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IMDbPro

Charlayne Woodard

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Charlayne Woodard
A look at the personal and professional lives of the judges, lawyers, clerks, bailiffs and cops who work at an L.A. County courthouse.
Play demo reel4:06
All Rise (2019)
10 Videos
35 Photos
Charlayne Woodard is a dazzling force in American theater, captivating audiences with her exceptional talent as both an actress and playwright. With two Obie Awards under her belt, and nominations for the highly prestigious Tony and Drama Desk Awards, she has solidified her place as one of the most acclaimed performers of our time.

Her writing and performing skills shine in her four solo plays, Pretty Fire, Neat, In Real Life, and The Nightwatcher, which have received widespread critical acclaim. But Woodard's talent doesn't stop there - she has also written two multi-character plays, Flight and The Garden, further showcasing her versatility and range as a writer.

Woodard has also starred in original plays written by some of the biggest names in contemporary theater, including Susan-Lori Parks, Lynn Nottage, George C. Wolfe, Jeremy O. Harris, Brandon-Jacobs Jenkins, Athol Fugard, David Adjmi, and Ariel Dorfman. She's graced the silver screen as well, appearing in films directed by the likes of M. Night Shyamalan, Milos Foreman, Louis Malle, John Schlesinger, Nicolas Hytner, Wim Wenders, Robert Townsend, and John Sayles.

In addition to her stage and screen work, Woodard has also made an impact on television, appearing in numerous shows and even making a memorable performance on The Johnny Carson Show. She made history by becoming the first black actress to play Cinderella on TV or in film.

Charlayne Woodard's talent and versatility make her a true standout in the world of theater and beyond. With her fearless performances and captivating writing, she continues to captivate audiences and inspire the next generation of performers.
BornDecember 29, 1953
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 29, 1953
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 2 nominations

Photos35

"Helena St. Rogers" - Pose
Vanity Fair - Emmy Party 2019
40th Anniversary - "Ain't Misbehavin'" at 54 Below
Charlayne Woodard and Megan Boone in The Blacklist (2013)
Samuel L. Jackson and Charlayne Woodard in "Glass"
Charlayne Woodard
Johnny Hiram Jamison and Charlayne Woodard in Unbreakable (2000)
Giovanni Ribisi, Charlayne Woodard, Patrick Brennan, and Marin Ireland in Sneaky Pete (2015)
Charlayne Woodard and Megan Boone in The Blacklist (2013)
Will Smith, James Avery, Diedrich Bader, David Downing, Felton Perry, and Charlayne Woodard in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
James Avery, Diedrich Bader, Jenifer Lewis, and Charlayne Woodard in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
Juanita Jennings, Karyn Parsons, and Charlayne Woodard in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

Known for

Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis in Unbreakable (2000)
Unbreakable
7.3
  • Elijah's Mother
  • 2000
Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, and James McAvoy in Glass (2019)
Glass
6.6
  • Mrs. Price
  • 2019
Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible (1996)
The Crucible
6.8
  • Tituba
  • 1996
Hair (1979)
Hair
7.5
  • White Boys(as Charlaine Woodward)
  • 1979

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Secret Invasion
    • Post-production
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2023
  • Alexandra Daddario in Mayfair Witches (2023)
    Mayfair Witches
    • Dolly Jean Mayfair
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • Animal Kingdom (2016)
    Animal Kingdom
    • Pam Johnson
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Gabriel Byrne, Debra Winger, Irrfan Khan, Amy Ryan, and Dane DeHaan in In Treatment (2008)
    In Treatment
    • Rhonda
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Marg Helgenberger in All Rise (2019)
    All Rise
    • Judge Prudence Jenkins
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Michael Weatherly in The Necklace (2016)
    Bull
    • Dawn Taylor
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Michael Sheen and Tom Payne in Prodigal Son (2019)
    Prodigal Son
    • Dr. Gabrielle Le Deux
    • TV Series
    • 2019–2020
  • Jimmy Smits and Caitlin McGee in Bluff City Law (2019)
    Bluff City Law
    • Gertrude LaRue
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Pose (2018)
    Pose
    • Helena St. Rogers
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2019
  • Giovanni Ribisi in Sneaky Pete (2015)
    Sneaky Pete
    • Hickey
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, and James McAvoy in Glass (2019)
    Glass
    • Mrs. Price
    • 2019
  • Ana Gasteyer, Nancy Lenehan, Drew Nelson, Brian Huskey, Wyatt Cenac, Tracee Chimo Pallero, Alice Wetterlund, Luka Jones, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph in People of Earth (2016)
    People of Earth
    • Judy
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • The Blacklist (2013)
    The Blacklist
    • Allison Gaines
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Justin Theroux in The Leftovers (2014)
    The Leftovers
    • Lois Makepeace
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Italia Ricci in Chasing Life (2014)
    Chasing Life
    • Monica Bradley
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Things Never Said (2013)
    Things Never Said
    • Charlotte
    • 2013

Soundtrack

  • Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
    • performer: "O Holy Night"
    • performer: "This Little Light O' Mine" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1991
  • Hair (1979)
    Hair
    • performer: "White Boys"
    • 1979
  • The 32nd Annual Tony Awards
    • performer: "Off-Time"
    • TV Special
    • 1978

Videos11

All Rise (2019)
Demo Reel 4:06
All Rise (2019)
The Crucible (1996)
Demo Reel 2:09
The Crucible (1996)
All Rise (2021)
Demo Reel 1:06
All Rise (2021)
Sneaky Pete
Demo Reel 1:26
Sneaky Pete
Prodigal Son
Demo Reel 1:40
Prodigal Son
Pose (2018)
Demo Reel 4:20
Pose (2018)
Bull (2020)
Demo Reel 1:38
Bull (2020)
Animal Kingdom (2016)
Demo Reel 3:03
Animal Kingdom (2016)
In Treatment (2021)
Demo Reel 7:18
In Treatment (2021)
Things Never Said
Trailer 2:39
Things Never Said
Things Never Said
Trailer 1:50
Things Never Said

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook Fan Page
    • Official Site
  • Alternative names
    • Charlaine Woodard
  • Height
    • 5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
  • Born
    • December 29, 1953
    • Albany, New York, USA
  • Spouse
    • Alan Michael Harris1991 - present
  • Children
    • No Children
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared in "Ain't Misbehavin'" on Broadway. NOTE: She was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Best Actress--Featured, Musical.
  • Publicity listings
    • 5 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    The singer Brandy Norwood is often lauded as the first black Cinderella; however, Charlayne portrayed Cinderella in Cindy (1978).
  • Quotes
    I have been doing other people's plays all my life, and even though I've been doing solo plays, that was just so other people could see that I could be the lead in their plays. When I first wrote "Pretty Fire" it was just so I could get a job in a play where I didn't have to sing.

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