Leslie Uggams

Leslie Marian Uggams is an American actress and singer. She began her career as a child in the early 1950s and gained recognition for her portrayal of Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries Roots (1977), earning Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations. Uggams received critical acclaim for her performance in the Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby!, winning a Theatre World Award in 1967 and a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968. She has also appeared in recent years alongside Ryan Reynolds as Blind Al in the Deadpool film series and has a recurring role on Empire. Uggams was born in Harlem and attended the Professional Children's School of New York and Juilliard.