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{{short description|American singer, actress and former Miss America (born 1963)}}
[[image:Vanessa_Lynn_Williams.gif|left|frame|Vanessa Lynn Williams]]
{{other people}}
:''This article is about Vanessa Williams the model, for the actress on [[Melrose Place]] see [[Vanessa Williams (actress)]].''
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vanessa Williams
| image = Vanessa Williams April 2019.png
| caption = Williams in 2019
| birth_name = Vanessa Lynn Williams
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|3|18|mf=y}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.<ref name="Vanessa" />
| education = [[Syracuse University]] ([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]])
| awards = [[List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Williams|Full list]]
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* actress
* model
* producer
* dancer
}}
| years_active = 1982–present
| title = {{ubl|[[Miss America 1984]]|[[Miss New York]] 1983|Miss Syracuse 1983}}
| term = Miss America:<br />September 17, 1983 – July 22, 1984 (resigned)
| predecessor = [[Debra Maffett]]
| successor = [[Suzette Charles]]
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Ramon Hervey II|1987|1997|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Rick Fox]]|1999|2004|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Jim Skrip|2015|2021|end=divorced}}
}}
| children = 4, including [[Jillian Hervey]]
| relatives = [[Chris Williams (actor)|Chris Williams]] (brother)
| website = {{URL|vanessawilliams.com}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = solo_singer
| origin =
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
* [[jazz]]
* [[Dance music|dance]]
* [[Gospel music|gospel]]
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Wing Records|Wing]]
* [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
* Mellian Music
* [[Lava Records|Lava]]
* [[Concord Records|Concord]]}}
}}
}}


'''Vanessa Lynn Williams''' (born [[March 18]], [[1963]]) is a [[Pop music|pop]] and [[R&B]] singer who began her career as the first black [[Miss America]]. She resigned early in her reign on [[July 23]], [[1984]], however, when it was discovered that she had posed nude for sadomasochistically/lesbierotically themed photographs that were later published in the magazine ''[[Penthouse magazine|Penthouse]]''. She managed to rise above that scandal and become a respected and popular singer with her 1988 debut album, and eventually actress, with appearances in films like ''[[Eraser (movie)|Eraser]]'', co-starring [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]].
'''Vanessa Lynn Williams'''<ref name="Vanessa"/> (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, model, producer, and dancer. She gained recognition as the first Black woman to win the [[Miss America]] title when she was crowned [[Miss America 1984]]. She would later [[Vanessa Williams and Miss America|resign her title]] amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs published in ''[[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse]]'' magazine. Thirty-two years later, Williams was offered a public apology during the [[Miss America 2016]] pageant for the events.


Williams rebounded from the scandal with a successful career as a singer and actress. In 1988, she released her debut studio album ''[[The Right Stuff (album)|The Right Stuff]]'', whose [[The Right Stuff (Vanessa Williams song)|title single]] saw moderate success as well as "[[Dreamin' (Vanessa Williams song)|Dreamin']]{{-"}}, which peaked at number 8 in the United States in 1989. With her second and third studio albums, ''[[The Comfort Zone (album)|The Comfort Zone]]'' (1991) and ''[[The Sweetest Days]]'' (1994), she saw continued commercial success and received multiple [[Grammy Award]] nominations, including her number-one single and [[List of signature songs|signature song]], "[[Save the Best for Last]]", which she performed live at the 1993 Grammy Awards ceremonies. Her later studio albums include ''[[Everlasting Love (Vanessa Williams album)|Everlasting Love]]'' (2005) and ''[[The Real Thing (Vanessa Williams album)|The Real Thing]]'' (2009).
Her first marriage, in 1987, was to her then-manager Ramon Hervey, with whom she had three children. She divorced him in 1997, and was married to [[NBA]] basketball star [[Rick Fox]] two years later. On [[August 11]], [[2004]], Rick Fox filed for a [[divorce]] from Vanessa, ending five years of marriage, according to his publicist, coming just one week after he was traded from the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. The couple, who have a four-year-old daughter called Sasha, agreed previously to keep their property assets separate, according to court papers. The two were wed at a high-profile ceremony in 1999, but have reportedly been separated for some time, with Williams living in New York while Fox played in Los Angeles.

As an actress, Williams enjoyed success on stage and screen. She made her [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut in 1994 with ''[[Kiss of the Spider Woman (musical)|Kiss of the Spider Woman]]''. In 2002, she starred as The Witch in the revival of [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s ''[[Into the Woods]]'' that earned her a [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical]] nomination. She starred in the revival of [[Horton Foote]]'s ''[[The Trip to Bountiful (play)|The Trip to Bountiful]]'' in 2013, and the ensemble political farce ''[[POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive]]'' in 2022. She is also known for her appearances in television, with her best known roles being [[Wilhelmina Slater]] on ''[[Ugly Betty]]'' (2006–2010), for which she was nominated three times for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]]; and [[Renee Perry]] on ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'' (2010–2012).

==Early life and education==
Vanessa Lynn Williams was born in [[Tarrytown, New York]] with a birth announcement that read: "Here she is: Miss America".<ref name="focus"/><ref name="birthann">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11863479/Miss-America-apologises-to-Vanessa-Williams-Ugly-Betty-star.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11863479/Miss-America-apologises-to-Vanessa-Williams-Ugly-Betty-star.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Miss America apologises to Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty star
|access-date=September 15, 2015|last=Telegraph Reporters|date=September 14, 2015|publisher=The Daily Telegraph
}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She was raised in [[Millwood, New York]].<ref name="Vanessa"/> A paternal great-great-grandfather was [[William A. Fields|William Fields]], an African-American legislator in the [[Tennessee House of Representatives]]. Williams is also of [[English people|English]] and [[Welsh people|Welsh]] descent.<ref name="tn-bio">{{cite web
|url=http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/blackhistory/feilds.htm
|title=African American Legislators in 19th Century Tennessee: William Alexander Feilds
|access-date=September 19, 2015
|publisher=State of Tennessee
|archive-date=July 24, 2015
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724020301/http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/blackhistory/feilds.htm
|url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref name=wdytya>{{cite web
|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/who-do-you-think-you-are/episode-1-season-2/vanessa-williams/296860/|title=Who Do You Think You Are?: season 2, episode 1, Vanessa Williams (February, 2011)
|access-date=December 5, 2015|date=February 4, 2011|publisher=[[Who Do You Think You Are? (U.S. TV series)#Season 2 (2011)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]}}</ref> Her mother Helen Tinch met her father Milton Augustine Williams Jr. (1935–2006) while both were [[music education]] students at [[State University of New York at Fredonia|Fredonia State Teachers College]] in the late 1950s.<ref name=helen>{{cite web|url=http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/552660/Helen-Tinch-Williams--mother-of-Vanessa-Williams--to-be-honored-by-SUNY-Fredonia.html?nav=5007
|title=Helen Tinch Williams, mother of Vanessa Williams, to be honored by SUNY Fredonia
|access-date=December 5, 2015|date=November 10, 2010|publisher=[[Observer (Dunkirk)]]}}</ref> They became elementary school music teachers in separate districts after marriage.<ref name=helen/> Milton also served as the assistant principal of his school for an extended period of time.<ref name="fatherob">{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E3D6103FF93AA15752C0A9609C8B63|title=An Appreciation; Remembering Milton Williams, A Mentor to Music Students|access-date=December 5, 2015|last=Wise|first=Brian|date=January 29, 2006
|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

Williams was raised Catholic, the religion of her father. Her mother, who had been raised Baptist, converted to Catholicism when she married. Williams was baptized at Our Lady of Grace Church in the Bronx. Her mother played the organ at St. Theresa's Church in [[Briarcliff Manor, New York|Briarcliff Manor]] for weddings and at Mass, and Williams used to assist her mother by turning the pages of sheet music.<ref name="focus"/>

Williams and her younger brother [[Chris Williams (actor)|Chris]], who later became an actor, grew up in [[Westchester County]], a predominantly white middle to upper-class suburb of New York City.<ref name="birthann"/> Williams believes she may have been the first African-American student to go from the first grade to the 12th grade in the [[Chappaqua Central School District]].<ref name=wdytya/> She attended Robert E. Bell Middle School, as did her children years later. Williams revealed that the shop and home economics teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Fink, were still there when her children attended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kellyandryan.com/guide/june-17-2022-2/ |title=June 17, 2022 &#124; LIVE with Kelly and Ryan |publisher=Kellyandryan.com |date=2022-06-17 |access-date=2022-06-24}}</ref>

A child of music teachers, Williams grew up in a musical household, studying classical and jazz dance, French horn, piano, and violin.<ref name="Vanessa">{{cite web
|url=http://www.biography.com/people/vanessa-williams-9542151|title=Vanessa Williams Biography
|access-date=September 15, 2015|publisher=biography.com}}</ref><ref name="focus"/> She was offered the Presidential Scholarship for Drama to attend [[Carnegie Mellon University]] during the college application period, one of 12 students to receive it, but decided instead to attend [[Syracuse University]]<ref name="Vanessa"/> on a different scholarship.<ref name="Vanessabillboard">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/1496610/vanessa-williams/biography|title=Vanessa Williams Biography|access-date=September 15, 2015|publisher=Billboard|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929142733/http://www.billboard.com/artist/1496610/vanessa-williams/biography|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1981, Williams joined [[Crouse College, Syracuse University|Syracuse's College of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Drama]] as a musical theater major.<ref name="Vanessabillboard"/><ref name="syrconv"/> She stayed at Syracuse through her second year until she was crowned [[Miss America 1984]] in September 1983.<ref name="syrconv">{{cite web|url=http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2008/vpa-vanessa-williams-05-08.html|title=Vanessa Williams to deliver 2008 convocation address for College of Visual and Performing Arts, receive BFA degree|access-date=September 15, 2015|last=Blust|first=Erica|date=May 5, 2008|publisher=[[Syracuse University]]|archive-date=September 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926012218/http://syr.edu/news/articles/2008/vpa-vanessa-williams-05-08.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In May 2008, Syracuse granted Williams a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] degree.<ref name="syrconhuff">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/06/vanessa-williams-to-gradu_n_100365.html|title=Vanessa Williams To Graduate From College This Weekend
|access-date=September 15, 2015|agency=AP|date=May 14, 2008|publisher=Huffington Post}}</ref> According to ''Syracuse News'', "Williams earned the remaining credits for her degree through industry experience and her substantial performances on stage and screen."<ref name="syrconv"/> Williams delivered the 2008 convocation address, telling Syracuse seniors to "treasure this moment. These days are irreplaceable and are the beginning of the rest of your life."<ref name="syrconvsspeech">{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/vanessa_williams_receives_degr.html|title=Vanessa Williams gets Syracuse University degree
|access-date=September 15, 2015|last=Johnson|first=Melinda|date=May 10, 2008|publisher=syracuse.com}}</ref>

==Name misattribution==
Williams is most often publicly recognized simply as "Vanessa Williams". There is occasional confusion with the similarly named actress [[Vanessa E. Williams]]. It has been reported that Vanessa L. became aware of Vanessa E. in the 1980s when the [[New York University]] registrar told her that another, similarly aged student with the same name and from the same state had applied.<ref name="canoe">Hobson, Louis B. (August 16, 1998), {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120711000901/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/enwiki/w/Williams_Vanessa/1998/08/16/pf-762671.html "Vanessa dancing up a storm"]}}, Canoe.ca</ref><ref name="tvguide">{{cite web |url=http://www1.myway.com/home/entertainment/celeb/tvguide_inthenews/0,13970,09_02_2003_1_-2,00.html |title=Vanessa Williams: Boomtown's New Bombshell! |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211234405/http://www1.myway.com/home/entertainment/celeb/tvguide_inthenews/0,13970,09_02_2003_1_-2,00.html |archive-date=December 11, 2007 |work=[[TV Guide]] |date=September 2, 2003}}</ref> When Williams appeared as Miss America in a [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]], Vanessa E. accidentally received her check for the appearance, which she returned.<ref name="canoe"/>

In the area of acting, the two ran into name conflict when [[Screen Actors Guild]] rules prohibited duplicate stage naming. Vanessa E. had registered the name "Vanessa Williams" first,<ref name="canoe"/> so as a compromise, Williams was occasionally credited as "Vanessa L. Williams" in acting credits. To compound the confusion, both actresses starred in versions of the drama ''[[Soul Food (film)|Soul Food]]'', Williams in the film version, and Vanessa E. in its [[Soul Food (TV series)|TV series adaptation]]. The Screen Actors Guild eventually took the issue to [[arbitration]], and decided both actresses could use the professional name "Vanessa Williams".<ref name="tvguide"/>

==Miss America ==
{{Main|Vanessa Williams and Miss America}}
[[File:Vanessa Williams, former Miss America 1984, cropped.jpg|thumb|Williams in 1984]]
[[File:Oh How The Years Go By.JPG|thumb|Williams at the conclusion of her performance of "[[Oh How the Years Go By]]" at [[Miss America 2016]]]]

Williams was the first [[African American|African-American]] recipient of the [[Miss America]] title when she was crowned [[Miss America 1984]] on September 17, 1983. Several weeks before the end of her reign, a scandal arose when ''[[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse]]'' magazine bought and published unauthorized nude photographs of her. Williams was pressured to relinquish her title and was succeeded by the first runner-up: [[Miss New Jersey]] 1983, [[Suzette Charles]]. Thirty-two years later in September 2015, when Williams served as head judge for the [[Miss America 2016]] pageant, former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell made a public apology to her for the events of 1984.<ref name="vmcrowned">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/african-american-usa-crowned-1983-article-1.2353418 |title=Vanessa Williams is crowned the first African-American Miss America in 1983 |access-date=September 14, 2015|last=Singleton|first=Don|date=September 18, 1983|newspaper=[[New York Daily News|Daily News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=A New York Debut |url=http://www.people.com/people/vanessa_williams/biography/0,,,00.html |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=February 23, 2013 |archive-date=January 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118083154/http://www.people.com/people/vanessa_williams/biography/0,,,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=A Look Black: Vanessa Williams Crowned Miss America In 1983|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/17/vanessa-williams-miss-america-anniversary_n_1891516.html |date=September 17, 2012|first=Julee|last=Wilson|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=February 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="nytapol">{{cite news
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/arts/television/vanessa-williams-returns-to-miss-america-and-receives-an-apology.html |title=Vanessa Williams Returns to Miss America and Receives an Apology|access-date=September 14, 2015|last=Rogers|first=Katie|date=September 14, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times
}}</ref>

==Career==

===Music===
Williams first received public recognition for her musical abilities when she won the preliminary talent portion of the [[Miss America]] pageant with her rendition of "[[Happy Days Are Here Again#Other versions|Happy Days Are Here Again]]" (Williams would later be crowned [[Miss America 1984]]).<ref name="vmcrowned" /> Four years later in 1988, Williams released her debut album, ''[[The Right Stuff (album)|The Right Stuff]]''.<ref name="Vanessa"/> The first single, "The Right Stuff", found success on the R&B chart, while the second single, "[[(He's Got) The Look|He's Got the Look]]", found similar success on the same chart. The third single, "[[Dreamin' (Vanessa Williams song)|Dreamin']]", was a pop hit, becoming Williams' first top 10 hit on the 1989 [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], peaking at No. 8, and her first number one single on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart. The album reached gold status in the U.S. and earned her an NAACP Image Award and three [[Grammy Award]] nominations, including one for [[Best New Artist]].<ref name="Vanessa"/>

Her second album ''[[The Comfort Zone (album)|The Comfort Zone]]'' became the biggest success in her music career.<ref name="Vanessa"/> The lead single "[[Running Back to You]]" reached top twenty on the Hot 100, and the top position of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on October 5, 1991. Other singles included "[[The Comfort Zone (song)|The Comfort Zone]]" (#2 R&B), "[[Just For Tonight (Vanessa Williams song)|Just for Tonight]]" (#26 Pop), a cover of [[The Isley Brothers]]' "[[Work to Do]]" (#3 R&B), and the club-only hit "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)". The most successful single from the album, as well as her biggest hit to date, is "[[Save the Best for Last]]".<ref name="Vanessa"/>

It reached No. 1 in the United States, where it remained for five weeks, as well as No. 1 in Australia, the Netherlands, and Canada, and was in the top 5 in Japan, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The album sold 2.2&nbsp;million copies in the U.S. at its time of release and has since been certified triple platinum in the United States by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]], gold in Canada by the [[Canadian Recording Industry Association|CRIA]], and platinum in the United Kingdom by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]. Williams performed the song live at the 1993 Grammy Awards Ceremony. ''The Comfort Zone'' earned Williams five Grammy Award nominations.<ref name="Vanessa"/>

''[[The Sweetest Days]]'', her third album, was released in 1994 to highly favorable reviews.<ref name="Vanessa"/> The album saw Williams branch out and sample other styles of music that included [[jazz]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]], rock, and [[Music of Latin America|Latin]]-themed recordings such as "Betcha Never" and "You Can't Run", both written and produced by [[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]]. Other singles from the album included the adult-contemporary and dance hit "[[The Way That You Love]]" and the title track. The album was certified platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA and earned her two Grammy Award nominations.<ref name="Vanessa"/>

Other releases include two Christmas albums, ''[[Star Bright (Vanessa Williams album)|Star Bright]]'' in 1996, and ''[[Silver & Gold (Vanessa Williams album)|Silver & Gold]]'' in 2004, ''[[Next (Vanessa Williams album)|Next]]'' in 1997, ''[[Everlasting Love (Vanessa Williams album)|Everlasting Love]]'' in 2005, and ''[[The Real Thing (Vanessa Williams album)|The Real Thing]]'' in 2009, along with a greatest-hits compilation released in 1998, and a number of other compilations released over the years.<ref name="Vanessa"/> Chart performances from subsequent albums, motion picture and television soundtracks have included the songs "[[Love Is (Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight song)|Love Is]]", which was a duet with [[Brian McKnight]], the [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]]- and [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning "[[Colors of the Wind]]", "[[Where Do We Go from Here (Vanessa Williams song)|Where Do We Go from Here?]]", and "[[Oh How the Years Go By]]".<ref name="Vanessa"/>

In 1996, Williams performed the national anthem at [[Super Bowl XXX]].

In April 2018, she announced she was working on a new studio album due in the fall that would incorporate her R&B, pop, & Broadway influences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/vanessa-williams-10305047|title=In Conversation with Vanessa Williams|last=Horn|first=Mark C.|date=April 7, 2018|website=Phoenix New Times|access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref>

On April 26, 2024, Williams released a new single, "[[Legs (Keep Dancing)]]", the first from her ninth studio album, ''[[Survivor (Vanessa Williams album)|Survivor]]'', which was released on August 23, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vanessawilliams.com/|title=VW – Vanessa Williams|website=Vanessawilliams.com|access-date=July 17, 2024}}</ref> Williams launched her own record label, Mellian Music, for the release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/vanessa-williams-new-album-first-15-years-1234871020/|title=Vanessa Williams To Release First Album In 15 Years Under Her Own Record Label|last=Abraham|first=Mya|date=April 17, 2024|website=Vibe|access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> On May 13, 2024, the digital single "Legs (Keep Dancing)" debuted on the US [[Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales]] (''Billboard'') chart in the Number 3 position. The single's success marks Williams' first hit on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Hugh |title=Vanessa Williams' Comeback Single Brings Her To A Billboard Chart For The First Time |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2024/05/13/vanessa-williams-comeback-single-brings-her-to-a-billboard-chart-for-the-first-time/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> In July 2024, Williams released the single "Bop!", a collaboration with [[Trixie Mattel]] and [[Lion Babe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/vanessa-williams-new-album-first-15-years-1234871020/|title=Bop! – Vanessa Williams, Trixie Mattel & Lion Babe Single & Remix Bundle Available July 2024|website=Vanessawilliams.com|date=April 17, 2024 |access-date=July 17, 2024}}</ref>

Vanessa Williams has surpassed 250 million total streams on Spotify across all credits. She averages nearly 190K daily listeners on the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vanessa Williams |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/75L9s8KVrhCNtBUkZFnDFW |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref>

===Television and film===
[[File:Vanessa L. Williams at ATX Television Festival.jpg|thumb|Williams in 2016]]
Williams has had a successful career in television. Her first television appearance was on a 1984 episode of ''[[The Love Boat]]''<ref>{{cite news|title='Love Boat': A Fantastic Voyage|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/10/07/love-boat-cast-and-crew-tell-all/|access-date=October 3, 2012|newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=October 7, 2007|first=Dan|last=Snierson}}</ref> followed by guest appearances in a number of popular shows. In 1995, Williams starred as Rose Alvarez in a television adaptation of the 1960 Broadway musical ''[[Bye Bye Birdie]]'' and portrayed the nymph [[Calypso (mythology)|Calypso]] in the 1997 [[RHI Entertainment|Hallmark Entertainment]] miniseries ''[[The Odyssey (miniseries)|The Odyssey]].'' In 2001, Williams starred in the [[LMN (TV network)|Lifetime]] film about the life of [[Henriette DeLille]], ''The Courage to Love'' and in 2003, Williams read the narrative of Tempie Herndon Durham from the [[Slave narrative#WPA slave narratives|WPA slave narratives]] in the [[HBO]] documentary ''Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives''.<ref name="Vanessa" />

In 2006, Williams received considerable media attention for her comic/villainess role as former model/magazine creative director turned editor-in-chief [[Wilhelmina Slater]] in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] comedy series ''[[Ugly Betty]]''.<ref name="Vanessa" /> Her performance on the series resulted in a nomination for outstanding supporting actress at the [[59th Primetime Emmy Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/vanessa-williams |title=Vanessa Williams Emmy Award Winner |publisher=Emmys.com }}</ref> with additional nominations in 2008 and 2009.<ref name="Vanessa" /> Williams next joined the cast of ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'' for its seventh season, where she portrayed [[Renee Perry]], an old college "frenemy" of [[Lynette Scavo]] ([[Felicity Huffman]]).<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/05/18/desperate-housewives-vanessa-williams |title='Desperate Housewives' Scoop: Vanessa L. Williams Moving to Wisteria Lane! |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=May 18, 2010}}</ref> In 2016, she joined the cast of ''[[The Librarians (2014 TV series)|The Librarians]]'', as recurring villainess General Rockwell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/vanessa-williams-the-librarians-season-3-tnt-cast-1201766615/|title=Vanessa Williams Joins TNT's 'The Librarians' Season 3|date=May 4, 2016|website=Variety|last1=Wagmeister|first1=Elizabeth|access-date=May 11, 2016}}</ref> She starred as Maxine in the [[VH1]] television series ''[[Daytime Divas]]'' during its one season in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/vanessa-williams-topline-vh1s-star-871765|title=Vanessa Williams to Topline VH1's Star Jones Drama 'Satan's Sisters'|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=March 2016}}</ref><ref name="recentint16" />

Williams has appeared in a number of feature films. She received an [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture]] for her portrayal of [[Teri Joseph]] for the 1997 feature film ''[[Soul Food (film)|Soul Food]]''. In 2007, she starred in the independent film ''[[My Brother (2006 film)|My Brother]]'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Vanessa Williams Brings My Brother to Big Screen|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/vanessa-williams-brings-brother-big-screen-249134.html|access-date=October 3, 2012|newspaper=[[Yahoo! Voices]]|date=March 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728231128/http://voices.yahoo.com/vanessa-williams-brings-brother-big-screen-249134.html|archive-date=July 28, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> for which she won Best Actress honors at the [[Harlem International Film Festival]], the African-American Women in Cinema Film Festival, and at the Santa Barbara African Heritage Film Festival. She also notably co-starred with [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] in ''[[Eraser (film)|Eraser]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Hruska|first=Bronwen|title=The 'Eraser' Effect Singer Vanessa Williams Hopes The New Schwarzenegger Film Will Wipe Away Doubts About Her Acting – As Well As Any Lingering Memories of Her Beauty-queen Fiasco.|url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-06-19/entertainment/25629771_1_beauty-queen-spider-woman-williams-hits|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729173812/http://articles.philly.com/1996-06-19/entertainment/25629771_1_beauty-queen-spider-woman-williams-hits|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2013|access-date=October 3, 2012|newspaper=Philly.com|date=June 19, 1996}}</ref> [[Samuel L. Jackson]] in the 2000 soft reboot of ''[[Shaft (2000 film)|Shaft]]'', the characters from ''[[Sesame Street]]'' in ''[[The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland]]'', as the Queen of Trash, and with [[Miley Cyrus]] in ''[[Hannah Montana: The Movie]].''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/05/62007/index.html |title=Production On 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' Is Underway |work=ETOnline.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525014236/http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/05/62007/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2008 |date=May 22, 2008}}</ref>

===Theatre ===
Williams began her career on stage in the 1985 production, ''One Man Band,'' as one of "the women".<ref name="band">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/26/theater/stage-one-man-band-at-south-street-theater.html|title=Stage: 'One-Man Band,' at South Street Theater|access-date=May 6, 2016|last=Bruckner|first=D.J.R.|date=June 26, 1985|publisher=NY Times}}</ref> She followed it in 1989 as "Laura" in [[Ron Milner]]'s ''Checkmates.''<ref name="cm">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-05-ca-27334-story.html|title=Stage Review: New Faces in 'Checkmates' in Westwood|access-date=May 6, 2016|last=Shirley|first=Don|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

In 1994, she broadened her ascendant music career into a theatrical role when she replaced Chita Rivera as Aurora in the Broadway production of ''[[Kiss of the Spider Woman (musical)|Kiss of the Spider Woman]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vanessa Williams, a Homespun 'Spider Woman'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/02/nyregion/vanessa-williams-a-homespun-spider-woman.html?ref=vanessalwilliams|access-date=October 3, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 2, 1994|first=Roberta|last=Hershenson}}</ref> In 1998, she portrayed Della Green in the revival of ''St. Louis Woman,''<ref name="dg">{{cite news
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/02/theater/theater-review-the-birthright-of-beauty-free-and-easy.html?pagewanted=all|title=Theater Review; The Birthright of Beauty: Free and Easy
|access-date=May 6, 2016|last=Brantley|first=Ben|date=May 2, 1998|publisher=NY Times
}}</ref> and Carmen Jones in the 2002 Kennedy Center Special Performance of ''Carmen Jones.''<ref name="cj">{{cite news
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/11/18/carmen-jones-chilled-and-well-served-its-star/53ad7202-cdef-4139-a05a-c56774534b87/|title='Carmen Jones,' Chilled and Well Served Its Star|access-date=May 6, 2016|last=Marks|first=Peter|date=November 18, 2002|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> In the same year, she was also featured in the Tony/Drama Desk Award-winning revival production of [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s ''[[Into the Woods]]'', for which she was nominated for a [[Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical|Tony]] and [[Drama Desk Award]] for her performance as the Witch. This production included songs revised for her.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spring Theater; Back to the Woods, With Darker Lyrics And a Dancing Cow|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/24/theater/spring-theater-back-to-the-woods-with-darker-lyrics-and-a-dancing-cow.html?ref=vanessalwilliams|access-date=October 3, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 24, 2002|first=Bernard|last=Weinraub}}</ref>

In 2010, Vanessa starred in a new Broadway musical revue entitled ''[[Sondheim on Sondheim]]'', a look at [[Stephen Sondheim]] through his music, film and videotaped interviews. ''Sondheim'' ran from March 19 to June 13 at [[Studio 54]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jones, Kenneth |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/137969-Sondheim-on-Sondheim-a-New-Musical-Reflection-of-a-Life-in-Art-Begins-on-Broadway |title=Sondheim on Sondheim, a New Musical Reflection of a Life in Art, Begins on Broadway |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301212708/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/137969-Sondheim-on-Sondheim-a-New-Musical-Reflection-of-a-Life-in-Art-Begins-on-Broadway |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |work=Playbill |date=March 19, 2010}}</ref> In 2013, she starred as Jessie Mae Watts in the [[Horton Foote]] play ''[[The Trip to Bountiful (play)#2013 Broadway revival|The Trip to Bountiful]]'', which was later turned into a [[The Trip to Bountiful#Remake|2014 television film]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thetriptobountifulbroadway.com/ |title=The Trip To Bountiful |publisher=Roundabout Theatre Company |date=April 5, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, she starred in the Broadway musical, ''[[After Midnight (musical)|After Midnight]]''<ref>Diamond Grant.{{cite web |url=http://broadwaytour.net/vanessa-williams-step-into-after-midnight-on-deck-circle |title=Vanessa Williams Steps Into 'After Midnight' on Deck Circle |work=BroadwayTour.net |date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> and in 2015, she appeared in a PBS production of ''[[Show Boat]]'' as Julie La Verne.<ref name="sb">{{cite web|url=https://berkshireonstage.com/2015/10/07/show-boat-gets-full-live-from-lincoln-center-treatment-on-pbs/|title=Classic American musical "Show Boat" gets first class production on PBS|access-date=May 6, 2016|last=Murray|first=Larry|date=October 7, 2015|website=berkshireonstage.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610124220/https://berkshireonstage.com/2015/10/07/show-boat-gets-full-live-from-lincoln-center-treatment-on-pbs/|archive-date=June 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Williams will star as Margaret in ''[[POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive]]'' on Broadway, with performances beginning on April 14, 2022, at the [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theatre]].<ref name="{POTUS">{{cite web|last=Culwell-Block|first=Logan|title=Vanessa Williams, Rachel Dratch, Lilli Cooper, More to Star in POTUS On Broadway|url=https://playbill.com/article/vanessa-williams-rachel-dratch-lilli-cooper-more-to-star-in-potus-on-broadway|website=[[Playbill]]|access-date=March 2, 2022|date=March 1, 2022}}</ref>

===Additional roles===
[[File:Vanessa williams bryant park 2007.jpg|thumb|Williams at the 2007 [[Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week]] in New York City]]
Williams served as the host of the 1994 [[Essence (magazine)#Awards|''Essence'' Awards]],<ref name="94essence">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/464326/Essence-Awards-The/
|title=The Essence Awards (1994)|access-date=May 6, 2016|publisher=TCM Channel}}</ref> co-host of ''Carnegie Hall Salutes the Jazz Masters: Verve Records at 50'',<ref name="94ch">{{cite web
|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-18-ca-59014-story.html
|title=TV Review: 'Jazz Masters' Salute on PBS Swings at Variable Speeds|access-date=May 6, 2016
|last=Kohlhaase|first=Bill|date=May 18, 1994|work=Los Angeles Times
}}</ref> host of the 1998 [[NAACP Image Awards]],<ref name="98naacp">{{cite web
|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/457933/29th-NAACP-Image-Awards-The/
|title=The 29th NAACP Image Awards (1998)|access-date=May 6, 2016|publisher=TCM Channel
}}</ref> host of the 2002 documentary, ''It's Black Entertainment,'' host of The 6th Annual [[TV Land Awards]] in 2007,<ref name=tvlandawards>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/tv-land-awards/294205/|title=TV Land Awards|access-date=May 6, 2016|date=2007|work=TV Guide
}}</ref> host of the [[36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards]] in 2009,<ref name=daytimeem>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_36th_nominations_data.html|title=TV Land Awards|access-date=May 6, 2016|date=2009|publisher=Emmy Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413213541/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_36th_nominations_data.html|archive-date=April 13, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and host of the documentary ''Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation'' in 2009.

Williams is a spokesmodel for [[Proactiv Solution]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Vanessa Williams|url=http://proactiv.pk/vanessa-williams.php|access-date=October 3, 2012|newspaper=proactiv.com|archive-date=March 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318003331/http://www.proactiv.pk/vanessa-williams.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was the first African-American spokesmodel for [[L'Oréal]] cosmetics in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|title=L'Oréal Futur-E TV Ad (1998)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FADDMz6nB1s|work=[[YouTube]]|access-date=October 3, 2012}}</ref> In 2018, Williams returned as a spokesmodel for L'Oréal as part of their 'Age perfect' campaign alongside fellow ambassadors [[Helen Mirren]], [[Julianne Moore]], and [[Jane Fonda]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thebeautyinfluencers.com/2018/07/29/loreals-golden-squad/|title=L'Oreal's Golden squad|work=The Beauty Influencers|date=July 29, 2018|access-date=September 24, 2018}}</ref>
In 2000, she appeared on ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]'' as a contestant, and again in August 2009, as a celebrity guest during the show's tenth anniversary prime-time special editions, winning $50,000 for her charity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire:Episode Guide|url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/series-episodes/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire.2/?sb=1&si=36&ipp=40|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129052211/http://tv.msn.com/tv/series-episodes/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire.2/?sb=1&si=36&ipp=40|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2013|work=msn|access-date=October 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 10th Anniversary – Part 4|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa4yo0_who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-10th_shortfilms|work=[[Dailymotion]]|date=August 12, 2009 |access-date=October 3, 2012}}</ref>

In a commercial that began running during [[Super Bowl XLVI]] in 2012, Williams voiced the new character Ms. Brown, a brown [[M&M's|M&M]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31942-tv-qaa-the-good-wife-awards-shows-and-the-little-couple|title=TV Q&A: 'The Good Wife,' awards shows and 'The Little Couple'|last=Owen|first=Rob|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=February 17, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-date=February 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090309/http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31942-tv-qaa-the-good-wife-awards-shows-and-the-little-couple|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2020, Williams was the winner of episode 2 of ''[[RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race]]'', and donated her prize of $20,000 to the LGBTQ charity [[The Trevor Project]].

===Fashion===
In March 2016, Williams launched her own clothing line, ''V. by Vanessa Williams'', for [[ShopHQ|EVINE Live]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/style/first-look-vanessa-williams-launches-clothing-line-where-everything-is-under-100-and-meant-to-hide-bra-fat/|title=First Look: Vanessa Williams Launches Clothing Line, Where Everything Is Under $100 and Meant to 'Hide Bra Fat'|date=March 14, 2016}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Williams and her mother Helen co-authored a memoir titled ''You Have No Idea'', published in April 2012. In the book, Williams discusses her childhood, rise to fame, and personal struggles, including life with [[type 1 diabetes]], including the fact that she was sexually molested by a woman when she was ten years old.<ref>{{cite news|first=Barbara|last=Chai|title=Vanessa Williams Speaks Candidly in 'You Have No Idea'|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/04/17/vanessa-williams-speaks-candidly-in-you-have-no-idea/|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=April 17, 2012|access-date=May 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Nicki|last=Gostin|title=QA: Vanessa Williams writes of sexual abuse, teenage abortion in new book|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/qa-vanessa-williams-writes-of-sexual-abuse-teenage-abortion-in-new-book|work=Fox News|date=April 18, 2012|access-date=May 3, 2012}}</ref> She spoke candidly about having an [[abortion]] while she was in high school.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bauer|first=Zoe|title=Lily Allen and Other Celebs Who Shared Their Views on Abortion|url=http://omg.yahoo.com/news/lily-allen-other-celebs-shared-views-abortion-210300509.html|work=Yahoo! OMG!|access-date=July 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025001541/http://omg.yahoo.com/news/lily-allen-other-celebs-shared-views-abortion-210300509.html|archive-date=October 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Williams is a practicing [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], something she spoke about on the [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] program ''Focus on Faith'' with [[Edward L. Beck|Fr. Edward L. Beck]].<ref name="focus">{{cite web
|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/vanessa-williams-faith-10585404|title=Vanessa Williams on Her Faith|access-date=May 6, 2016|date=2010|work=ABC News}}</ref>

Williams has been married three times. She married Ramon Hervey II<ref>{{cite news|first=Lynn|last=Norment|title=Vanessa L. Williams: on her painful divorce, the pressures of superstardom and her new life as a single mom|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n12_v52/ai_19836399/|work=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|date=October 1997|access-date=May 3, 2012|archive-date=November 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110093013/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n12_v52/ai_19836399/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l7MDAAAAMBAJ&q=Husband+Ramon+Hervey&pg=PA57|magazine=Jet|title=Vanessa Williams and Husband Ramon Hervey Hold L.A. Reception|date=March 16, 1987 |access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> at [[St. Francis Xavier Church (Manhattan)|St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church]]<ref name="google.com">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hbQDAAAAMBAJ&q=Ramon+Hervey&pg=PA54 |magazine=Jet |title=Vanessa Williams and Ramon Hervey Take Wedding Vows |date=February 2, 1987|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> in 1987<ref name="google.com" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/583234/vanessa-williams-is-engaged-to-boyfriend-jim-skrip-check-out-her-stunning-engagement-ring|title=Vanessa Williams Is Engaged to Boyfriend Jim Skrip—Check Out Her Stunning Engagement Ring!|date=September 26, 2014|publisher=Eonline.com|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> just a few years after giving up her Miss America crown and gave birth to her first child at that time. Hervey was a public relations specialist who was hired to resuscitate her career after her resignation.<ref name="google.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2014-02-11/entertainment/47204236_1_vanessa-williams-ramon-hervey-pageant|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406001737/http://articles.philly.com/2014-02-11/entertainment/47204236_1_vanessa-williams-ramon-hervey-pageant|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2014|title=Long past that Miss A scandal, Vanessa Williams is happy she – and pageant – are back in Atlantic City|work=Philly.com|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanessawilliams.de/mag_ebony1097.htm |title=Vanessa L. Williams: On Her Painful Divorce, the Pressures of Superstardom and Her New Life as a Single Mom |work=Ebony |date=October 1997 |access-date=January 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225110537/http://www.vanessawilliams.de/mag_ebony1097.htm |archive-date=December 25, 2010 }}</ref> They had three children, Melanie, Jillian, and Devin.<ref name="people">{{cite web|title=Vanessa Williams Biography|url=http://www.people.com/people/vanessa_williams/biography/0,,,00.html|publisher=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=May 3, 2012|archive-date=January 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118083154/http://www.people.com/people/vanessa_williams/biography/0,,,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> They divorced in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/25/business/talking-money-with-rick-fox-vanessa-l-williams-behind-glamorous-life-his-hers.html |title=Talking Money with Rick Fox and Vanessa L. Williams – Behind the Glamorous Life, His-and-Hers Nest Eggs |date=November 25, 2001|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/10/vanessa-williams-divorce-relationships_n_5572120.html|title=Vanessa Williams on Her Forever Romantic View of Relationships (VIDEO)|work=The Huffington Post|date=July 10, 2014|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref>

She married [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] basketball player [[Rick Fox]] in 1999. They had one daughter, Sasha Gabriella Fox.<ref name="people"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/fox%20denies%20another%20woman%20played%20part%20in%20williams%20split|title=Fox Denies Another Woman Played Part in Williams Split|date=July 19, 2004}}</ref> They divorced in 2004.<ref name="Vanessa"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-08-10-fox-divorce_x.htm|work=USA Today|title= Rick Fox files for divorce from Vanessa Williams}}</ref><ref name="hook">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20050027,00.html|title=Exes Vanessa Williams, Rick Fox Hook Up for Ugly Betty|access-date=August 5, 2007|last=Margaret|first=Mary|date=August 5, 2007|publisher=People Magazine|archive-date=October 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030073814/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20050027,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, she married Jim Skrip, a businessman from [[Buffalo, New York]] at [[Church of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr (Buffalo, New York)|St. Stanislaus Catholic Church]], after receiving a Church [[annulment]] of her first marriage.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/article/vanessa-williams-married|title=Vanessa Williams Ties the Knot with Jim Skrip|magazine=People|date=July 4, 2015|access-date=July 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Lynette|last=Rice|title=Vanessa Williams Is Engaged to Jim Skrip|url=http://www.people.com/article/vanessa-williams-engaged-jim-skrip|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=September 26, 2014|access-date=September 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-vanessa-williams-married-wedding-jim-skrip-20150706-story.html|title=Actress Vanessa Williams marries for a third time|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 6, 2015|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> The couple quietly divorced in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|first=Janine|last=Rubenstein|url=https://people.com/vanessa-williams-reveals-she-quietly-divorced-jim-skrip-in-2021-exclusive-8682562|title=Vanessa Williams Quietly Divorced Jim Skrip in 2021:'I'm in Love with Life and Having Options' (Exclusive)|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=July 24, 2024|access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref>

Her daughter, [[Jillian Hervey]], is an American singer, dancer, and member of the group [[Lion Babe]].

Williams is a grandmother.

==Activism==
Williams is involved with a number of humanitarian causes. in 2011 participated in the [[Human Rights Campaign|human rights campaign]] New Yorkers for Marriage Equality.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vanessa Williams Speaks Out for Marriage Equality|url=https://www.bet.com/article/c9nmp6/vanessa-williams-speaks-out-for-marriage-equality|publisher=BET.com|access-date=June 1, 2011}}</ref> She is partnered with ''[[Dress For Success (organization)|Dress For Success]],'' an organization that provides professional attire for low-income women seeking employment.<ref name="recentint16">{{cite web|url=http://www.fox5ny.com/news/117422960-video|title=Vanessa Williams|last=FOX|access-date=April 8, 2016|archive-date=April 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420072157/http://www.fox5ny.com/news/117422960-video|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/3817853/vanessa-williams-dress-for-success-phone-interview/|title=Vanessa Williams on How to Make the Perfect First Impression—On the Phone}}</ref> Williams is also involved with The San Miquel Academy of Newburgh, a school for boys at risk.<ref name="school">{{cite web|url=http://www.lohud.com/story/entertainment/people/suburbarazzi/2015/11/02/vanessa-williams-supports-tuition-free-school-for-at-risk-boys/75051062/
|title=Vanessa Williams supports tuition-free school for at-risk boys|access-date=November 4, 2015|last=West|first=Latoya|date=November 4, 2015|publisher=The Journal News}}</ref>

==Honors and awards==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Williams}}
[[File:VanessaWilliamsHWoFMar2012.jpg|thumb|right|Williams in 2012]]
Williams is the recipient of many awards and nominations including eleven [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] nominations for hits such as "[[The Right Stuff (Vanessa Williams song)|The Right Stuff]]", "[[Save the Best for Last]]", and "[[Colors of the Wind]]". In addition, she has earned three [[Emmy Awards|Emmy]] nominations, a [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]] nomination, seven [[NAACP Image Awards]], and four [[Satellite Awards]].

She received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] on March 19, 2007.<ref name="walk">{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/dcf23a69591371fd150023ca2329cba3/VANESSA-WILLIAMS-RECEIVES-STAR-ON-HOLLYWOOD-WALK-OF-FAME/|title=Vanessa Williams receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame|access-date=September 14, 2015|date=2007|publisher=UPI}}</ref>

In December 2017, Vanessa L. Williams participated at [[Children of Armenia Fund|COAF]] Gala fundraising event, delivering a special performance of her Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning song "[[Colors of the Wind]]" and paid tribute to [[Patricia Field]], with whom she worked on the set of the TV series ''[[Ugly Betty]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://asbarez.com/169382/3-6-million-raised-for-villages-in-armenia-during-coaf-gala/|title=$3.6 Million Raised for Villages In Armenia During COAF Gala|date=December 20, 2017|work=Asbarez}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Vanessa Williams discography}}

;Studio albums
* ''[[The Right Stuff (album)|The Right Stuff]]'' (1988)
* ''[[The Comfort Zone (album)|The Comfort Zone]]'' (1991)
* ''[[The Sweetest Days]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Star Bright (Vanessa Williams album)|Star Bright]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Next (Vanessa Williams album)|Next]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Silver & Gold (Vanessa Williams album)|Silver & Gold]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Everlasting Love (Vanessa Williams album)|Everlasting Love]]'' (2005)
* ''[[The Real Thing (Vanessa Williams album)|The Real Thing]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Survivor (Vanessa Williams album)|Survivor]]'' (2024)

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1987
| ''[[The Pick-up Artist (1987 film)|The Pick-up Artist]]''
| Rae
|
|-
| 1988
| ''Under the Gun''
| Samantha Richards
|
|-
| 1989
| ''Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal''
| Valentine Hayward
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=3| 1990
| ''[[Perry Mason (TV film series)|Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer]]''
| Terri Knight
| Television film
|-
| ''Seriously...[[Phil Collins]]''
| Rachel
| Television film
|-
| ''The Kid Who Loved Christmas''
| Lynette Parks
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1991
| ''[[Another You]]''
| Gloria
|
|-
| ''[[Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man]]''
| Lulu Daniels
|
|-
| 1992
| ''Stompin' at the Savoy''
| Pauline
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1995
| ''Nothing Lasts Forever''
| Dr. Kathy "Kat" Hunter
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Bye Bye Birdie (1995 film)|Bye Bye Birdie]]''
| Rose Alvarez
| Television film
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Eraser (film)|Eraser]]''
| Dr. Lee Cullen
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1997
| ''[[Soul Food (film)|Soul Food]]''
| Teri Joseph
|
|-
| ''[[Hoodlum (film)|Hoodlum]]''
| Francine Hughes
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1998
| ''[[Dance with Me (1998 film)|Dance with Me]]''
| Ruby Sinclair
|
|-
| ''[[Futuresport]]''
| Alejandra 'Alex' Torres
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1999
| ''[[The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland]]''
| Queen of Trash
|
|-
| ''[[Light It Up (film)|Light It Up]]''
| Detective Audrey McDonald
|
|-
|rowspan=4| 2000
| ''[[The Courage to Love]]''
| Mother [[Henriette DeLille]]
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Don Quixote (2000 film)|Don Quixote]]''
| [[Dulcinea del Toboso|Dulcinea]]/Aldonza
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Shaft (2000 film)|Shaft]]''
| Carmen Vasquez
|
|-
| ''[[A Diva's Christmas Carol]]''
| Ebony Scrooge
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 2001
| ''WW3''
| M.J. Blake
| Television film
|-
| ''Santa, Baby!''
| Alicia
| Voice, television film
|-
| 2002
| ''Keep the Faith, Baby''
| [[Hazel Scott]]
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 2004
| ''[[Johnson Family Vacation]]''
| Dorothy Johnson
|
|-
| ''Beck and Call''
| Zoe
| Short
|-
|rowspan=2| 2006
| ''Rehearsing a Dream''
| Herself
| Short
|-
| ''[[My Brother (2006 film)|My Brother]]''
| L'Tisha Morton
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2007
| ''The Beautiful World of Ugly Betty''
| [[Wilhelmina Slater]]
| Television film
|-
| ''[[And Then Came Love]]''
| Julie Davidson
|Also executive producer
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Hannah Montana: The Movie]]''
| Vita
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Delhi Safari]]''
| Beggum
| Voice
|-
|rowspan=2| 2013
| ''[[He's Way More Famous Than You]]''
| Herself
|
|-
| ''[[Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor]]''
| Janice
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2014
| ''[[The Trip to Bountiful (play)|The Trip to Bountiful]]''
| Jessie Mae Watts
| Television film
|-
| ''[[When Marnie Was There (film)|When Marnie Was There]]''
| Hisako
| Voice
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Man From Earth: Holocene]]''
| Carolyn
|
|-
|rowspan=3| 2018
| ''[[Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay]]''
| [[Amanda Waller]]
| Voice, direct-to-video
|-
| ''[[The Legend of Hallowaiian]]''
| Fire Goddess
| Voice
|-
| ''False Profits''
| Suzanne
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 2019
| ''[[Batman: Hush (film)|Batman: Hush]]''
| Amanda Waller
| Voice, direct-to-video
|-
| ''[[Miss Virginia (film)|Miss Virginia]]''
| Sally Rae
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Bad Hair (2020 film)|Bad Hair]]''
| Zora Choice
|
|-
|2023
|''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14778172/?ref_=nm_flmg_c_2_act Tripped Up]''
|Patty
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Live from Lincoln Center]]''
| Graduates/Off Stage Voices
| Episode: "New York City Opera: Street Scene"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1984
| ''[[Partners in Crime (American TV series)|Partners in Crime]]''
| Roselle Robins
| Episode: "Celebrity"
|-
| ''[[The Love Boat]]''
| Miss America
| Episode: "Ace's Valet/Mother Comes First/Hit or Miss America"
|-
|rowspan=4| 1986
| ''[[He's the Mayor]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "An Officer and the Mayor"
|-
| ''[[The Redd Foxx Show]]''
| Jessica
| Episode: "The Prodigal Son"
|-
| ''[[T.J. Hooker]]''
| Officer Pat Williamson
| Episode: "Partners in Death"
|-
| ''[[The Love Boat]]''
| Pearl
| Episode: "My Stepmother, Myself/Almost Roommates/Cornerback Sneak"
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Password Plus and Super Password]]''
| Herself/Celebrity Contestant
| Recurring role
|-
|rowspan=2| 1988
| ''[[Showtime at the Apollo]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #2.3"
|-
| ''[[Soul Train]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "[[Thomas Dolby]]/Vanessa L. Williams/[[Tony Terry]]"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1989
| ''After Hours''
| Herself/Host
| Episode: "Turkey Day Part 2"
|-
| ''[[Family Feud]]''
| Herself/Celebrity Contestant
| Recurring Guest
|-
|rowspan=5| 1992
| ''[[Soul Train]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa L. Williams/Shanice Wilson/Jodeci"
|-
| ''[[1992 Soul Train Music Awards|Soul Train Music Awards]]''
| Herself/Co-Host
|
|-
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Woody Harrelson/Vanessa Williams"
|-
| ''[[The Jacksons: An American Dream]]''
| [[Suzanne de Passe]]
| Episode: "Part I & II"
|-
| ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]''
| Danny Mitchell
| Episode: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way Home from the Forum"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1994
| ''Essence Awards''
| Herself/Host
| Main Host
|-
| ''[[Great Performances]]''
| Herself/Host
| Episode: "Carnegie Hall Salutes the Jazz Masters: Verve Records at 50"
|-
| 1995
| {{nowrap|''[[Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child]]''}}
| Beauty
| Voice, episode: "Beauty and the Beast"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1996
| ''[[Intimate Portrait]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
|-
| ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''
| Arandis
| Episode: "[[Let He Who Is Without Sin...]]"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Odyssey (miniseries)|The Odyssey]]''
| [[Calypso (mythology)|Calypso]]
| Episode: "Part I & II"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1998
| ''[[NAACP Image Awards]]''
| Herself/Co-Host
|
|-
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Alec Baldwin/Luciano Pavarotti, Vanessa Williams"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1999
| ''I'll Make Me a World''
| Herself/Narrator
|
|-
| ''[[L.A. Doctors]]''
| Dr. Leanne Barrows
| Recurring role
|-
|rowspan=2| 2000
| ''[[Sesame Street]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Dancing on Sesame Street"
|-
| ''Christmas in Vienna''
| Herself
| Episode: "Our Favorite Things: Christmas in Vienna"
|-
| {{nowrap|2000–09}}
| ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (American game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]''
| Herself/Celebrity Contestant
| Recurring guest
|-
|rowspan=3| 2002
| ''Cool Women''
| Herself
| Episode: "Singers/Actresses"
|-
| ''[[Ally McBeal]]''
| Sheila Hunt
| Episode: "Another One Bites the Dust"
|-
| ''[[The Proud Family]]''
| Debra Williams
| Voice, episode: "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thingy, Baby"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Boomtown (2002 TV series)|Boomtown]]''
| Detective Katherine Pierce
| Recurring role (season 2)
|-
|rowspan=3| 2004
| ''[[Mad TV]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #9.20"
|-
| ''Fashion in Focus''
| Herself
| Episode: "Compassion in Fashion"
|-
| ''[[Evening at Pops]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2005
| ''Black in the 80s''
| Herself
| Episode: "Color in Film" & "Color TV"
|-
| ''Gospel Superfest''
| Herself/Host
| Main host
|-
| 2006
| ''[[South Beach (2006 TV series)|South Beach]]''
| Elizabeth Bauer
| Main cast
|-
| 2006–10
| ''[[Ugly Betty]]''
| [[Wilhelmina Slater]]
| Main cast
|-
|rowspan=2| 2007
| ''[[Shear Genius]]''
| Herself/Celebrity Judge
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
|-
| 2007–08
| ''[[Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies]]''
| Mama Mirabelle
| Voice, main role
|-
| 2009
| ''[[36th Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Awards]]''
| Herself/Host
|
|-
|rowspan=3| 2010
| ''[[Drama League Award]]''
| Herself/Host
|
|-
| ''[[Biography (TV program)|Biography]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
|-
| ''[[The A-List: New York]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "To the Sky"
|-
| 2010–12
| ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''
| [[Renee Perry]]
| Main role (seasons 7 and 8)
|-
|rowspan=2| 2011
| ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (American TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
|-
| ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]''
| Herself/Guest Judge
| Episode: "The Queen Who Mopped X–mas"
|-2012 született feleségek 46 rész Reneé Perry
|rowspan=2| 2012
| ''Kitchen Cousin's''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams Kitchen Surprise"
|-
| ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''
| Flight Attendant
| Voice, episode: "Where's Perry? Part I"
|-
| 2012–13
| ''[[666 Park Avenue]]''
| Olivia Doran
| Main role
|-
|rowspan=2| 2014
| ''The Haunting Of''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
|-
| ''[[Oprah's Master Class]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
|-
|rowspan=4| 2015
| ''[[The Mindy Project]]''
| Dr. Philips
| Episode: "Danny Castellano Is My Nutritionist"
|-
| ''[[Royal Pains]]''
| Olympia Houston
| Recurring role (season 7)
|-
| ''[[The Good Wife]]''
| Courtney Paige
| Recurring role ([[The Good Wife (season 7)|season 7]])
|-
| ''[[Live from Lincoln Center]]''
| Julie LaVerne
| Episode: "Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat"
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Broad City]]''
| Elizabeth Carlton
| Episode: "Game Over"
|-
| 2016–17
| ''[[The Librarians (2014 TV series)|The Librarians]]''
| General Cynthia Rockwell
| Recurring role (season 3)
|-
| 2016–18
| ''[[Milo Murphy's Law]]''
| Dr. Eileen Underwood
| Voice, recurring role
|-
|rowspan=3| 2017
| ''[[Daytime Divas]]''
| Maxine Robinson
| Main cast
|-
| ''[[Difficult People]]''
| Trish
| Episode: "Strike Rat"
|-
| ''[[Modern Family]]''
| Rhonda
| Episode: "The Long Goodbye"
|-
|rowspan=3| 2018
| ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars]]''
| Herself/Guest Judge
| Episode: "Divas Lip Sync Live"
|-
| ''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]''
| Herself/Celebrity Player
| Episode: "[[Kathy Najimy]] vs. [[Yvette Nicole Brown]] and Vanessa Williams vs. [[Gary Cole]]"
|-
| ''[[Me, Myself & I (TV series)|Me, Myself & I]]''
| Kelly Frasier
| Recurring role
|-
|rowspan=5| 2019
| ''American Style''
| Herself
| Recurring guest
|-
| ''[[Project Runway All Stars]]''
| Herself/Guest Judge
| Episode: "Penneys From Heaven"
|-
| ''[[Match Game]]''
| Herself/Celebrity Player
| {{nowrap|Episode: "[[Joel McHale]]/[[Rachael Ray]]/[[Jason Biggs]]/[[Caroline Rhea]]/[[Donald Faison]]/Vanessa Williams"}}
|-
| ''[[Doc McStuffins]]''
| Delilah
| Voice, episode: "Adventures in Baby Land"
|-
| ''[[First Wives Club (TV series)|First Wives Club]]''
| Nancy
| Episode: "Something Blue"
|-
| 2019–22
| ''[[T.O.T.S.]]''
| {{nowrap|Captain Candace Beakman}}
| Voice, main role
|-
|rowspan=3| 2020
| ''[[RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race]]''
| Herself/Vanqueisha De House
| Contestant ([[RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (season 1)|season 1]])
|-
| ''How's Your Head, Hun?''
| Herself
| Episode: "Love in the Time of Quarantine"
|-
| ''[[Let's Make a Deal]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Episode #12.27"
|-
| 2020–21
| ''[[Twenties (TV series)|Twenties]]''
| Angela
| Guest (season 1), recurring (season 2)
|-
|rowspan=4| 2021
| ''Broadway Profiles''
| Herself
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[A Capitol Fourth]]''
| Herself/Host
|
|-
| ''[[Kenan (TV series)|Kenan]]''
| Tasha Noble
| Episode: "Hair Show"
|-
| ''[[Marvel's Wastelanders|Marvel's Wastelanders: Star-Lord]]''
| [[Emma Frost]]
| Voice, main role
|-
| 2021–24
| ''[[Girls5eva]]''
| Nance Trace
| Recurring role
|-
| 2021–23
| ''[[Queen of the Universe (TV series)|Queen of the Universe]]''
| Herself/Judge
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2022
| ''[[Carpool Karaoke]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "[[Hillary Clinton]], [[Chelsea Clinton]] & [[Amber Ruffin]]"
|-
| ''[[A Black Lady Sketch Show]]''
| Delilah
| Episode: "It’s a New Day, Africa America!"
|-
|rowspan=3| 2023
| ''[[American Experience]]''
| Herself/Narrator
| Episode: "[[Zora Neale Hurston]]: Claiming a Space"
|-
| ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Grand Finale"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ramos|first= Dino-Ray|title=RECAP: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15 Episode 16: The Grand Finale|url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/recap-rupauls-drag-race-season-15-episode-16-grand-finale|url-status=live|access-date=2023-04-18|website=www.glaad.org|date= April 14, 2023|archive-date=2021-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123233615/https://www.glaad.org/blog/recap-rupauls-drag-race-season-15-episode-16-grand-finale}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Great Performances]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2024
|''[[Velma (TV series)|Velma]]''
|Dr. Perdue (voice)
|Recurring role (six episodes)
|-
|''[[Elsbeth (TV series)|Elsbeth]]''
|Rosalyn Bridwell
|season 2 episode 4 "Diamonds are for Elsbeth"
|}

===Theatre===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Venue
|-
|1985
|''[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/26/theater/stage-one-man-band-at-south-street-theater.html One Man Band]''
|The Women
|South Street Theatre, Off-Broadway
|-
|1988
|''Checkmates''
|Laura McClellan-Williams
|Westwood Playhouse
|-
|1994
|''The Jazz Masters, Live from Carnegie Hall''
|Host/Performer
|Carnegie Hall
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Kiss of the Spider Woman (musical)|Kiss of the Spider Woman]]''
| Spider Woman/Aurora <small>Replacement</small>
| [[Broadhurst Theatre]], Broadway debut
|-
|1998
|''[[St. Louis Woman]]''<ref>[https://playbill.com/gallery/vanessa-williams-chuck-cooper-and-more-in-st-louis-woman-at-city-center-encores Playbill]</ref>
|Della Green
|City Center, Off-Broadway
|-
|2001
|''[https://playbill.com/article/encores-takes-a-look-at-a-century-of-musicals-nov-18-19-com-99655 Broadway Bash]''
|Performer
|City Center, Off-Broadway
|-
| rowspan="3" |2002
| rowspan=2|''[[Into the Woods]]''
| rowspan=2|The Witch
| Ahmanson Theatre, Pre-Broadway
|-
| Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
|-
|''[[Carmen Jones]]''<ref>[https://playbill.com/article/vanessa-williams-sings-carmen-jones-nov-15-17-at-kennedy-center-com-109593 Playbill]</ref>
|Carmen Jones
|Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
|-
|2004
|''[https://playbill.com/article/vanessa-williams-silver-gold-live-at-the-palace-begins-dec-1-com-122863 Silver & Gold]''
|Herself/Performer
|Palace Theatre, Broadway
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Sondheim on Sondheim]]''
| Performer
| [[Studio 54]], Broadway
|-
|rowspan=2| 2013
| ''[[The Trip to Bountiful (play)|The Trip to Bountiful]]''
| Jessie Mae Watts
| [[Stephen Sondheim Theatre]], Broadway
|-
| ''[[After Midnight (musical)|After Midnight]]''
| Special Guest Star
| [[Brooks Atkinson Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|2014
|''[[Show Boat]]''<ref>[https://playbill.com/article/vanessa-williams-julian-ovenden-and-lauren-worsham-will-star-in-new-york-philharmonic-show-boat-com-323172 Playbill]</ref>
|Julie
|New York Philharmonic, Avery Fisher Hall
|-
|2018
|''[https://playbill.com/article/watch-vanessa-williams-sing-push-de-button-from-city-center-encores-hey-look-me-over-concert Hey Look Me Over]''
|Performer
|City Center, Off-Broadway
|-
|2020
|''[[City of Angels (musical)|City of Angels]]''<ref>[https://playbill.com/article/city-of-angels-begins-in-london-starring-theo-james-rosalie-craig-vanessa-williams-and-more Playbill]</ref>
|Carla/Alaura
|Garrick Theatre, West End
|-
| rowspan="4" |2022
|[https://playbill.com/article/potus-star-vanessa-williams-plays-town-hall-june-20 ''Seth'' ''Rudetsky's'' ''Broadway Concert Series'']
|Herself/Performer
|Town Hall, Broadway
|-
| ''[[Anyone Can Whistle]]''
|Cora Hoover Hooper
|[[Carnegie Hall]]
|-
| ''[[POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive]]''
| Margaret
| [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|''[https://playbill.com/article/watch-vanessa-williams-lachanze-andrew-rannells-james-monroe-iglehart-more-sing-showstoppers-in-50-years-of-broadway-at-the-kennedy-center 50 Years of Broadway at the Kennedy Center]''
|Performer
|Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
|-
|April 15, 2024
|''[https://playbill.com/article/jane-krakowski-vanessa-williams-more-to-join-kristin-chenoweth-broadway-benefit-concert KRISTIN: An Evening with Friends for Todd]''
|Performer
|Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway
|-
|July–August 2024
|''[[The Devil Wears Prada (musical)|The Devil Wears Prada]]''
|Miranda Priestly
|[[Theatre Royal, Plymouth]]
|-
|October, 2024
|''The Devil Wears Prada''<ref>[https://variety.com/2024/theater/global/vanessa-williams-the-devil-wears-prada-elton-john-1235916054/ Playbill]</ref>
|Miranda Priestly
|[[Dominion Theatre]], West End
|-
|November 11, 2024
|''[https://playbill.com/production/a-wonderful-world-broadway-studio-54-2024 A Wonderful World]''
|Producer
|Studio 54, Broadway
|}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Vanessa |last2=Williams |first2=Helen |year=2012 |title=You Have No Idea: A Famous Daughter, Her No-Nonsense Mother, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Each Other) |location=New York |publisher=[[Gotham Books]] |isbn=978-1-5924-0759-0}}
* {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Vanessa |year=2020 |title=Bubble Kisses |location=New York |publisher=Sterling Children's Books |isbn=978-1-4549-3834-7}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart]]
*[[Children of Armenia Fund]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{imdb name|id=0001853|name=Vanessa L. Williams}}
{{wikiquote}}

* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{AllMusic}}
* {{IBDB name}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Debra Maffett]]
| title = [[Miss America]]
| years = 1984
| after = [[Suzette Charles]]
}}
{{succession box
| before = Eileen Clark
| title = [[Miss New York]]
| years = 1983
| after = Melissa Manning
}}

{{s-end}}

{{Vanessa Williams}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Williams|Awards for Vanessa Williams]]
|list =
{{Mary Pickford Award}}
{{MissAmericas 1980–1999| state=collapsed}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist}}
{{New York pageant winners}}
{{Satellite Award Best Actress Television Miniseries or Film}}
{{Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress Series Miniseries or Television Film}}
{{Teen Choice Award Choice TV Villain}}
}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1963 births|Williams, Vanessa Lynn]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Vanessa}}
[[Category:Miss America|Williams, Vanessa Lynn]]
[[Category:Vanessa Williams| ]]
[[Category:Cinema actors|Williams, Vanessa Lynn]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Female singers|Williams, Vanessa Lynn]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pop singers|Williams, Vanessa Lynn]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:American actors|Williams, Vanessa Lynn]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:Actors from Westchester County, New York]]
[[Category:Actresses from New York City]]
[[Category:African-American actresses]]
[[Category:African-American beauty pageant winners]]
[[Category:African-American Catholics]]
[[Category:African-American fashion designers]]
[[Category:African-American history of Westchester County, New York]]
[[Category:African-American jazz musicians]]
[[Category:American contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:American dance musicians]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of Welsh descent]]
[[Category:American people of Finnish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Portuguese descent]]
[[Category:American soul singers]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:American women fashion designers]]
[[Category:American women jazz singers]]
[[Category:American jazz singers]]
[[Category:American women pop singers]]
[[Category:Catholics from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Concord Records artists]]
[[Category:Dancers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Entertainers from the Bronx]]
[[Category:Horace Greeley High School alumni]]
[[Category:Lava Records artists]]
[[Category:Mercury Records artists]]
[[Category:Miss America 1980s delegates]]
[[Category:Miss America Preliminary Talent winners]]
[[Category:Miss America winners]]
[[Category:Miss New York winners]]
[[Category:People with type 1 diabetes]]
[[Category:Polydor Records artists]]
[[Category:RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race winners]]
[[Category:Singers from New York City]]
[[Category:Syracuse University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 19:01, 2 December 2024

Vanessa Williams
Williams in 2019
Born
Vanessa Lynn Williams

(1963-03-18) March 18, 1963 (age 61)
New York City, U.S.[1]
EducationSyracuse University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • model
  • producer
  • dancer
Years active1982–present
Title
TermMiss America:
September 17, 1983 – July 22, 1984 (resigned)
PredecessorDebra Maffett
SuccessorSuzette Charles
Spouses
Ramon Hervey II
(m. 1987; div. 1997)
(m. 1999; div. 2004)
Jim Skrip
(m. 2015; div. 2021)
Children4, including Jillian Hervey
RelativesChris Williams (brother)
AwardsFull list
Musical career
Genres
Labels
Websitevanessawilliams.com

Vanessa Lynn Williams[1] (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, model, producer, and dancer. She gained recognition as the first Black woman to win the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later resign her title amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine. Thirty-two years later, Williams was offered a public apology during the Miss America 2016 pageant for the events.

Williams rebounded from the scandal with a successful career as a singer and actress. In 1988, she released her debut studio album The Right Stuff, whose title single saw moderate success as well as "Dreamin'", which peaked at number 8 in the United States in 1989. With her second and third studio albums, The Comfort Zone (1991) and The Sweetest Days (1994), she saw continued commercial success and received multiple Grammy Award nominations, including her number-one single and signature song, "Save the Best for Last", which she performed live at the 1993 Grammy Awards ceremonies. Her later studio albums include Everlasting Love (2005) and The Real Thing (2009).

As an actress, Williams enjoyed success on stage and screen. She made her Broadway debut in 1994 with Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 2002, she starred as The Witch in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods that earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. She starred in the revival of Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful in 2013, and the ensemble political farce POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive in 2022. She is also known for her appearances in television, with her best known roles being Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (2006–2010), for which she was nominated three times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series; and Renee Perry on Desperate Housewives (2010–2012).

Early life and education

[edit]

Vanessa Lynn Williams was born in Tarrytown, New York with a birth announcement that read: "Here she is: Miss America".[2][3] She was raised in Millwood, New York.[1] A paternal great-great-grandfather was William Fields, an African-American legislator in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Williams is also of English and Welsh descent.[4][5] Her mother Helen Tinch met her father Milton Augustine Williams Jr. (1935–2006) while both were music education students at Fredonia State Teachers College in the late 1950s.[6] They became elementary school music teachers in separate districts after marriage.[6] Milton also served as the assistant principal of his school for an extended period of time.[7]

Williams was raised Catholic, the religion of her father. Her mother, who had been raised Baptist, converted to Catholicism when she married. Williams was baptized at Our Lady of Grace Church in the Bronx. Her mother played the organ at St. Theresa's Church in Briarcliff Manor for weddings and at Mass, and Williams used to assist her mother by turning the pages of sheet music.[2]

Williams and her younger brother Chris, who later became an actor, grew up in Westchester County, a predominantly white middle to upper-class suburb of New York City.[3] Williams believes she may have been the first African-American student to go from the first grade to the 12th grade in the Chappaqua Central School District.[5] She attended Robert E. Bell Middle School, as did her children years later. Williams revealed that the shop and home economics teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Fink, were still there when her children attended.[8]

A child of music teachers, Williams grew up in a musical household, studying classical and jazz dance, French horn, piano, and violin.[1][2] She was offered the Presidential Scholarship for Drama to attend Carnegie Mellon University during the college application period, one of 12 students to receive it, but decided instead to attend Syracuse University[1] on a different scholarship.[9] In 1981, Williams joined Syracuse's College of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Drama as a musical theater major.[9][10] She stayed at Syracuse through her second year until she was crowned Miss America 1984 in September 1983.[10]

In May 2008, Syracuse granted Williams a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.[11] According to Syracuse News, "Williams earned the remaining credits for her degree through industry experience and her substantial performances on stage and screen."[10] Williams delivered the 2008 convocation address, telling Syracuse seniors to "treasure this moment. These days are irreplaceable and are the beginning of the rest of your life."[12]

Name misattribution

[edit]

Williams is most often publicly recognized simply as "Vanessa Williams". There is occasional confusion with the similarly named actress Vanessa E. Williams. It has been reported that Vanessa L. became aware of Vanessa E. in the 1980s when the New York University registrar told her that another, similarly aged student with the same name and from the same state had applied.[13][14] When Williams appeared as Miss America in a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Vanessa E. accidentally received her check for the appearance, which she returned.[13]

In the area of acting, the two ran into name conflict when Screen Actors Guild rules prohibited duplicate stage naming. Vanessa E. had registered the name "Vanessa Williams" first,[13] so as a compromise, Williams was occasionally credited as "Vanessa L. Williams" in acting credits. To compound the confusion, both actresses starred in versions of the drama Soul Food, Williams in the film version, and Vanessa E. in its TV series adaptation. The Screen Actors Guild eventually took the issue to arbitration, and decided both actresses could use the professional name "Vanessa Williams".[14]

Miss America

[edit]
Williams in 1984
Williams at the conclusion of her performance of "Oh How the Years Go By" at Miss America 2016

Williams was the first African-American recipient of the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984 on September 17, 1983. Several weeks before the end of her reign, a scandal arose when Penthouse magazine bought and published unauthorized nude photographs of her. Williams was pressured to relinquish her title and was succeeded by the first runner-up: Miss New Jersey 1983, Suzette Charles. Thirty-two years later in September 2015, when Williams served as head judge for the Miss America 2016 pageant, former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell made a public apology to her for the events of 1984.[15][16][17][18]

Career

[edit]

Music

[edit]

Williams first received public recognition for her musical abilities when she won the preliminary talent portion of the Miss America pageant with her rendition of "Happy Days Are Here Again" (Williams would later be crowned Miss America 1984).[15] Four years later in 1988, Williams released her debut album, The Right Stuff.[1] The first single, "The Right Stuff", found success on the R&B chart, while the second single, "He's Got the Look", found similar success on the same chart. The third single, "Dreamin'", was a pop hit, becoming Williams' first top 10 hit on the 1989 Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 8, and her first number one single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album reached gold status in the U.S. and earned her an NAACP Image Award and three Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best New Artist.[1]

Her second album The Comfort Zone became the biggest success in her music career.[1] The lead single "Running Back to You" reached top twenty on the Hot 100, and the top position of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on October 5, 1991. Other singles included "The Comfort Zone" (#2 R&B), "Just for Tonight" (#26 Pop), a cover of The Isley Brothers' "Work to Do" (#3 R&B), and the club-only hit "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)". The most successful single from the album, as well as her biggest hit to date, is "Save the Best for Last".[1]

It reached No. 1 in the United States, where it remained for five weeks, as well as No. 1 in Australia, the Netherlands, and Canada, and was in the top 5 in Japan, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The album sold 2.2 million copies in the U.S. at its time of release and has since been certified triple platinum in the United States by the RIAA, gold in Canada by the CRIA, and platinum in the United Kingdom by the BPI. Williams performed the song live at the 1993 Grammy Awards Ceremony. The Comfort Zone earned Williams five Grammy Award nominations.[1]

The Sweetest Days, her third album, was released in 1994 to highly favorable reviews.[1] The album saw Williams branch out and sample other styles of music that included jazz, hip hop, rock, and Latin-themed recordings such as "Betcha Never" and "You Can't Run", both written and produced by Babyface. Other singles from the album included the adult-contemporary and dance hit "The Way That You Love" and the title track. The album was certified platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA and earned her two Grammy Award nominations.[1]

Other releases include two Christmas albums, Star Bright in 1996, and Silver & Gold in 2004, Next in 1997, Everlasting Love in 2005, and The Real Thing in 2009, along with a greatest-hits compilation released in 1998, and a number of other compilations released over the years.[1] Chart performances from subsequent albums, motion picture and television soundtracks have included the songs "Love Is", which was a duet with Brian McKnight, the Golden Globe- and Academy Award-winning "Colors of the Wind", "Where Do We Go from Here?", and "Oh How the Years Go By".[1]

In 1996, Williams performed the national anthem at Super Bowl XXX.

In April 2018, she announced she was working on a new studio album due in the fall that would incorporate her R&B, pop, & Broadway influences.[19]

On April 26, 2024, Williams released a new single, "Legs (Keep Dancing)", the first from her ninth studio album, Survivor, which was released on August 23, 2024.[20] Williams launched her own record label, Mellian Music, for the release.[21] On May 13, 2024, the digital single "Legs (Keep Dancing)" debuted on the US Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales (Billboard) chart in the Number 3 position. The single's success marks Williams' first hit on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.[22] In July 2024, Williams released the single "Bop!", a collaboration with Trixie Mattel and Lion Babe.[23]

Vanessa Williams has surpassed 250 million total streams on Spotify across all credits. She averages nearly 190K daily listeners on the platform.[24]

Television and film

[edit]
Williams in 2016

Williams has had a successful career in television. Her first television appearance was on a 1984 episode of The Love Boat[25] followed by guest appearances in a number of popular shows. In 1995, Williams starred as Rose Alvarez in a television adaptation of the 1960 Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie and portrayed the nymph Calypso in the 1997 Hallmark Entertainment miniseries The Odyssey. In 2001, Williams starred in the Lifetime film about the life of Henriette DeLille, The Courage to Love and in 2003, Williams read the narrative of Tempie Herndon Durham from the WPA slave narratives in the HBO documentary Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives.[1]

In 2006, Williams received considerable media attention for her comic/villainess role as former model/magazine creative director turned editor-in-chief Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty.[1] Her performance on the series resulted in a nomination for outstanding supporting actress at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards[26] with additional nominations in 2008 and 2009.[1] Williams next joined the cast of Desperate Housewives for its seventh season, where she portrayed Renee Perry, an old college "frenemy" of Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman).[27] In 2016, she joined the cast of The Librarians, as recurring villainess General Rockwell.[28] She starred as Maxine in the VH1 television series Daytime Divas during its one season in 2017.[29][30]

Williams has appeared in a number of feature films. She received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Teri Joseph for the 1997 feature film Soul Food. In 2007, she starred in the independent film My Brother,[31] for which she won Best Actress honors at the Harlem International Film Festival, the African-American Women in Cinema Film Festival, and at the Santa Barbara African Heritage Film Festival. She also notably co-starred with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser,[32] Samuel L. Jackson in the 2000 soft reboot of Shaft, the characters from Sesame Street in The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, as the Queen of Trash, and with Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana: The Movie.[33]

Theatre

[edit]

Williams began her career on stage in the 1985 production, One Man Band, as one of "the women".[34] She followed it in 1989 as "Laura" in Ron Milner's Checkmates.[35]

In 1994, she broadened her ascendant music career into a theatrical role when she replaced Chita Rivera as Aurora in the Broadway production of Kiss of the Spider Woman.[36] In 1998, she portrayed Della Green in the revival of St. Louis Woman,[37] and Carmen Jones in the 2002 Kennedy Center Special Performance of Carmen Jones.[38] In the same year, she was also featured in the Tony/Drama Desk Award-winning revival production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, for which she was nominated for a Tony and Drama Desk Award for her performance as the Witch. This production included songs revised for her.[39]

In 2010, Vanessa starred in a new Broadway musical revue entitled Sondheim on Sondheim, a look at Stephen Sondheim through his music, film and videotaped interviews. Sondheim ran from March 19 to June 13 at Studio 54 in New York City.[40] In 2013, she starred as Jessie Mae Watts in the Horton Foote play The Trip to Bountiful, which was later turned into a 2014 television film.[41] In 2014, she starred in the Broadway musical, After Midnight[42] and in 2015, she appeared in a PBS production of Show Boat as Julie La Verne.[43] Williams will star as Margaret in POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive on Broadway, with performances beginning on April 14, 2022, at the Shubert Theatre.[44]

Additional roles

[edit]
Williams at the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City

Williams served as the host of the 1994 Essence Awards,[45] co-host of Carnegie Hall Salutes the Jazz Masters: Verve Records at 50,[46] host of the 1998 NAACP Image Awards,[47] host of the 2002 documentary, It's Black Entertainment, host of The 6th Annual TV Land Awards in 2007,[48] host of the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2009,[49] and host of the documentary Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation in 2009.

Williams is a spokesmodel for Proactiv Solution,[50] and was the first African-American spokesmodel for L'Oréal cosmetics in the 1990s.[51] In 2018, Williams returned as a spokesmodel for L'Oréal as part of their 'Age perfect' campaign alongside fellow ambassadors Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore, and Jane Fonda.[52] In 2000, she appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire as a contestant, and again in August 2009, as a celebrity guest during the show's tenth anniversary prime-time special editions, winning $50,000 for her charity.[53][54]

In a commercial that began running during Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Williams voiced the new character Ms. Brown, a brown M&M.[55]

In 2020, Williams was the winner of episode 2 of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race, and donated her prize of $20,000 to the LGBTQ charity The Trevor Project.

Fashion

[edit]

In March 2016, Williams launched her own clothing line, V. by Vanessa Williams, for EVINE Live.[56]

Personal life

[edit]

Williams and her mother Helen co-authored a memoir titled You Have No Idea, published in April 2012. In the book, Williams discusses her childhood, rise to fame, and personal struggles, including life with type 1 diabetes, including the fact that she was sexually molested by a woman when she was ten years old.[57][58] She spoke candidly about having an abortion while she was in high school.[59]

Williams is a practicing Catholic, something she spoke about on the ABC News program Focus on Faith with Fr. Edward L. Beck.[2]

Williams has been married three times. She married Ramon Hervey II[60][61] at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church[62] in 1987[62][63] just a few years after giving up her Miss America crown and gave birth to her first child at that time. Hervey was a public relations specialist who was hired to resuscitate her career after her resignation.[62][64][65] They had three children, Melanie, Jillian, and Devin.[66] They divorced in 1997.[67][68]

She married NBA basketball player Rick Fox in 1999. They had one daughter, Sasha Gabriella Fox.[66][69] They divorced in 2004.[1][70][71] In 2015, she married Jim Skrip, a businessman from Buffalo, New York at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, after receiving a Church annulment of her first marriage.[72][73][74] The couple quietly divorced in 2021.[75]

Her daughter, Jillian Hervey, is an American singer, dancer, and member of the group Lion Babe.

Williams is a grandmother.

Activism

[edit]

Williams is involved with a number of humanitarian causes. in 2011 participated in the human rights campaign New Yorkers for Marriage Equality.[76] She is partnered with Dress For Success, an organization that provides professional attire for low-income women seeking employment.[30][77] Williams is also involved with The San Miquel Academy of Newburgh, a school for boys at risk.[78]

Honors and awards

[edit]
Williams in 2012

Williams is the recipient of many awards and nominations including eleven Grammy nominations for hits such as "The Right Stuff", "Save the Best for Last", and "Colors of the Wind". In addition, she has earned three Emmy nominations, a Tony Award nomination, seven NAACP Image Awards, and four Satellite Awards.

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 19, 2007.[79]

In December 2017, Vanessa L. Williams participated at COAF Gala fundraising event, delivering a special performance of her Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning song "Colors of the Wind" and paid tribute to Patricia Field, with whom she worked on the set of the TV series Ugly Betty.[80]

Discography

[edit]
Studio albums

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Pick-up Artist Rae
1988 Under the Gun Samantha Richards
1989 Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal Valentine Hayward Television film
1990 Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer Terri Knight Television film
Seriously...Phil Collins Rachel Television film
The Kid Who Loved Christmas Lynette Parks Television film
1991 Another You Gloria
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man Lulu Daniels
1992 Stompin' at the Savoy Pauline Television film
1995 Nothing Lasts Forever Dr. Kathy "Kat" Hunter Television film
Bye Bye Birdie Rose Alvarez Television film
1996 Eraser Dr. Lee Cullen
1997 Soul Food Teri Joseph
Hoodlum Francine Hughes
1998 Dance with Me Ruby Sinclair
Futuresport Alejandra 'Alex' Torres Television film
1999 The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Queen of Trash
Light It Up Detective Audrey McDonald
2000 The Courage to Love Mother Henriette DeLille Television film
Don Quixote Dulcinea/Aldonza Television film
Shaft Carmen Vasquez
A Diva's Christmas Carol Ebony Scrooge Television film
2001 WW3 M.J. Blake Television film
Santa, Baby! Alicia Voice, television film
2002 Keep the Faith, Baby Hazel Scott Television film
2004 Johnson Family Vacation Dorothy Johnson
Beck and Call Zoe Short
2006 Rehearsing a Dream Herself Short
My Brother L'Tisha Morton
2007 The Beautiful World of Ugly Betty Wilhelmina Slater Television film
And Then Came Love Julie Davidson Also executive producer
2009 Hannah Montana: The Movie Vita
2011 Delhi Safari Beggum Voice
2013 He's Way More Famous Than You Herself
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor Janice
2014 The Trip to Bountiful Jessie Mae Watts Television film
When Marnie Was There Hisako Voice
2017 The Man From Earth: Holocene Carolyn
2018 Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay Amanda Waller Voice, direct-to-video
The Legend of Hallowaiian Fire Goddess Voice
False Profits Suzanne Television film
2019 Batman: Hush Amanda Waller Voice, direct-to-video
Miss Virginia Sally Rae
2020 Bad Hair Zora Choice
2023 Tripped Up Patty

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Live from Lincoln Center Graduates/Off Stage Voices Episode: "New York City Opera: Street Scene"
1984 Partners in Crime Roselle Robins Episode: "Celebrity"
The Love Boat Miss America Episode: "Ace's Valet/Mother Comes First/Hit or Miss America"
1986 He's the Mayor Herself Episode: "An Officer and the Mayor"
The Redd Foxx Show Jessica Episode: "The Prodigal Son"
T.J. Hooker Officer Pat Williamson Episode: "Partners in Death"
The Love Boat Pearl Episode: "My Stepmother, Myself/Almost Roommates/Cornerback Sneak"
1987 Password Plus and Super Password Herself/Celebrity Contestant Recurring role
1988 Showtime at the Apollo Herself Episode: "Episode #2.3"
Soul Train Herself Episode: "Thomas Dolby/Vanessa L. Williams/Tony Terry"
1989 After Hours Herself/Host Episode: "Turkey Day Part 2"
Family Feud Herself/Celebrity Contestant Recurring Guest
1992 Soul Train Herself Episode: "Vanessa L. Williams/Shanice Wilson/Jodeci"
Soul Train Music Awards Herself/Co-Host
Saturday Night Live Herself Episode: "Woody Harrelson/Vanessa Williams"
The Jacksons: An American Dream Suzanne de Passe Episode: "Part I & II"
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Danny Mitchell Episode: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way Home from the Forum"
1994 Essence Awards Herself/Host Main Host
Great Performances Herself/Host Episode: "Carnegie Hall Salutes the Jazz Masters: Verve Records at 50"
1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Beauty Voice, episode: "Beauty and the Beast"
1996 Intimate Portrait Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Arandis Episode: "Let He Who Is Without Sin..."
1997 The Odyssey Calypso Episode: "Part I & II"
1998 NAACP Image Awards Herself/Co-Host
Saturday Night Live Herself Episode: "Alec Baldwin/Luciano Pavarotti, Vanessa Williams"
1999 I'll Make Me a World Herself/Narrator
L.A. Doctors Dr. Leanne Barrows Recurring role
2000 Sesame Street Herself Episode: "Dancing on Sesame Street"
Christmas in Vienna Herself Episode: "Our Favorite Things: Christmas in Vienna"
2000–09 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Herself/Celebrity Contestant Recurring guest
2002 Cool Women Herself Episode: "Singers/Actresses"
Ally McBeal Sheila Hunt Episode: "Another One Bites the Dust"
The Proud Family Debra Williams Voice, episode: "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thingy, Baby"
2003 Boomtown Detective Katherine Pierce Recurring role (season 2)
2004 Mad TV Herself Episode: "Episode #9.20"
Fashion in Focus Herself Episode: "Compassion in Fashion"
Evening at Pops Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
2005 Black in the 80s Herself Episode: "Color in Film" & "Color TV"
Gospel Superfest Herself/Host Main host
2006 South Beach Elizabeth Bauer Main cast
2006–10 Ugly Betty Wilhelmina Slater Main cast
2007 Shear Genius Herself/Celebrity Judge 2 episodes
E! True Hollywood Story Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
2007–08 Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies Mama Mirabelle Voice, main role
2009 Daytime Emmy Awards Herself/Host
2010 Drama League Award Herself/Host
Biography Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
The A-List: New York Herself Episode: "To the Sky"
2010–12 Desperate Housewives Renee Perry Main role (seasons 7 and 8)
2011 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
RuPaul's Drag Race Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "The Queen Who Mopped X–mas"
2012 Kitchen Cousin's Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams Kitchen Surprise"
Phineas and Ferb Flight Attendant Voice, episode: "Where's Perry? Part I"
2012–13 666 Park Avenue Olivia Doran Main role
2014 The Haunting Of Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
Oprah's Master Class Herself Episode: "Vanessa Williams"
2015 The Mindy Project Dr. Philips Episode: "Danny Castellano Is My Nutritionist"
Royal Pains Olympia Houston Recurring role (season 7)
The Good Wife Courtney Paige Recurring role (season 7)
Live from Lincoln Center Julie LaVerne Episode: "Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat"
2016 Broad City Elizabeth Carlton Episode: "Game Over"
2016–17 The Librarians General Cynthia Rockwell Recurring role (season 3)
2016–18 Milo Murphy's Law Dr. Eileen Underwood Voice, recurring role
2017 Daytime Divas Maxine Robinson Main cast
Difficult People Trish Episode: "Strike Rat"
Modern Family Rhonda Episode: "The Long Goodbye"
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "Divas Lip Sync Live"
Pyramid Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Kathy Najimy vs. Yvette Nicole Brown and Vanessa Williams vs. Gary Cole"
Me, Myself & I Kelly Frasier Recurring role
2019 American Style Herself Recurring guest
Project Runway All Stars Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "Penneys From Heaven"
Match Game Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Joel McHale/Rachael Ray/Jason Biggs/Caroline Rhea/Donald Faison/Vanessa Williams"
Doc McStuffins Delilah Voice, episode: "Adventures in Baby Land"
First Wives Club Nancy Episode: "Something Blue"
2019–22 T.O.T.S. Captain Candace Beakman Voice, main role
2020 RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Herself/Vanqueisha De House Contestant (season 1)
How's Your Head, Hun? Herself Episode: "Love in the Time of Quarantine"
Let's Make a Deal Herself Episode: "Episode #12.27"
2020–21 Twenties Angela Guest (season 1), recurring (season 2)
2021 Broadway Profiles Herself 2 episodes
A Capitol Fourth Herself/Host
Kenan Tasha Noble Episode: "Hair Show"
Marvel's Wastelanders: Star-Lord Emma Frost Voice, main role
2021–24 Girls5eva Nance Trace Recurring role
2021–23 Queen of the Universe Herself/Judge
2022 Carpool Karaoke Herself Episode: "Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton & Amber Ruffin"
A Black Lady Sketch Show Delilah Episode: "It’s a New Day, Africa America!"
2023 American Experience Herself/Narrator Episode: "Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space"
RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Episode: "Grand Finale"[81]
Great Performances Herself Episode: "Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best"
2024 Velma Dr. Perdue (voice) Recurring role (six episodes)
Elsbeth Rosalyn Bridwell season 2 episode 4 "Diamonds are for Elsbeth"

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue
1985 One Man Band The Women South Street Theatre, Off-Broadway
1988 Checkmates Laura McClellan-Williams Westwood Playhouse
1994 The Jazz Masters, Live from Carnegie Hall Host/Performer Carnegie Hall
1994 Kiss of the Spider Woman Spider Woman/Aurora Replacement Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway debut
1998 St. Louis Woman[82] Della Green City Center, Off-Broadway
2001 Broadway Bash Performer City Center, Off-Broadway
2002 Into the Woods The Witch Ahmanson Theatre, Pre-Broadway
Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
Carmen Jones[83] Carmen Jones Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2004 Silver & Gold Herself/Performer Palace Theatre, Broadway
2010 Sondheim on Sondheim Performer Studio 54, Broadway
2013 The Trip to Bountiful Jessie Mae Watts Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway
After Midnight Special Guest Star Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway
2014 Show Boat[84] Julie New York Philharmonic, Avery Fisher Hall
2018 Hey Look Me Over Performer City Center, Off-Broadway
2020 City of Angels[85] Carla/Alaura Garrick Theatre, West End
2022 Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Concert Series Herself/Performer Town Hall, Broadway
Anyone Can Whistle Cora Hoover Hooper Carnegie Hall
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive Margaret Shubert Theatre, Broadway
50 Years of Broadway at the Kennedy Center Performer Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
April 15, 2024 KRISTIN: An Evening with Friends for Todd Performer Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway
July–August 2024 The Devil Wears Prada Miranda Priestly Theatre Royal, Plymouth
October, 2024 The Devil Wears Prada[86] Miranda Priestly Dominion Theatre, West End
November 11, 2024 A Wonderful World Producer Studio 54, Broadway

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Williams, Vanessa; Williams, Helen (2012). You Have No Idea: A Famous Daughter, Her No-Nonsense Mother, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Each Other). New York: Gotham Books. ISBN 978-1-5924-0759-0.
  • Williams, Vanessa (2020). Bubble Kisses. New York: Sterling Children's Books. ISBN 978-1-4549-3834-7.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss America
1984
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Eileen Clark
Miss New York
1983
Succeeded by
Melissa Manning