Valarie Pettiford

Last updated

Valarie Pettiford
Valarie Pettiford.jpg
Pettiford in 2009
Born (1960-07-08) July 8, 1960 (age 64)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • dancer
  • singer
Years active1978–present
SpouseTony 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 Deirdre "Big Dee Dee" LaFontaine Thorne on the UPN television 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 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 enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, Pettiford did her first-ever movie work as 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 recurring role as the wife to Harold Cooper (Harry Lennix), Assistant Director of the FBI Counter-Terrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist. She has also starred in the TV series A Discovery of Witches as the witch Emily Mather.

In September 2024, it was announced Pettiford had joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in the role of Amy Lewis. [16]

Music

While on Half & Half, Pettiford released a jazz album, Hear My Soul, in 2005. [3]

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] [18] She is married to her manager, actor and former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tony Rader. [1] [19] They got engaged in 1991. [20]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 The Wiz Chorus Member [13]
1984 The Cotton Club Dancer [17]
1988 Robots NewscasterVideo
1990Street HunterDenise [17]
2001ConfidencesSeanShort [17]
Glitter Lillian Frank [14]
2002 Like Mike Mrs Boyd [17]
2003 Paris Terry [17]
2007 Stomp the Yard Aunt Jackie [15]
The Stolen Months of SeptemberCounselor
2009Why Am I Doing This?Natalie
Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood BowlHot Box GirlVideo
Anatomy of Hope Deanna RiversTV movie
2010 Why Did I Get Married Too? Harriet
Not Your TimeAngel of DeathShort
2011 Jumping the Broom Aunt Geneva
Nurse Jackée-Short
2012 Battlefield America Ms. Williams
Note to SelfMildred 'Momma' King
Birth MotherOliviaShort
2013Love Will Keep Us TogetherPaulaTV movie
The Dempsey SistersElizabeth Dempsey
2015My Favorite FivePamela Colburn
Will to LoveAvyon HawkinsTV movie
Welcome to the FamilyAngelaTV movie
2016The Secrets of Emily BlairDetective Henson
Boy ByeLinda
A MomentDanaShort
2017The Preacher's SonFirst Lady Charlene Wilson
2018The Choir DirectorFirst Lady Charlene Wilson
No More Mr Nice GuyLorna Monroe
We Belong TogetherDiane
Jingle BelleFaith WilliamsTV movie
2019Blind SightCherylShort
If Not Now, When? Lorna
2020Surviving in L.A.Suzanne
Love Is Love Is Love Wendy
2021 Senior Moment Judge Alice Miller
Hip Hop Family ChristmasNancyTV movie
Merry SwitchmasColleen

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 The Equalizer JackieEpisode: "No Place Like Home"
1988–90 Another World Detective Courtney WalkerRegular Cast
1990–94 One Life to Live Dr. Sheila PriceRegular Cast
1996 The Sentinel Angie FerrisEpisode: "Out of the Past"
1997 Silk Stalkings MarnieEpisode: "Silent Witness"
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Bianca Fleischer/PersephoneEpisode: "Honey, You Got Nine Lives" & "Honey, I Got Duped"
1997–98 Fame L.A. Sylvia WilliamsRecurring cast
1998 Walker, Texas Ranger Angel BlakeEpisode: "Angel"
Sliders Dr. Grace VenableEpisode: "Asylum"
1999 The X-Files FBI Agent Ann JonesEpisode: "Two Fathers"
2001 Any Day Now ValerieEpisode: "10 Days? Are You Crazy?"
Jack & Jill GabiEpisode: "Caution: Parents Crossing"
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch CalliopeEpisode: "Sabrina, The Muse"
Frasier P.R. WomanEpisode: "Hooping Cranes"
Men, Women & Dogs Teri ForresterEpisode: "Top Dog"
2002 State of Grace -Episode: "Fortunate Son"
The West Wing White House Security Guard Janice AllenEpisode: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic"
2002–04 The District Gayle NolandGuest: Season 2, Recurring cast: Season 3-4
2002–06 Half & Half Deirdre "Big Dee Dee" LaFontaine ThorneMain Cast
2006 CSI: Miami Dr. Lana WhitfordEpisode: "Open Water"
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Susan LathamEpisode: "Fallen Idols"
Bones Ellen LaskowEpisode: "The Bodies in the Book"
2008–11 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Sandra LucasRecurring cast: Season 4-7
2009 Criminal Minds Sharon HarrisEpisode: "Soul Mates"
2011 The Cape Judge Valerie PrestonEpisode: "Scales on a train"
2012 The Finder Chatney DuBoisEpisode: "Bullets"
Hart of Dixie Carolyn HayesEpisode: "Snowflakes & Soulmates"
Bunheads ViEpisode: "For Fanny"
Treme Victorine Fornerat-WilliamsEpisodes: "Knock with Me-Rock With Me" & "Saints"
2013 Golden Boy Maxine OwenRecurring cast
True Blood Mary WrightEpisodes: "In the Evening" & "Dead Meat"
2015–16 Born Again Virgin BeverlyGuest: Season 1, Recurring cast: Season 2
2015–21 The Blacklist Charlene CooperRecurring cast: Season 2-3 & 9, guest: Season 8
2016 Black-ish Donna DuckworthEpisode: "Johnson & Johnson"
2017 Being Mary Jane Rhonda SalesRecurring cast: Season 4
2017–18 Valor Simone PorterRecurring cast
2018–present The Family Business Charlotte DuncanMain Cast
2018–22 A Discovery of Witches Emily MatherMain Cast
2019The BaxtersDianeRecurring cast: Season 3
2020 BlackAF GrandmaEpisode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"
2021 Home Economics RachelEpisode: "Triple Scoop of Ice Cream, $6.39"
A Luv Tale: The SeriesDianaRecurring cast
NCIS Sonia EberhartEpisode: "Road to Nowhere" & "Great Wide Open"
2022 First Wives Club Nancy2 episodes

Stage roles

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