Leslie Uggams

Leslie Uggams ( born May 25, 1943 in New York City ) is an American singer and actress.

Uggams began her career as a child in television in 1950, playing the niece of Ethel Waters in the series Beulah. In 1967, she played the lead role on Broadway in the musical Hallelujah, Baby! Jule Styne and by Arthur Laurents. A year later, she received a Tony Award for this work. In 1969 she was awarded his own TV show, entitled The Leslie Uggams Show. A German audience she became known in the 1970s, when she played the role of Kizzy in the television series Roots based on the novel by Alex Haley. In 1975, the LP Leslie Uggams was created for the legendary record label Motown. In 1979, she played the maid Lillian Rogers Parks in the U.S. series The White House, back entrance. Since the 1980s, she is mostly seen in Broadway productions. Every now and then she takes guest roles in American TV series.