Renn Woods (born Ren Woods; January 1, 1958) is an American film, television and stage actress, vocalist and songwriter. She is best known for her role as Fanta in Roots, for her performance of "Aquarius" in the film version of Hair (1979)[1] and as Edie in the TV series Beauty and the Beast (1987–1989).
Woods was born in Chicago and raised in Portland, Oregon, where she attracted attention as part of Three Little Souls, a local musical trio she formed at age ten. The group subsequently became known as Sunday's Child, and toured internationally through Wood's adolescent years, appearing on television with such acts as Bob Hope. In adulthood, Woods transitioned into acting, starring as Fanta in Roots (1977), and the "Aquarius" soloist in Hair (1979). She also had a supporting role in the comedy The Jerk (1979).
She also appeared onstage as Dorothy in the first national touring production of The Wiz,[2] and as The Moon in a Los Angeles production of Caroline, or Change.
Early life
Woods was born in Chicago, Illinois, one of six children, and was raised in Portland, Oregon by her divorced mother, who was a nurse.[3] Woods described her mother as a "politically conscious and very unusual woman."[3] Woods and her siblings attended private Catholic schools in Portland.[3][4] At age eight, Woods began singing in a trio with two friends in her neighborhood, performing as the Three Little Souls.[3]
She added an extra "n" to her first name to lessen confusion with a company that used the domain name Renwoods.[5]
Career beginnings
Renn began singing at the age of six.[6] By age 10, she and two girlfriends began performing under the group name Sunday's Child, and performed on television programs with Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby.[4] The trio toured the world, performing the very last tour of duty with Bob Hope in Vietnam.[6]
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.[7]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.[7]
Renn is currently recording her first American Songbook CD.
Acting career
Woods first came to national attention in the role of Dorothy in the first national Broadway tour of "The Wiz" in 1976. She subsequently appeared as Fanta in Roots in 1977, a role for which she won a People's Choice Award. She also sang the opening song, "Aquarius", in Miloš Forman’s movie musical version of Hair (1979).
In 2015, she appeared in the TVOne documentary series Unsung. In 2016, she appeared in the TruInside tv documentaryThe Jerk, about the film she had co-starred in with Steve Martin, exploring what makes the comedy a classic.
Woods created a one-woman autobiographical musical, A Diva Like Me, in the 1990s, which she expanded into an ensemble version, Sold: Renn Woods in Concert (A Play in Rhythm and Blues).[6][1][10]
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