7.7
TV
Acting
Vanessa Williams
- Born
- (age 63)
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA
- Credits
- 59 titles
Biography
Vanessa Estelle Williams (sometimes professionally credited as Vanessa A. Williams) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her roles as Maxine Joseph–Chadway in the Showtime drama series, Soul Food (2000–04), for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, and as Rhonda Blair in the first season of the Fox prime time soap opera, Melrose Place (1992–93). She is also known as Nino Brown's feisty gun moll, Keisha in the 1991 crime drama film, New Jack City and as Anne-Marie McCoy in the first and fourth of the Candyman films.
Though not related, she is sometimes confused with American actress, singer, and former Miss America 1984, Vanessa L. Williams. Both women were also, coincidentally, born in New York in the same year. In addition, Vanessa A. Williams starred in the television soap opera, Soul Food, while Vanessa L. Williams starred in the original film.
Signature work
Known For
7.7
TV
8.2
TV
9-1-1
6.7
Movie
Candyman
6.0
Movie
Candyman
7.9
TV
Phineas and Ferb
7.7
TV
American Horror Stories
7.3
TV
Law & Order
6.7
Movie
New Jack City
6.0
Movie
Imagine That
6.1
Movie
Like Mike
7.0
TV
The Cosby Show
7.7
TV
Cold Case
7.4
TV
The Pretender
5.9
TV
Melrose Place
6.8
Movie
Mother
7.2
TV
Chicago Hope
4.2
Movie
Ice Spiders
5.2
Movie
Flirting with Forty
Acting credits 59
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TFI Unplugged TV | (1 ep) |
| 2026 | Wild Rose TV | Joyce (8 ep) |
| 2025 | Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2023 | Cruel Encounters Film | Corynne |
| 2023 | Black Girl, Erupted Film | Cassandra Cole |
| 2022 | Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story Film | Lucille |
| 2022 | Angie's Cure Film | Carla |
| 2022 | Mid-Century Film | Beverly Gordon |
| 2021 | Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion Film | Eve Christmas |
| 2021 | A Rich Christmas Film | Aggie Maggy / Madison |
| 2021 | Candyman Film | Anne-Marie McCoy |
| 2021 | American Horror Stories TV | Dr. Eleanor Berger (1 ep) |
| 2021 | A Luv Tale TV | Candice (6 ep) |
| 2020 | Love on a Two Way Street Film | Gloria |
| 2019 | I Left My Girlfriend for Regina Jones Film | Rebecca |
| 2019 | One Fine Christmas Film | Susan |
| 2018 | 40 and Single TV | Bertha Brown (6 ep) |
| 2018 | Thriller Film | Mrs. Walker |
| 2018 | 9-1-1 TV | Claudette Collins (4 ep) |
| 2014 | The Flash TV | Francine West (6 ep) |
| 2014 | Men, Money & Gold Diggers Film | Sandra Winslow |
| 2014 | Crossed the Line Film | Juice |
| 2012 | Raising Izzie Film | Tonya |
| 2012 | Sugar Mommas Film | Lynn |
| 2009 | Imagine That Film | Lori Strother |
| 2009 | Contradictions of the Heart Film | Lea |
| 2008 | Flirting with Forty Film | Kristine |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show TV | (1 ep) |
| 2007 | Phineas and Ferb TV | Flight Attendant (voice) (1 ep) |
| 2007 | Ice Spiders Film | Dr. April Sommers |
| 2004 | Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me Film | Self (voice) |
| 2003 | Cold Case TV | Crystal Stacy (2007) (1 ep) |
| 2003 | Allergic to Nuts Film | |
| 2003 | Black Listed Film | J.W. |
| 2002 | Our America Film | Sandra Williams |
| 2002 | Like Mike Film | Pharmacist |
| 2001 | Good Day Live TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 2000 | Soul Food TV | Maxine Chadway (74 ep) |
| 2000 | Punks Film | Jennifer |
| 2000 | Playing with Fire Film | Riana Roberts |
| 1999 | Incognito Film | Wilhelmina Hunter |
| 1999 | Total Recall 2070 TV | (1 ep) |
| 1997 | Between Brothers TV | Rebecca (1 ep) |
| 1996 | Mother Film | Donna |
| 1996 | The Pretender TV | Denise Clements (1 ep) |
| 1996 | Malcolm & Eddie TV | (1 ep) |
| 1996 | The Steve Harvey Show TV | Nina (1 ep) |
| 1996 | Buddies TV | (1 ep) |
| 1995 | Murder One TV | Lila Marquette |
| 1994 | Drop Squad Film | Mali |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope TV | Grace Carr (6 ep) |
| 1993 | Living Single TV | (1 ep) |
| 1992 | Candyman Film | Anne-Marie McCoy |
| 1992 | Melrose Place TV | Rhonda (32 ep) |
| 1991 | New Jack City Film | Keisha |
| 1990 | Law & Order TV | Vera (1 ep) |
| 1990 | The Word TV | (1 ep) |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark TV | (1 ep) |
| 1984 | The Cosby Show TV | Jade, Cheryl (2 ep) |