Amber Riley

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Amber P. Riley
)

"Riley (singer)" redirects here. Not to be confused with Reiley (singer).
Amber Riley
Riley in 2019
Born
Amber Patrice Riley

(1986-02-15) February 15, 1986 (age 38)
Compton, California, U.S.
Other namesRILEY
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2002–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Labels

Amber Patrice Riley

Grammy Award
.

In 2016, Riley originated the lead role of

Effie White in the West End debut of Dreamgirls.[3] She won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance in 2017 for her work.[3][4]

Riley won

supergroup with Beverley Knight and Cassidy Janson, known collectively as Leading Ladies and signed to East West Records/Warner. Her debut album, Songs from the Stage, was released on November 17, 2017. She participated on the American and British versions of The Masked Singer
.

Early life

Riley was born in

second season, but was turned down by the producers.[7] She graduated from La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California in 2004.[6][8]

Career

2009–2019: Breakthrough with Glee and other appearances

Riley at a Toys for Tots event in December 2009

In 2008, Riley was cast in the role of

NAACP Image Awards and three Teen Choice Awards
.

Riley appeared at the

better source needed] Also in 2016 she performed the national anthem at the second game of the 2016 NHL Stadium Series featuring the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche at Coors Field
.

In 2017, Riley teamed up with British singers

supergroup, known collectively as the Leading Ladies. Their debut album, Songs from the Stage, was released on November 17, 2017 and features covers songs from Cats, Beautiful and Rent among others.[19]

In 2019, she took on the role of Audrey II, the carnivorous singing plant, in Little Shop of Horrors at Pasadena Playhouse.[20]

Dancing with the Stars

In 2013, Riley won the

Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with the show's one and only six-time champion, Derek Hough.[21] Riley and Hough tied the record for highest first-week score of 27, received 5 perfect scores of 30, and only received a score lower than 8 one time. Riley is the first African-American woman to win Dancing With the Stars.[22]

Performances

2020–2022: RILEY

On February 28, 2020, Riley confirmed she finished recording songs for her debut extended play.

initialism for big girl energy) was released as the second single from the EP on September 18, alongside its music video.[26] The EP was released on October 2, 2020, featuring a total of six tracks. On October 8, 2020 she released a music video for the track "Creepin'".[27]

2022–present

In Fall 2022, Riley competed on

fourth season of The Masked Singer UK
and finished in fourth place.

In February 2023, she confirmed her debut album would be released later in the year. [29] In December 2023, Riley performed Chim Chim Cher-ee from the 1964 movie Mary Poppins on the primetime CBS special Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic.[30]

Filmography

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
2002 St. Sass Toby Unsold pilot
2009–2015 Glee Mercedes Jones Main role (seasons 1—4, 6); Recurring role (season 5); 93 episodes
2010 The Simpsons Aiesha (voice) Episode: "Elementary School Musical"
2011 Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Mercedes Jones Concert film
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself / Guest judge
2013
Dancing with the Stars
 		Herself / Contestant Season 17 winner
2014
Dancing with the Stars
 		Herself / Performer Season 18, episode: "The Finals Award Show"
2015 My One Christmas Wish Jackie Turner Television film
2015 The Wiz Live! Addaperle Television special
2016 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Dream Ghost #2 Episode: "Josh Has No Idea Where I Am!"
2016 Straight Outta Oz Brenda Television film
2017 Let It Shine Herself / Guest judge Auditions stage
2018 Nobody's Fool Kalli
2019–21 A Black Lady Sketch Show Various characters 4 episodes
2019 The Little Mermaid Live! Emcee Special
2020 Infamous Elle
2020 Whose Line is it Anyway? Herself
2021 Christmas Deja Vu Kandi Television film
2021 WICKED in Concert Performer TV special
2022 Single Black Female Simone Television film
2022
The Masked Singer U.S.
 		Herself / Harp Season 8 winner [31]
2023 The Masked Singer UK Herself / Jellyfish Season 4 fourth place
2023 Mamma Mia! I have a dream Herself/Judge
2024 Single Black Female 2: Simone's Revenge [32] Simone Television film
2024 Disney Junior’s Ariel [33] Ursula (voice) Animated series
2024 Monster High Catty Noir (voice) Animated series
TBD Dream TBD Lead role; Upcoming NBC series[34]

Stage

Year Title Role Location
2012 Cotton Club Parade Performer New York City Center, Off-Broadway
2014 Hair Dionne Hollywood Bowl
2016–17 Dreamgirls Effie White Savoy Theatre, West End
2019 Little Shop of Horrors Audrey II Pasadena Playhouse
2024 The Preacher's Wife Julia Biggs Alliance Theatre

Discography

See also:
Glee discography and Leading Ladies (group) § Discography

Extended plays

Title Details
RILEY[35]
  • Released: October 2, 2020
  • Labels: Self-released
  • Format: digital download

Singles

Title Year Album
"Colorblind" 2014 Glee: the Music, Bash
"Someone You Loved" 2020 Non-album Single
"A Moment" RILEY
"BGE"
"Creepin"

Guest appearances

Year Song Album
2013 "Never Be Lonely"
(with Eric Bellinger) 		In The Meantime
2014 "Gold Generation"
(with Eric Zayne) 		Autobiograme
"This Is What It Feels Like"
(with Kenyon Dixon) 		Twenty Four
2016 "Lions and Tigers and Bears" Straight Outta Oz
"See Your Face"
"#ChangeRightNow" I Am Major
2017 "Anybody Who Knows What Love Is"
(with Boyz II Men) 		Under the Streetlight
2019 "I'm A Mess"
(with Kenyon Dixon) 		R&B Kenny
2023 "Waiting"
(with Omarion) 		Full Circle: Sonic Book One

Soundtrack appearances

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2010 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Glee Won
Teen Choice Award Choice TV: Female Scene Stealer Nominated
Choice Music: Group Nominated
2011
Grammy Award
 Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals "Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals version)"[a] Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Glee (TV series)|Glee Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice TV: Female Scene Stealer Nominated
2012 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2013 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2017 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical Dreamgirls Won
Evening Standard Theatre Award Best Musical Performance Won
WhatsOnStage Award Best Actress in a Musical Won
2018 Classic Brit Award Album of the Year Songs from the Stage Nominated
2024 CMT Music Awards CMT Performance of the Year CMT Smashing Glass—R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Nominated
  1. ^ Shared with Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling and Naya Rivera

References

  1. ^ Amber Riley verified Twitter account. Retrieved on June 4, 2020. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. "Amber Patrice Riley",
  2. ^ "Celebrity Birthdays: See Who else is Celebrating with the Weeknd!". BET.
  3. ^ a b Snetiker, Marc (February 4, 2016). "Amber Riley to play Effie in West End Dreamgirls". Entertainment Weekly.
  4. ^ "'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' Wins a Record Nine Olivier Awards (Full List)". Variety. April 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "'DWTS' Determines Winner of Season 17!". Entertainment Tonight. November 26, 2013. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Ingrassia, Lisa (May 17, 2010). "Glee's Amber Riley: "I Love My Body"". People. Vol. 73, no. 19. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2011. ...growing up in La Mirada, Calif. ... But like her older sisters Toiya, 34, and Ashley, 26... [In sidebar] Age: 24.
  7. ^ "Glee Star Amber Riley On Idol Rejection: "I Still Work On Fox And Get Paid"". Access Hollywood. September 30, 2009. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  8. ^ "Dish Of Salt: Glee Premiere Party, LA (September 8, 2009)". Access Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  9. ^ "Glee Exclusive: 4 Original Cast Members Not Returning as Series Regulars for Season 5". TVLine. June 28, 2013.
  10. ^ Wetzel, Jerome (October 26, 2010). "TV Review: Glee – "The Rocky Horror Glee Show"". Blogcritics. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  11. ^ "'Glee,' Season 2, Episode 5, 'Rocky Horror Glee Show': TV Recap". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  12. ^ "GLEEks! Kevin McHale & Amber Riley Are Guest Hosting AT40 This Weekend!". AT40. August 10, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  13. ASCAP. Archived
    from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  14. ^ "Glee's Amber Riley Premieres 'Colorblind'". QueenLatifah.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  15. ^ "'Glee's' Amber Riley to Star in Christmas TV Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. June 22, 2015. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  16. ^ Roots, Kimberly (August 6, 2015). "Glee's Amber Riley, OITNB's Uzo Aduba Join NBC's The Wiz Live". TVLine. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  17. ^ Snetiker, Marc (February 4, 2016). "Amber Riley to play Effie in West End Dreamgirls". Entertainment Weekly.
  18. ^ "Todrick Hall Is Straight Outta Oz In This Emotional, Star-Studded Visual Album Featuring Nicole Scherzinger, Perez Hilton, & More! Watch!". PerezHilton.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  19. ^ "Leading Ladies: starring Beverley Knight, Cassidy Janson and Amber Rile". londontheatre1.com. London Theatre. November 8, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  20. ^ "Little Shop of Horrors". pasadenaplayhouse.org. Pasadena Playhouse. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  21. ^ Derschowitz, Jessica (September 4, 2013). "'Dancing with the Stars': Leah Remini, Valerie Harper, Snooki among new cast". CBS News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  22. ^ "'Dancing with the Stars' Winners: Where Are They Now?". May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  23. ^ @MsAmberPRiley (February 28, 2020). "Prepare yourselves. She's comin" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ @MsAmberPRiley (September 2, 2020). "RILEY is always spelled in ALL CAPS" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @MsAmberPRiley (September 1, 2020). "Available on all streaming platforms, this Friday, 9/4. "A Moment" #RILEY" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ @MsAmberPRiley (September 18, 2020). "Hey y'all! It's finally here! I got that #BIGGIRLENERGY. Check out the premiere of the new visual for #BGEmovement" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ @MsAmberPRiley (October 8, 2020). "Official Creepin' Video is OUT NOW!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "And the winner of 'The Masked Singer' Season 8 is…". Yahoo!. November 30, 2022. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  29. ^ "Amer Riley To Release New R&B Album Later This Year". Vibe.com. February 28, 2023. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  30. cbsnews.com. December 20, 2023. Archived from the original
    on December 26, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  31. ^ "Harp Talks 'Masked Singer' Season 8 Win: 'I Was as Surprised as Anyone When I Made It Through Every Round'". Billboard. November 30, 2022. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "Single Black Female 2: Simone's Revenge | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.
  33. ^ "Taye Diggs & 'Glee' Alum Amber Riley Cast in 'Little Mermaid' Animated Series 'Disney Junior's Ariel'". Billboard.
  34. ^ "Amber Riley to Star in 'Dream' Musical Comedy in Works at NBC from Lisa Muse Bryant & Neil Meron". November 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  35. ^ "Riley - EP by RILEY on Apple Music". Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amber Riley.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Dancing with the Stars (US) winners
Season 17
(Fall 2013 with Derek Hough
) 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amber_Riley&oldid=1219608330"