Other names Ren Woods Occupation Actress, singer | Years active 1976-present Name Renn Woods | |
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Role Film actress · rennwoodsmusic.com Movies and TV shows Similar People Robert Greenwald, Ron Koslow, Carl Reiner, Jay Tarses | ||
Renn woods
Renn Woods, also known as Ren Woods (born January 1, 1958), is an African-American film and television actress, and singer, best known for her role as Fanta in Roots, and also as the girl with flowers in her hair who sang "Aquarius" in the film version of Hair. Woods began her singing career as a child and released two solo albums before returning her focus to acting in the 1980s.
Contents
- Renn woods
- Renn Woods Aquarius 1979 Contrast Enhancd 514
- Music career
- Television roles
- Theater
- Personal life
- Filmography
- References
{[!!]}Renn Woods - 'Aquarius' (1979) ∿∫∿Contrast Enhanc'd∿∫∿ (5∶14)➤
Music career
Woods began singing at the age of six. By age 10, she was touring the world with the group Sunday's Child. She starred in the first National Tour of The Wiz as Dorothy at the Ahmanson Theatre. She returned to that same theatre in 2006 in the Tony Kushner/Jeanine Tesori musical, Caroline or Change.
In 1979, she released a solo album, Out of the Woods, which was produced by Earth, Wind & Fire member Al McKay. A second album, Azz Izz, was released in 1982. Azz Izz was well received. The second album featured a new composition by Prince titled "I Don't Wanna Stop". Woods released a third album featuring jazz standards, Crazy, in 2015.
Television roles
Woods achieved fame as "Fanta" in Roots in 1977. She appeared on other American television series, including What's Happening!!, Lou Grant, Hill Street Blues, The Jeffersons, Roc, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Beauty and the Beast and NYPD Blue. She also appeared in an episode of The White Shadow.
Theater
Woods created a one-woman autobiographical musical, A Diva Like Me, in the 1990s. In 2012, she expanded it into an ensemble version, Sold: Renn Woods in Concert (A Play in Rhythm and Blues).
Personal life
Woods added an extra "n" to her first name to lessen confusion with a company that used the domain name Renwoods.
Filmography
Actress
2020
Pandemically Single (TV Series) as
Grace
2010
Church as
Sister Dee (as Ren Woods)
2007
The Blue Hour as
Aria (as Ren Woods)
2001
That's Life (TV Series) as
Clerk
- Larva (2001) - Clerk
1997
Detention: The Siege at Johnson High (TV Movie) as
Mrs. McGill (as Ren Woods)
1996
Crazy World as
Wilma (as Ren Woods)
1996
Marshal Law (TV Movie) as
Centaur Operator (as Ren Woods)
1996
Relativity (TV Series) as
Receptionist
- Jake Gets a Job (1996) - Receptionist (as Ren Woods)
1996
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV Series) as
Mrs. Hecht
- Pilot (1996) - Mrs. Hecht (as Ren Woods)
1996
NYPD Blue (TV Series) as
Lisa Gay
- These Old Bones (1996) - Lisa Gay (as Ren Woods)
1995
The Client (TV Series) as
Doctor
- The Prodigal Father (1995) - Doctor (as Ren Woods)
1993
Roc (TV Series) as
Pam
- Shove It Up Your Asprin (1993) - Pam (as Ren Woods)
1992
Hitz as
Hollie Glass (as Ren Woods)
1990
Return to Green Acres (TV Movie) as
Desk Sergeant
1989
Monsters (TV Series) as
Cora
- Love Hurts (1989) - Cora
1987
Beauty and the Beast (TV Series) as
Edie
- The Rest Is Silence (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Ceremony of Innocence (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- What Rough Beast (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- The Hollow Men (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- A Kingdom by the Sea (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Trial (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- A Distant Shore (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- The Watcher (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- When the Blue Bird Sings (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Arabesque (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Orphans (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- The Outsiders (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- A Gentle Rain (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Brothers (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Labyrinths (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- A Fair and Perfect Knight (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Sticks and Stones (1989) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- God Bless the Child (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Dead of Winter (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Ashes, Ashes (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Remember Love (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Chamber Music (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- A Happy Life (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Ozymandias (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- To Reign in Hell (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Everything Is Everything (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Fever (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Down to a Sunless Sea (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Promises of Someday (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Temptation (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- The Alchemist (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- China Moon (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Shades of Grey (1988) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- An Impossible Silence (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- A Children's Story (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
- Dark Spirit (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
- Song of Orpheus (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
- Nor Iron Bars a Cage (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
- Beast Within (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
- Masques (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- No Way Down (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods, credit only)
- Siege (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
- Terrible Savior (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
- Once Upon a Time in the City of New York (1987) - Edie (as Ren Woods)
1989
TV 101 (TV Series) as
Counselor
- First Love: Part 2 (1989) - Counselor (as Ren Woods)
1988
From Hollywood to Deadwood as
Christine (as Ren Woods)
1987
Walker as
Alta Kewen (as Ren Woods)
1986
Hill Street Blues (TV Series) as
Hooker / Jackie Lowrie
- The Cookie Crumbles (1987) - Hooker (as Ren Woods)
- Look Homeward, Ninja (1986) - Jackie Lowrie (as Ren Woods)
1987
Convicted: A Mother's Story (TV Movie) as
Rayleen (as Ren Woods)
1986
Jumpin' Jack Flash as
Jackie (as Ren Woods)
1985
Beer as
Mary Morrison (as Ren Woods)
1984
The Brother from Another Planet as
Bernice (as Ren Woods)
1984
The Jeffersons (TV Series) as
Rhonda
- A New Girl in Town (1984) - Rhonda (as Ren Woods)
1982
Lou Grant (TV Series) as
Karly
- Suspect (1982) - Karly (as Ren Woods)
1982
Penitentiary II as
Nikki (as Ren Woods)
1980
Nine to Five as
Barbara (as Ren Woods)
1980
Xanadu as
Jo (as Ren Woods)
1979
The Jerk as
Elvira (as Ren Wood)
1979
Hair as
'Aquarius' Soloist (as Ren Woods)
1979
The White Shadow (TV Series) as
Darlene Robinson
- Pregnant Pause (1979) - Darlene Robinson (as Ren Woods)
1978
Insight (TV Series) as
Angie
- It Can't Happen to Me (1978) - Angie (as Ren Woods)
1978
Youngblood as
Sybil (as Ren Woods)
1977
We've Got Each Other (TV Series) as
Donna
- The Long Vacation (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- The Magic Show (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- Miss Wonderful (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- My Brother's Keeper (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- A Space Odyssey (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- Incomplete Pass (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- The 101st Hibbard (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- The Collector (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
- Pilot (1977) - Donna (as Ren Woods)
1977
What's Happening!! (TV Series) as
Brenda
- Dwayne's Dilemma (1977) - Brenda (as Ren Woods)
1977
Roots (TV Mini Series) as
Fanta
- Part II (1977) - Fanta (as Ren Woods)
- Part I (1977) - Fanta (as Ren Woods)
1976
Car Wash as
Loretta (as Ren Woods)
1976
Sparkle as
Jim Dandy Singer (uncredited)
1975
Cooley High (TV Movie)
Soundtrack
2008
Banda sonora (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #2.6 (2008) - (performer: "Aquarius")
1997
Prefontaine (performer: "What You Need Tonight")
1987
Shallow Grave (performer: "Burnin' My Heart Out" - as Ren Woods)
1985
Key Exchange (performer: "Burnin' My Heart Out", "What You Need Tonight" - as Ren Woods)
1984
The Brother from Another Planet (performer: "Burning My Heart Out")
1979
A Perfect Couple (performer: "Goodbye Friends")
1979
Hair (performer: "Aquarius")
1978
The Jim Nabors Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #1.11 (1978) - (performer: "Somewhere in the Night")
1976
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) (performer - 3 episodes)
- Episode dated 28 December 1977 (1977) - (performer: "Aquarius", "Somewhere in the Night")
- Episode dated 14 January 1977 (1977) - (performer: "A Brand New Day", "Cabaret")
- Episode dated 5 July 1976 (1976) - (performer: "Be A Lion", "Home")
1976
Sparkle (performer: "Jim Dandy" - uncredited)
Self
2016
TruInside (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- The Jerk (2016) - Self
2015
Unsung Hollywood (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Car Wash (2015) - Self
2008
Dispatches from Nicaragua (Video documentary) as
Self - A.K.A. Alta Kewen
1976
Dinah! (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 18 May 1979 (1979) - Self (as Ren Woods)
- Episode #2.200 (1976) - Self
- Episode #2.120 (1976) - Self
1979
A Perfect Couple as
Self (uncredited)
1976
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) as
Self / Self - Guest / Self - Musical Guest
- Burt Reynolds/Susan Sarandon/Renn Woods/Andrew Tobias (1978) - Self - Musical Guest
- Episode dated 28 December 1977 (1977) - Self (as Ren Woods)
- Episode dated 31 March 1977 (1977) - Self - Guest
- Episode dated 14 January 1977 (1977) - Self (as Ren Woods)
- Episode dated 10 December 1976 (1976) - Self - Guest
- Episode dated 10 August 1976 (1976) - Self - Guest
- Episode dated 5 July 1976 (1976) - Self (as Ren Woods)
1978
The Jim Nabors Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.12 (1978) - Self
1977
The Bobby Vinton Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Fred Travalena (1977) - Self (as Ren Woods)
1976
Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (TV Series) as
Self
- The 1977 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (1977) - Self
- The 1976 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (1976) - Self
1977
The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (TV Series) as
Self - Panelist
- Episode dated 29 August 1977 (1977) - Self - Panelist (as Ren Woods)
- Episode dated 11 July 1977 (1977) - Self - Panelist (as Ren Woods)
1977
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 20 July 1977 (1977) - Self (as Ren Woods)
1977
The 3rd Annual People's Choice Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Accepting Special Award to Roots
Archive Footage
2008
Banda sonora (TV Series) as
Aquarius Soloist
- Episode #2.6 (2008) - Aquarius Soloist (as Ren Woods)
References
Renn Woods Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA