Vanessa Williams
Biography
Vanessa Estelle Williams (sometimes professionally credited as Vanessa A. Williams) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her roles as Maxine Joseph–Chadway in the Showtime drama series, Soul Food (2000–04), for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, and as Rhonda Blair in the first season of the Fox prime time soap opera, Melrose Place (1992–93). She is also known as Nino Brown's feisty gun moll, Keisha in the 1991 crime drama film, New Jack City and as Anne-Marie McCoy in the first and fourth of the Candyman films. Though not related, she is sometimes confused with American actress, singer, and former Miss America 1984, Vanessa L. Williams. Both women were also, coincidentally, born in New York in the same year. In addition, Vanessa A. Williams starred in the television soap opera, Soul Food, while Vanessa L. Williams starred in the original film.
Known For
Law & Order
The Flash
9-1-1
Phineas and Ferb
Cold Case
Melrose Place
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
The Cosby Show
All Movies (33)
- Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies2025 · as Self - (archive footage)
- Cruel Encounters2023 · as Corynne
- Black Girl, Erupted2023 · as Cassandra Cole
- Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story2022 · as Lucille
- Angie's Cure2022 · as Carla
- Mid-Century2022 · as Beverly Gordon
- Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion2021 · as Eve Christmas
- A Rich Christmas2021 · as Aggie Maggy / Madison
- Candyman2021 · as Anne-Marie McCoy
- Love on a Two Way Street2020 · as Gloria
- I Left My Girlfriend for Regina Jones2019 · as Rebecca
- One Fine Christmas2019 · as Susan
- Thriller2018 · as Mrs. Walker
- Men, Money & Gold Diggers2014 · as Sandra Winslow
- Crossed the Line2014 · as Juice
- Raising Izzie2012 · as Tonya
- Sugar Mommas2012 · as Lynn
- Imagine That2009 · as Lori Strother
- Contradictions of the Heart2009 · as Lea
- Flirting with Forty2008 · as Kristine
- Ice Spiders2007 · as Dr. April Sommers
- Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me2004 · as Self (voice)
- Black Listed2003 · as J.W.
- Our America2002 · as Sandra Williams
- Like Mike2002 · as Pharmacist
- Punks2000 · as Jennifer
- Playing with Fire2000 · as Riana Roberts
- Incognito1999 · as Wilhelmina Hunter
- Mother1996 · as Donna
- Drop Squad1994 · as Mali
- Candyman1992 · as Anne-Marie McCoy
- The Jaleel White Special1992
- New Jack City1991 · as Keisha
All TV Shows (26)
- Wild Rose2026 · as Joyce
- American Horror Stories2021 · as Dr. Eleanor Berger
- A Luv Tale2021 · as Candice
- 40 and Single2018 · as Bertha Brown
- 9-1-12018 · as Claudette Collins
- The Flash2014 · as Francine West
- The Wendy Williams Show2008
- Phineas and Ferb2007 · as Flight Attendant (voice)
- Cold Case2003 · as Crystal Stacy (2007)
- Good Day Live2001 · as Self
- Soul Food2000 · as Maxine Chadway
- Total Recall 20701999
- Between Brothers1997 · as Rebecca
- The Pretender1996 · as Denise Clements
- Malcolm & Eddie1996
- The Steve Harvey Show1996 · as Nina
- Buddies1996
- Murder One1995
- Murder One1995 · as Lila Marquette
- Chicago Hope1994 · as Grace Carr
- Living Single1993
- Melrose Place1992 · as Rhonda
- Law & Order1990 · as Vera
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988
- The Cosby Show1984 · as Jade
- The Cosby Show1984 · as Cheryl