Vanessa Williams (III)

This lissome, bright-eyed, black American actress shares a name with the controversial former Miss America-turned-singer/actress. Williams first registered in features as a feral yet attractive killer in Mario Van Peebles' gangster movie, "New Jack City" (1991). Before that she appeared on TV in guest spots on "T.J. Hooker", "The Love Boat", "The Cosby Show" and "Law & Order". As aerobics instructor Rhonda Blair of "Melrose Place", Williams was the first black to figure prominently as a regular on one of the recent slew of glamorous, youth-targeted TV shows. Sadly the show's writers didn't have a clue as what to do with her; she was often paired in platonic subplots with Doug Savant's token gay character while the straight white folks were having a far more interesting time. Rhonda was married off and eliminated from the series by the end of the second season. Williams also offered a strong supporting performance as a protective single mother in "Candyman" (1992), a smart urban horror flick, and she played a lead role in the satire, "DROP Squad" (1994), executive produced by Spike Lee. In 1995, she returned to series TV as the law firm receptionist (and only regular black character) on the Steven Bochco-produced drama "Murder One"; Williams' character, however, was written out at the end of the first season.

  • Also Credited As:
    Vanessa P. Williams, Vanessa Williams
  • Born:
    May 12, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Job Titles:
    Actor
Family
  • Son: Omar Tafari Wiseman. born on March 5, 1997; father, Andre Wiseman
Significant Others
  • Companion: Andre Wiseman.
Education
  • Marymount Manhattan College, New York, New York, theater and business
  • The School of Performing Arts, New York, New York
Milestones
  • 1988 Broadway debut, Sarafina!
  • 1991 Made feature debut in a supporting role in New Jack City
  • 1992 TV debut as a series regular, Melrose Place (Fox)
  • 1995 Cast as Lila Marquette, the law firm receptionist on the ABC drama Murder One
  • 2000 Signed to star in the Showtime series Soul Food (which perhaps ironically starred the other Vanessa Williams, the former Miss America)
  • Appeared on various TV series including T.J. Hooker , The Love Boat , Law & Order , and The Cosby Show during the mid-1980s
  • Began performing at age 11 in New York City Opera Children s Chorus; was member for five years

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