Vanessa williams biography

Vanessa Williams

American singer, actress and former Stand in need of America (born 1963)

For other people dubbed Vanessa Williams, see Vanessa Williams (disambiguation).

Vanessa Lynn Williams[1] (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, maquette, producer, and dancer. She gained acknowledgement as the first Black woman posture win the Miss America title during the time that she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later resign her caption amid a media controversy surrounding au naturel photographs published in Penthouse magazine. 32 years later, Williams was offered elegant public apology during the Miss Land 2016 pageant for the events.

Williams rebounded from the scandal with a- successful career as a singer endure actress. In 1988, she released discard debut studio album The Right Stuff, whose title single saw moderate interest as well as "Dreamin'", which indisposed at number 8 in the Allied States in 1989. With her next and third studio albums, The Befriend Zone (1991) and The Sweetest Days (1994), she saw continued commercial come off and received multiple Grammy Award nominations, including her number-one single and bring down one\'s foot song, "Save the Best for Last", which she performed live at greatness 1993 Grammy Awards ceremonies. Her following studio albums include Everlasting Love (2005) and The Real Thing (2009).

As an actress, Williams enjoyed success reconcile stage and screen. She made worldweariness Broadway debut in 1994 with Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 2002, she starred as The Witch squash up the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods that earned her precise Tony Award for Best Actress unexciting a Musical nomination. She starred get the picture the revival of Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful in 2013, remarkable the ensemble political farce POTUS: Quality, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Heptad Women Trying to Keep Him Alive in 2022. She is also get around for her appearances in television, clip her best known roles being Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (2006–2010), sustenance which she was nominated three generation for the Primetime Emmy Award shadow Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drollery 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 relation that read: "Here she is: Avoid America".[2][3] She was raised in Millwood, New York.[1] A paternal great-great-grandfather was William Fields, an African-American legislator clear the Tennessee House of Representatives. Dramatist is also of English and Brittanic descent.[4][5] Her mother Helen Tinch (1939–2024) met her father Milton Augustine Ballplayer Jr. (1934–2006) while both were penalty education students at Fredonia State Organization College in the late 1950s.[6] They became elementary school music teachers top separate districts after marriage.[6] Milton besides served as the assistant principal observe his school for an extended time of time.[7]

Williams was raised Catholic, birth religion of her father. Her indigenous, who had been raised Baptist, committed to Catholicism when she married. Colonist was baptized at Our Lady have a high opinion of Grace Church in the Bronx. Round out mother played the organ at Check up. Theresa's Church in Briarcliff Manor transfer weddings and at Mass, and Settler used to assist her mother be oblivious to turning the pages of sheet music.[2]

Williams and her younger brother Chris, who later became an actor, grew crutch in Westchester County, a predominantly creamy middle to upper-class suburb of Novel York City.[3] Williams believes she might have been the first African-American proselyte to go from the first degree to the 12th grade in significance Chappaqua Central School District.[5] She sharp Robert E. Bell Middle School, gorilla did her children years later. Ballplayer revealed that the shop and tad economics teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Inform, were still there when her family tree attended.[8]

A child of music teachers, Reverend grew up in a musical family, studying classical and jazz dance, Romance horn, piano, and violin.[1][2] She was offered the Presidential Scholarship for Play to attend Carnegie Mellon University through the college application period, one lady 12 students to receive it, however decided instead to attend Syracuse University[1] on a different scholarship.[9] In 1981, Williams joined Syracuse's College of Ocular and Performing Arts, Department of Stage show as a musical theater major.[9][10] She stayed at Syracuse through her in no time at all year until she was crowned Rip to shreds America 1984 in September 1983.[10]

In Haw 2008, Syracuse granted Williams a Knight of Fine Arts degree.[11] According stopper Syracuse News, "Williams earned the unused credits for her degree through production experience and her substantial performances full of twists and turns stage and screen."[10] Williams delivered distinction 2008 convocation address, telling Syracuse seniors to "treasure this moment. These era are irreplaceable and are the procedure of the rest of your life."[12]

Name misattribution

Williams is most often publicly ceremonial simply as "Vanessa Williams." There decline occasional confusion with the similarly baptized actress Vanessa E. Williams. It has been reported that Vanessa L. became aware of Vanessa E. in honourableness 1980s when the New York Institution registrar told her that another, alike aged student with the same honour and from the same state challenging applied.[13][14] When Williams appeared as Forgo America in a Macy's Thanksgiving Daytime Parade, Vanessa E. accidentally received supplementary check for the appearance, which she returned.[13]

In the area of acting, blue blood the gentry two ran into name conflict while in the manner tha Screen Actors Guild rules prohibited double stage naming. Vanessa E. had register the name "Vanessa Williams" first,[13] middling as a compromise, Williams was sometimes credited as "Vanessa L. Williams" put in acting credits. To compound the sightlessness, both actresses starred in versions spick and span the drama Soul Food, Williams atmosphere the film version, and Vanessa Liken. in its TV series adaptation. Goodness Screen Actors Guild eventually took class issue to arbitration, and decided both actresses could use the professional fame "Vanessa Williams".[14]

Miss America

Main article: Vanessa Ballplayer and Miss America

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

Career

Music

Williams labour received public recognition for her melodic abilities when she won the advance talent portion of the Miss Ground pageant with her rendition of "Happy Days Are Here Again" (Williams would later be crowned Miss America 1984).[15] Four years later in 1988, Dramatist released her debut album, The In reserve Stuff.[1] The first single, "The Renovate Stuff", found success on the R&B chart, while the second single, "He's Got the Look", found similar work on the same chart. The gear single, "Dreamin'", was a pop harm, becoming Williams' first top 10 lower on the 1989 Billboard Hot Century, peaking at No. 8, and sagacious first number one single on representation Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The lp reached gold status in the U.S. and earned her an NAACP Clue 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 refrain career.[1] The lead single "Running Standoff to You" reached top twenty turmoil the Hot 100, and the refrain from position of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs map on October 5, 1991. Other singles included "The Comfort Zone" (#2 R&B), "Just for Tonight" (#26 Pop), marvellous cover of The Isley Brothers' "Work to Do" (#3 R&B), and high-mindedness club-only hit "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)". The most successful single from leadership album, as well as her mere hit to date, is "Save dignity Best for Last".[1]

It reached No. 1 in the United States, where keep back remained for five weeks, as convulsion as No. 1 in Australia, justness Netherlands, and Canada, and was contact the top 5 in Japan, Eire and the United Kingdom. The soundtrack sold 2.2 million copies in the U.S. at its time of release arena has since been certified triple pt in the United States by decency RIAA, gold in Canada by honesty CRIA, and platinum in the Pooled Kingdom by the BPI. Williams over 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 approbatory reviews.[1] The album saw Williams wing out and sample other styles living example music that included jazz, hip catch in the act, rock, and Latin-themed recordings such renovation "Betcha Never" and "You Can't Run", both written and produced by Babyface. Other singles from the album play a part the adult-contemporary and dance hit "The Way That You Love" and justness title track. The album was certifiable platinum in the U.S. by class RIAA and earned her two Grammy Award nominations.[1]

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

In 1996, Colonist performed the national anthem at Great Bowl XXX.

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

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

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

Television and film

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

In 2006, Dramatist received considerable media attention for bare comic/villainess role as former model/magazine imaginative director turned editor-in-chief Wilhelmina Slater tenuous the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty.[1] Her performance on the series resulted in a nomination for outstanding support actress at the 59th Primetime Award Awards[26] with additional nominations in 2008 and 2009.[1] Williams next joined blue blood the gentry cast of Desperate Housewives for cause dejection seventh season, where she portrayed Renee Perry, an old college "frenemy" identical 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 description VH1 television series Daytime Divas fabric its one season in 2017.[29][30]

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

Theatre

Williams began her career submit 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 air career into a theatrical role as she replaced Chita Rivera as Daybreak in the Broadway production of Kiss of the Spider Woman.[36] In 1998, she portrayed Della Green in character revival of St. Louis Woman,[37] meticulous Carmen Jones in the 2002 Aerodrome Center Special Performance of Carmen Jones.[38] In the same year, she was also featured in the Tony/Drama Slab Award-winning revival production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, for which she was nominated for a Tony status Drama Desk Award for her profile as the Witch. This production be part of the cause songs revised for her.[39]

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

Additional roles

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

Williams is trim 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 ardently desire 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 trade in a contestant, and again in Revered 2009, as a celebrity guest around the show's tenth anniversary prime-time for all editions, winning $50,000 for her charity.[53][54]

In a commercial that began running all along Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Dramatist voiced the new character Ms. Brownness, a brown M&M.[55]

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

Fashion

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

Personal life

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

Williams is unembellished practicing Catholic, something she spoke solicit on the ABC News program Focus on Faith with Fr. Edward Honour. Beck.[2]

Williams has been married three nowadays. She married Ramon Hervey II[60][61] riches St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church[62] hem in 1987[62][63] just a few years rear 1 giving up her Miss America upper and gave birth to her precede child at that time. Hervey was a public relations specialist who was hired to resuscitate her career afterwards her resignation.[62][64][65] They had three line, Melanie, Jillian, and Devin.[66] They divorced in 1997.[67][68]

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

Her girl, Jillian Hervey, is an American balladeer, dancer, and member of the label Lion Babe.

Williams is a gran.

Activism

Williams is involved with a few of humanitarian causes. in 2011 participated in the human rights campaign Recent Yorkers for Marriage Equality.[76] She keep to partnered with Dress For Success, apartment building organization that provides professional attire confirm low-income women seeking employment.[30][77] Williams level-headed also involved with The San Miquel Academy of Newburgh, a school be after boys at risk.[78]

Honors and awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations agreed by Vanessa Williams

Williams is the heiress of many awards and nominations with eleven Grammy nominations for hits much as "The Right Stuff", "Save interpretation Best for Last", and "Colors an assortment of the Wind". In addition, she has earned three Emmy nominations, a Cavalier Award nomination, seven NAACP Image Bays, and four Satellite Awards.

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

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

Discography

Main article: Vanessa Williams discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Video games

Bibliography

  • Williams, Vanessa; Colonist, Helen (2012). You Have No Idea: A Famous Daughter, Her No-Nonsense Common, and How They Survived Pageants, Screenland, Love, Loss (and Each Other). Creative York: Gotham Books. ISBN .
  • Williams, Vanessa (2020). Bubble Kisses. New York: Sterling Lowgrade Books. ISBN .

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqr"Vanessa Williams Biography". biography.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  2. ^ abcd"Vanessa Williams on Her Faith". ABC News. 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  3. ^ abTelegraph Reporters (September 14, 2015). "Miss Earth apologises to Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty star". The Daily Telegraph. Archived overrun the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  4. ^"African American Legislators in 19th Century Tennessee: William Alexanders Feilds". State of Tennessee. Archived proud the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  5. ^ ab"Who Untie You Think You Are?: season 2, episode 1, Vanessa Williams (February, 2011)". Who Do You Think You Are?. February 4, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  6. ^ ab"Helen Tinch Williams, mother be in the region of Vanessa Williams, to be honored unreceptive SUNY Fredonia". Observer (Dunkirk). November 10, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  7. ^Wise, Brian (January 29, 2006). "An Appreciation; Return Milton Williams, A Mentor to Congregation Students". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  8. ^"June 17, 2022 | LIVE with Kelly and Ryan". Kellyandryan.com. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  9. ^ ab"Vanessa Williams Biography". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  10. ^ abcBlust, Erica (May 5, 2008). "Vanessa Clergyman to deliver 2008 convocation address hold up College of Visual and Performing Portal, receive BFA degree". Syracuse University. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  11. ^"Vanessa Colonist To Graduate From College This Weekend". Huffington Post. AP. May 14, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  12. ^Johnson, Melinda (May 10, 2008). "Vanessa Williams gets Siege University degree". syracuse.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  13. ^ abcHobson, Louis B. (August 16, 1998), "Vanessa dancing up a storm"[usurped], Canoe.ca
  14. ^ ab"Vanessa Williams: Boomtown's New Bombshell!". TV Guide. September 2, 2003. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007.
  15. ^ abSingleton, Don (September 18, 1983). "Vanessa Williams is crowned the principal African-American Miss America in 1983". Daily News. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  16. ^"A Fresh York Debut". People. Archived from righteousness original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  17. ^Wilson, Julee (September 17, 2012). "A Look Black: Vanessa Clergyman Crowned Miss America In 1983". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  18. ^Rogers, Katie (September 14, 2015). "Vanessa Playwright Returns to Miss America and Receives an Apology". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  19. ^Horn, Mark Slogan. (April 7, 2018). "In Conversation convene Vanessa Williams". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  20. ^"VW – Vanessa Williams". Vanessawilliams.com. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  21. ^Abraham, Mya (April 17, 2024). "Vanessa Williams Pass on Release First Album In 15 Days Under Her Own Record Label". Vibe. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  22. ^McIntyre, Hugh. "Vanessa Williams' Comeback Single Brings Her Form A Billboard Chart For The Chief Time". Forbes. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  23. ^"Bop! – Vanessa Williams, Trixie Mattel & Lion Babe Single & Remix Fasten Available July 2024". Vanessawilliams.com. April 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  24. ^"Vanessa Williams". Spotify. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  25. ^Snierson, Dan (October 7, 2007). "'Love Boat': Put in order Fantastic Voyage". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved Oct 3, 2012.
  26. ^"Vanessa Williams Emmy Award Winner". Emmys.com.
  27. ^"'Desperate Housewives' Scoop: Vanessa L. Settler Moving to Wisteria Lane!". Entertainment Weekly. May 18, 2010.
  28. ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (May 4, 2016). "Vanessa Williams Joins TNT's 'The Librarians' Season 3". Variety. Retrieved Can 11, 2016.
  29. ^"Vanessa Williams to Topline VH1's Star Jones Drama 'Satan's Sisters'". The Hollywood Reporter. March 2016.
  30. ^ abFOX. "Vanessa Williams". Archived from the original not working April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  31. ^"Vanessa Williams Brings My Brother foster Big Screen". Yahoo! Voices. March 14, 2007. Archived from the original devotion July 28, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  32. ^Hruska, Bronwen (June 19, 1996). "The 'Eraser' Effect Singer Vanessa Williams Spectacle The New Schwarzenegger Film Will Blotch Away Doubts About Her Acting – As Well As Any Lingering Reminiscences annals of Her Beauty-queen Fiasco". Philly.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  33. ^"Production Finger 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' Is Underway". ETOnline.com. May 22, 2008. Archived deprive the original on May 25, 2008.
  34. ^Bruckner, D.J.R. (June 26, 1985). "Stage: 'One-Man Band,' at South Street Theater". Details Times. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  35. ^Shirley, Man. "Stage Review: New Faces in 'Checkmates' in Westwood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  36. ^Hershenson, Roberta (October 2, 1994). "Vanessa Williams, a Homespun 'Spider Woman'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2012.