TheFamousPeople

Leslie Uggams Biography

(Actress)

Birthday: May 25, 1943 (Gemini)

Born In: Harlem, New York, United States

Advanced Search
Leslie Uggams is an iconic African-American actress and singer. Her rise to fame in the USA came at a time when racial segregation was a major factor. She paved the way for many future African-American actors and performers. Starting as a child actress in the TV series ‘Beulah’ she went on to have a stellar acting career in movies, TV, and on stage. Some of Leslie Uggams’ best-known movies are ‘Two Weeks in Another Town’, ‘Skyjacked’, ‘Poor Pretty Eddie’, and ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’. Uggams is also remembered for her portrayal of Kizzy Reynolds in the series ‘Roots’ and that of Lilian Roger Parks in ‘Backstairs at the White House’. She has also rejuvenated her acting career by playing Blind Al in the ‘Deadpool’ movie franchise and Leah Walker in the ‘Empire’ series. On stage, she is known for her performances in ‘Hallelujah, Baby!’, ‘Blue in the Night’, ‘Jerry’s Girls’, and ‘On Golden Pond’ to name a few. Additionally, her discography includes albums like ‘Leslie Uggams: On My Way To You: Songs of Alan and Marilyn Bergman’, ‘Leslie on TV’, and ‘Painted Memories’ etc.

Birthday: May 25, 1943 (Gemini)

Born In: Harlem, New York, United States

9
Actresses #1969
Film & Theater Personalities #4691
Actresses #1969
Film & Theater Personalities #4691
9

Recommended For You

Sabrina Carpenter Biography Sabrina Carpenter
Margaret Qualley Biography Margaret Qualley
Kristen Bell Biography Kristen Bell
Cristin Milioti Biography Cristin Milioti
DID WE MISS SOMEONE?
CLICK HERE AND TELL US
WE'LL MAKE SURE
THEY'RE HERE A.S.A.P
Quick Facts

Also Known As: Leslie Marian Uggams

Age: 81 Years, 81 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Grahame Pratt (m. 1965)

father: Harold Uggams

mother: Juanita Uggams

children: Danielle Chambers, Justice Pratt

Born Country: United States

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'6" (168 cm), 5'6" Females

City: New York City

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: The Juilliard School

Recommended For You

Sabrina Carpenter Biography Sabrina Carpenter
Margaret Qualley Biography Margaret Qualley
Kristen Bell Biography Kristen Bell
Cristin Milioti Biography Cristin Milioti

You wanted to know

  • 1

    Is Leslie Uggams still performing?

    Yes, Leslie Uggams is still actively performing in various stage productions and television appearances.
  • 2

    What are some notable roles Leslie Uggams has played on Broadway?

    Some notable roles Leslie Uggams has played on Broadway include Muzzy in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes."
  • 3

    Has Leslie Uggams released any music albums?

    Yes, Leslie Uggams has released several music albums showcasing her singing talents.
  • 4

    Did Leslie Uggams ever appear in a Marvel movie?

    Yes, Leslie Uggams appeared in the Marvel movie "Deadpool" as Blind Al, a role she reprised in the sequel.
  • 5

    Has Leslie Uggams written any books?

    Yes, Leslie Uggams has penned an autobiography titled "Uptown/Downtown" where she shares insights into her life and career.

Recommended Lists:

American People
Juilliard School
Gemini Actresses
American Actresses
Actresses Who Are In Their 80s
Childhood & Early Life
Leslie Marian Uggams was born on May 25, 1943, in Harlem, New York City, USA, to Harold Coyden Uggams and Juanita Ernestine.
She completed her schooling from the New York Professional Children’s School. Later she attended the prestigious Juilliard School.
Continue Reading Below
Recommended Lists:
Women Film & Theater Personalities
American Film & Theater Personalities
Career
Leslie Uggams made her acting debut at the tender age of six portraying Ethel Water’s niece on the sitcom ‘Beulah’ (1951). She then performed 28 shows each week at the prestigious Apollo Theatre in Harlem. She was only six years old then.
She soon made her singing debut in ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’ (1951). In 1958, she became a household name after winning US $12,500 in the musical game show ‘Name That Tune’.
In 1955, Leslie Uggams released her record ‘Meet My Friend, Mr. Sun’. A multi-record deal with ‘Columbia Records’ followed. She produced 14 records with them. These included, ‘One More Sunrise’ (1959), ‘The Carefree Years’ (1960), ‘And I Love Her’ (1964), and ‘Hallelujah, Baby!’ (1967).
Simultaneously, in 1964, she enthralled audiences with her vocal skills on TV. This was in shows like ‘Sing Along with Mitch’ (1961 – 1964), ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ (1964 – 1969), and ‘The Dean Martin Show’ (1965 – 1972).
Uggams’ second major music deal was with ‘Atlantic Records’. This resulted in top-rated records like ‘A House Built on Sand’ (1967), ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ (1968), and ‘Walk Him Up The Stairs’ (1970) etc.
Leslie Uggams made her Broadway debut in 1967, in ‘Hallelujah, Baby’. She continued to captivate audiences on Broadway in ‘Her First Roman’ (1968), ‘Blues in the Night’ (1982), ‘Jerry’s Girls’ (1985), and ‘Anything Goes’ (1987).
After her movie debut in ‘Two Weeks in Another Town’ (1962), she appeared in TV shows like ‘The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.’ (1966) and ‘That’s (1968 – 1969). In 1969, she hosted the first-ever African-American woman hosted series ‘The Leslie Uggams Show’.
In 1972, she starred in two of her critically acclaimed movies, ‘Skyjacked’ and ‘Black Girl’. In 1977, she played the now-iconic role of Kizzy Reynolds Moore in the TV series ‘Roots’. She followed that up with ‘Backstairs at the White House’ (1979). Uggams earned an ‘Emmy’ nomination for her portrayal of the real-life Lillian Rogers.
Leslie Uggams excelled in her 1983 ‘Daytime Emmy’ winning role of the host of the family-game show ‘Fantasy’ (1982 – 1983). She also made her mark in shows like ‘The Love Boat’ (1981 – 1987) and ‘All My Children’ (1996). Her only movie during the time, ‘Sugar Hill’ (1993) failed at the box-office.
Continue Reading Below
In 2001, Leslie Uggams returned to Broadway and gave a ‘Tony Award’ nominated performance in ‘King Hedley II’. She appeared on Broadway twice again in ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ (2002) and ‘On Golden Pond’ (2005).
Besides Broadway, Uggams has also delivered several critically acclaimed performances on stage in ‘On Golden Pond’ (2005), ‘The First Breeze of Summer’ (2008), and ‘Gypsy’ (2014), etc.
Her recent notable appearances have been in the movies ‘Deadpool’ (2016) and ‘Deadpool 2’ (2018). Her performances as Vivian in ‘Nurse Jackie’ (2015) and as series-regular Leah Walker in ‘Empire’ (2018 – present) have received critical acclaim.
Major Works
Leslie Uggams’ most notable role was in the TV series ‘Roots’. Her heartbreaking portrayal of Kizzy Reynolds, in the America slave-drama, opened everyone’s eyes to the horrors of human slavery. It also won her a ‘Primetime Emmy’ award nomination in 1977.
Leslie has made herself pop-culture favorite with her portrayal of the sidekick Blind Al in ‘Deadpool’ (2016) and ‘Deadpool’ (2018). The two superhero movies are the highest-grossing movies of her career, having garnered more than US $780 million each.
Family & Personal Life
Leslie Uggams met and fell in love with Grahame Pratt while on a tour in Australia. She married him on October 16, 1965. The inter-racial couple then moved to New York to avoid being persecuted by the USA’s racial segregation laws.
The still happily married couple has two children, daughter Danielle Chambers (born April 11, 1970) and son Justice Pratt (born July 28, 1975).
Uggams is also a founding member of ‘BRAVO Chapter/City of Hope’. In 2015, she was honored with a ‘Doctor of Fine Arts degree’ from the ‘University of Connecticut’.
Facts About Leslie Uggams

Leslie Uggams is an accomplished singer and actress who made history as the first African American woman to star in her own television variety show, "The Leslie Uggams Show," in 1969.

In addition to her impressive acting career, Uggams is also a talented dancer and has showcased her skills on Broadway stages in hit musicals like "Hallelujah, Baby!" and "On Golden Pond."

Uggams has a passion for philanthropy and has been involved in numerous charitable causes throughout her career, including advocating for arts education and supporting organizations that empower young people.
Despite her successful career in entertainment, Uggams remains down-to-earth and approachable, often engaging with fans and sharing personal stories and insights about her life and experiences in the industry.
In 2009, Uggams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame, recognizing her significant contributions to the performing arts and cementing her legacy as a trailblazing talent in the industry.

See the events in life of Leslie Uggams in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Leslie Uggams Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
- https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/leslie-uggams-47131.php

People Also Viewed

Sabrina Carpenter Biography
Sabrina Carpenter
(American)
 
Margaret Qualley Biography
Margaret Qualley
(American)
 
Kristen Bell Biography
Kristen Bell
(American)
 
Cristin Milioti Biography
Cristin Milioti
(American)
 
Demi Moore Biography
Demi Moore
(American)
 
Teri Garr Biography
Teri Garr
(American)
 
Leighton Meester Biography
Leighton Meester
(American)
 
Kaitlin Olson Biography
Kaitlin Olson
(American)
 

Also Listed In

20th Century | 21st Century | Celebrity Names With Letter L | 20th Century Actresses | 21st Century Actresses | 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities | 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities