Valarie Pettiford

Biography

Valarie Pettiford is an American actress, dancer, and jazz singer who started out dancing and choreographing in Bob Fosse productions on Broadway. Born in Queens, she made her first movie appearance in the ensemble of The Wiz in 1978 and earned a Tony nomination for her work in the Broadway musical Fosse. She went on to play Velma Kelly in Chicago in London's West End from 1999 to 2000. Her films include Glitter (2001), Stomp the Yard (2007), and Jumping the Broom (2011). From 2002 to 2006 she played Dee Dee Thorne on the sitcom Half & Half, a role that brought her three NAACP Image Award nominations. She also recorded the jazz album Hear My Soul in 2005 and won a Backstage Bistro Award for her cabaret debut.

66years old

Turns 67 on July 8in 266 days

Born July 8, 1960Queens
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films: 5
Career span: 10 years2001 to 2011

Every film, newest first

2011Jumping the BroomIMDb rating 5.7
2010Why Did I Get Married Too?IMDb rating 4.8
2009Why Am I Doing This?IMDb rating 6.9
2007Stomp the YardIMDb rating 5.5
2001GlitterIMDb rating 2.5

Genres

Did you know?!

First role
Pettiford's first movie work came at 17, when she was part of the large ensemble in The Wiz while still enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts.
A role that slipped away
After leaving the Broadway show Fosse, Pettiford played Velma Kelly in Chicago in London's West End, from August 1999 to February 2000, with Chita Rivera cast as Roxie Hart.
First role
In 1988, Pettiford played Jackie in "No Place Like Home," an episode of the original series The Equalizer. It was her first role in a television series.