Valarie Pettiford
| Valarie Pettiford | |
|---|---|
Pettiford in October 2009
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|
| Born | July 8, 1960 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, dancer |
| Years active | 1978—present |
Valarie Pettiford (born July 8, 1960)[1] is an American stage and television actress, dancer, and jazz singer. She received a Tony 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 sitcom Half & Half.
Contents
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 black 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,[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 and Los Angeles.[2] In 2009, she starred in the solo show Valarie Pettiford - The Concert in Manhattan.[12]
Film
Pettiford's first film role was in 1978 at the age of 18 while still at the High School of Performing Arts, as part of the ensemble in The Wiz.[13] She starred as Mariah Carey's mother in the 2001 film Glitter,[14] had a part 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 2002-6 as Big 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 JJ Abrams.[2] And currently has a re-occurring role as the wife to Harry 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][16]
Filmography
Television
- Love Thy Neighbor (2013–present), Bobbi[17]
- Criminal Minds (2009), Sandra Harris[2]
- Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2008—2011), Sandra Lucas[2]
- Anatomy of Hope (2008), Deanna Rivers[2]
- Bones (2007), Ellen Laskow[2]
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2007), Susan Latham[2]
- CSI: Miami (2006), Dr. Lana Whitford[2]
- Half & Half (2002—2006), Big Dee Dee Thorne
- The District (2002—2003), Grace Noyland[17]
- State of Grace (2002)[17]
- The West Wing (2002), White House Security Guard Janice[17]
- Frasier (2001), public relations woman[17]
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2001), Calliope[17]
- Jack & Jill (2001)[17]
- Men, Women & Dogs (2001), Teri Forrester[17]
- The X-Files (1999), FBI agent[17]
- Sliders (1998), Dr. Grace Venable[17]
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1998), Angel Blake[17]
- Fame L.A. (1997—1998), Sylvia[17]
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (1997), Bianca Fleischer[17]
- Silent Witness (1997), priestess[17]
- The Sentinel (1996), Angie Ferris[17]
- Another World (1988–1990), Detective Courtney Walker[17]
- One Life to Live (1990—1994), Sheila Price
- Hart of Dixie (2012), Carolyn Hayes
Film
- Stars in Shorts (2012), Angel of Death
- Jumping the Broom (2011), Aunt Geneva
- Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010), Terry's Mom
- Why Am I Doing This? (2009), Natalie
- Stomp the Yard (2007), Aunt Jackie[15]
- Paris (2003), Terry[17]
- Like Mike (2002), Mrs Boyd[17]
- Glitter (2001), Lillian Frank[14]
- Confidences (short film, 2001), Sean[17]
- Street Hunter (1990), Denise[17]
- Robots, (1988), newscaster
- The Cotton Club (1984), dancer[17]
- The Wiz (1978), chorus member[13]
Stage roles
- The Wiz (2006), Aunt Em[18]
- The Wild Party (2005)[18]
- He Hunts (2002), Leontine Duchotel[19]
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (2002), Dorothy Shaw[20]
- Chicago (August 1999—February 2000), Velma Kelly[8]
- Fosse (1998—99)
- Show Boat (1995—96), Julie
- Freefall (1994)[21]
- The Naked Truth (1994), Cassandra Keefer
- Weird Romance (1992), Shannara and other roles[22]
- West Side Story (1987), Anita
- Big Deal (1986), Pearl, dance captain[23]
- Ladies and Gentlemen, Jerome Kern (1985), choreographer[18]
- Grind (1985), Fleta[17]
- Dancin' (1979), performer[18]
- Sophisticated Ladies (1978), a sophisticated lady and understudy for Miss Jamison, dance captain[17][18]
- A Broadway Musical (1978), swing performer[17]
- Summer and Smoke[17]
- The Balcony[17]
- Beehive[17]
- Tango Apasionato[17]
- Sarah and Abraham[17]
- She Stoops to Conquer[17]
- Sweet Charity (musical)[17]
Personal life
Pettiford was born in Queens, New York, to Ralph and Blanch Pettiford,[17] and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in 1978.[1][24] She is married to her manager, actor and former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tony Rader.[1][25] They got engaged in 1991.[26]
References
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- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 17.15 17.16 17.17 17.18 17.19 17.20 17.21 17.22 17.23 17.24 17.25 17.26 17.27 17.28 17.29 17.30 17.31 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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