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, …Oct 16, 2022 · Advertisement. After Leslie Uggams met her husband, Grahame Pratt, he decided to leave his country for her. However, being married when interracial marriages were taboo, the couple received mails that once told them they would have "polka-dot children." The couple has now been married for 58 years. Actress Leslie Uggams and actor Grahame Pratt defied the odds when they had one of the few high-profile interaction relationships in the 1960s. But despite all the side eyes and discriminatory comments, the couple stood together and …In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from … Leslie Uggams "We Can Work It Out" on The Ed Sullivan Show, November 27, 1966. Subscribe now to never miss an update: https://ume.lnk.to/EdSullivanSubscribe ... Dec 5, 2023 · Leslie Uggams "The Trolley Song" on The Ed Sullivan Show, November 27, 1966. Subscribe now to never miss an update: https://ume.lnk.to/EdSullivanSubscribe Wa... Learn about the life and career of Leslie Uggams, an actress who starred in Broadway musicals, TV shows and movies. Find out her age, height, family, awards, trivia and …Leslie Uggams nar. 25.05.1943 (80 let) New York City, New York, USA Přehled Biografie Zajímavosti Videa Galerie Ocenění Diskuze další Přehled Biografie Zajímavosti Videa Galerie Ocenění Diskuze Zajímavosti (1) Více Deadpool 2 (2018) Slepá Al ...A Time To Love - Leslie Uggams (1966) 0:00. Leslie Uggams - A Lover's Concerto (The Toys cover - 1966) 2:24. Explore the tracklist, credits, statistics, and more for A Time To Love by Leslie Uggams. Compare versions and buy on Discogs.Tony Winner Leslie Uggams, Star of Hallelujah, Baby!, King Hedley II, Roots, Thoroughly Modern Millie, More "We are at a moment in America where we can finally make meaningful, lasting, systemic ...Leslie Uggams and her husband Grahame Pratt attends Amateur Night at the Apollo: Broadway! at The Apollo Theater on March 14, 2012 in New York City. Amateur Night At The Apollo: Broadway! Leslie Uggams and her husband Grahame Pratt The Apollo Theater's 78th Season Of Amateur Night - Opening Night With Jennifer Holliday at The Apollo...March 20, 21, & 23 at 7pm, 2024. Stage and screen legend Leslie Uggams returns to 54 Below with her hit show drawing from Broadway and beyond. Featuring musical theater showstoppers, American Songbook classics, jazz standards and current pop hits, this timeless romp through an exciting song catalog will have audiences cheering, “Hallelujah ...November 10 - 12, 2022. Stage and screen legend Leslie Uggams returns to 54 Below with an all new show drawing from Broadway and beyond. Featuring musical theater showstoppers, American Songbook classics, jazz standards and current pop hits, this timeless romp through an exciting song catalog will have audiences cheering, …Leslie Uggams. Actor. 25/05/1943 (80 years old) A musical career came virtually by inheritance to African-American entertainer Leslie Uggams. Her father sang with the Hall Johnson Choir, and her mother was a chorus dancer. At age 6, Leslie was appearing with Ethel Waters in the TV sitcom The Beulah Show; at eight, she was featured on Paul ... Tony and Emmy Award-winning television, film, and Broadway actress and singer perhaps best known for her history-making role as Kizzy in the television mini-series ROOTS. Recent films include ... In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from … In her two-hour interview, Leslie Uggams describes her childhood growing up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan and how she began performing at the Apollo Theater at the age of nine. She talks about her appearances on early television shows including Beulah, The Milton Berle Show, and The Paul Whiteman TV Teen Club throughout her childhood and teenage years, and being ... Leslie Uggams was born on 25 May 1943 in New York City, New York, United States. Her father was named Harold Uggams and her mother was named Juanita Uggams. Leslie Uggams got married to Grahame Pratt in the year 1965. They have two children Danielle Chambers and Justice Pratt.Learn about the amazing life and career of Leslie Uggams, who plays Blind Al in Deadpool and has worked with legends like Sinatra …Leslie Uggams is an iconic African-American actress and singer. Her rise to fame in the USA came at a time when racial segregation was a major factor. She paved the way for … Leslie Uggams is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer who has starred in various roles on stage, screen and television. She is best known for her portrayal of Kizzy in the TV mini-series Roots and Mama Rose in the musical Gypsy. She is also a board member of the Apollo Theater and a singer of cabaret and one-woman shows. For her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/leslie-uggams The film stars Ryan Reynolds as the titular Deadpool/Wade Wilson, Josh Brolin as Cable, Zazie Beetz as Domino, Julian Dennison as Russell/Firefist, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Karan Soni as Dopinder and Leslie Uggams as Blind Al. We had the honor of speaking with the iconic Tony and Emmy-Award ... 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. Mar 29, 2023 · March 29, 2023 9:00am. From left: Karan Soni, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Leslie Uggams. Everett Collection. EXCLUSIVE: Looks like everyone’s favorite wisecracking superhero is being joined in ... Leslie Uggams and Louis Gossett Jr. attend SiriusXM Town Hall with the cast of "Roots" hosted by Joe Madison at SiriusXM Studios on February 5, 2013 in New York City. Never miss a story — sign ...Encores! News Leslie Uggams, More Join New York City Center Encores! Jelly's Last Jam. Nicholas Christopher will star as Jelly Roll Morton with performances beginning in February 2024.Broadway legend Leslie Uggams returns to 54 Below for two performances only! Best known for her Tony Award-winning role in Hallelujah, Baby!, as well as the groundbreaking miniseries, Roots, Ms. Uggams’ storied career has spanned television (her own CBS variety show), film (Skyjacked) and Broadway ( Her First Roman, Blues in the Night, Jerry ...Leslie Uggams, vocals ; with orchestra conducted by Glenn Osser Addeddate 2010-02-09 22:25:41 Betterpdf true Boxid IA1260409 OL100020511 Call number 8288772 Catalog-number CL 1376 External_metadata_update 2019-04-10T16:15:55ZThe scene-stealing actress is ready to take on Ryan Reynolds once more. Leslie Uggams is coming back for round two. The actress will reprise her role as Blind Al in Deadpool 2, Heat Vision has ...Leslie Uggams performs "Moonlight in Vermont" with the Mitch Miller Orchestra.CDs (available online) On My Way To You. Painted Mem'ries. This album of classic love songs was originally released on Columbia Records in 1963. Now it's available digitally on iTunes for a new generation of listeners! So in Love. The Best of Leslie Uggams. Leslie Uggams and More Leslie Uggams on TV 25 Original Classics. Little Sparrow.Leslie Uggams. *Leslie Uggams was born on this date in 1943. She is a Black actress and singer. Leslie Marian Uggams was born in Harlem, NYC, the daughter of Juanita Ernestine (Smith), a Cotton Club chorus girl/dancer, and Harold Coyden Uggams, an elevator operator and maintenance man, who was a singer with the Hall Johnson choir.The actress, who plays Blind Al, reveals that the director was impressed by her f-bomb in the audition. She also talks about her other projects, including Off …Leslie Uggams (born May 25, 1943 in New York City) is American actress and singer, best known for her Tony Award-winning work in Hallelujah, Baby! Uggams first started in show business as a child in 1950, playing the niece of Ethel Waters on the television series Beulah. She was a regular on Sing Along with Mitch, starring record producer ...Leslie Uggams (born May 25, 1943 in New York City) is American actress and singer, best known for her Tony Award-winning work in Hallelujah, Baby! Uggams first started in show business as a child in 1950, playing the niece of Ethel Waters on the television series Beulah. She was a regular on Sing Along with Mitch, starring record producer ... Leslie Uggams "What The World Needs Now Is Love" on The Ed Sullivan Show, January 2, 1966. Subscribe now to never miss an update: https://ume.lnk.to/EdSulliv... "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" performed by Leslie Uggams and the company of ANYTHING GOES. From a December 30, 1988 audience recording.Photo courtesy of the Billy Ro...A major star by 1969, Uggams became the first black female performer to host her own TV series since Hazel Scott in the '50s; alas, The Leslie Uggams Show became the latest in a long list of casualties to its powerhouse competition Bonanza. The next two decades were a kaleidescope of lofty heights and dismal depths for Uggams.Learn about the amazing life and career of Leslie Uggams, who plays Blind Al in Deadpool and has worked with legends like Sinatra …American Fiction is a 2023 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Cord Jefferson in his feature directorial debut.Based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, it follows a frustrated novelist-professor who writes an outlandish satire of stereotypical "Black" books, only for it to be mistaken for serious literature by the liberal …Opened March 28, 1971. as Performer (Original) The 23rd Annual Tony Awards - 1969. Opened April 20, 1969. as Presenter (Original) Her First Roman. Opened October 20, 1968.American actress Leslie Uggams has been married to Grahame Pratt for 54 years, with the couple enjoying a blissful marriage filled with successes and blessed with two children. Leslie Uggams and Grahame Pratt are a wonderful couple who still rock even after many years of marriage. They love to attend events together all the time.Leslie Uggams: Something Old, Something New, Something Wonderful - New York Stage Review. March 22, 2024 3:28 pm. Leslie Uggams: Something Old, …Danielle Chambers (I) Danielle was born in New York City and raised in Beverly Hills. She attended Beverly Hills High School and then moved to New York to study theater at NYU. Being the daughter of the legendary Leslie Uggams, her heart lies with musical theater and was a member of the first national tour of the musical "Titanic".Leslie Uggams was born in New York City, New York, USA on Tuesday, May 25, 1943 (Baby Boomers Generation). She is 80 years old and is a Gemini. Leslie Uggams is an American actress and singer. She is known for her work in the 1967 broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby! for which she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading …Leslie Uggams "The Man I Love" on The Ed Sullivan Show, September 27, 1964. Subscribe now to never miss an update: https://ume.lnk.to/EdSullivanSubscribe Wat...Hilarious live interpretation of this tune. Premiere. UK: January 26, 1979. NYC: February 12, 1979. Releases. Season 3. ( TRANSCRIPT ) Leslie co-stars with Big Bird of Sesame Street. Gonzo has a first date with Camilla the Chicken, but she has hay fever, and the flowers Gonzo brings make her sneeze so hard that she's propelled around the room. Later, Gonzo serenades her with a song he ... Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Leslie Uggams and Erika Alexander have each had prolific careers in television. Now these four women star in the critically acclaimed satire "American Fiction," which ...Leslie Marian Uggams (s. 25. toukokuuta 1943 Harlem, New York, Yhdysvallat) on yhdysvaltalainen näyttelijä ja laulaja. Uggams on tunnettu Kizzy Reynoldsin roolista minisarjassa Juuret (1977), josta hän sai Golden Globe- ja Emmy-ehdokkuudet. Hän on myöhemmin esiintynyt elokuvissa Sugar Hill (1994), Deadpool (2016) ja Deadpool 2 …Biography. Leslie Marian Uggams was born May 25, 1943 in New York City to a singer father and dancer mother. Uggams followed in her parents' footsteps, performing at the age of six at the Apollo Theater and earning notability on the game show "Name That Tune" (CBS 1953-59) at the age of 12, earning a record deal with Columbia Records as...Leslie Uggams. Leslie Marian Uggams was born in New York City to a singer father and dancer mother. Uggams followed in her parents' footsteps, performing at the age of six at the Apollo Theater and earning notability on the game show "Name That Tune" (CBS 1953-59) at the age of 12, earning a record deal with Columbia Records as a result.Browse 2,399 leslie uggams photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Showing Editorial results for leslie uggams. Search instead in Creative? Browse Getty Images' premium collection of high-quality, authentic Leslie Uggams photos & royalty-free pictures, taken by professional Getty Images photographers.Biography. Leslie Marian Uggams was born May 25, 1943 in New York City to a singer father and dancer mother. Uggams followed in her parents' footsteps, performing at the age of six at the Apollo Theater and earning notability on the game show "Name That Tune" (CBS 1953-59) at the age of 12, earning a record deal with Columbia Records as...Leslie Uggams Voices. Credits on BTVA: 1 Role from 1 Title. ALL; SHOWS (1) Filters: ALL CREDITED ROLES. My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023 TV Show) Grandma. Latest News. SpongeBob Joins Live Telecast of Super Bowl LVIII The Day the …Nov 25, 2022 · She's been married for 57 years. Uggams married her friend and manager, Grahame Pratt in 1965, and the long-time couple have two children together. Daughter Danielle is 52 and son Justice is 47. Pratt and Uggams are grandparents to 11-year-old granddaughter Cassidy, who also wants to be an actor, according to People. For her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/leslie-uggams Leslie Uggams. Leslie Marian Uggams ( Nova Iorque, 25 de maio de 1943) [ 1] é uma atriz e cantora americana. Iniciou sua carreira quando criança, no início dos anos 1950. Uggams é mais conhecida por interpretar Kizzy Reynolds na minissérie de televisão Roots (1977), recebendo indicações ao Globo de Ouro e ao Emmy por seu desempenho. Leslie Uggams also toured with Peter Nero and Mel Torme in The Great Gershwin Concert. On television, she appeared as "Kizzy" in Roots, one of the most watched and critically acclaimed mini-series in the history of television. The role garnered her a Critics Choice Award along with my and Golden Globe nominations. Other television credits ...Amazon.com: The Leslie Uggams Beauty Book: 9780135306833: Uggams, Leslie.: Books. Skip to main content.us. Delivering to Lebanon 66952 Update location Books. Select the department you want to search in. Search Amazon. EN. Hello, sign in. Account & …Leslie Uggams is an iconic African-American actress and singer. Her rise to fame in the USA came at a time when racial segregation was a major factor. She paved the way for …Hilarious live interpretation of this tune.Agent: Steven Unger BRS/Gage 1650 Broadway Suite 1410 New York, NY 10019 212-757-0098 Publicist: Jan Nargi JMN Publications [email protected] 617-962-4127Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Leslie Uggams and Erika Alexander have each had prolific careers in television. Now these four women star in the critically acclaimed satire "American Fiction," which ...Leslie Uggams will once again sing 'Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue' when she returns to NYC's 54 Below in March 2024. Acclaimed by BroadwayWorld.com as "one of the most entertaining and enjoyable shows to play a nightclub this year or any other," the musical tribute to Broadway and Beyond is set for … Leslie Marian Uggams was born May 25, 1943 in New York City to a singer father and dancer mother. Uggams followed in her parents' footsteps, performing at the age of six at the Apollo Theater and ... Leslie Uggams. January 26, 2024: For an unbelievable 75 years, the indefatigable Leslie Uggams has covered all the bases in the game of show business. She began onstage while in the first grade, segued to becoming one of the most seen and beloved singers on countless TV variety shows – and even had her own, starred and guest starred in ... Leslie Uggams. Leslie Uggams in 1997. Leslie Marian Uggams (born May 25, 1943) [1] is an American actress and singer. She was born in New York City. She is known as her role as Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries Roots (1977). She also appeared on the Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby!, winning a Tony Award in 1968. Leslie Uggams. Special Notice. LETTER FROM ARTHUR LAURENTS PRAISES LESLIE'S LENA HORNE. "You sang - and I was devastated." -- Arthur. Read more. Latest News …Agent: Steven Unger BRS/Gage 1650 Broadway Suite 1410 New York, NY 10019 212-757-0098 Publicist: Jan Nargi JMN Publications [email protected] 617-962-4127 The film stars Ryan Reynolds as the titular Deadpool/Wade Wilson, Josh Brolin as Cable, Zazie Beetz as Domino, Julian Dennison as Russell/Firefist, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Karan Soni as Dopinder and Leslie Uggams as Blind Al. We had the honor of speaking with the iconic Tony and Emmy-Award ... Leslie Uggams’ career spans almost seven decades, and the current generation might recognize her as Blind Al from Deadpool. Uggams’ Blind Al is a sassy housekeeper and a mother figure to the antihero Deadpool. However, she is best known for her iconic role as Kizzy Reynolds in the iconic TV mini-series Roots.For her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/leslie-uggamsLESLIE UGGAMS FEATURED IN 'AMERICAN FICTION' IN THEATERS THIS DECEMBER. Winner of TIFF People's Choice Award Is Already Earning Raves and …The film stars Ryan Reynolds as the titular Deadpool/Wade Wilson, Josh Brolin as Cable, Zazie Beetz as Domino, Julian Dennison as Russell/Firefist, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Karan Soni as Dopinder and Leslie Uggams as Blind Al. We had the honor of speaking with the iconic Tony and Emmy … Leslie Uggams is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer who has starred in various roles on stage, screen and television. She is best known for her portrayal of Kizzy in the TV mini-series Roots and Mama Rose in the musical Gypsy. She is also a board member of the Apollo Theater and a singer of cabaret and one-woman shows. Leslie Uggams "Yesterday" on The Ed Sullivan Show, January 2, 1966. Subscribe now to never miss an update: https://ume.lnk.to/EdSullivanSubscribe Watch Motow...Feb 18, 2016 · Learn about the amazing life and career of Leslie Uggams, who plays Blind Al in Deadpool and has worked with legends like Sinatra and The Beatles. From her Tony-winning Broadway debut to her Emmy-nominated Roots role, Uggams shares her stories and memories. Leslie Uggams is an American actress, singer, and activist, known for her roles in Deadpool, Roots, and Empire. She has also …May 25, 2018 · Leslie Uggams can be seen in theaters now as Deadpool's no-nonsense roommate Blind Al — but in real life, the 75-year-old actress shares her home with Grahame Pratt, her husband of 53 years. By. "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" performed by Leslie Uggams and the company of ANYTHING GOES. From a December 30, 1988 audience recording.Photo courtesy of the Billy Ro...Jun 8, 2018 · Leslie ’ s bridged a very important space. Leslie Marian Uggams, who is of African, European, and Native American ancestry, was born in New York City in 1943. Her father, Harold, was an elevator operator and floor waxer. Her mother, Juanita, was a waitress. It was Uggams ’ older sister, Frances, who selected the name Leslie. March 30, 2024. Roots alum Leslie Uggams has spoken about her late co-star Louis Gosset Jr. following his death. The Emmy Award winning actress recently spoke …Tony Winner Leslie Uggams, Star of Hallelujah, Baby!, King Hedley II, Roots, Thoroughly Modern Millie, More "We are at a moment in America where we can finally make meaningful, lasting, systemic ...Leslie Uggams also appears in this compilation Tracks of Disc 2 10. Hopelessly Devoted To You (from Grease) 11. It's A Hard Knock Life (from Annie) 12. But Not For Me (from Crazy For You) 13. Do Re Mi (from The Sound Of Music) 14. Beautiful Girls (from Follies)LESLIE UGGAMS TO BE INDUCTED INTO THEATER HALL OF FAME NOV. 15 IN NYC. The Theater Hall of Fame Inc. has announced that Leslie Uggams is among the 2021 nominees to be inducted during the organization’s 50 th Anniversary ceremony on November 15 at the Gershwin Theatre in NYC. Other inductees include playwright Lynn …Feb 15, 2024 · Yet for Leslie Uggams, who plays Agnes, the mother of Wright’s Monk, the well-deserved praise for a sneakily smart statement on race wrapped in entertainment is hardly a new endeavor––it’s ...
Leslie Uggams nar. 25.05.1943 (80 let) New York City, New York, USA Přehled Biografie Zajímavosti Videa Galerie Ocenění Diskuze další Přehled Biografie Zajímavosti Videa Galerie Ocenění Diskuze Zajímavosti (1) Více Deadpool 2 (2018) Slepá Al .... Les bains paris
For her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/leslie-uggamsLeslie Uggams was born on May 25, 1943 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for Deadpool (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018) and Roots (1977). She has been married to Grahame Pratt since October 16, 1965.Leslie Uggams is coming back for round two. The actress will reprise her role as Blind Al in Deadpool 2, Heat Vision has confirmed. The news was first reported by Blackfilm.com, which spoke to the ... LESLIE UGGAMS APPEARS ON “FAMILY GUY” NOVEMBER 21. Voicing herself, Leslie guest stars in “The Birthday Bootlegger” episode airing Sunday night, Nov. 21 at 9:30/8:30c on Fox-TV. Read more. Danielle Chambers (I) Danielle was born in New York City and raised in Beverly Hills. She attended Beverly Hills High School and then moved to New York to study theater at NYU. Being the daughter of the legendary Leslie Uggams, her heart lies with musical theater and was a member of the first national tour of the musical "Titanic".Sep 22, 2023 · Introduction to Leslie Uggams Leslie Uggams is an iconic American singer and actress who has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry. Born on May 25, 1943, in New York City, Uggams began her career at a young age and went on to achieve great success in both the music and acting realms. Encores! News Leslie Uggams, More Join New York City Center Encores! Jelly's Last Jam. Nicholas Christopher will star as Jelly Roll Morton with performances beginning in February 2024.CDs (available online) On My Way To You. Painted Mem'ries. This album of classic love songs was originally released on Columbia Records in 1963. Now it's available digitally on iTunes for a new generation of listeners! So in Love. The Best of Leslie Uggams. Leslie Uggams and More Leslie Uggams on TV 25 Original Classics. Little Sparrow. Leslie Marian Uggams was born May 25, 1943 in New York City to a singer father and dancer mother. Uggams followed in her parents' footsteps, performing at the age of six at the Apollo Theater and ... Leslie Uggams nar. 25.05.1943 (80 let) New York City, New York, USA Přehled Biografie Zajímavosti Videa Galerie Ocenění Diskuze další Přehled Biografie Zajímavosti Videa Galerie Ocenění Diskuze Zajímavosti (1) Více Deadpool 2 (2018) Slepá Al ...Leslie Uggams family, husband, children, parents, siblings. American actress and singer Leslie Marian Uggams is well-known. Uggams began her career as a child actor in the early 1950s. She is most known for her role as Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries Roots, for which she received nominations for both a Golden Globe …Leslie Uggams (b. 1943) is an actress and singer who won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Hallelujah, Baby! in 1968. Her film and television credits include Roots, Backstairs at the White House, Empire, and Marvel's Deadpool films. She guest starred on The Muppet Show episode 318... Premiere. UK: January 26, 1979. NYC: February 12, 1979. Releases. Season 3. ( TRANSCRIPT ) Leslie co-stars with Big Bird of Sesame Street. Gonzo has a first date with Camilla the Chicken, but she has hay fever, and the flowers Gonzo brings make her sneeze so hard that she's propelled around the room. Later, Gonzo serenades her with a song he ... Tony winner Leslie Uggams, recently seen in the City Center Encores! staging of Jelly's Last Jam, returns to 54 Below March 20. The stage and screen star is offering an encore of her hit show ...Leslie Uggams photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behind-the-scenes, and more. Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Leslie Uggams is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress who made her first professional appearance at the age of 9 at the Apollo Theater where she opened for such musical legends as Louis Armstrong ... .