Renowned for her talents as both an actress and singer, Leslie Uggams is an iconic figure in the African-American community. Her success in the United States occurred during a period of significant racial division, and she served as a trailblazer for numerous future black performers.
Uggams’ filmography includes acclaimed roles in Two Weeks in Another Town, Skyjacked, Black Girl, Poor Pretty Eddie, Sugar Hill, Toe to Toe, and Deadpool.
Early Life & Education
Leslie Marian Uggams was born on May 25, 1943, in Harlem, New York City, USA. Her parents were Harold Coyden Uggams and Juanita Ernestine.
She received her education from the New York Professional Children’s School and then went on to attend the renowned Juilliard School.
Leslie Uggams’ Acting Career
At just six years old, Leslie Uggams began her acting career by playing Ethel Water’s niece on the TV show ‘Beulah’ (1951). She also wowed audiences with 28 performances per week at the renowned Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
She later made her singing debut on ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’ (1951) and gained widespread recognition in 1958 when she won $12,500 on the popular music game show ‘Name That Tune’.
In 1955, Leslie Uggams debuted her album ‘Meet My Friend, Mr. Sun’ and subsequently signed a contract with ‘Columbia Records’. She went on to create 14 albums with them, such as ‘One More Sunrise’ (1959), ‘The Carefree Years’ (1960), ‘And I Love Her’ (1964), and ‘Hallelujah, Baby!’ (1967).
In 1964, she captivated viewers with her singing abilities on various television shows including ‘Sing Along with Mitch’ (1961 – 1964), ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ (1964 – 1969), and ‘The Dean Martin Show’ (1965 – 1972).
Additionally, Uggams signed a significant music contract with ‘Atlantic Records’ which produced popular songs such as ‘A House Built on Sand’ (1967), ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ (1968), and ‘Walk Him Up The Stairs’ (1970) among others.
Leslie Uggams graced Broadway for the first time in 1967, starring in the musical ‘Hallelujah, Baby’. She continued to captivate audiences in subsequent Broadway productions such as ‘Her First Roman’ (1968), ‘Blues in the Night’ (1982), ‘Jerry’s Girls’ (1985), and ‘Anything Goes’ (1987).
Following her film debut in ‘Two Weeks in Another Town’ (1962), she also appeared in popular TV shows such as ‘The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.’ (1966) and ‘That’s (1968 – 1969). In 1969, Uggams became the first African-American woman to host her own television series, ‘The Leslie Uggams Show’.
She was praised for her performances in ‘Skyjacked’ and ‘Black Girl’ in 1972. Five years later, she gained recognition for her portrayal of Kizzy Reynolds Moore in the popular show ‘Roots’. Her next project, ‘Backstairs at the White House’, aired in 1979 and earned her an ‘Emmy’ nomination for her depiction of Lillian Rogers.
In 1983, Leslie Uggams won a ‘Daytime Emmy’ for her outstanding performance as the host of the popular family game show ‘Fantasy’ (1982 – 1983). She also gained recognition for her roles in ‘The Love Boat’ (1981 – 1987) and ‘All My Children’ (1996). However, her film ‘Sugar Hill’ (1993) was not successful at the box office.
Leslie Uggams made a comeback to Broadway in 2001, earning a nomination for a ‘Tony Award’ for her role in ‘King Hedley II’.
She later returned to Broadway two more times, starring in ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ (2002) and ‘On Golden Pond’ (2005). Apart from her success on Broadway, Uggams has received high praise for her performances in productions such as ‘On Golden Pond’ (2005), ‘The First Breeze of Summer’ (2008), and ‘Gypsy’ (2014).
She has received praise for her roles as Vivian in ‘Nurse Jackie’ (2015) and as a regular character, Leah Walker, in ‘Empire’ (2018 – present). Her most recent noteworthy roles were in the films ‘Deadpool‘ (2016) and ‘Deadpool 2’ (2018). Uggams was also seen in the Academy Award winner movie, American Fiction (2023), as Agnes Ellison.
Personal Life
During a tour in Australia, Leslie Uggams and Grahame Pratt crossed paths and developed a strong romantic bond. They tied the knot on October 16, 1965, and relocated to New York to escape the discrimination imposed by the United States’ racial segregation laws.
Today, the couple remains happily married and has two children: Danielle Chambers (born April 11, 1970) and Justice Pratt (born July 28, 1975).
Net Worth
Leslie Uggams, an American actress and singer, has a total fortune of $3 million. She has appeared in numerous films such as Two Weeks in Another Town, Skyjacked, Black Girl, Poor Pretty Eddie, Sugar Hill, Toe to Toe, and Deadpool. In 1983, Uggams was recognized with a Daytime Emmy Award for her exceptional hosting in the variety series Fantasy.
