Matinee Classics - Leslie Uggams Biography & Filmography

Leslie Uggams ACTOR

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LESLIE UGGAMS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Leslie Uggams was born on May 25th, 1943 in New York City, New York. Leslie was born into a family involved in entertaining, her mother was a dancer and her father was a professional singer. As a young girl she studied at the Professional Children's School of New York and later at Julliard.

Her career in entertainment began as a young girl where she would sing on, "The Lawrence Welk Show" and "Sing Along with Mitch". Along with performing on television, she also released a couple songs as a young girl such as, "Give Me That Old Time Religion", "One More Sunrise" and "House Built on Sand".

By 1959, she was given the chance to have her own variety television show called, "The Leslie Uggams Show" (1969), which became the first network show to have an African-American host since the 1950's when Nat King hosted the, "Nat King Cole Show".

Uggams was now beginning to make a real name for herself in the industry and was soon adding such credits as the miniseries, "Roots" (1977) starring LeVar Burton and an all-star cast as well as guest television appearances on, "The Muppet Show", "Magnum, P.I." starring Tom Selleck, "Hollywood Squares Fantasy", Markus Welby, M.D." and "The Mod Squad".

Along with her television work she also appeared in such feature films as, "Poor Pretty Eddie" (1975), "Sky Jack" (1972), "Black Girl" (1972), "Sugar Hill" (1993) and "Toe Girl" (2009).

Leslie has also done some stage work appearing in such productions as, "Hallelujah, Baby!", "Blues in the Night", "Anything Goes", "Thoroughly Modern Millie", "On Golden Pond" and "Jerry Girls".

Most recently has appeared in the stage musical, "Stormy Weather" (2009) and on the television series, "Memphis Beat" (2011) and "The Good Wife" (2011) starring Julianna Margulies.

Leslie Uggams has married only once to Grahame Pratt in 1965 and together they have two children and remain married today.