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Valarie Pettiford’s career shines as brightly as the lights of Broadway. A celebrated triple-threat, she has collaborated with some of entertainment’s biggest names while maintaining her grounded nature. Though many consider her a star in her own right, Valarie remains a humble Queens native.
At just 14, Pettiford appeared in the chorus of the film The Wiz (1978). Her filmography includes The Cotton Club (1984), Glitter (2001), Stomp the Yard (2007), Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010), the musical short Not Your Time (2010), the award-winning short Response (2009), and Sony Pictures’ Jumping the Broom (2011). Her performance in the acclaimed indie film Why Am I Doing This? (2009) earned praise from the L.A. Times. She earned three NAACP Image Award nominations for her role as Big Dee Dee Thorne on the popular sitcom Half & Half (2002). Valarie also plays the recurring character Sandra Lucas on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (2006). Her notable TV guest appearances include 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). Additionally, she had a recurring guest role on HBO’s Treme (2010).
Valarie’s theater credits form an impressive portfolio, marked by multiple accolades. She won NAACP Theatre and Garland Awards for Best Actress in The Wild Party and received NAACP, Robby, and Reader’s Choice Awards for her role in Show Boat, with both shows earning Ovation Award nominations. She was part of the original casts of Sophisticated Ladies, where she understudied Judith Jamison, and Fosse, earning recognition from the Drama League and nominations for Outer Critics Circle, Dora Mavor Moore, and Tony Awards.
Valarie performed alongside Chita Rivera in Chicago’s West End debut and later paid tribute to Rivera by performing “All That Jazz” at the Kennedy Center Honors. However, her personal career highlight is fulfilling a lifelong dream by recording her debut album, Hear My Soul. An accomplished stage artist, Valarie has toured coast to coast with her successful one-woman shows to sold-out audiences. She also performed with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the musical tribute Babalu in New York and Miami, receiving rave reviews. Showcasing her powerful voice and commanding presence, she regularly appears as a guest soloist with the Pasadena Symphony’s annual Pops program.
In the truest sense, Valarie Pettiford is a diva—a master of her craft who commands attention, though whether she embraces or tempers that power remains a mystery.
