Valarie Pettiford
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Valarie Pettiford's career glitters like the lights on Broadway. An
award-winning triple-threat, Valarie has worked with some of the
biggest names in entertainment, but has never let her brushes with fame
go to her head. Although some would argue that she is a celebrity in
her own right, Valarie is still a humble girl from Queens.
On screen, at age 14, Pettiford starred in the chorus of the film
The Wiz (1978). She has appeared in such
films as The Cotton Club (1984),
Glitter (2001),
Stomp the Yard (2007),
Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010),
the short film musical
Not Your Time (2010), the
award-winning short film Response (2009)
and Jumping the Broom (2011)
from Sony Pictures. Her role in the acclaimed independent film
Why Am I Doing This? (2009)
earned her a glowing mention in the L.A. Times. Her role as Big Dee Dee
Thorne on the hit sitcom
Half & Half (2002) earned her
three NAACP Image Award nominations. Valarie plays the recurring role
of Sandra Lucas on Tyler Perry's
House of Payne (2006). Other
notable television appearances include guest-starring roles on
Criminal Minds (2005),
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000),
CSI: Miami (2002),
The District (2000),
The West Wing (1999),
Frasier (1993),
One Life to Live (1968),
Bones (2005),
The Cape (1996) and
The Finder (2012). She had a
recurring guest star on the hit HBO series
Treme (2010).
Valarie's theatre credits read like a prestigious shopping list, with
numerous accolades for the execution of her craft. Valarie won NAACP
Theatre and Garland Awards for Best Actress in "The Wild Party." She
was honored with NAACP, Robby and Reader's Choice Awardsfor for her
role in "Show Boat." Both performances were nominated for Ovation
Awards. Valarie was a member of the original casts of "Sophisticated
Ladies", understudying Judith Jamison, and "Fosse", for which she was
recognized by the Drama League and nominated for Outer Critics Circle,
Dora Mavor Moore and Tony Awards.
Valarie performed alongside Chita Rivera in
the West End debut of "Chicago", and subsequently performed "All That
Jazz" as a tribute to Rivera at the Kennedy Center Honors. However, her
self-proclaimed career highlight was the fulfillment of a life-long
dream; she recorded her first album, "Hear My Soul". An accomplished
stage performer, Valarie has performed her successful one-woman shows
to sold-out audiences coast to coast. She has performed with
Lucille Ball and
Desi Arnaz in New York and Miami in the
musical tribute to their father, called "Babalu". Valarie enjoyed
stellar reviews in both cities. Proving that her voice ad presence are
both Broadway bold, she is a regular guest soloist with the Pasadena
Symphony for their annual Pops program.
In the traditional sense of the word, Valarie Pettiford is a diva, a
master of her craft who has the ability to command attention. Whether
she would agree, or try to harness that power, is anyone's guess.
award-winning triple-threat, Valarie has worked with some of the
biggest names in entertainment, but has never let her brushes with fame
go to her head. Although some would argue that she is a celebrity in
her own right, Valarie is still a humble girl from Queens.
On screen, at age 14, Pettiford starred in the chorus of the film
The Wiz (1978). She has appeared in such
films as The Cotton Club (1984),
Glitter (2001),
Stomp the Yard (2007),
Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010),
the short film musical
Not Your Time (2010), the
award-winning short film Response (2009)
and Jumping the Broom (2011)
from Sony Pictures. Her role in the acclaimed independent film
Why Am I Doing This? (2009)
earned her a glowing mention in the L.A. Times. Her role as Big Dee Dee
Thorne on the hit sitcom
Half & Half (2002) earned her
three NAACP Image Award nominations. Valarie plays the recurring role
of Sandra Lucas on Tyler Perry's
House of Payne (2006). Other
notable television appearances include guest-starring roles on
Criminal Minds (2005),
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000),
CSI: Miami (2002),
The District (2000),
The West Wing (1999),
Frasier (1993),
One Life to Live (1968),
Bones (2005),
The Cape (1996) and
The Finder (2012). She had a
recurring guest star on the hit HBO series
Treme (2010).
Valarie's theatre credits read like a prestigious shopping list, with
numerous accolades for the execution of her craft. Valarie won NAACP
Theatre and Garland Awards for Best Actress in "The Wild Party." She
was honored with NAACP, Robby and Reader's Choice Awardsfor for her
role in "Show Boat." Both performances were nominated for Ovation
Awards. Valarie was a member of the original casts of "Sophisticated
Ladies", understudying Judith Jamison, and "Fosse", for which she was
recognized by the Drama League and nominated for Outer Critics Circle,
Dora Mavor Moore and Tony Awards.
Valarie performed alongside Chita Rivera in
the West End debut of "Chicago", and subsequently performed "All That
Jazz" as a tribute to Rivera at the Kennedy Center Honors. However, her
self-proclaimed career highlight was the fulfillment of a life-long
dream; she recorded her first album, "Hear My Soul". An accomplished
stage performer, Valarie has performed her successful one-woman shows
to sold-out audiences coast to coast. She has performed with
Lucille Ball and
Desi Arnaz in New York and Miami in the
musical tribute to their father, called "Babalu". Valarie enjoyed
stellar reviews in both cities. Proving that her voice ad presence are
both Broadway bold, she is a regular guest soloist with the Pasadena
Symphony for their annual Pops program.
In the traditional sense of the word, Valarie Pettiford is a diva, a
master of her craft who has the ability to command attention. Whether
she would agree, or try to harness that power, is anyone's guess.