Vanessa Williams
Acting
158
Acting Credits
Biography
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
Filmography
The Claudia Winkleman Show
2026
as Self
Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field
2024
as Self
The Little Pageant That Could
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Elsbeth
2024
as Roslyn Bridwell
Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space
2023
as Narrator (voice)
Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best
2023
as Self
Tripped Up
2023
as Patricia Chamberlain
Velma
2023
as Dr. Perdue (voice)
Los lunes a las 9
2022
as Self (Archive Footage)
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
The Sherri Shepherd Show
2022
as Self - Guest
Bad Hair
2021
as Zora
Show of Titles
2021
as "Dear World" Performer
Queen of the Universe
2021
as Self - Judge
Girls5eva
2021
as Nance Trace
Name That Tune
2021
as Self - Contestant
Blankety Blank
2021
as Self - Panellist
Singleholic
2020
as Jackie Chisolm
Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side
2020
There She Is
2020
Stars in the House
2020
as Self
Stars in the House
2020
as Self - Special Guest
Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race
2020
as Vanquisha Da House - Contestant
Calling All T.O.T.S.
2020
as Captain Beakman (voice)
Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams
2020
as Self - Host
Miss Virginia
2019
as Sally Rae
Batman: Hush
2019
as Amanda Waller (voice)
Tamron Hall
2019
as Self - Guest
A Black Lady Sketch Show
2019
as Delilah
American Style
2019
as Self
T.O.T.S.
2019
as Captain Beakman (voice)
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
First Wives Club
2019
as Nancy
The Legend of Hallowaiian
2018
as Fire Goddess (voice)
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
2018
as Amanda Waller (voice)
Celebrity Catchphrase
2018
as Self - Contestant
The Man from Earth: Holocene
2017
as Carolyn
Not Black Enough
2017
as Self
Daytime Divas
2017
as Maxine Robinson
The Secret She Kept
2016
as Beverly
VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night
2016
as Self
The $100,000 Pyramid
2016
as Self
Match Game
2016
as Self - Panelist
Show Boat
2015
as Julie LaVerne
Difficult People
2015
as Trish
The Trip to Bountiful
2014
as Jessie Mae Watts
Broad City
2014
as Elizabeth Carlton
The Librarians
2014
as Cynthia Rockwell
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor
2013
as Janice
He's Way More Famous Than You
2013
as Vanessa Williams
666 Park Avenue
2012
as Olivia Doran
The Mindy Project
2012
as Dr. Phillips
Bethenny
2012
as Self - Guest
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
2012
as Self - Guest Judge
Doc McStuffins
2012
as Delilah the Nesting Doll (voice)
A Mother's Love
2011
as Rochelle Richardson
The Jonathan Ross Show
2011
as Self - Guest
Who Do You Think You Are?
2010
as Self
The Talk
2010
as Self
Hannah Montana: The Movie
2009
as Vita
RuPaul's Drag Race
2009
as Self - Special Guest
RuPaul's Drag Race
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
RuPaul's Drag Race
2009
as Self - Guest Judge
RuPaul's Drag Race
2009
as Self - Judge (archive footage)
Modern Family
2009
as Rhonda
The Good Wife
2009
as Courtney Paige
Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
2008
as Self
The Wendy Williams Show
2008
And Then Came Love
2007
as Julie
Shear Genius
2007
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies
2007
as Mama Mirabelle (voice)
The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
My Brother
2006
as L'Tisha Morton
Rehearsing a Dream
2006
as Self
South Beach
2006
as Elizabeth Bauer
Ugly Betty
2006
as Wilhelmina Slater
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
2005
as Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)
Gift for the Living
2005
as Narrator
Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
2005
as Self
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005
as Self
The Reichen Show
2005
as Self
Johnson Family Vacation
2004
as Dorothy Johnson
The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest
2004
as Self
Christmas in Washington
2004
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
2004
as Self (archive footage)
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self - Guest
Desperate Housewives
2004
as Renee Perry
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
2004
as Self
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
The Bachelorette
2003
as Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
Keep the Faith, Baby
2002
as Hazel Scott
It's Black Entertainment
2002
as Self - Host
Miss America
2002
as Self (archival footage)
Boomtown
2002
as Detective Katherine Pierce
WW3
2001
as M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
Santa, Baby!
2001
as Alicia (voice)
Good Day Live
2001
as Self
The Proud Family
2001
as Debra (voice)
Shaft
2000
as Carmen Vasquez
A Diva's Christmas Carol
2000
as Ebony Scrooge
The Courage to Love
2000
as Mother Henriette Delille
Shaft: Still the Man
2000
as Self
Don Quixote
2000
as Dulcinea / Aldonza
Afrocentricity
2000
as Self
Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends
2000
as Herself
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
1999
as Queen of Trash
Futuresport
1999
as Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
Light It Up
1999
as Audrey McDonald
Dance with Me
1998
as Ruby Sinclair
Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia
1998
as Self
L.A. Doctors
1998
as Leanne Barrows
VH1 Divas
1998
Hoodlum
1997
as Francine Hughes
Soul Food
1997
as Teri
The View
1997
as Self
The Odyssey
1997
as Calypso
The View
1997
as Self - Guest
Ally McBeal
1997
as Sheila Hunt
Eraser
1996
as Lee
Jungle Cubs
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self - Guest
Bye Bye Birdie
1995
as Rose Alvarez
Nothing Lasts Forever
1995
as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II
1995
as Self
MADtv
1995
as Self
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Beauty (voice)
Nothing Lasts Forever
1995
as Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
Score with Chicks
1994
David Foster's Christmas Album
1993
as Self
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
as Arandis
Intimate Portrait
1993
as Self (archive footage)
Stompin' at the Savoy
1992
as Pauline
The Jaleel White Special
1992
as Self
The Jacksons: An American Dream
1992
as Suzanne de Passe
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
1991
as Lulu Daniels
Another You
1991
as Gloria
Seriously... Phil Collins
1990
as Rachel - TV Executive
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer
1990
as Terri Knight
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
1990
as Lynette Parks
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Danny Mitchell
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
1989
as Valentine Hayward
Under the Gun
1988
as Samantha Richards
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self - Guest
American Experience
1988
as Narrator (voice)
The Pick-up Artist
1987
as Rae, Girl with Dog
Motown Returns to the Apollo
1985
Partners in Crime
1984
T. J. Hooker
1982
as Officer Pat Williamson
A Capitol Fourth
1980
as Self
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Musical Guest
Days of Our Lives
1965
as Valerie Grant
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Performer
Miss America
1954
as Miss New York 1983
The Oscars
1953
as Self