{{short description|American actress}} {{Infobox person | name = Renn Woods | image =City of Los Angeles -june 2014 1037126 68... 0(1) .jpg | caption = Woods in Los Angeles, 2014 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|1|1}} | birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actress, vocalist, songwriter | years_active = 1976–present | website = {{url|TheRealRennWoods.com}} }}
'''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 (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'', for her performance of "Aquarius" in the film version of ''[[Hair (film)|Hair]]'' (1979)<ref name="ppg-oct2013">{{cite news|author1=Sharon Eberson|title=Preview: Actress Renn Woods writes musical based on life story|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2013/10/04/Preview-Actress-Renn-Woods-writes-musical-based-on-life-story/stories/201310040030|access-date=January 15, 2017|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> and as Edie in the TV series [[Beauty and the Beast (1987 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 miniseries)|Roots]]'' (1977), and the "Aquarius" soloist in ''[[Hair (film)|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]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2013/10/04/Preview-Actress-Renn-Woods-writes-musical-based-on-life-story/stories/201310040030|work=Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|title=Preview: Actress Renn Woods writes musical based on life story|last=Eberson|first=Sharon|date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190510050614/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2013/10/04/Preview-Actress-Renn-Woods-writes-musical-based-on-life-story/stories/201310040030|archive-date=May 10, 2019}}</ref> and as The Moon in a Los Angeles production of ''[[Caroline, or Change]]''.
==Early life== Woods was born in [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], one of six children, and was raised in [[Portland, Oregon]] by her divorced mother, who was a [[nurse]].<ref name=lat>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-09-ca-13121-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|title=Easing On Down Life's Road With Her Own Songs|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190510044453/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-09-ca-13121-story.html|archive-date=May 10, 2019|last=Breslauer|first=Jan|date=9 June 1996 }}</ref> Woods described her mother as a "politically conscious and very unusual woman."<ref name=lat/> Woods and her siblings attended private [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] schools in Portland.<ref name=lat/><ref name=ph>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31419488/the_philadelphia_inquirer/|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|title=Actress Renn Woods explains how she ended up in East Falls|date=February 25, 1999|page=43|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> At age eight, Woods began singing in a trio with two friends in her neighborhood, performing as the Three Little Souls.<ref name=lat/>
She added an extra "n" to her first name to lessen confusion with a company that used the [[domain name]] Renwoods.<ref name="sitcom-nov2012">{{cite book|author1=Bob Leszczak|title=Single Season Sitcoms, 1948–1979: A Complete Guide|date=November 2, 2012|publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]]|isbn=9780786493050|page=198|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LaUqwWnpHLwC&q=renn+woods&pg=PA198|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref>
==Career beginnings== Renn began singing at the age of six.<ref name="bww-oct2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Renn-Woods-Musical-SOLD-RENN-WOODS-IN-CONCERT-Makes-Industry-Debut-at-Shelter-Studios-1020-20121019|title=Renn Woods' Musical SOLD: RENN WOODS IN CONCERT Makes Industry Debut at Shelter Studios, 10/20|date=October 19, 2012|website=Broadway World|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=ph/> The trio toured the world, performing the very last tour of duty with Bob Hope in [[Vietnam]].<ref name="bww-oct2012" />
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.<ref name="funk-jan2017">{{cite web|url=http://thefunkshow.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252:cd-of-the-month-renn-woods-crazy&catid=42:cd-of-the-month&Itemid=57|title=CD of the Month: Renn Woods – Crazy|date=January 24, 2015|website=The Funk Show|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref> ''Azz Izz'' was well received. The second album featured a new composition by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] titled ''"I Don't Wanna Stop."'' Woods released a third album featuring jazz standards, ''Crazy'', in 2015.<ref name="funk-jan2017" />
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 (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' in 1977, a role for which she won a [[People's Choice Awards|People's Choice Award]]. She also sang the opening song, "Aquarius", in [[Miloš Forman]]’s movie musical version of ''[[Hair (film)|Hair]]'' (1979).
In 1984, Woods acted in [[John Sayles]]'s science-fiction comedy film ''[[The Brother from Another Planet]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1984-09-07 |title=The Brother From Another Planet - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_brother_from_another_planet |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> She, Darryl Edwards, [[Steve James (actor)|Steve James]], and [[Bill Cobbs]] play barflies. Reviewer Deborah Jerome of [[The Record (North Jersey)|''The Record'']] said that they brought good performances to the film.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jerome |first=Deborah |date=September 14, 1984 |title=John Sayles spoofs Speilberg and 'E.T.' |journal=The Record |pages=Previews: 23}}</ref>
She appeared in other American television series, including ''[[What's Happening!!]]'', ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]'', ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[The White Shadow (TV series)|The White Shadow]],''<ref name="bww-oct2012" /> ''[[The Jeffersons]]'', ''[[Roc (TV series)|Roc]]'', ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'', ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' and ''[[NYPD Blue]]''. She starred as Edie in the TV series [[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|''Beauty and the Beast'']]. She starred as Mrs. McGill in the TV movie ''[[Detention: The Siege at Johnson High]]''.
In 2015, she appeared in the TVOne documentary series [[Unsung (TV series)|Unsung]]. In 2016, she appeared in the [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5531098/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 TruInside tv documentary] ''[[The 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)''.<ref name="bww-oct2012" /><ref name="ppg-oct2013" /><ref name="pghcourier-oct2013">{{cite news|title='Sold: Renn Woods in Concert'|url=https://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2013/10/18/sold-renn-woods-in-concert/|access-date=January 15, 2017|publisher=[[New Pittsburgh Courier]]|date=October 18, 2013}}</ref>
She also appeared in the musical ''[[Caroline, or Change]]'' as The Moon at the [[Ahmanson Theatre]] in Los Angeles.
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row"| 1976 | ''[[Sparkle (1976 film)|Sparkle]]'' | Jim Dandy Singer | Uncredited |- ! scope="row"| 1976 | ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]'' | Loretta | |- ! scope="row"| 1978 | ''[[Youngblood (1978 film)|Youngblood]]'' | Sybil | |- ! scope="row"| 1979 | ''[[Hair (film)|Hair]]'' | 'Aquarius' soloist | |- ! scope="row"| 1979 | ''[[The Jerk]]'' | Elvira | |- ! scope="row"| 1980 | ''[[Xanadu (film)|Xanadu]]'' | Jo | |- ! scope="row"| 1980 | ''[[9 to 5 (film)|9 to 5]]'' | Barbara | |- ! scope="row"|1982 | ''[[Penitentiary II]]'' | Nikki | |- ! scope="row" | 1984 | ''[[The Brother from Another Planet]]'' | Bernice | |- ! scope="row"| 1985 | ''[[Beer (film)|Beer]]'' | Mary Morrison | |- ! scope="row"| 1986 | ''[[Jumpin' Jack Flash (film)|Jumpin' Jack Flash]]'' | Jackie | |- ! scope="row"| 1987 | ''[[Walker (film)|Walker]]'' | Alta Kewen | |- ! scope="row"| 1988 | ''From Hollywood to Deadwood'' | Christine | |- ! scope="row"|1992 | ''[[Judgement (1992 film)|Judgement]]'' | Hollie Glass | |- ! scope="row"| 1996 | ''Crazy World'' | Wilma | |- ! scope="row"| 1997 | ''[[Detention: The Siege at Johnson High]]'' | Mrs. McGill | |- ! scope="row"|2007 | ''[[The Blue Hour (2007 film)|The Blue Hour]]'' | Aria | |- ! scope="row"|2010 | ''Church'' | Sister Dee | |- ! scope="row"| 2015 | ''[[Unsung (TV series)|Unsung Hollywood]]'' | Herself | Documentary |- ! scope="row"|2016 | ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5531098/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 TruInside "The Jerk"]'' | Herself | Documentary |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row"| 1977 | ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' | Fanta | Miniseries |- ! scope="row"|1977 | ''[[What's Happening!!]]'' | Brenda | Episode: "Dwayne's Dilemma" |- !scope="row"|1977 |''[[We've Got Each Other]]'' | Donna | 9 episodes |- ! scope="row"| 1978 | ''[[Insight (American TV series)|Insight]]'' | Angie | Episode: "It Can't Happen to Me" |- ! scope="row"|1979 | ''[[The White Shadow (TV series)|The White Shadow]]'' | Darlene Robinson | Episode: "Pregnant Pause" |- ! scope="row"| 1982 | ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]'' | Karly | Episode: "Suspect" |- ! scope="row"|1984 | ''[[The Jeffersons]]'' | Rhonda | Episode: "A New Girl in Town" |- ! scope="row"| 1986–1987 | ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' | Hooker / Jackie Lowrie | 2 episodes |- ! scope="row"| 1989 | ''[[TV 101]]'' | Teenage Pregnancy Counselor | Episode: "First Love: Part 2" |- ! scope="row"| 1987–1989 | ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' | Edie | 44 episodes |- ! scope="row"| 1989 | ''[[Monsters (American TV series)|Monsters]]'' | Cora | Episode: "Love Hurts" |- ! scope="row"|1993 | ''[[Roc (TV series)|Roc]]'' | Pam | Episode: "Shove It Up Your Aspirin" |- ! scope="row"|1995 | ''[[The Client (TV series)|The Client]]'' | Doctor | Episode: "The Prodigal Father" |- ! scope="row"|1995 | ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' | Lisa | Episode: "These Old Bones" |- ! scope="row"| 1996 | ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'' | Mrs. Hecht | Episode: "Pilot" |- ! scope="row"| 1996 | ''[[Relativity (TV series)|Relativity]]'' | Receptionist | Episode: "Jake Gets a Job" |- ! scope="row"| 2001 | ''[[That's Life (2000 TV series)|That's Life]]'' | Clerk | Episode: "Larva" |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official|http://www.rennwoods.com}} *{{IMDb name|0940758}} *{{AllMusic|id=renn-woods-mn0000887544|label=Renn Woods}} *{{Discogs artist|artist=Ren Woods|name=Ren Woods}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Renn}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from Chicago]] [[Category:Actresses from Portland, Oregon]] [[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]] [[Category:20th-century American women singers]] [[Category:20th-century American singers]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American musical theatre actresses]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:African Americans in Oregon]] [[Category:Musicians from Portland, Oregon]] [[Category:Singers from Chicago]] [[Category:African-American history of Oregon]] [[Category:21st-century African-American actresses]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]]