Vanessa Williams

Acting • 1963-03-18 • Tarrytown, New York, USA

Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American singer, actress, producer, dancer, and model. She was the first Black woman to win Miss America in 1984, but resigned after nude photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine. Williams has since had a successful career in music and acting, selling millions of albums and earning critical acclaim.

Known For

7.9

Desperate Housewives

2004

7.6

The Good Wife

2009

6.4

Ugly Betty

2006

6.1

Eraser

1996

6.0

Shaft

2000

7.2

The Librarians

2014

Fan Club

No Nerds have favorited Vanessa Williams yet — be the first.

All fan clubs

From Nerdspin

Filmography

2026
The Claudia Winkleman ShowTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 2.7
2024
ElsbethTV
Roslyn Bridwell • 1 episodes
★ 6.7
2024
Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia FieldFilm
Self
2024
The Little Pageant That CouldFilm
Self (archive footage)
2023
VelmaTV
Dr. Perdue (voice) • 6 episodes
★ 3.5
2023
Tripped UpFilm
Patricia Chamberlain
★ 4.7
2023
Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a SpaceFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 5.0
2023
Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's BestFilm
Self
★ 2.0
2022
The Jennifer Hudson ShowTV
★ 5.6
2022
SherriTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 2.6
2022
Los lunes a las 9Film
Self (Archive Footage)
2021
Girls5evaTV
Nance Trace • 3 episodes
★ 5.9
2021
Bad HairFilm
Zora
★ 5.6
2021
Name That TuneTV
Self - Contestant • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
2021
Queen of the UniverseTV
Self - Judge • 14 episodes
★ 4.2
2021
Blankety BlankTV
Self - Panellist • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2021
Show of TitlesFilm
"Dear World" Performer
2020
RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag RaceTV
Vanquisha Da House - Contestant • 1 episodes
★ 5.8
2020
Calling All T.O.T.S.TV
Captain Beakman (voice) • 10 episodes
★ 7.0
2020
Stars in the HouseTV
Self • 1 episodes
2020
Stars in the HouseTV
Self - Special Guest • 1 episodes
2020
SingleholicFilm
Jackie Chisolm
★ 2.0
2020
Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa WilliamsTV
Self - Host • 1 episodes
2020
Vanessa Williams: Live From the West SideFilm
2020
There She IsFilm
2019
The Kelly Clarkson ShowTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 6.2
2019
The Tamron Hall ShowTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 4.7
2019
Batman: HushFilm
Amanda Waller (voice)
★ 7.1
2019
A Black Lady Sketch ShowTV
Delilah • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2019
T.O.T.S.TV
Captain Beakman (voice) • 150 episodes
★ 7.4
2019
First Wives ClubTV
Nancy • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
2019
Miss VirginiaFilm
Sally Rae
★ 7.8
2019
American StyleTV
Self • 4 episodes
★ 1.0
2018
Suicide Squad: Hell to PayFilm
Amanda Waller (voice)
★ 7.1
2018
The Legend of HallowaiianFilm
Fire Goddess (voice)
★ 7.8
2018
Celebrity CatchphraseTV
Self - Contestant • 1 episodes
★ 10.0
2017
The Man from Earth: HoloceneFilm
Carolyn
★ 5.5
2017
Not Black EnoughFilm
Self
★ 7.8
2017
Daytime DivasTV
Maxine Robinson • 10 episodes
★ 3.7
2016
Match GameTV
Self - Panelist • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
2016
The $100,000 PyramidTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2016
The Secret She KeptFilm
Beverly
★ 7.2
2016
VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent NightFilm
Self
2015
Difficult PeopleTV
Trish • 1 episodes
★ 6.2
2015
Show BoatFilm
Julie LaVerne
2014
The LibrariansTV
Cynthia Rockwell • 4 episodes
★ 7.2
2014
Broad CityTV
Elizabeth Carlton • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
2014
The Trip to BountifulFilm
Jessie Mae Watts
★ 6.2
2013
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage CounselorFilm
Janice
★ 6.7
2013
He's Way More Famous Than YouFilm
Vanessa Williams
★ 4.2
2012
RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsTV
Self - Guest Judge • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
2012
The Mindy ProjectTV
Dr. Phillips • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
2012
Doc McStuffinsTV
Delilah the Nesting Doll (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.1
2012
666 Park AvenueTV
Olivia Doran • 13 episodes
★ 6.1
2012
BethennyTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
2011
The Jonathan Ross ShowTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 5.2
2011
A Mother's LoveFilm
Rochelle Richardson
2010
The TalkTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 3.0
2010
Who Do You Think You Are?TV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
2009
Modern FamilyTV
Rhonda • 1 episodes
★ 7.9
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenTV
Self - Guest • 4 episodes
★ 4.9
2009
RuPaul's Drag RaceTV
Self - Special Guest • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
2009
RuPaul's Drag RaceTV
★ 7.5
2009
RuPaul's Drag RaceTV
Self - Guest Judge • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
2009
RuPaul's Drag RaceTV
Self - Judge (archive footage) • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
2009
The Good WifeTV
Courtney Paige • 4 episodes
★ 7.6
2009
Hannah Montana: The MovieFilm
Vita
★ 6.6
2008
The Wendy Williams ShowTV
★ 5.7
2008
Walt Disney World Christmas Day ParadeFilm
Self
★ 7.0
2007
The Graham Norton ShowTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
2007
And Then Came LoveFilm
Julie
★ 5.9
2007
Mama Mirabelle's Home MoviesTV
Mama Mirabelle (voice) • 26 episodes
★ 8.0
2007
Shear GeniusTV
★ 5.0
2006
Ugly BettyTV
Wilhelmina Slater • 85 episodes
★ 6.4
2006
South BeachTV
Elizabeth Bauer • 8 episodes
★ 6.4
2006
My BrotherFilm
L'Tisha Morton
★ 5.0
2006
Desperate Housewives: Les Secrets de la SérieFilm
Renee Perry
2006
Rehearsing a DreamFilm
Self
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
2005
The Reichen ShowTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 4.8
2005
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony AwardsFilm
Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)
★ 7.2
2005
Gift for the LivingFilm
Narrator
★ 9.0
2005
Walt Disney World Christmas Day ParadeFilm
Self
★ 7.0
2004
Desperate HousewivesTV
Renee Perry • 44 episodes
★ 7.9
2004
On Air with Ryan SeacrestTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 9.5
2004
Johnson Family VacationFilm
Dorothy Johnson
★ 5.5
2004
The Tony Danza ShowTV
Self - Guest • 5 episodes
★ 6.4
2004
Christmas in WashingtonFilm
★ 3.7
2004
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?Film
Self (archive footage)
2004
The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas StarfestFilm
Self
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!TV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 5.3
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!TV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 5.3
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres ShowTV
Self • 3 episodes
★ 5.5
2003
The BacheloretteTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 4.3
2003
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave NarrativesFilm
★ 5.2
2002
BoomtownTV
Detective Katherine Pierce • 6 episodes
★ 6.5
2002
Keep the Faith, BabyFilm
Hazel Scott
★ 5.7
2002
It's Black EntertainmentFilm
Self - Host
★ 8.7
2002
Miss AmericaFilm
Self (archival footage)
★ 10.0
2001
The Proud FamilyTV
Debra (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
2001
Good Day LiveTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 3.8
2001
WW3Film
M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
★ 5.4
2001
Santa, Baby!Film
Alicia (voice)
★ 5.5
2000
ShaftFilm
Carmen Vasquez
★ 6.0
2000
Don QuixoteFilm
Dulcinea / Aldonza
★ 6.3
2000
A Diva's Christmas CarolFilm
Ebony Scrooge
★ 6.2
2000
The Courage to LoveFilm
Mother Henriette Delille
★ 6.8
2000
Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special FriendsFilm
Herself
★ 10.0
2000
Shaft: Still the ManFilm
Self
★ 7.5
2000
AfrocentricityFilm
Self
★ 7.0
1999
The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandFilm
Queen of Trash
★ 6.2
1999
FuturesportFilm
Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
★ 4.3
1999
Light It UpFilm
Audrey McDonald
★ 6.6
1998
Dance with MeFilm
Ruby Sinclair
★ 6.9
1998
L.A. DoctorsTV
Leanne Barrows • 3 episodes
★ 8.5
1998
VH1 DivasTV
★ 7.5
1998
Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of LiberiaFilm
Self
1997
Ally McBealTV
Sheila Hunt • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
1997
The ViewTV
Self • 6 episodes
★ 4.3
1997
The ViewTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 4.3
1997
The OdysseyTV
Calypso • 2 episodes
★ 7.3
1997
HoodlumFilm
Francine Hughes
★ 6.5
1997
Soul FoodFilm
Teri
★ 6.3
1996
EraserFilm
Lee
★ 6.1
1996
Jungle CubsTV
★ 6.6
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell ShowTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 4.1
1995
MADtvTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildTV
Beauty (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1995
Bye Bye BirdieFilm
Rose Alvarez
★ 6.2
1995
Nothing Lasts ForeverFilm
Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
★ 6.5
1995
Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein IIFilm
Self
1995
Nothing Lasts ForeverTV
Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter • 2 episodes
1994
Score with ChicksFilm
★ 7.0
1993
Star Trek: Deep Space NineTV
Arandis • 1 episodes
★ 7.9
1993
Intimate PortraitTV
Self (archive footage) • 1 episodes
★ 4.5
1993
David Foster's Christmas AlbumFilm
Self
1992
The Jacksons: An American DreamTV
Suzanne de Passe • 2 episodes
★ 6.9
1992
Stompin' at the SavoyFilm
Pauline
1992
The Jaleel White SpecialFilm
Self
1991
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro ManFilm
Lulu Daniels
★ 6.3
1991
Another YouFilm
Gloria
★ 5.5
1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirTV
Danny Mitchell • 1 episodes
★ 7.9
1990
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced SingerFilm
Terri Knight
★ 7.5
1990
The Kid Who Loved ChristmasFilm
Lynette Parks
★ 6.6
1990
Seriously... Phil CollinsFilm
Rachel - TV Executive
★ 8.0
1989
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes ScandalFilm
Valentine Hayward
★ 4.8
1988
LIVE with Kelly and MarkTV
Self - Guest • 4 episodes
★ 5.6
1988
American ExperienceTV
Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
1988
Under the GunFilm
Samantha Richards
★ 7.1
1987
The Pick-up ArtistFilm
Rae, Girl with Dog
★ 5.6
1985
Motown Returns to the ApolloFilm
1984
Partners in CrimeTV
★ 6.5
1982
T. J. HookerTV
Officer Pat Williamson • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
1980
A Capitol FourthTV
Self • 46 episodes
1975
Saturday Night LiveTV
Self - Musical Guest • 2 episodes
★ 6.9
1965
Days of Our LivesTV
Valerie Grant • 3 episodes
★ 6.2
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.6
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self - Performer • 1 episodes
1954
Miss AmericaTV
Miss New York 1983 • 1 episodes
1953
The OscarsTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.1