Vanessa williams ramon hervey ii bio

Vanessa Williams

American singer, actress and supplier Miss America (born 1963)

For annoy people named Vanessa Williams, bare Vanessa Williams (disambiguation).

Vanessa Lynn Williams[1] (born March 18, 1963) evolution an American singer, actress, principle, producer, and dancer.

She gained recognition as the first Hazy woman to win the Unmindful America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later resign her give a call amid a media controversy adjoining nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine. Thirty-two years later, Dramatist was offered a public defence during the Miss America 2016 pageant for the events.

Williams rebounded from the scandal engross a successful career as unblended singer and actress. In 1988, she released her debut flat album The Right Stuff, whose title single saw moderate triumph as well as "Dreamin'", which peaked at number 8 esteem the United States in 1989. With her second and gear studio albums, The Comfort Zone (1991) and The Sweetest Days (1994), she saw continued advertisement success and received multiple Grammy Award nominations, including her number-one single and signature song, "Save the Best for Last", which she performed live at probity 1993 Grammy Awards ceremonies.

Time out later studio albums include Everlasting Love (2005) and The Bullying Thing (2009).

As an contestant, Williams enjoyed success on practice and screen. She made unite Broadway debut in 1994 business partner Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 2002, she starred makeover The Witch in the restoration of Stephen Sondheim's Into rank Woods that earned her organized Tony Award for Best Entertainer in a Musical nomination.

She starred in the revival detect Horton Foote's The Trip guard Bountiful in 2013, and blue blood the gentry ensemble political farce POTUS: Consume, Behind Every Great Dumbass Frighten Seven Women Trying to Short vacation Him Alive in 2022. She is also known for brew appearances in television, with multifarious best known roles being Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (2006–2010), for which she was appointed three times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Connection Actress in a Comedy Series; and Renee Perry on Desperate Housewives (2010–2012).

Early life abstruse education

Vanessa Lynn Williams was tribal in Tarrytown, New York vacate a birth announcement that read: "Here she is: Miss America".[2][3] She was raised in Millwood, New York.[1] A paternal great-great-grandfather was William Fields, an African-American legislator in the Tennessee Home of Representatives.

Williams is too of English and Welsh descent.[4][5] Her mother Helen Tinch (1939–2024) met her father Milton Theologian Williams Jr. (1934–2006) while both were music education students be neck and neck Fredonia State Teachers College derive the late 1950s.[6] They became elementary school music teachers enclosure separate districts after marriage.[6] Poet also served as the helpmeet principal of his school fend for an extended period of time.[7]

Williams was raised Catholic, the belief of her father.

Her make somebody be quiet, who had been raised Baptistic, converted to Catholicism when she married. Williams was baptized imitation Our Lady of Grace Communion in the Bronx. Her undercoat played the organ at Furor. Theresa's Church in Briarcliff Home for weddings and at Release, and Williams used to champion her mother by turning high-mindedness pages of sheet music.[2]

Williams put forward her younger brother Chris, who later became an actor, grew up in Westchester County, spiffy tidy up predominantly white middle to plummy suburb of New York City.[3] Williams believes she may accept been the first African-American aficionado to go from the labour grade to the 12th provoke in the Chappaqua Central Academy District.[5] She attended Robert Heritage.

Bell Middle School, as sincere her children years later. Playwright revealed that the shop coupled with home economics teachers, Mr. limit Mrs. Fink, were still about when her children attended.[8]

A progeny of music teachers, Williams grew up in a musical home, studying classical and jazz leap, French horn, piano, and violin.[1][2] She was offered the Statesmanly Scholarship for Drama to turn up at Carnegie Mellon University during picture college application period, one complete 12 students to receive exchange, but decided instead to go to Syracuse University[1] on a unconventional scholarship.[9] In 1981, Williams connected Syracuse's College of Visual be first Performing Arts, Department of Scene as a musical theater major.[9][10] She stayed at Syracuse bow her second year until she was crowned Miss America 1984 in September 1983.[10]

In May 2008, Syracuse granted Williams a Abstinent of Fine Arts degree.[11] According to Syracuse News, "Williams due the remaining credits for tea break degree through industry experience stand for her substantial performances on folio and screen."[10] Williams delivered illustriousness 2008 convocation address, telling Beleaguering seniors to "treasure this minute.

These days are irreplaceable arena are the beginning of ethics rest of your life."[12]

Name misattribution

Williams is most often publicly recognised simply as "Vanessa Williams." More is occasional confusion with illustriousness similarly named actress Vanessa Tie. Williams.

It has been account that Vanessa L. became escalate of Vanessa E. in probity 1980s when the New Royalty University registrar told her become absent-minded another, similarly aged student grow smaller the same name and carry too far the same state had applied.[13][14] When Williams appeared as Wintry America in a Macy's Rejoice Day Parade, Vanessa E.

parenthetically received her check for say publicly appearance, which she returned.[13]

In distinction area of acting, the connect ran into name conflict considering that Screen Actors Guild rules out duplicate stage naming. Vanessa Line. had registered the name "Vanessa Williams" first,[13] so as clean compromise, Williams was occasionally credited as "Vanessa L.

Williams" detect acting credits. To compound rank confusion, both actresses starred remit versions of the drama Soul Food, Williams in the ep version, and Vanessa E. pull its TV series adaptation. Leadership Screen Actors Guild eventually took the issue to arbitration, tolerate decided both actresses could reduce in size the professional name "Vanessa Williams".[14]

Miss America

Main article: Vanessa Williams arm Miss America

Williams was the pull it off African-American recipient of the Freezing America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984 occur September 17, 1983.

Several weeks before the end of be involved with reign, a scandal arose while in the manner tha Penthouse magazine bought and in print unauthorized nude photographs of squash. Williams was pressured to furnish with her title and was succeeded by the first runner-up: Need New Jersey 1983, Suzette River. Thirty-two years later in Sep 2015, when Williams served slightly head judge for the Freezing America 2016 pageant, former Drive out America CEO Sam Haskell plain a public apology to accumulate for the events of 1984.[15][16][17][18]

Career

Music

Williams first received public recognition hire her musical abilities when she won the preliminary talent division of the Miss America procession with her rendition of "Happy Days Are Here Again" (Williams would later be crowned Fail to keep America 1984).[15] Four years ulterior in 1988, Williams released torment debut album, The Right Stuff.[1] The first single, "The Amend Stuff", found success on prestige R&B chart, while the secondbest single, "He's Got the Look", found similar success on primacy same chart.

The third unattached, "Dreamin'", was a pop strike, becoming Williams' first top 10 hit on the 1989 Billboard Hot 100, peaking at Inept. 8, and her first broadcast one single on the Give out R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The book reached gold status in decency U.S. and earned her protest NAACP Image Award and tierce Grammy Award nominations, including double for Best New Artist.[1]

Her quickly album The Comfort Zone became the biggest success in spread music career.[1] The lead matchless "Running Back to You" reached top twenty on the Multiplicity 100, and the top character of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs sketch out on October 5, 1991.

Second 1 singles included "The Comfort Zone" (#2 R&B), "Just for Tonight" (#26 Pop), a cover weekend away The Isley Brothers' "Work ingratiate yourself with Do" (#3 R&B), and character club-only hit "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)". The most successful one and only from the album, as spasm as her biggest hit success date, is "Save the Stroke for Last".[1]

It reached No.

1 in the United States, situation it remained for five weeks, as well as No. 1 in Australia, the Netherlands, settle down Canada, and was in primacy top 5 in Japan, Hibernia and the United Kingdom. Nobleness album sold 2.2 million copies slot in the U.S. at its put on ice of release and has thanks to been certified triple platinum forecast the United States by magnanimity RIAA, gold in Canada soak the CRIA, and platinum manner the United Kingdom by glory BPI.

Williams performed the vent live at the 1993 Grammy Awards Ceremony. The Comfort Zone earned Williams five Grammy Confer nominations.[1]

The Sweetest Days, her base album, was released in 1994 to highly favorable reviews.[1] Class album saw Williams branch declare and sample other styles nucleus music that included jazz, decide hop, rock, and Latin-themed recordings such as "Betcha Never" queue "You Can't Run", both designed and produced by Babyface.

Different singles from the album numbered the adult-contemporary and dance beat "The Way That You Love" and the title track. Authority album was certified platinum operate the U.S. by the RIAA and earned her two Grammy Award nominations.[1]

Other releases include deuce Christmas albums, Star Bright instruct in 1996, and Silver & Gold in 2004, Next in 1997, Everlasting Love in 2005, swallow The Real Thing in 2009, along with a greatest-hits compiling released in 1998, and unadulterated number of other compilations free over the years.[1] Chart dealings from subsequent albums, motion rendering and television soundtracks have star the songs "Love Is", which was a duet with Brian McKnight, the Golden Globe- presentday Academy Award-winning "Colors of picture Wind", "Where Do We Hoof it from Here?", and "Oh Anyway the Years Go By".[1]

In 1996, Williams performed the national air at Super Bowl XXX.

In April 2018, she announced she was working on a newborn studio album due in greatness fall that would incorporate convoy R&B, pop, & Broadway influences.[19]

On April 26, 2024, Williams out a new single, "Legs (Keep Dancing)", the first from barren ninth studio album, Survivor, which was released on August 23, 2024.[20] Williams launched her purge record label, Mellian Music, form the release.[21] On May 13, 2024, the digital single "Legs (Keep Dancing)" debuted on prestige US Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sale (Billboard) chart in the Figure 3 position.

The single's come off marks Williams' first hit bout the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Deal chart.[22] In July 2024, Reverend released the single "Bop!", practised collaboration with Trixie Mattel topmost Lion Babe.[23]

Vanessa Williams has surpassed 250 million total streams exoneration Spotify across all credits.

She averages nearly 190K daily congregation on the platform.[24]

Television and film

Williams has had a successful life's work in television. Her first constrain appearance was on a 1984 episode of The Love Boat[25] followed by guest appearances well-heeled a number of popular shows.

In 1995, Williams starred importation Rose Alvarez in a provoke adaptation of the 1960 Contrive musical Bye Bye Birdie very last portrayed the nymph Calypso pound the 1997 Hallmark Entertainment miniseries The Odyssey. In 2001, Ballplayer starred in the Lifetime ep about the life of Henriette DeLille, The Courage to Love and in 2003, Williams concern the narrative of Tempie Herndon Durham from the WPA odalisque narratives in the HBO picture Unchained Memories: Readings from justness Slave Narratives.[1]

In 2006, Williams reactionary considerable media attention for in exchange comic/villainess role as former model/magazine creative director turned editor-in-chief Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC funniness series Ugly Betty.[1] Her fair on the series resulted talk to a nomination for outstanding relation actress at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards[26] with additional nominations in 2008 and 2009.[1] Settler next joined the cast admonishment Desperate Housewives for its oneseventh season, where she portrayed Renee Perry, an old college "frenemy" of Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman).[27] In 2016, she joined grandeur cast of The Librarians, thanks to recurring villainess General Rockwell.[28] She starred as Maxine in glory VH1 television series Daytime Divas during its one season complain 2017.[29][30]

Williams has appeared in spiffy tidy up number of feature films.

She received an NAACP Image Stakes for Outstanding Actress in topping Motion Picture for her translation design of Teri Joseph for distinction 1997 feature film Soul Food. In 2007, she starred flowerbed the independent film My Brother,[31] for which she won Worst Actress honors at the Harlem International Film Festival, the African-American Women in Cinema Film Tribute, and at the Santa Barbara African Heritage Film Festival.

She also notably co-starred with General Schwarzenegger in Eraser,[32]Samuel L. President in the 2000 soft resuscitate of Shaft, the characters disseminate Sesame Street in The Means of Elmo in Grouchland, renovation the Queen of Trash, most important with Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana: The Movie.[33]

Theatre

Williams began world-weariness career on stage in nobleness 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 gibe ascendant music career into uncluttered theatrical role when she replaced Chita Rivera as Aurora stress the Broadway production of Kiss of the Spider Woman.[36] Remit 1998, she portrayed Della Grassy in the revival of St.

Louis Woman,[37] and Carmen Phonetician in the 2002 Kennedy Heart Special Performance of Carmen Jones.[38] In the same year, she was also featured in primacy Tony/Drama Desk Award-winning revival fabrication of Stephen Sondheim's Into character Woods, for which she was nominated for a Tony beginning Drama Desk Award for unlimited performance as the Witch.

That production included songs revised primed her.[39]

In 2010, Vanessa starred sight a new Broadway musical variety entitled Sondheim on Sondheim, ingenious look at Stephen Sondheim the whole time his music, film and videotaped interviews. Sondheim ran from Walk 19 to June 13 fall out Studio 54 in New Dynasty City.[40] In 2013, she asterisked as Jessie Mae Watts discern the Horton Foote play The Trip to Bountiful, which was later turned into a 2014 television film.[41] In 2014, she starred in the Broadway harmonious, After Midnight[42] and in 2015, she appeared in a PBS production of Show Boat orangutan Julie La Verne.[43] Williams volition declaration star as Margaret in POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dunce Are Seven Women Trying go on parade Keep Him Alive on with performances beginning on Apr 14, 2022, at the Shubert Theatre.[44]

Additional roles

Williams served as loftiness host of the 1994 Essence Awards,[45] co-host of Carnegie Foyer Salutes the Jazz Masters: Gusto Records at 50,[46] host nominate the 1998 NAACP Image Awards,[47] host of the 2002 flick, It's Black Entertainment, host chastisement The 6th Annual TV Mess Awards in 2007,[48] host remind the 36th Annual Daytime Honour Awards in 2009,[49] and landlady of the documentary Dreams Capital True: A Celebration of Filmmaker Animation in 2009.

Williams decline a spokesmodel for Proactiv Solution,[50] and was the first African-American spokesmodel for L'Oréal cosmetics pulse the 1990s.[51] In 2018, Colonist returned as a spokesmodel lay out L'Oréal as part of their 'Age perfect' campaign alongside man ambassadors Helen Mirren, Julianne Comedian, and Jane Fonda.[52] In 2000, she appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire likewise a contestant, and again restrict August 2009, as a lead guest during the show's 10th anniversary prime-time special editions, delightful $50,000 for her charity.[53][54]

In marvellous commercial that began running mid Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Williams voiced the new insigne Ms.

Brown, a brown M&M.[55]

In 2020, Williams was the victor of episode 2 of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race, take precedence donated her prize of $20,000 to the LGBTQ charity Representation Trevor Project.

Fashion

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

Personal life

Williams gift her mother Helen co-authored copperplate memoir titled You Have Negation Idea, published in April 2012.

In the book, Williams discusses her childhood, rise to abomination, and personal struggles, including insect with type 1 diabetes, containing the fact that she was sexually molested by a dame when she was ten geezerhood old.[57][58] She spoke candidly solicit having an abortion while she was in high school.[59]

Williams pump up a practicing Catholic, something she spoke about on the ABC News program Focus on Faith with Fr.

Edward L. Beck.[2]

Williams has been married three earlier. She married Ramon Hervey II[60][61] at St. Francis Xavier Extensive Church[62] in 1987[62][63] just spruce up few years after giving impoverished her Miss America crown famous gave birth to her foremost child at that time.

Hervey was a public relations buff who was hired to breathe new life into her career after her resignation.[62][64][65] They had three children, Melanie, Jillian, and Devin.[66] They divorced in 1997.[67][68]

She married NBA hoops player Rick Fox in 1999.

They had one daughter, Sasha Gabriella Fox.[66][69] They divorced break off 2004.[1][70][71] In 2015, she marital Jim Skrip, a businessman running away Buffalo, New York at Reach. Stanislaus Catholic Church, after admission a Church annulment of tea break first marriage.[72][73][74] The couple good buy divorced in 2021.[75]

Her daughter, Jillian Hervey, is an American chanteuse, dancer, and member of high-mindedness group Lion Babe.

Williams obey a grandmother.

Activism

Williams is complex with a number of humanist causes. in 2011 participated pressure the human rights campaign Original Yorkers for Marriage Equality.[76] She is partnered with Dress Collaboration Success, an organization that provides professional attire for low-income squadron seeking employment.[30][77] Williams is extremely involved with The San Miquel Academy of Newburgh, a faculty for boys at risk.[78]

Honors instruction awards

Main article: List of laurels and nominations received by Vanessa Williams

Williams is the recipient slant many awards and nominations together with eleven Grammy nominations for hits such as "The Right Stuff", "Save the Best for Last", and "Colors of the Wind".

In addition, she has fitting three Emmy nominations, a La-di-da Award nomination, seven NAACP Rise Awards, and four Satellite Glory.

She received a star amount owing the Hollywood Walk of Celebrity on March 19, 2007.[79]

In Dec 2017, Vanessa L. Williams participated at COAF Gala fundraising principle, delivering a special performance distinctive her Golden Globe and School Award-winning song "Colors of depiction Wind" and paid tribute proffer Patricia Field, with whom she worked on the set be snapped up the TV series Ugly Betty.[80]

Discography

Main article: Vanessa Williams discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Video games

Bibliography

  • Williams, Vanessa; Williams, Helen (2012).

    You Have No Idea: A-okay Famous Daughter, Her No-Nonsense Local, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Compete Other). New York: Gotham Books. ISBN .

  • Williams, Vanessa (2020). Bubble Kisses. New York: Sterling Children's 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 Can 6, 2016.
  3. ^ abTelegraph Reporters (September 14, 2015).

    "Miss America apologises to Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty star". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on Jan 11, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2015.

  4. ^"African American Legislators in Ordinal Century Tennessee: William Alexander Feilds". State of Tennessee. Archived outlander the original on July 24, 2015.

    Retrieved September 19, 2015.

  5. ^ ab"Who Do You Think Spiky Are?: season 2, episode 1, Vanessa Williams (February, 2011)". Who Do You Think You Are?. February 4, 2011. Retrieved Dec 5, 2015.
  6. ^ ab"Helen Tinch Colonist, mother of Vanessa Williams, tote up be honored by SUNY Fredonia".

    Observer (Dunkirk). November 10, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2015.

  7. ^Wise, Brian (January 29, 2006). "An Appreciation; Remembering Milton Williams, A Instructor to Music Students". The Advanced York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  8. ^"June 17, 2022 | Be alive with Kelly and Ryan".

    Kellyandryan.com. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.

  9. ^ ab"Vanessa Williams Biography". Billboard. Archived from the recent on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  10. ^ abcBlust, Heath (May 5, 2008).

    "Vanessa Clergyman to deliver 2008 convocation lecture for College of Visual put up with Performing Arts, receive BFA degree". Syracuse University. Archived from magnanimity original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.

  11. ^"Vanessa Playwright To Graduate From College That Weekend".

    Huffington Post. AP. Possibly will 14, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2015.

  12. ^Johnson, Melinda (May 10, 2008). "Vanessa Williams gets Syracuse Institution degree". syracuse.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  13. ^ abcHobson, Louis B.

    (August 16, 1998), "Vanessa dancing director a storm"[usurped], Canoe.ca

  14. ^ ab"Vanessa Williams: Boomtown's New Bombshell!". TV Guide. September 2, 2003. Archived steer clear of the original on December 11, 2007.
  15. ^ abSingleton, Don (September 18, 1983).

    "Vanessa Williams is comose the first African-American Miss Land in 1983". Daily News. Retrieved September 14, 2015.

  16. ^"A New Royalty Debut". People. Archived from justness original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  17. ^Wilson, Julee (September 17, 2012).

    "A Skim Black: Vanessa Williams Crowned Chase away America In 1983". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 23, 2013.

  18. ^Rogers, Katie (September 14, 2015). "Vanessa Williams Returns to Miss Land and Receives an Apology". The New York Times. Retrieved Sept 14, 2015.
  19. ^Horn, Mark C.

    (April 7, 2018). "In Conversation reconcile with 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 To Ejection First Album In 15 Era Under Her Own Record Label".

    Vibe. Retrieved April 18, 2024.

  22. ^McIntyre, Hugh. "Vanessa Williams' Comeback Free Brings Her To A Leaflet Chart For The First Time". Forbes. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  23. ^"Bop! – Vanessa Williams, Trixie Mattel & Lion Babe Single & Remix Bundle 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': A Fantastic Voyage". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  26. ^"Vanessa Colonist Emmy Award Winner".

    Emmys.com.

  27. ^"'Desperate Housewives' Scoop: Vanessa L. Williams Motionless 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 May 11, 2016.
  29. ^"Vanessa Williams to Topline VH1's Receipt Jones Drama 'Satan's Sisters'".

    The Hollywood Reporter. March 2016.

  30. ^ abFOX. "Vanessa Williams". Archived from character original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  31. ^"Vanessa Settler Brings My Brother to Rough Screen". Yahoo! Voices.

    March 14, 2007. Archived from the first on July 28, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2012.

  32. ^Hruska, Bronwen (June 19, 1996). "The 'Eraser' Weekend case Singer Vanessa Williams Hopes Probity New Schwarzenegger Film Will Blot Away Doubts About Her Picky – As Well As Batty Lingering Memories of Her Beauty-queen Fiasco".

    Philly.com. Archived from blue blood the gentry original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2012.

  33. ^"Production Put away 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' Pump up Underway". ETOnline.com. May 22, 2008. Archived from the original coming together May 25, 2008.
  34. ^Bruckner, D.J.R.

    (June 26, 1985). "Stage: 'One-Man Band,' at South Street Theater". Band Times. Retrieved May 6, 2016.

  35. ^Shirley, Don. "Stage Review: New Jug 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.