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Leslie Uggams

Leslie Uggams

Actor · Born May 25, 1943 (83) · Harlem, New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 25, 1943 (83)
From
Harlem, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 48 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 8% in 30 days

What are Leslie Uggams' films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
25%
Morality
20%
Bonds
18%
Self
18%
Society
12%
Power
7%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 4 · Wry 2 · Earnest 7

Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 3 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 4 of 6 analyzed roles.

Mentor
4 of 6
Hero
1 of 6
Shapeshifter
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Absurd
6
Dread
5
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
6
Other
15

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Leslie Uggams' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Leslie Uggams' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

48 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Deadpool & Wolverine(2024)

    as Blind Al

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Fallout(2024)

    Show 9 episodes · as Betty Pearson

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • American Fiction(2023)

    as Agnes Ellison

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Dotty & Soul(2022)

    as Dotty

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Extrapolations(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Isabel Zucker

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • My Dad the Bounty Hunter(2023)

    Show 5 episodes · as Grandma (voice)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Nanny(2022)

    as Kathleen

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Ravine(2021)

    as Joanna

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Gilded Age(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ernestine Brown

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Show of Titles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as "Hallelujah, Baby!" Performer

  • The Bite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dr. Hester Boutella

  • Blithe Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Madame Arcati

  • Stars in the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Madame Arcati

  • Once Upon a Deadpool(2018)

    as Blind Al

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • New Amsterdam(2018)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mamma Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Deadpool 2(2018)

    as Blind Al

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(2017)

    as Sadie

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Deadpool(2016)

    as Blind Al

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Empire(2015)

    Show 21 episodes · as Leah Walker

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Just the Three of Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Suzanne Packer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Nurse Jackie(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Vivian

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Toe to Toe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Grandma

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Leslie Uggams (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Live from Broadway: Hello, Dolly! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Sugar Hill(1994)

    as Doris Holly

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Ice Capades with Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • A Different World(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Eileen Redding

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Kris Temple

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sizzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Vonda

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Alexis Carter

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Backstairs at the White House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lillian Rogers Parks

  • Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Callie Reason · as Marion Blake

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Roots(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kizzy Reynolds · as Kizzy Reynolds Moore

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Poor Pretty Eddie(1975)

    as Elizabeth 'Liz' Wetherly

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Easter Is (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as (voice)

  • The Bobby Darin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Black Girl(1972)

    as Netta

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Skyjacked(1972)

    as Lovejoy Wells

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land(1970)

    as Saloon Singer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Leslie Uggams Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • That's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Natasha Brimstone

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Dean Martin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Two Weeks in Another Town(1962)

    as Chanteuse

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles from 1962 to 2024; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

$1.3B worldwide

Highest rated

Deadpool (2016)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19622024

Peak 2017 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 48: 48 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rd

By decade

1960s6 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s6 · acting1990s3 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s13 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 9% of 11 roles
6217

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

3 major nominations and no wins, 1977–2024.

  1. 2024
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  2. 1978
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama
  3. 1977
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Leslie Uggams' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 30 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Dotty & Soul (2022)

93rd percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Deadpool (2016)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 86, detractors 56. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Leslie Uggams' work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles49–93 · median 92 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles36–69 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles67–92 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles42–62 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles38–85 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Leslie Uggams work with?

People who share at least 2 of Leslie Uggams' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Wernick shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Producers

Mixed roles