Beakman (voice)
• Stars in the House2020 · as Self
• Stars in the House2020 · as Self - Special Guest
• First Wives Club2019 · as Nancy
• Tamron Hall2019 · as Self - Guest
• The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self
• A Black Lady Sketch Show2019 · as Delilah
• T.O.T.S.2019 · as Captain Beakman (voice)
• American Style2019 · as Self
• Celebrity Catchphrase2018 · as Self - Contestant
• Daytime Divas2017 · as Maxine Robinson
• The $100,000 Pyramid2016 · as Self
• Match Game2016 · as Self - Panelist
• Difficult People2015 · as Trish
• The Librarians2014 · as Cynthia Rockwell
• Broad City2014 · as Elizabeth Carlton
• RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars2012 · as Self - Guest Judge
• 666 Park Avenue2012 · as Olivia Doran
• The Mindy Project2012 · as Dr. Phillips
• Bethenny2012 · as Self - Guest
• Doc McStuffins2012 · as Delilah the Nesting Doll (voice)
• The Jonathan Ross Show2011 · as Self - Guest
• The Talk2010 · as Self
• Who Do You Think You Are?2010 · as Self
• Modern Family2009 · as Rhonda
• The Good Wife2009 · as Courtney Paige
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• RuPaul's Drag Race2009 · as Self - Special Guest
• RuPaul's Drag Race2009
• RuPaul's Drag Race2009 · as Self - Guest Judge
• RuPaul's Drag Race2009 · as Self - Judge (archive footage)
• The Wendy Williams Show2008
• Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies2007 · as Mama Mirabelle (voice)
• Shear Genius2007
• The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
• Ugly Betty2006 · as Wilhelmina Slater
• South Beach2006 · as Elizabeth Bauer
• The Reichen Show2005 · as Self
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson2005 · as Self
• Desperate Housewives2004 · as Renee Perry
• The Tony Danza Show2004 · as Self - Guest
• On Air with Ryan Seacrest2004 · as Self
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• The Bachelorette2003 · as Self
• Boomtown2002 · as Detective Katherine Pierce
• Good Day Live2001 · as Self
• The Proud Family2001 · as Debra (voice)
• L.A. Doctors1998 · as Leanne Barrows
• VH1 Divas1998
• Ally McBeal1997 · as Sheila Hunt
• The View1997 · as Self
• The View1997 · as Self - Guest
• The Odyssey1997 · as Calypso
• Jungle Cubs1996
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self - Guest
• Nothing Lasts Forever1995 · as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
• MADtv1995 · as Self
• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · as Beauty (voice)
• Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine1993 · as Arandis
• The Jacksons: An American Dream1992 · as Suzanne de Passe
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air1990 · as Danny Mitchell
• American Experience1988 · as Narrator (voice)
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
• Partners in Crime1984
• T. J. Hooker1982 · as Officer Pat Williamson
• A Capitol Fourth1980 · as Self
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Days of Our Lives1965 · as Valerie Grant
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Performer
• Miss America1954 · as Miss New York 1983
• The Oscars1953 · as Self