Biography
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 …
Vanessa Williams SlideShow
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Career Milestones
| 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 | ||
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) | |