Lesley Ann Warren – Biography, Career Achievements, Movies and TV Shows

Quick Facts

Lesley Ann Warren is an American singer but she is most known for her works as an actress. She has portrayed numerous roles on film and television including Victor/Victoria which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Lesley started her career on the stage, appearing on Broadway before she landed her debut film role in The Happiest Husband. Her first television role was in the Cinderella series. The actress was professionally trained as a ballet dancer before she made the switch to acting.

With over 50 years of experience in show business, she has won the hearts of millions of fans across the world with her impeccable acting talents. Some of her most notable appearances on film and television include Burglar, Color of Night, Desperate Housewives, Clue, Will & Grace, Secretary, In Plain Sight, Mission Impossible, A Deadly State of Mind, and Pure Country.

She has received several honors and recognition for her outstanding work such as five Golden Globe nominations and one win for Best Actress in a Miniseries for her character in Harold Robbins ‘79 Park Avenue. She has also been nominated for an Emmy and the Academy Award. Despite being in her seventies, Lesley shows no intention of slowing down her career and is still making regular appearances in movies and series.

Lesley Ann Warren Biography

Records have it that the 16th of August 1946 saw the birth of the actress. Her place of birth was in New York City and she was born to Margot Verblow and William Warren. Her father worked as a real estate agent, while her mother was a singer. She became enamored with show business from a very young age and decided that she wanted to pursue a career in the arts and entertainment industry. The actress was only 6 when she became a student of the Professional Children’s School. From there, she moved on to The High School of Music & Art. It is also said that she attended the School of American Ballet; when Lesley clocked 17, she became the youngest person to be admitted by the Actors Studio.

Lesley Ann Warren kicked off her career as a ballet dancer in 1961. Along the way, she decided to pursue acting. Her first professional foray into acting was in 1963 on Broadway, in the musical 110 in the Shade. This was followed by another role in Drat! The Cat!. She also portrayed Scarlett O’Hara in Scarlett, although, the musical never made it to Broadway.

The actress first took to television with a role in Cinderella. She played the lead female protagonist Dana Lambert on the television series Mission: Impossible. However, she had to quit the role after one year because she wasn’t experienced enough to give it the depth it deserved. In spite of this small setback, she went on to score leading roles in other films and series. She played the journalist Lois Lane in the television adaptation of It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman in 1978.

Career Achievements – Movies and TV Shows

Lesley Ann Warren has over 100 acting credits to her name, which is no small feat for a performer. Her most notable works on television and film include The Dancing Princesses, A Deadly State of Mind, Will & Grace, Less than Perfect, and Daredevil. That’s not all, you will find her in A Night in Heaven, Cop, Love Kills, When Do Eat?, Dr. Kildare, Seven in Darkness, and Love Hate Love. The actress is also admired for the characters she portrayed in The Daughters of Joshua Cabe, S.W.A.T, Portrait of a Stripper, Evergreen, In Sickness and in Health, Crossing Jordan, Community, and The Cool Kids.

Lesley has received critical acclaim for her works, as well as a bunch of prestigious awards and honors for the characters she so deftly portrays. She was nominated for a Theatre World Award for her role in the musical Drat! The Cat!. Her portrayal of the character Norma Cassidy on the 1982 film Victor/Victoria earned her an Oscars’ nomination for Best Actress in a supporting role. Disregarding that, the actress could boast of five Golden Globe Awards nomination. She won one in 1977 for her role in ‘79 Park Avenue.

It hasn’t always been rosy for Lesley Ann. She was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress for playing a nymphomaniac in Color of Night.

Personal Life

In 1967, Lesley Ann Warren exchanged marital vows with producer Jon Peters, however, their union ended in 1974. The couple had one child together, a boy they named Christopher. He was born in 1968. Christopher followed in his mother’s footsteps and made a career in show business as an actor and producer. The actress made another trip to the altar in 2000 to marry Ronald Taft.

Warren and Taft have been enjoying a wonderful union and they have been together close to two decades and counting. Meanwhile, their union hasn’t produced any kids, perhaps, it could their decision.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.