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Vanessa Williams
0 FOLLOWERS • 50 CREDITS • MAR 18, 1963 • 61
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An American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, and actress. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal involving nude photographs caused her to relinquish her title early. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations. Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, which spawned the hits "The Right Stuff," a #1 on Hot Dance Songs, and "Dreamin'," a #1 on R&B and #8 on Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, The Comfort Zone, in 1991 topped the Billboard R&B Album Chart, and spawned the number-one hit, "Save the Best for Last." In 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song, "Colors of the Wind," from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas. It went on to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Williams's first major movie role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996. She also starred in the movies Soul Food, Dance with Me, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Shaft and Johnson Family Vacation. From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of self-absorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty. In 2009, Williams released her eighth studio album, The Real Thing. In 2010 she joined the ensemble cast of the series Desperate Housewives as spoiled rich woman Renee Perry.
Overview
An American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, and actress. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal involving nude photographs caused her to relinquish her title early. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations. Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, which spawned the hits "The Right Stuff," a #1 on Hot Dance Songs, and "Dreamin'," a #1 on R&B and #8 on Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, The Comfort Zone, in 1991 topped the Billboard R&B Album Chart, and spawned the number-one hit, "Save the Best for Last." In 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song, "Colors of the Wind," from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas. It went on to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Williams's first major movie role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996. She also starred in the movies Soul Food, Dance with Me, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Shaft and Johnson Family Vacation. From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of self-absorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty. In 2009, Williams released her eighth studio album, The Real Thing. In 2010 she joined the ensemble cast of the series Desperate Housewives as spoiled rich woman Renee Perry.
Known For
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Graham Norton Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
RuPaul's Drag Race
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
The Flash
Saturday Night Live
Tony Awards
The Oscars
The Good Wife
Chicago Hope
The Mindy Project
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Modern Family
Broad City
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Girls5eva
The Librarians
MADtv
The $100,000 Pyramid
T. J. Hooker
The Proud Family
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Name That Tune
Boomtown
Velma
LateLine
Days of Our Lives
Who Do You Think You Are?
L.A. Doctors
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Partners in Crime
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Calling All T.O.T.S.
The Bachelorette
Desperate Housewives
Batman: Hush
Hannah Montana: The Movie
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
The Odyssey
Bad Hair
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Queen of the Universe
Ugly Betty
Nothing Lasts Forever
Shaft
Eraser
Nothing Lasts Forever
Dance with Me
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