ACTOR
Vanessa Williams
- Known for
- Hoodlum (1997), Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013), Ugly Betty (2006), The Librarians (2014)
27 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Vanessa Williams is an actor best known for Hoodlum, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor and Ugly Betty.
All facts (27)
- #001
On November 17, 2003, she sang the national anthem at the ceremony marking Arnold Schwarzenegger's inauguration as Governor of California.
- #002
She has four children: daughters Melanie Hervey (born June 30, 1987) and Jillian Hervey (born June 19, 1989), and son Devin Hervey (born April 14, 1993), with her first ex-husband Ramon Hervey; and daughter Sasha Fox (born May 1, 2000), with her second ex-husband Rick Fox.
- #003
On March 19, 2007, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, for Recording.
- #004
She was introduced to her husband Rick Fox by his then-girlfriend, the model Tyra Banks. When Fox's relationship with Banks ended, Fox and Williams began dating.
- #005
As a young student at Syracuse University, she won the Miss America title in the fall of 1983 and left school to fulfill her contractual duties, but she eventually received her bachelor's degree from Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts on May 10, 2008.
- #006
She later turned down the role in Monster's Ball (2001) that went to Halle Berry.
- #007
In 2007, she signed a $20 million deal with ProActive Solution, making her one of the highest-paid spokespeople of all time in the world of infomercial products.
- #008
She is usually billed as Vanessa Williams but is actually registered with the Screen Actors Guild as Vanessa L. Williams. The first Vanessa Williams to register (from Melrose Place) was told she could file a complaint with the Guild, but it was rejected because the other actress was using her real name.
- #009
She was the first black contestant to sit in the hot seat on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999).
- #010
In 1981, she won a musical theater scholarship to Syracuse University. She eventually lost the funds, however, which led her to enter the Miss America pageant.
- #011
She was originally cast as Jane Toussaint in Spike Lee's School Daze (1988), but was replaced by Tisha Campbell due to creative differences.
- #012
The second, Suzette Charles, became the second African-American Miss America following her resignation.
- #013
Her parents, Milton Williams and Helen Williams, were both music teachers.
- #014
She has a skin care line called "Revitalistic" [2012].
- #015
Starting in 2001, she appeared in Radio Shack commercials with Howie Long and Ving Rhames, and from 2003 with her husband Rick Fox. She also made commercials for Crest and aired an infomercial for the late-night skin care product Proactiv Solution.
- #016
She appeared in the film The Courage to Love (2000) alongside her brother Chris Williams and her children Melanie Hervey, Jillian Hervey and Devin Hervey.
- #017
She and Rick Fox eloped to the Caribbean in the summer of 1999, but promised their family and friends they would hold another wedding that fall, which they did with a lavish ceremony at Holy Trinity Church in New York City followed by a gala reception at the St. Regis Hotel.
- #018
She ranked 56th on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists list.
- #019
Her daughter Jillian Hervey is the lead singer and dancer of "Lion Babe."
- #020
Vanessa Williams grew up in Millwood, New York.
- #021
Vanessa Williams currently lives in Chappaqua, New York.
- #022
Vanessa Williams attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York.
- #023
Vanessa Williams is a celebrity spokesperson for Proactiv Solution (acne medications).
- #024
Vanessa Williams is often confused with the actress Vanessa Williams.
- #025
Vanessa Williams is the older sister of Chris Williams.
- #026
Vanessa Williams is the former sister-in-law of Jeanene Fox.
- #027
Vanessa Williams has one grandchild: Sunny Rise Goodman.
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