- Born
- Height5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
- Charlayne Woodard is a dazzling force in American theater, captivating audiences with her exceptional talent as both an actress and playwright. With two Obie Awards under her belt, and nominations for the highly prestigious Tony and Drama Desk Awards, she has solidified her place as one of the most acclaimed performers of our time.
Her writing and performing skills shine in her four solo plays, Pretty Fire, Neat, In Real Life, and The Nightwatcher, which have received widespread critical acclaim. But Woodard's talent doesn't stop there - she has also written two multi-character plays, Flight and The Garden, further showcasing her versatility and range as a writer.
Woodard has also starred in original plays written by some of the biggest names in contemporary theater, including Susan-Lori Parks, Lynn Nottage, George C. Wolfe, Jeremy O. Harris, Brandon-Jacobs Jenkins, Athol Fugard, David Adjmi, and Ariel Dorfman. She's graced the silver screen as well, appearing in films directed by the likes of M. Night Shyamalan, Milos Foreman, Louis Malle, John Schlesinger, Nicolas Hytner, Wim Wenders, Robert Townsend, and John Sayles.
In addition to her stage and screen work, Woodard has also made an impact on television, appearing in numerous shows and even making a memorable performance on The Johnny Carson Show. She made history by becoming the first black actress to play Cinderella on TV or in film.
Charlayne Woodard's talent and versatility make her a true standout in the world of theater and beyond. With her fearless performances and captivating writing, she continues to captivate audiences and inspire the next generation of performers.
- IMDb mini biography by: Alan Harris
- SpouseAlan Michael Harris(1991 - present)
- ChildrenNo Children
- The singer Brandy Norwood is often lauded as the first black Cinderella; however, Charlayne portrayed Cinderella in Cindy (1978).
- No relation to Alfre Woodard.
- Married to Alan Harris, a lawyer dealing with intellectual property. The couple has no children.
- Trained at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago and is a member of The Actor's Studio.
- As of 2024, she has appeared in eight episodes of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999), as character "Sister Peg": S3.E23, S4.E1, S5.E4, S5.E21, S6.E12, S6.E18, S8.E7, S12.E24. Her most recent appearance was in 2011.
- I have been doing other people's plays all my life, and even though I've been doing solo plays, that was just so other people could see that I could be the lead in their plays. When I first wrote "Pretty Fire" it was just so I could get a job in a play where I didn't have to sing.
- My life has never been easy. I can't think of one play I have done that was a piece of cake.
- I'm the queen of the self-help section. I'm the only actress I know who has not been on the therapist's couch. Because I'm too cheap!
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