Leslie Marian Uggams (born May 25, 1943) is an American actress and singer.
Beginning her career as a child in the early 1950s, Uggams is recognized for portraying Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries Roots (1977), earning Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her performance. She had earlier been highly acclaimed for the Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby!, winning a Theatre World Award in 1967 and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968.
Later in her career, Uggams received renewed notice with appearances alongside Ryan Reynolds as Blind Al in Deadpool (2016) & Deadpool 2 (2018) and in a recurring role on Empire.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Blind Al
2024
Fallout
Betty Pearson · (5 episodes)
2024
American Fiction
Agnes Ellison
2023
Dotty and Soul
Dotty
2023
Extrapolations
Isabel Zucker · (2 episodes)
2023
My Dad the Bounty Hunter
Grandma (voice) · (5 episodes)
2023
Nanny
Kathleen
2022
The Ravine
Joanna
2022
The Gilded Age
Ernestine Brown · (1 episode)
2022
Show of Titles
"Hallelujah, Baby!" Performer
2021
The Bite
Dr. Hester Boutella · (6 episodes)
2021
Blithe Spirit
Madame Arcati
2020
Stars in the House
Madame Arcati · (1 episode)
2020
The Apollo
Self
2019
Once Upon a Deadpool
Blind Al
2018
New Amsterdam
Mamma Reynolds · (5 episodes)
2018
Deadpool 2
Blind Al
2018
Deadpool
Blind Al
2016
Just the Three of Us
2014
The Good Wife
Suzanne Packer · (1 episode)
2009
Toe to Toe
Grandma
2009
Words and Music by Jerry Herman
Self
2007
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Self
2003
The Early Show
Self · (1 episode)
1999
Family Guy
Leslie Uggams (voice) · (2 episodes)
1999
Live from Broadway: Hello, Dolly!
1995
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
Self
1994
Sugar Hill
Doris Holly
1994
The Ice Capades with Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano
1989
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
1988
A Different World
Dr. Eileen Redding · (1 episode)
1987
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
The Cosby Show
Kris Temple · (1 episode)
1984
Reading Rainbow
Herself - Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
1983
Hotel
(1 episode)
1982
Sizzle
Vonda
1981
Magnum, P.I.
Alexis Carter · (1 episode)
1980
Backstairs at the White House
Lillian Rogers Parks · (4 episodes)
1979
CBS News Sunday Morning
Self · (1 episode)
1979
A Special Sesame Street Christmas
Self
1978
Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
1978
The Love Boat
Marion Blake · (1 episode)
1977
The Love Boat
Callie Reason · (1 episode)
1977
Roots
Kizzy Reynolds · (1 episode)
1977
Roots
Kizzy Reynolds Moore · (1 episode)
1977
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star · (1 episode)
1976
Poor Pretty Eddie
Elizabeth 'Liz' Wetherly
1975
Easter Is
(voice)
1974
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self · (1 episode)
1973
The Bobby Darin Show
(1 episode)
1973
Black Girl
Netta
1972
Skyjacked
Lovejoy Wells
1972
S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin
Self
1972
The Flip Wilson Show
Self · (1 episode)
1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
1970
The Leslie Uggams Show
(10 episodes)
1969
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1969
The Mod Squad
(1 episode)
1968
That's Life
(1 episode)
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
Self · (1 episode)
1967
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
Natasha Brimstone · (1 episode)
1966
The Dean Martin Show
(1 episode)
1965
Hullabaloo
Self · (2 episodes)
1965
Hullabaloo
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1965
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Singer · (1 episode)
1964
The Danny Kaye Show
Self · (1 episode)
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (6 episodes)
1962
Two Weeks in Another Town
Chanteuse
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1961
Startime
(1 episode)
1959
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self · (1 episode)
1957
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter / Nominee / Performer · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Performer · (2 episodes)
1956
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (1 episode)
1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (4 episodes)
1948