
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, Baby!, winning a Theatre World Award in 1967 and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968. Later in her career, Uggams received renewed notice with appearances alongside Ryan Reynolds as Blind Al in Deadpool (2016) & Deadpool 2 (2018) and in a recurring role on Empire.

Family Guy
TV • 1999

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962

The Good Wife
TV • 2009

The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961

The Love Boat
TV • 1977

The Love Boat
TV • 1977

Magnum, P.I.
TV • 1980

New Amsterdam
TV • 2018

The Cosby Show
TV • 1984

Fallout
TV • 2024

CBS News Sunday Morning
TV • 1979

Empire
TV • 2015

Hotel
TV • 1982

What's My Line?
TV • 1950

The Carol Burnett Show
TV • 1967

Stars in the House
TV • 2020

A Different World
TV • 1987

Deadpool & Wolverine
MOVIE • 2024