Known for Acting
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.
Born
May 12, 1963 (age 63)
Birthplace
New York City, New York, USA
Filmography
33 films, 26 shows


Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies
2025 · 1h · UK
Dive into 60 minutes of blood, bravado and brilliant scares as we trace the evolution of horror cinema from Dracula (1931) to today.


Cruel Encounters
2023 · 1h 32m · US
After the founder of a huge holding company dies in a mysterious helicopter crash, his wife, son and daughter jockey for the reins of his company in a struggle that involves deception, intrigue and murder.


Black Girl, Erupted
2023 · 1h 17m · US
After a series of setbacks, high-achieving lawyer Reina must learn how to handle her mental health before her emotional outbursts destroy her career and her relationships.


Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story
2022 · 1h 34m · US
Follows the successful career of Jackson as well as her unique friendship and devotion to Martin Luther King Jr. and her unsung contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.


Angie's Cure
2022 · 2h
A traumatized woman seizes a rare chance to turn the tables on her attacker, but revenge threatens to turn her into the very monster she fears.


Mid-Century
2022 · 1h 45m · US
A husband and wife's weekend in a mid-century modern vacation rental turns deadly when the husband discovers the owner is a psychopath with a backyard of buried secrets and designs on his wife.


Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion
2021 · 1h 25m · US
Event planner Amy helps rising singer Tiffanie Christmas plan her holiday family reunion. Along the way Amy must navigate some challenging family dynamics, especially among Tiffanie's aunts as well as her own growing feelings for Tiffanie's cousin, Calvin. Will she be able to pull off an amazing Christmas family reunion?


A Rich Christmas
2021 · 1h 31m · US
Spoiled socialite will learn a lesson after her father asks her to work in a family homeless center.


Candyman
2021 · 1h 31m · CA
A Chicago artist's sanity starts to unravel, unleashing a terrifying wave of violence when he begins to explore the macabre history of the Candyman.


Love on a Two Way Street
2020 · 1h 15m · US
Regina McKenzie struggles with still living at home with her parents, juggling questionable career choices, and dating the wrong men. Love on a Two Way Street is a live stage play event that covers the entire emotional spectrum.


I Left My Girlfriend for Regina Jones
2019 · 1h 30m · US
A man in a committed relationship turns his love life upside-down when he accepts a $50,000 bet about getting a date with his celebrity crush.


One Fine Christmas
2019 · 1h 24m · US
The families on Christmas Street have been so busy with their day-to-day lives that they lose sight of the importance of family during the holiday season.


Thriller
2018 · 1h 27m · US
Years after a childhood prank goes horribly wrong, a clique of South Central LA teens find themselves terrorized during Homecoming weekend by a killer hell-bent on revenge.


Men, Money & Gold Diggers
2014 · 1h 17m
Caleb Peterson has it all - a great job, plenty of money, and a fine fiancée in former model Paisley Terrell. They're all set to get married just as soon as she signs a prenuptial agreement, but there's just one problem... "Paisley don't do pre-nups!" As tempers flare and emotions run high, what began as a romantic proposal quickly escalates into an all-out battle between Men, Money, and Gold Diggers!


Crossed the Line
2014 · 1h 32m · US
A young woman refuses to bow down to the local criminal kingpin who wants to take control of her late mother's flower shop in order to run drugs. However, when he crosses the line, she and her siblings seek revenge.


Raising Izzie
2012 · 1h 27m · US
A caring teacher helps an orphaned girl in taking care of her younger sister after their mother's death.


Sugar Mommas
2012 · 1h 28m · US
Sisters Sheila and Lynn have little in common except their love for sweets. In need of a change, they partner with their close friend Tommi to open a bakery.


Imagine That
2009 · 1h 47m · US
A financial executive who can't stop his career downspiral is invited into his daughter's imaginary world, where solutions to his problems await.


Contradictions of the Heart
2009 · 1h 26m
A party chasing chick pounds on a restaurant door after closing. The closing manager opens it and the journey this encounter creates, places contradicting questions at the door step of race, friendship and sex.


Flirting with Forty
2008 · 1h 27m · US
A divorcee has a passionate affair with a much younger surfing instructor in Hawaii.


Ice Spiders
2007 · 1h 30m · US
When a young ski team training for the Olympics arrives at the remote and isolated Lost Mountain Ski Resort to focus on training, they're thrilled to find a retired Olympic skier is there to help them train. But their plans are halted when a scientist working at a nearby government lab arrives with the horrifying news that a top secret Government project has produced giant spiders and they have escaped, killing and eating everything in sight.


Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me
2004 · 30m · US
Today there are more reasons than ever for families to explore and celebrate diversity. Our ever-expanding world is full of differences in abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, family structures, religious faiths, interests and cultures. This documentary introduces your family to children who are not only celebrating how they are unique, but who are also learning from and appreciating the differences in others.
Allergic to Nuts
Allergic to Nuts
2003
Comedy short.


Black Listed
2003 · 1h 35m
Alan Chambers (Townsend) is a lawyer and sick of his job. He corrals his friends into forming a vigilante group. Everyone goes along with it at first, until it turns sour and innocent people start dying, and Alan is the only one left standing.


Our America
2002 · 1h 35m · US
The true story of two African-American teen radio reporters and their documentary investigation of a notorious child murder.


Like Mike
2002 · 1h 39m · US
Calvin and his friends, who all live in an orphanage, find old shoes with the faded letters MJ connected to a powerline. One stormy night, they go to get the shoes when Calvin and the shoes are struck by lightning. Calvin now has unbelievable basketball powers and has the chance to play for the NBA.


Punks
2000 · 1h 45m · US
The life and times of a group of twentysomething black gay men living in West Hollywood.


Playing with Fire
2000 · 1h 28m · US
A woman tries to save her sister, who stole a priceless African statue with her lover.


Incognito
1999 · 1h 40m · US
A young socialite hires a bodyguard to protect her when an ex-convict begins stalking her.


Mother
1996 · 1h 44m · US
A neurotic, twice-divorced sci-fi writer moves back in with his mother to solve his personal problems.


Drop Squad
1994 · 1h 26m · US
Controversial film about an underground organization that kidnaps and 'deprograms' African Americans who sell out or deny their cultural heritage. Spike Lee is the Executive Producer.


Candyman
1992 · 1h 40m · US
The Candyman, a murderous soul with a hook for a hand, is accidentally summoned to reality by a skeptic grad student researching the monster's myth.


New Jack City
1991 · 1h 41m · US
A gangster, Nino, is in the Cash Money Brothers, making a million dollars every week selling crack. A cop, Scotty, discovers that the only way to infiltrate the gang is to become a dealer himself.