Viola Davis

Viola Davis Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: August 11, 1965

Age: 58 years old

Birth Place: Saint Matthews, South Carolina

Viola Davis' powerful and emotional performances in such plays as "Intimate Apparel" and "King Hedley II" made her a formidable presence on the American theater scene in the late 1990s and 2000s. Her profile in film and on television was somewhat lower at the time, though she worked steadily in supporting parts for directors ranging from Steven Soderbergh with "Out of Sight" (1998) and "Solaris" (2002) and Oliver Stone with "World Trade Center (2006), as well as in countless television series. Her turn as the morally ambiguous mother of a sexually abused student in "Doubt" (2008) gained near-universal acclaim from critics, as did her turn as a strong-willed Civil Rights-era maid in the smash hit "The Help" (2011). Her mainstream breakthrough came as Dr. Annalise Keating in the Shonda Rhimes-produced hit series "How To Get Away With Murder" (ABC 2014- ), for which she became the first African-American actress to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy. She then went on to major box office success as one of the stars of the DC Comics anti-hero spectacular "Suicide Squad" (2016), and won the Academy award for Best actress for her starring role in Denzel Washington's August Wilson adaptation "Fences" (2016). With each new role Davis demonstrated an impressive range that assured her considerable talent would be given the opportunity to shine for years to come.

Credits

Kung Fu Panda 4

Voice
The Chameleon
Movie
2024
71%

Le défilé : walk your worth

Guest
Show
2023

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & SnakesStream

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Dr. Volumnia Gaul
Movie
2023
64%

AirStream

Actor
Deloris Jordan
Movie
2023
93%

Silver Dollar RoadStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2023
82%

The Woman King: Extras

Actor
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2022

Oprah and Viola the Woman King

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2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show

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2022

Oprah + ViolaStream

Self
Special
2022

The First LadyStream

Actor
Michelle Obama
Series
2022
41%

The First LadyStream

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2022
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The Woman KingStream

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Nanisca
Movie
2022
94%

The Woman KingStream

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2022
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CBS Mornings

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News
2021

Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist

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2021

Estação Livre

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2021

We Have a Dream

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2021

The Suicide SquadStream

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Amanda Waller
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2021
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Meryl Streep: The Winner Takes it All

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2021

The UnforgivableStream

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Liz Ingram
Movie
2021
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Dear...Stream

Self
Docuseries
2020
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Celebrity IOUStream

Self
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2020

Ma Rainey's Black BottomStream

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Ma Rainey
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2020
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Giving Voice

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2020

Giving Voice

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2020

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times

Actor
Florida Evans
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2019

Trace Trends

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2019

In a Man's World

Executive Producer
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2019

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Living in Sin: Inside a Religious Reform School

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2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

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2019

Troop Zero

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Miss Rayleen
Movie
2019

Troop Zero

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2019

Emanuel

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2019

A Touch of Sugar

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2019

The It List

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2018

Widows Interview Special

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Starz at TIFF

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2018

The Last Defense

Executive Producer
Docuseries
2018

People Cover Story

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2018

The Jess Cagle Interview

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2018

Two Sides

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2018

Two Sides

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2018

WidowsStream

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Veronica
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2018
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Access

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2017

Access Live

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2017

EIF Presents: XQ Super School Live

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2017

The Sunday Project

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2017

We Have a Dream

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2017

American Koko

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2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

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2017

We Have a Dream

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2017

CTV's Big Fall Preview

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2016

Stand Up to Cancer

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2016

Celebrity PageStream

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2016

The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60

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2016

Secret Talent Theatre

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2016

Suicide SquadStream

Actor
Amanda Waller
Movie
2016
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FencesStream

Actor
Rose Maxson
Movie
2016
92%

CustodyStream

Actor
Martha Schulman
Movie
2016

CustodyStream

Executive Producer
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2016

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

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2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

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2015

Hot OnesStream

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Reality
2015

The Making Of: Blackhat

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2015

Lila & EveStream

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Lila Walcott
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2015
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Lila & EveStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2015
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BlackhatStream

Actor
Carol Barrett
Movie
2015
32%

Lila and Eve

Actor
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2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

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2014

How to Get Away With MurderStream

Actor
Professor Annalise Keating
Series
2014
88%

How to Get Away With Murder: Extras

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2014

Thank God It's Thursday on ABC

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2014

Good Morning Britain

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2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

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2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

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2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

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2014

Young Hollywood's Greatest

Actor
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2014

Get On Up

Actor
Susie Brown
Movie
2014

Beautiful Creatures: Extras

Actor
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2013

Celebration of Gospel 2013

Guest Star
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2013

BAFTA: A Life in Pictures

Self
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2013

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her

Actor
Professor Lillian Friedman
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2013

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him

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Professor Lillian Friedman
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2013

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby

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Professor Lillian Friedman
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2013

Beautiful CreaturesStream

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Amma
Movie
2013
48%

PrisonersStream

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Nancy Birch
Movie
2013
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Ender's GameStream

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Maj. Gwen Anderson
Movie
2013
63%

Sofia the FirstStream

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Helen Hanshaw
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2012

Sofia the FirstStream

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Helen Hanshaw
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2012

Katie

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2012

Anderson Live

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2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

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2012

Entertainment Studios.TV

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2012

ScandalStream

Guest Star
Annalise Keating
Series
2012
93%

Finding Your RootsStream

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2012

Oprah's Oscar Special

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2012

Oprah's Oscar Special

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2012

A Life in Pictures

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CBS This Morning

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2012

Won't Back Down

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Nona Alberts
Movie
2012

LIVE with Kelly

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Talk
2011

The Help: Maid in America

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2011

Dish Nation

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2011

The Gayle King Show

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2011

The HelpStream

Actor
Aibileen
Movie
2011
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Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Actor
Abby Black
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2011

ConanStream

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2010

The Talk

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2010

Lorraine

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2010

On the Red Carpet

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2010

Knight and DayStream

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Director George
Movie
2010
52%

Eat Pray LoveStream

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Delia Shiraz
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2010
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It's Kind of a Funny Story

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Dr. Eden Minerva
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2010

Trust

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Gail Friedman
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2010

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

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2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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Talk
2009

United States of TaraStream

Guest Star
Lynda P. Frazier
Series
2009
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Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to JailStream

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Ellen
Movie
2009
29%

State of PlayStream

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Dr. Judith Franklin
Movie
2009
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Law Abiding CitizenStream

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Mayor
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2009
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The Andromeda StrainStream

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Dr. Charlene Barton
Miniseries
2008
30%

Nights in RodantheStream

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Jean
Movie
2008
30%

DoubtStream

Actor
Mrs. Miller
Movie
2008
79%

Samyy vernyy drug

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Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

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2007

Podróżnik

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2007

The Graham Norton ShowStream

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2007

Traveler

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Agent Jan Marlow
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2007

Jesse Stone: Sea Change

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Molly Crane
Movie
2007

Brothers & SistersStream

Guest Star
Ellen Snyder
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2006
79%

The One Show

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2006

etalk

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2006

Jesse Stone: Night PassageStream

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Molly Crane
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2006

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise

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Molly Crane
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2006

The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale

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Diane Barrino
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2006

The ArchitectStream

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Tonya Neeley
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2006
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Made in Hollywood

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2005

Threshold

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2005

Entertainment Tonight Canada

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2005

ET Canada

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2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
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2005

Stone Cold

Actor
Molly Crane
Movie
2005

Get Rich or Die Tryin'Stream

Actor
Grandma
Movie
2005
17%

Century City

Actor
Hannah Crane
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2004

Tavis Smiley

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2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

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2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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2003

Without a TraceStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

Antwone FisherStream

Actor
Eva
Movie
2002
78%

SolarisStream

Actor
Gordon
Movie
2002
66%

Far from HeavenStream

Actor
Sybil
Movie
2002
87%

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

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2001

The GuardianStream

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2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

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2001

Amy and Isabelle

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Dottie
Movie
2001

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Attorney Campbell
Series
2000

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

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2000

American Shorts: Poof! and a Voice to Be Reckoned With

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2000

City of Angels

Actor
Nurse Lynette Peeler
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2000

The Shrink Is In

Actor
Robin
Movie
2000

Third WatchStream

Guest Star
Series
1999

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Donna Emmett
Series
1999
78%

Judging Amy

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1999

The Pentagon Wars

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Sgt. Fanning
Movie
1998

Grace & Glorie

Actor
Rosemary Allbright
Movie
1998

The View

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1997

The PracticeStream

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1997

Access Hollywood

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News
1996

Entertainers: With Byron Allen

Guest
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1994

New York UndercoverStream

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1994

Extra

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1994

Inside the Actors Studio

Guest
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1994

NYPD BlueStream

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Woman
Series
1993
83%

Late Show With David Letterman

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1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

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Charlie RoseStream

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1991

Entertainment Tonight

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1981

CBS News Sunday Morning

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1979

20/20Stream

Executive Producer
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1978

20/20Stream

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News
1978

Good Morning America

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News
1975

Good Morning America

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1975

60 MinutesStream

Actor
News
1968

60 MinutesStream

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1968

Today

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1952

News aboutViola Davis

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Viola Davis, Brendan Fraser, and Michelle Yeoh at Palm Springs FIlm awards

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Viola Davis in 'The Woman King'

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The First Lady - Viola Davis as Michelle Obama

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Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford, Viola Davis as Michelle Obama and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt in The First Lady
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The First Lady series Gillian Anderson, Viola Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer

‘The First Lady’ Trailer Unveils First Looks at Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson & More (VIDEO)

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Viola Davis Chadwick Boseman

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Michelle Pfeiffer - Global Press Conference for Disney's 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil'

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Viola Davis, Andre Braugher, Asante Blackk & More Join ‘Good Times’ Live Episode Cast

How to Get Away With Murder - cast
Exclusive

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HTGAWM clip
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‘How to Get Away With Murder’ EP on Giving Annalise a Proper Ending in Season 6

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Kerry Washington and Viola Davis attend the 47th NAACP Image Awards

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Karla Souza and Viola Davis in How to Get Away with Murder
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Charlie Weber and Karla Souza in the midseason premiere of How to Get Away with Murder
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‘How to Get Away with Murder’ Boss Teases Midseason Premiere

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