# Renn Woods

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American actress

Renn Woods Woods in Los Angeles, 2014 Born (1958-01-01) January 1, 1958 (age 68) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Occupations Actress, vocalist, songwriter Years active 1976–present Website 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](/source/Roots_(1977_miniseries))*, for her performance of "Aquarius" in the film version of *[Hair](/source/Hair_(film))* (1979)[1] and as Edie in the TV series [*Beauty and the Beast*](/source/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(1987_TV_series)) (1987–1989).

Woods was born in [Chicago](/source/Chicago) and raised in [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_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](/source/Bob_Hope). In adulthood, Woods transitioned into acting, starring as Fanta in *[Roots](/source/Roots_(1977_miniseries))* (1977), and the "Aquarius" soloist in *[Hair](/source/Hair_(film))* (1979). She also had a supporting role in the comedy *[The Jerk](/source/The_Jerk)* (1979).

She also appeared onstage as Dorothy in the first national touring production of *[The Wiz](/source/The_Wiz)*,[2] and as The Moon in a Los Angeles production of *[Caroline, or Change](/source/Caroline%2C_or_Change)*.

## Early life

Woods was born in [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago), one of six children, and was raised in [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon) by her divorced mother, who was a [nurse](/source/Nurse).[3] Woods described her mother as a "politically conscious and very unusual woman."[3] Woods and her siblings attended private [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) 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](/source/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](/source/Jack_Benny), [Bob Hope](/source/Bob_Hope), and [Bing Crosby](/source/Bing_Crosby).[4] The trio toured the world, performing the very last tour of duty with Bob Hope in [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam).[6]

In 1979, she released a solo album, *Out of the Woods*, which was produced by [Earth, Wind & Fire](/source/Earth%2C_Wind_%26_Fire) member [Al McKay](/source/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](/source/Prince_(musician)) 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](/source/The_Wiz)"* in 1976. She subsequently appeared as Fanta in *[Roots](/source/Roots_(1977_miniseries))* in 1977, a role for which she won a [People's Choice Award](/source/People's_Choice_Awards). She also sang the opening song, "Aquarius", in [Miloš Forman](/source/Milo%C5%A1_Forman)’s movie musical version of *[Hair](/source/Hair_(film))* (1979).

In 1984, Woods acted in [John Sayles](/source/John_Sayles)'s science-fiction comedy film *[The Brother from Another Planet](/source/The_Brother_from_Another_Planet)*.[8] She, Darryl Edwards, [Steve James](/source/Steve_James_(actor)), and [Bill Cobbs](/source/Bill_Cobbs) play barflies. Reviewer Deborah Jerome of [*The Record*](/source/The_Record_(North_Jersey)) said that they brought good performances to the film.[9]

She appeared in other American television series, including *[What's Happening!!](/source/What's_Happening!!)*, *[Lou Grant](/source/Lou_Grant_(TV_series))*, *[Hill Street Blues](/source/Hill_Street_Blues)*, *[The White Shadow](/source/The_White_Shadow_(TV_series)),*[6] *[The Jeffersons](/source/The_Jeffersons)*, *[Roc](/source/Roc_(TV_series))*, *[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch](/source/Sabrina%2C_the_Teenage_Witch)*, *[Beauty and the Beast](/source/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(1987_TV_series))* and *[NYPD Blue](/source/NYPD_Blue)*. She starred as Edie in the TV series [*Beauty and the Beast*](/source/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(1987_TV_series)). She starred as Mrs. McGill in the TV movie *[Detention: The Siege at Johnson High](/source/Detention%3A_The_Siege_at_Johnson_High)*.

In 2015, she appeared in the TVOne documentary series [Unsung](/source/Unsung_(TV_series)). In 2016, she appeared in the [TruInside tv documentary](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5531098/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) *[The Jerk](/source/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)*.[6][1][10]

She also appeared in the musical *[Caroline, or Change](/source/Caroline%2C_or_Change)* as The Moon at the [Ahmanson Theatre](/source/Ahmanson_Theatre) in Los Angeles.

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1976 Sparkle Jim Dandy Singer Uncredited 1976 Car Wash Loretta 1978 Youngblood Sybil 1979 Hair 'Aquarius' soloist 1979 The Jerk Elvira 1980 Xanadu Jo 1980 9 to 5 Barbara 1982 Penitentiary II Nikki 1984 The Brother from Another Planet Bernice 1985 Beer Mary Morrison 1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash Jackie 1987 Walker Alta Kewen 1988 From Hollywood to Deadwood Christine 1992 Judgement Hollie Glass 1996 Crazy World Wilma 1997 Detention: The Siege at Johnson High Mrs. McGill 2007 The Blue Hour Aria 2010 Church Sister Dee 2015 Unsung Hollywood Herself Documentary 2016 TruInside "The Jerk" Herself Documentary

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1977 Roots Fanta Miniseries 1977 What's Happening!! Brenda Episode: "Dwayne's Dilemma" 1977 We've Got Each Other Donna 9 episodes 1978 Insight Angie Episode: "It Can't Happen to Me" 1979 The White Shadow Darlene Robinson Episode: "Pregnant Pause" 1982 Lou Grant Karly Episode: "Suspect" 1984 The Jeffersons Rhonda Episode: "A New Girl in Town" 1986–1987 Hill Street Blues Hooker / Jackie Lowrie 2 episodes 1989 TV 101 Teenage Pregnancy Counselor Episode: "First Love: Part 2" 1987–1989 Beauty and the Beast Edie 44 episodes 1989 Monsters Cora Episode: "Love Hurts" 1993 Roc Pam Episode: "Shove It Up Your Aspirin" 1995 The Client Doctor Episode: "The Prodigal Father" 1995 NYPD Blue Lisa Episode: "These Old Bones" 1996 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Mrs. Hecht Episode: "Pilot" 1996 Relativity Receptionist Episode: "Jake Gets a Job" 2001 That's Life Clerk Episode: "Larva"

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ppg-oct2013_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ppg-oct2013_1-1) Sharon Eberson (October 4, 2013). ["Preview: Actress Renn Woods writes musical based on life story"](http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2013/10/04/Preview-Actress-Renn-Woods-writes-musical-based-on-life-story/stories/201310040030). [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/Pittsburgh_Post-Gazette). Retrieved January 15, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Eberson, Sharon (October 4, 2013). ["Preview: Actress Renn Woods writes musical based on life story"](https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2013/10/04/Preview-Actress-Renn-Woods-writes-musical-based-on-life-story/stories/201310040030). *Post-Gazette*. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lat_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lat_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-lat_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-lat_3-3) Breslauer, Jan (9 June 1996). ["Easing On Down Life's Road With Her Own Songs"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-09-ca-13121-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ph_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ph_4-1) ["Actress Renn Woods explains how she ended up in East Falls"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31419488/the_philadelphia_inquirer/). *The Philadelphia Inquirer*. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. February 25, 1999. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sitcom-nov2012_5-0)** Bob Leszczak (November 2, 2012). [*Single Season Sitcoms, 1948–1979: A Complete Guide*](https://books.google.com/books?id=LaUqwWnpHLwC&q=renn+woods&pg=PA198). [McFarland](/source/McFarland_%26_Company). p. 198. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780786493050](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780786493050). Retrieved January 15, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bww-oct2012_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bww-oct2012_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bww-oct2012_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-bww-oct2012_6-3) ["Renn Woods' Musical SOLD: RENN WOODS IN CONCERT Makes Industry Debut at Shelter Studios, 10/20"](http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Renn-Woods-Musical-SOLD-RENN-WOODS-IN-CONCERT-Makes-Industry-Debut-at-Shelter-Studios-1020-20121019). *Broadway World*. October 19, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-funk-jan2017_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-funk-jan2017_7-1) ["CD of the Month: Renn Woods – Crazy"](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). *The Funk Show*. January 24, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The Brother From Another Planet - Rotten Tomatoes"](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_brother_from_another_planet). *www.rottentomatoes.com*. 1984-09-07. Retrieved 2023-06-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Jerome, Deborah (September 14, 1984). "John Sayles spoofs Speilberg and 'E.T.'". *The Record*: Previews: 23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pghcourier-oct2013_10-0)** ["'Sold: Renn Woods in Concert'"](https://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2013/10/18/sold-renn-woods-in-concert/). [New Pittsburgh Courier](/source/New_Pittsburgh_Courier). October 18, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2017.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.rennwoods.com)

- [Renn Woods](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940758/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Renn Woods](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/renn-woods-mn0000887544) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

- [Ren Woods](https://www.discogs.com/artist/Ren+Woods) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States Artists MusicBrainz Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Renn Woods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renn_Woods) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renn_Woods?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.