Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born May 12, 1963
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.
TVWild Rose
2026
as Joyce
MovieLegacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies
2025
as Self - (archive footage)
MovieCruel Encounters
2023
as Corynne
MovieBlack Girl, Erupted
2023
as Cassandra Cole
MovieRemember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story
2022
as Lucille
MovieAngie's Cure
2022
as Carla
MovieMid-Century
2022
as Beverly Gordon
MovieWelcome to the Christmas Family Reunion
2021
as Eve Christmas
MovieA Rich Christmas
2021
as Aggie Maggy / Madison
MovieCandyman
2021
as Anne-Marie McCoy
TVAmerican Horror Stories
2021
as Dr. Eleanor Berger
TVA Luv Tale
2021
as Candice
MovieLove on a Two Way Street
2020
as Gloria
MovieI Left My Girlfriend for Regina Jones
2019
as Rebecca
MovieOne Fine Christmas
2019
as Susan
TV40 and Single
2018
as Bertha Brown
MovieThriller
2018
as Mrs. Walker
TV9-1-1
2018
as Claudette Collins
TVThe Flash
2014
as Francine West
MovieMen, Money & Gold Diggers
2014
as Sandra Winslow
MovieCrossed the Line
2014
as Juice
MovieRaising Izzie
2012
as Tonya
MovieSugar Mommas
2012
as Lynn
MovieImagine That
2009
as Lori Strother
MovieContradictions of the Heart
2009
as Lea
MovieFlirting with Forty
2008
as Kristine
TVThe Wendy Williams Show
2008
TVPhineas and Ferb
2007
as Flight Attendant (voice)
MovieIce Spiders
2007
as Dr. April Sommers
MovieHappy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me
2004
as Self (voice)
TVCold Case
2003
as Crystal Stacy (2007)
Allergic to Nuts
2003
MovieBlack Listed
2003
as J.W.
MovieOur America
2002
as Sandra Williams
MovieLike Mike
2002
as Pharmacist
Good Day Live
2001
as Self
TVSoul Food
2000
as Maxine Chadway
MoviePunks
2000
as Jennifer
MoviePlaying with Fire
2000
as Riana Roberts
MovieIncognito
1999
as Wilhelmina Hunter
TVTotal Recall 2070
1999
TVBetween Brothers
1997
as Rebecca
MovieMother
1996
as Donna
TVThe Pretender
1996
as Denise Clements
TVMalcolm & Eddie
1996
TVThe Steve Harvey Show
1996
as Nina
TVBuddies
1996
TVMurder One
1995
MovieDrop Squad
1994
as Mali
TVChicago Hope
1994
as Grace Carr
TVLiving Single
1993
MovieCandyman
1992
as Anne-Marie McCoy
TVMelrose Place
1992
as Rhonda
The Jaleel White Special
1992
MovieNew Jack City
1991
as Keisha
TVLaw & Order
1990
as Vera
TVThe Word
1990
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
TVThe Cosby Show
1984
as Jade
