Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American singer, actress, and ex-model. She became the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1983. After that, Vanessa Williams made her mark as a model, singer, songwriter, and actor. Though the Miss America title helped kick-start her career, death threats and hate mails made her life difficult. Eventually, she relinquished her title to dodge the threats. After her modeling career, Williams became a singer, and her debut album, "The Right Stuff," had commercial success on the R&B charts. It led to the release of eight more studio albums, each highly successful. Following her thriving musical career, she launched herself as an actor in theater, film, and television.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
Live with Kelly and Mark (2023)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 1x27: Vanessa Williams, American Idol winner (May 23, 2023)
Velma (2023)
Guest starring as Dr. Perdue
(6 episodes)
- Episode 2x10: Til Death (Apr 25, 2024)
- Episode 2x09: The Real Villain (Apr 25, 2024)
- Episode 2x08: Aman Hunt (Apr 25, 2024)
- Episode 2x07: Female Utopia (Apr 25, 2024)
- Episode 2x06: Private Velmjamin (Apr 25, 2024)
- Episode 2x05: Burning Woman (Apr 25, 2024)
The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 1x163: Vanessa Williams, Travis Bennett (May 18, 2023)
Queen of the Universe (2021)
Starring as Judge
(15 episodes)
- Episode 2x08: The Winner Is... (Jun 22, 2023)
- Episode 2x07: Battle of the Divas (Jun 22, 2023)
- Episode 2x06: Exposed! (Jun 22, 2023)
- Episode 2x05: Who's Ready for a Dance Off? (Jun 22, 2023)
- Episode 2x04: Dragging up the Past (Jun 16, 2023)
- Episode 2x03: Double Trouble (Jun 9, 2023)
- Episode 2x02: A Spicy Twist (Jun 2, 2023)
- Episode 2x01: Bigger Hits, Glossier Lips and Massive T**s (Jun 2, 2023)
- Episode 1x06: Holi-Gay Finale (Dec 30, 2021)
- Episode 1x05: Bad Girls (Dec 23, 2021)
- Episode 1x04: Duets (Dec 16, 2021)
- Episode 1x03: Turn Back Time (Dec 9, 2021)
- Episode 1x02: This is Me (Part 2) (Dec 2, 2021)
- Episode 1x01: This Is Me (Part 1) (Dec 2, 2021)
- Episode S01 Special: Meet the Judges, Host, and Contestants of Queen of the Universe! (Dec 2, 2021)
Capital One College Bowl (2021)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 2x03: Qualifiers 3 (Sep 16, 2022)
Girls5eva (2021)
Guest starring as Nance Trace
(3 episodes)
- Episode 3x06: New York (Mar 14, 2024)
- Episode 1x08: Separ8 Ways (May 6, 2021)
- Episode 1x07: A.I.R.P.I.G. (May 6, 2021)
Name That Tune (2021)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 3x20: Divas vs. Boybands (Feb 6, 2024)
GMA3: What You Need to Know (2020)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(2 episodes)
- Episode 4x116: Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Mekhi Phifer, Michael Beach (Feb 28, 2024)
- Episode 4x103: Vanessa Williams, Jamie Ivey (Feb 9, 2024)
How's Your Head, Hun? with Michelle Visage (2020)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x08: The New Normal (Jul 14, 2020) [Uncredited]
- Episode 1x07: Love in the Time of Quarantine (Jul 7, 2020)
RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2020)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 1x02: Rusical (May 1, 2020)
Tamron Hall (2019)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(2 episodes)
- Episode 5x65: Vanessa Williams (Dec 11, 2023)
- Episode 4x181: Queens of their Universe (May 30, 2023)
Today with Hoda & Jenna (2019)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 3x166: Vanessa Williams, Cat Stevens (May 11, 2021)
Me, Myself & I (2017)
Guest starring as Kelly Fraiser
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x13: There She Goes (Jul 21, 2018)
- Episode 1x09: Thanksgiving (Jul 14, 2018)
- Episode 1x07: Field Trip (Jul 7, 2018)
Live with Kelly and Ryan (2017)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(2 episodes)
- Episode 3x250: NICOLE "SNOOKI" POLIZZI, UMA THURMAN, and VANESSA WILLIAMS (Aug 29, 2019)
- Episode 1x23: Vanessa Williams, Louie Anderson (May 31, 2017)
Match Game (2016)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 4x09: Joel McHale, Rachael Ray, Jason Biggs, Caroline Rhea, Donald Faison, Vanessa Williams. (Jun 26, 2019)
The $100,000 Pyramid (2016)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 3x05: Kathy Najimy vs. Yvette Nicole Brown and Vanessa Williams vs. Gary Cole (Jul 15, 2018)
The Librarians (2014)
Guest starring as General Cynthia Rockwell
(4 episodes)
- Episode 3x10: And the Wrath of Chaos (Jan 22, 2017)
- Episode 3x09: And the Fatal Separation (Jan 15, 2017)
- Episode 3x06: And the Trial of the Triangle (Dec 25, 2016)
- Episode 3x01: And the Rise of Chaos (Nov 20, 2016)
The Haunting of... (2012)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 2x02: Vanessa Williams (Jun 21, 2014)
RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (2012)
Guest starring as Judge
- Episode 3x02: Divas Lip Sync Live (Feb 1, 2018)
666 Park Avenue (2012)
Starring as Olivia Doran
(13 episodes)
- Episode 1x13: Lazarus: Part 1 (Jul 13, 2013)
- Episode 1x12: The Elysian Fields (Jul 6, 2013)
- Episode 1x11: Sins of the Fathers (Jun 29, 2013)
- Episode 1x10: The Comfort of Death (Jun 22, 2013)
- Episode 1x09: Hypnos (Dec 2, 2012)
- Episode 1x08: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Nov 25, 2012)
- Episode 1x07: Downward Spiral (Nov 11, 2012)
- Episode 1x06: Diabolic (Nov 4, 2012)
- Episode 1x05: A Crowd of Demons (Oct 28, 2012)
- Episode 1x04: Hero Complex (Oct 21, 2012)
- Episode 1x03: The Dead Don't Stay Dead (Oct 14, 2012)
- Episode 1x02: Murmurations (Oct 7, 2012)
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (Sep 30, 2012)
The Mindy Project (2012)
Guest starring as Dr. Suzanne Phillips
- Episode 3x17: Danny Castellano is My Nutritionist (Feb 24, 2015)
Anderson Live (2011)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 1x149: Suburban Double Life: Mommy Madam's Husband; Vanessa Williams & Mother (May 3, 2012)
The Talk (2010)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(13 episodes)
- Episode 2020-04-27: Julie Andrews, Vanessa Williams (Apr 27, 2020)
- Episode 2019-09-27: Chris O'Donnell, Antoinette Clarke, Tricia Clarke-Stone, Vanessa L. Williams guest co-hosts (Sep 27, 2019)
- Episode 2019-09-26: Mike Colter, Vanessa L. Williams guest co-hosts (Sep 26, 2019)
- Episode 2019-07-03: Cary Elwes, Jake Busey, Vanessa Williams and Carnie Wilson guest co-hosts (Jul 3, 2019)
- Episode 2019-06-14: Jennifer Aniston, Vanessa Williams guest co-hosts (Jun 14, 2019)
- Episode 2019-06-13: Mindy Kaling, Vanessa Williams guest co-hosts (Jun 13, 2019)
- Episode 2019-06-12: Hilary Duff, Vanessa Williams guest co-hosts (Jun 12, 2019)
- Episode 2019-06-11: Vanessa Williams guest co-hosts (Jun 11, 2019)
- Episode 2019-06-10: Ralph Macchio, Vanessa Williams guest co-hosts (Jun 10, 2019)
- Episode 2019-01-30: Tim Allen, Vanessa L. Williams (Jan 30, 2019)
- Episode 2019-01-29: Marcia Gay Harden, Sara Gilbert, Vanessa L. Williams (Jan 29, 2019)
- Episode 2019-01-28: Vanessa L. Williams (Jan 28, 2019)
- Episode 2017-06-14: Natasha Lyonne, Big Boy, guest co-host Vanessa Williams (Jun 14, 2017) [Special Guest Star]
Who Do You Think You Are? (2010)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 2x01: Vanessa Williams (Feb 4, 2011)
Modern Family (2009)
Guest starring as Rhonda
- Episode 9x02: The Long Goodbye (Oct 4, 2017) [Special Guest Star]
Watch What Happens Live (2009)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 14x98: Vanessa Williams, Star Jones (Jun 11, 2017)
Royal Pains (2009)
Guest starring as Olympia Houston
(2 episodes)
- Episode 7x05: Voices Carry (Jun 30, 2015)
- Episode 7x04: The Prince of Nucleotides (Jun 23, 2015)
RuPaul's Drag Race (2009)
Guest starring as Judge
- Episode 3x01: The Queen Who Mopped Xmas (Jan 24, 2011)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 15x16: Grand Finale (Apr 14, 2023)
Ugly Betty (2006)
Starring as Wilhelmina Slater
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2x17: The Kids Are Alright (May 15, 2008)
- Episode 1x15: Brothers (Feb 8, 2007)
South Beach (2006)
Starring as Elizabeth Bauer
(8 episodes)
- Episode 1x08: It Looked LIke Somebody's Nightmare (Feb 22, 2006)
- Episode 1x07: The S.B. (Feb 15, 2006)
- Episode 1x06: I'll Do What I Wanna Do (Feb 8, 2006)
- Episode 1x05: Who Do You Trust (Feb 1, 2006)
- Episode 1x04: Every Day Above Ground is a Good Day (Jan 25, 2006)
- Episode 1x03: I Want What's Coming to Me (Jan 18, 2006)
- Episode 1x02: I'm Not Your Baby (Jan 11, 2006)
- Episode 1x01: I Always Tell the Truth Even When I Lie (Jan 11, 2006)
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 2005-01-28: Bjorn Agren, Johnny Borrell, Carl Dalemo, Christian Smith (Jan 28, 2005)
Desperate Housewives (2004)
Starring as Renee Perry
(9 episodes)
- Episode 8x23: Finishing the Hat (2) (May 13, 2012)
- Episode 7x08: Sorry Grateful (Nov 14, 2010)
- Episode 7x07: A Humiliating Business (Nov 7, 2010)
- Episode 7x06: Excited and Scared (Oct 31, 2010)
- Episode 7x05: Let Me Entertain You (Oct 24, 2010)
- Episode 7x04: The Thing That Counts is What's Inside (Oct 17, 2010)
- Episode 7x03: Truly Content (Oct 10, 2010)
- Episode 7x02: You Must Meet My Wife (Oct 3, 2010)
- Episode 7x01: Remember Paul (Sep 26, 2010)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 2007-12-03: OneRepublic, Dakota Blue Richards, Vanessa Williams (Dec 3, 2007)
Boomtown (2002)
Guest starring as Detective Katherine Pierce
(6 episodes)
- Episode 2x06: The Big Picture (Dec 28, 2003)
- Episode 2x05: The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang (Dec 27, 2003)
- Episode 2x04: Haystack (Dec 27, 2003)
- Episode 2x03: Wannabe (Dec 27, 2003)
- Episode 2x02: Inadmissible (Oct 3, 2003)
- Episode 2x01: The Love of Money (Sep 26, 2003)
MTV Cribs (2000)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 19x25: Vanessa Williams, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton & Israel Houghton (Dec 13, 2023)
Ally McBeal (1997)
Guest starring as Sheila Hunt
- Episode 5x19: Another One Bites the Dust (Apr 29, 2002)
The View (1997)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 2017-06-02: Star Jones with Vanessa Williams (Jun 2, 2017)
The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 1x10: Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, Vanessa Williams (Jun 21, 1996)
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995)
Guest starring as Beauty
- Episode 1x11: Beauty and the Beast (May 21, 1995)
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1997-08-25: Vanessa Williams, Joe Montana (Aug 25, 1997)
- Episode 1996-06-17: Vanessa Williams, Jonathan Silverman, Lucile Treganowan (Jun 17, 1996)
- Episode 1994-12-02: Michael Keaton, Nicholas Turturro, Vanessa Williams (Dec 2, 1994)
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
Guest starring as Arandis
- Episode 5x07: Let He Who is Without Sin... (Nov 11, 1996) [Special Guest Star]
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
Guest starring as Danny Mitchell
- Episode 3x11: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way from the Forum (Nov 23, 1992)
American Experience (1988)
Guest starring as Narrator
- Episode 35x04: Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space (Jan 17, 2023)
A Capitol Fourth (1980)
Starring as Host
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2021-07-04: A Capitol Fourth 2021 (Jul 4, 2021)
- Episode 2020-07-04: A Capitol Fourth 2020 (Jul 4, 2020)
The Love Boat (1977)
Guest starring as Miss America 1984
- Episode 7x21: Ace's Valet / Mother Comes First / Hit or Miss America (Feb 25, 1984)
Guest starring as Pearl
- Episode 9x24: My Stepmother, Myself / Almost Roommates / Cornerback Sneak (May 17, 1986)
Saturday Night Live (1975)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(2 episodes)
- Episode 24x09: Alec Baldwin / Luciano Pavarotti (Dec 12, 1998)
- Episode 17x20: Woody Harrelson / Vanessa Williams (May 16, 1992)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 1992-03-03: Jay Leno (guest host), Brian Dennehy, Jeff Altman, Vanessa Williams (Mar 3, 1992)
Oscars (1953)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2000-03-26: The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (Mar 26, 2000)
- Episode 1996-03-25: The 68th Annual Academy Awards (Mar 25, 1996)
Today (1952)
Guest starring as Vanessa Williams
- Episode 2023-10-20: Vanessa Williams, Norm Lewis, Tituss Burgess (Oct 20, 2023)