Valarie Pettiford
Valerie Pettiford | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | July 8, 1960
Other names | Valerie Pettiford |
Occupation | Actress, dancer, singer |
Years active | 1978–present |
Spouse(s) | Tony Rader |
Valarie Pettiford (born July 8, 1960)[1] is an American stage and television actress, dancer, and jazz singer. She received a Tony Award nomination for her role in the broadway production Fosse.[2] She is also known for her role as "Big Dee Dee" Thorne on the UPN television sitcom Half & Half.
Stage[]
Pettiford began her career as a dancer and choreographer in Bob Fosse productions on Broadway.[3] Alvin Klein of the New York Times wrote of her role in the 1983 musical revue Ladies and Gentlemen, Jerome Kern! that "You will not for a moment take your eyes off Valarie Pettiford, the show's standout: a sinewy dancer who can be sultry or sweet, measure for measure, as prescribed.... Miss Pettiford appears to be a superbly trained dancer, schooled in balletic finesse and Broadway-style razzmatazz - and a stunning presence."[4] Leah Frank, also in the NYT, wrote of Pettiford's appearance in West Side Story in 1987: "The mainstay of the supporting cast is Valarie Pettiford, whose Anita is spicy, sensual and full of fire. She is an exciting actress who has a special quality needed to ignite a number such as America."[5]
In 1994, she played lesbian Cassandra Keefer in The Naked Truth,[6] and from 1995 to 1996 starred as Julie in a touring production of Show Boat.[7]
Pettiford received a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical and a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination for her role in the Broadway production Fosse from 1998 to 1999.[2][8] Variety said Pettiford gave "a coolly elegant vocal rendition, [and she] is also a sultry, powerful dancer."[9] She left Fosse to appear as Velma Kelly in Chicago in the West End in London from August 1999 to February 2000, alongside Chita Rivera as Roxie Hart.[2][8]
In 2007 Pettiford won the Backstage Bistro Award for her cabaret debut at the Metropolitan Room in New York City,[10] and won an NAACP Theatre Award for her lead role in The Wild Party.[11] In 2008, she starred in a solo show, Valarie Pettiford - Thankful that played in New York City and Los Angeles.[2] In 2009, she starred in the solo show Valarie Pettiford - The Concert in New York City.[12]
Film[]
In 1978, at the age of 17 and turning 18 and enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, Pettiford did her first ever movie work; part of the large ensemble in the film The Wiz.[13] She starred as Mariah Carey's mother in the 2001 film Glitter,[14] had a role in Stomp the Yard in 2007,[15] and played Aunt Geneva in the 2011 film, Jumping the Broom.
Television[]
In the 1990s, Pettiford appeared on daytime soap operas,[3] including Another World and One Life to Live (where she originated the role of Sheila Price). Her Half & Half role from 2002 to 2006 as Dee Dee Thorne gained her three NAACP Image Award nominations.[2] From 2008 to 2009, she played Sandra Lucas in the comedy-drama series Tyler Perry's House of Payne.[2] She also appeared in the HBO pilot Anatomy of Hope, directed by J. J. Abrams.[2] Pettiford plays a re-occurring role as the wife to Harold Cooper (Harry Lennix), Assistant Director of the FBI Counter-Terrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist.
Music[]
Pettiford released a jazz album, Hear My Soul, in 2005.[3]
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | The Wiz | chorus member[13] | |
1984 | The Cotton Club | dancer[16] | |
1988 | Robots | Newscaster | |
1990 | Street Hunter | Denise[16] | |
2001 | Confidences | Sean[16] | Short Film |
2001 | Glitter | Lillian Frank[14] | |
2002 | Like Mike | Mrs Boyd[16] | |
2003 | Paris | Terry[16] | |
2007 | Stomp the Yard | Aunt Jackie[15] | |
2007 | The Stolen Months of September | Annie Stephens | |
2009 | Why Am I Doing This? | Natalie | |
2009 | Anatomy of Hope | Deanna Rivers | Television Film |
2010 | Why Did I Get Married Too? | ||
2011 | Jumping the Broom | Aunt Geneva | |
2012 | Stars in Shorts | Angel of Death | |
2012 | Battlefield America | Ms. Williams | |
2012 | Note to Self | Mildred King | |
2012 | Birth Mother | Olivia | Short Film |
2013 | Love Will Keep Us Together | Paula | Television Film |
2013 | The Dempsey Sisters | Elizabeth Dempsey | |
2015 | My Favorite Five | Pamela Colburn | |
2015 | Will to Love | Avyon Hawkins | Television Film |
2015 | Welcome to the Family | Angela | |
2016 | Boy Bye | Linda | |
2016 | A Moment | Dana | Short Film |
2016 | The Secrets of Emily Blair | Detective Henson | |
2017 | The Preacher's Son | First Lady Charlene Wilson | |
2017 | Surviving in L.A. | Suzanne | |
2018 | The Choir Director | First Lady Charlene Wilson | |
2018 | We Belong Together | Diane | |
2018 | Jingle Belle | Faith Williams | Television Film |
2019 | Blind Sight | Cheryl | Short Film |
2019 | If Not Now, When | Lorna | |
2020 | Love Is Love Is Love | Wendy | |
2021 | Senior Moment | Judge Alice Miller |
Television[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | The Equalizer | Jackie | Episode: "No Place Like Home" |
1988–1990 | Another World | Det. Courtney Walker | Recurring role |
1990–1994 | One Life to Live | Shelia Price | Series regular |
1996 | The Sentinel | Angie Ferris | Episode: "Out of the Past" |
1997 | Silk Stalkings | Marnie | Episode: "Silent Witness" |
1997 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | Bianca Fleischer/Persephone | Episodes: "Honey, You Got Nine Lives", "Honey, I Got Duped" |
1997–1998 | Fame L.A. | Sylvia Williams | 3 episodes |
1998 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Angel Blake | Episode: "Angel" |
1998 | Sliders | Dr. Grace Venable | Episode: "Asylum" |
1999 | The X-Files | FBI Agent Ann Jones | Episode: "Two Fathers" |
2001 | Any Day Now | Valerie | Episode: "10 Days? Are You Crazy?" |
2001 | Jack & Jill | Gabil | Episode: "Caution: Parents Crossing" |
2001 | Sabrina, The Teenage Witch | Calliope | Episode: "Sabrina, The Muse" |
2001 | Frasier | Valerie | Episode: "Hooping Cranes" |
2002 | The West Wing | White House Security Guard Janice Allen | Episode: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" |
2002–2004 | The District | Gayle Noland | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
2002–2006 | Half & Half | Big Dee Dee Throne | Series regular, 91 episodes |
2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Susan Latham | Episode: "Fallen Idols" |
2007 | Bones | Ellen Laskow | Episode: "The Bodies in the Book" |
2008–2009 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Sandra Lucas | 3 episodes |
2009 | Criminal Minds | Sharon Harris | Episode: "Soul Mates" |
2011 | The Cape | Judge Valerie Preston | Episode: "Scales" |
2012 | The Finder | Chatney DuBois | Episode: "Bullets" |
2012 | Hart of Dixie | Carolyn Hayes | Episode: "Snowflakes & Soulmates" |
2012 | Bunheads | Viola | Episode: "For Fanny" |
2012 | Treme | Victorine Fornerat-Williams | Episodes: "Knock with Me-Rock With Me", "Saints" |
2013 | Golden Boy | Maxine Owen | 4 episodes |
2013 | True Blood | Mary Wright | Episodes: "In the Evening", "Dead Meat" |
2015–2016 | Born Again Virgin | Beverly | 3 episodes |
2015–2016 | The Blacklist | Charlene Cooper | Recurring role, 11 episodes |
2016 | Black-ish | Donna Duckworth | Episode: "Johnson & Johnson" |
2017 | Being Mary Jane | Rhonda Sales | Recurring role |
2017–2018 | Valor | Simone Porter | Recurring role |
2018 | A Luv Tale: The Series | Diana | Mini Series |
2018–present | A Discovery of Witches | Emily Mather | Main role |
2018–present | The Family Business | Charlotte Duncan | Main role |
2020 | BlackAF | Grandma Norma | 1 episode |
Stage roles[]
- The Wiz (2006), Aunt Em[17]
- The Wild Party (2005)[17]
- He Hunts (2002), Leontine Duchotel[18]
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (2002), Dorothy Shaw[19]
- Chicago (August 1999—February 2000), Velma Kelly[8]
- Fosse (1998—99)
- Show Boat (1995—96), Julie
- Freefall (1994)[20]
- The Naked Truth (1994), Cassandra Keefer
- Weird Romance (1992), Shannara and other roles[21]
- West Side Story (1987), Anita
- Big Deal (1986), Pearl, dance captain[22]
- Ladies and Gentlemen, Jerome Kern (1985), choreographer[17]
- Grind (1985), Fleta[16]
- Dancin' (1979), performer[17]
- Sophisticated Ladies (1978), a sophisticated lady and understudy for Miss Jamison, dance captain[16][17]
- A Broadway Musical (1978), swing performer[16]
- Summer and Smoke[16]
- The Balcony[16]
- Beehive[16]
- Tango Apasionato[16]
- Sarah and Abraham[16]
- She Stoops to Conquer[16]
- Sweet Charity[16]
Personal life[]
Pettiford was born in Queens, New York, to Ralph and Blanch Pettiford,[16] and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in 1978.[1][23] She is married to her manager, actor and former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tony Rader.[1][24] They got engaged in 1991.[25]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Rout, Nancy E.; Buckley, Ellen (1993). The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama. Todd Publications. p. 207. ISBN 0-915344-23-8.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Valarie Pettiford to Perform 'Thankful' at Upright Cabaret". Broadway World. October 10, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Gordon, Ed (July 13, 2005). "Valarie Pettiford: 'Hear My Soul'". NPR. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Klein, Alvin (July 31, 1983). "Theater; Evening of Kern is a pleasure". New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Frank, Leah D. (August 30, 1987). "Theater review; 'West Side Story': staging at its best". New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (June 17, 1994). "Review/Theater; Gay Guru Offers Advice For the Love-Locked". New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Novakovich, Iilana (January 13, 1995). "Ex One Life star in Toronto Show Boat". The Record. Ontario. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Jones, Kenneth (July 20, 1999). "Reva Rice, Formerly of Starlight Express, Steams Into Fosse July 20". Playbill. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (January 15, 1999). "Fosse (Dance revue -- Broadhurst Theater)". Variety. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (March 1, 2007). "Luker, David, Pettiford and Stritch Among Bistro Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Stitt, Eric (February 20, 2007). "NAACP fetes Fishburne, Pettiford". Variety. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Tony Nominee Valarie Pettiford Sings Abel/Steffan, Mondays in May at Metropolitan Room". Broadway World. May 11, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Valarie Pettiford". The Tennessee Tribune. November 27, 1996. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Van Gelder, Laurence (September 21, 2001). "Glitter (2001); Dreaming a Dream and Paying the Price for It". New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Waldron, Clarence (January 8, 2007). "Why 'Stomp the Yard' is the Must-See Movie of the Season". Jet. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Valarie Pettiford Biography (1960-)". Film Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Valarie Pettiford". Broadway World. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Segal, Lewis (April 19, 2002). "Scene-Stealing Enhances a Classic Feydeau Farce". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Shirley, Don (March 8, 2002). "What the Blonds Prefer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Simon, John (March 21, 1994). "Theater". New York Magazine. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Simon, John (July 20, 1992). "Two obits, one encomium". New York Magazine. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Kelly, Kevin (April 7, 1986). "Bob Fosse's New 'Big Deal'". New York Magazine. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "1978 Graduates". High School of Performing Arts. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Robinson-English, Tracey (August 2005). "Infertility: help for couples trying to conceive". Ebony. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Tipoff". Star-News. November 26, 1991. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
External links[]
- 1960 births
- Living people
- Actresses from New York City
- American female dancers
- American dancers
- American film actresses
- American musical theatre actresses
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- People from Queens, New York
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Dancers from New York (state)