{{short description|Canadian singer-songwriter and actress (1959–2016)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Vanity | image = Denise "Vanity" Matthews.jpg | caption = Vanity in 1986 | birth_name = Denise Katherine Matthews | birth_date = {{birth date|1959|1|4}} | birth_place = Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|2|15|1959|1|4}} | death_place = Fremont, California, U.S. | resting_place = | other_names = Denise Matthews-Smith,<br/>D. D. Winters | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|dancer|model|actress}} | years_active = 1977–1993 | spouse = {{marriage|Anthony Smith|1995|1996|reason=divorced}} | partner = Prince (1982–1983)<br />Nikki Sixx (1986–1988) | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | background = solo_singer | instrument = Vocals | origin = | genre ={{Flat list| * R&B * pop * soul * funk|}} | label ={{Flat list| * Motown * A&M * Geffen * Warner Bros.}} }} }}
'''Denise Katherine Matthews''' (January 4, 1959 – February 15, 2016), known professionally as '''Vanity''', was a Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. Known for her image as a sex symbol in the 1980s, in the 1990s she renounced her career as Vanity and became an evangelist.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/arts/music/denise-matthews-pop-singer-vanity-prince.html |access-date=February 18, 2016|date=February 16, 2016|work=The New York Times |first=Eli|last=Rosenberg|title=Denise Matthews, Pop Singer Known as Vanity, Dies at 57}}</ref>
She was the lead singer of the female trio Vanity 6, created by the musician Prince. Known for their 1982 hit song "Nasty Girl", they disbanded in 1983 when Vanity embarked on a solo career. She released two solo albums on the Motown Records label, ''Wild Animal'' and ''Skin on Skin'', and had three minor hit singles. As an actress, she starred in the films ''The Last Dragon'' (1985), ''52 Pick-Up'' (1986), ''Never Too Young to Die'' (1986), and ''Action Jackson'' (1988).
After years of drug abuse causing kidney problems, Matthews became a born-again Christian in 1992 and later devoted herself to her church in Fremont, California. Matthews died of kidney failure on February 15, 2016, aged 57.<ref>{{cite news | first = Colin | last = Stutz | url = https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/vanity-denise-katrina-matthews-prince-vanity-6-dies-at-57-6875318/ | title = Vanity, Former Prince Protégé & Leader of the Vanity 6, Dies at 57 | magazine = Billboard | date = February 15, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216111943/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6875318/vanity-denise-katrina-matthews-prince-vanity-6-dies-at-57 | archive-date = February 16, 2016 | url-status = live | access-date = May 9, 2022}}</ref>
== Early life == Denise Katherine Matthews was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on January 4, 1959,<ref name="Jet">{{Citation | issn=0021-5996 | access-date=February 18, 2016 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uLYDAAAAMBAJ | title=Vanity 6 Lives Out Daring Fantasies On Stage | date=January 1983 | magazine=Jet | publisher=Johnson Publishing Company | pages=58–62 | quote=When Prince introduced Susan, born Jan. 21, Brenda, Jan. 24 and Vanity, Jan. 4, there was an immediate attraction and the three are just as close today as ever.}}</ref> the daughter of Helga Senyk and Levia James Matthews.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2007/12/10/her-name-was-vanity-barely-into-her-30s-she-had-become-an-old-woman-on-the-inside-the-beauty-queen-from-niagara-falls-was-told-she-had-three-days-to-live-it-was-her-lowest-point-and-the-one|access-date=February 18, 2016|first=John|last=Law|date=December 10, 2007|journal=Welland Tribune|title=Her name was Vanity; Barely into her '30s, she had become an old woman on the inside ...the beauty queen from Niagara Falls was told she had three days to live. It was her lowest point. And the one...}}</ref> Her mother was of Polish-Jewish descent, and her father was Black American.<ref name="waspostref">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/06/04/former-siren-is-singing-a-new-song/b0eceba0-e6f0-403a-a786-53bc3015a054/ | title=Former Siren Is Singing A New Song | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=June 3, 1997 | accessdate=December 21, 2024 | last=Courtland | first=Milloy | quote=Prince Rogers Nelson, of Minneapolis, the doe-eyed seducer of black and Italian parentage, would become known as much for his taste in women as for his musical prowess. Denise K. Matthews, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., daughter of an African American and Native-American father and a Polish Jewish mother, was a big part of the reason.}}</ref> Matthews had three sisters and several half siblings.<ref name="Bossip">[https://bossip.com/1284091/bossip-exclusive-80s-singer-vanity-leaves-most-of-her-estate-to-church/ "BOSSIP Exclusive: 80s Singer Vanity Leaves Most Of Her Estate To Church"]. Bossip. February 18, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2019.</ref>
Her father died when she was 15 years old.<ref>{{cite journal |date=January 5, 1987|title=Vanity Explains Why She Called Her Father A 'Gorilla'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2bMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+Tanya%27s+Island.&pg=PA58|journal=Jet|pages=58–59}}</ref> Matthews revealed to ''Jet'' in 1993 that her father physically and verbally abused her for years, causing her to have a negative self-image. "For 15 years, he beat me badly... I wish I could see my father in heaven, but I won't. He's in hell," she said.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last=Collier|first=Alldore|date=January 11, 1993|title=Vanity Tells Why She Gave Up Sexy Image And Became Born-Again Christian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+denise+matthews+jet&pg=PA58|journal=Jet|pages=58–60}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Early career: 1977–1981 === Matthews began entering local beauty pageants before moving to Toronto, where she modeled. She won Miss Niagara Hospitality in 1977 and competed for Miss Canada in 1978.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/opinion-story/8185857-denise-matthews-the-niagara-falls-beauty-queen-who-became-vanity/ |work=Niagara Falls Review |title=Denise Matthews: The Niagara Falls beauty queen who became Vanity |date=February 16, 2016}}</ref> She moved to New York City to further her career and signed with Zoli Model Agency where she began using the alias D.D. Winters professionally.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |date=1983-06-02 |title=What's next for Vanity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-expositor-whats-next-for-vanity/186554161/ |access-date=2025-12-10 |work=The Expositor |pages=12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Perrone|first=Pierre|date=February 23, 2016|title=Vanity: Prince protégée who fronted the synth-pop trio Vanity 6|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/vanity-prince-protegee-who-fronted-the-synthpop-trio-vanity-6-fell-prey-to-drug-abuse-and-became-a-bornagain-christian-a6892006.html |access-date=January 1, 2022|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> Her short stature limited her to commercials and photoshoots, excluding runway work. She appeared in commercials for Pearl Drops toothpaste before completing a modeling stint in Japan. She was named one of the top sex stars of 1979 by ''Playboy'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1988 |title=Vanity |url=https://www.playboy.com/magazine/articles/1988/04/vanity/ |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=www.playboy.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
She appeared on the cover of Nightlife Unlimited's 1980 album ''Let's Do It Again''.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 15, 2021 |title=I Don't Like This Groove: From Denise Matthews to Vanity and Back (EUR Video Throwback) |url=https://eurweb.com/2021/02/15/i-dont-like-this-groove-from-denise-matthews-to-vanity-and-back-eur-video-throwback/ |access-date=January 1, 2022 |website=EURweb}}</ref>
Credited as D.D. Winters, she had a small role in the horror movie ''Terror Train'' (1980) and starred as the lead in the 1980 B-movie ''Tanya's Island''.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 22, 2013|title=Trailers from Hell: Mick Garris on Pseudo-Sexploitation Fantasy 'Tanya's Island'|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/03/trailers-from-hell-mick-garris-on-pseudo-sexploitation-fantasy-tanyas-island-198862/ |access-date=December 31, 2021|website=IndieWire|language=en}}</ref>
=== Music and acting career: 1982–1993 === Matthews appeared on the cover of the funk band Cameo's album ''Alligator Woman'' (1982).<ref>{{cite web |date=July 23, 2016|title=Vanity: From Sexy Prince Protégé to Evangelist • EBONY|url=https://www.ebony.com/entertainment/prince-vanity-tribute/|access-date=January 1, 2022|website=EBONY|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1982, she met musician Prince at the American Music Awards.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Clerc |first=Benoît |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Prince_All_the_Songs/BXJzEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vanity+met+prince+in+1981&pg=PT106&printsec=frontcover |title=Prince: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track |date=2022-10-13 |publisher=Octopus |isbn=978-1-78472-881-6 |language=en}}</ref> After learning she could sing, Prince invited her to front a girl group he had formed called The Hookers.<ref name=":6">{{cite book |last=Draper|first=Jason|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EAVxDQAAQBAJ&dq=vanity+6+prince+1983&pg=PA34|title=Prince: Life and Times: Revised and Updated Edition|date=November 1, 2016|publisher=Chartwell Books|isbn=978-0-7603-5363-9|pages=34|language=en}}</ref> He initially wanted to name her "Vagina," pronounced "va-geen-na," which Matthews refused. They settled on Vanity, as he considered her the female form of himself.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Tudahl|first=Duane|title=Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2018|isbn=9781538116432 |page=13}}</ref> The group was renamed Vanity 6.<ref name="people1">{{cite web|last=Buchalter|first=Gail|date=October 15, 1984|title=Her Romance with Prince Hit the Rocks, but Vanity's Singing Career Is Going Grrr-Eat|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088910,00.html|access-date=August 18, 2010|work=People}}</ref>
The group recorded one album and had international success with the single "Nasty Girl". They wore lingerie and Vanity's image became that of an erotic "nasty girl".<ref name=":0"/> She stated in a 1993 interview that she was uncomfortable with the image, saying "Prince created the whole Vanity 6 image. It bothered me at the time. I lied and said it was the image I wanted. I did it because he told me I had to do it. If I didn't do it, I wouldn't get paid. I got into it. I wanted the old Diana Ross image."<ref name=":0"/>
Vanity and Prince appeared together on the cover of the April 28, 1983, issue of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Miller|first=Debby|date=April 28, 1983|title=Prince's Hot Rock: The Secret Life Of America's Sexiest One-Man Band|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/princes-hot-rock-the-secret-life-of-americas-sexiest-one-man-band-67501/ |access-date=January 1, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> In August 1983, she abruptly left the group and dropped out of the 1984 film ''Purple Rain''; her role went to Apollonia Kotero.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":2">{{cite journal |date=May 5, 1986|title=Vanity Talks about Love, Prince and New Career in Records, Films|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mbADAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+jet+1986&pg=PA60|journal=Jet|pages=60–62}}</ref> Vanity later said, "Basically, I wanted to let 'Wild Animal' come out, and I needed to write my own songs. I needed to see if I could do something without the help of others. Now 'Purple Rain' was his really big dream. So I had to decide: Do I do his, or do I do mine?"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lufkin |first=Liz |date=1985-02-27 |title=Vanity talk still turns to her (former) Prince |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-vanity-talk/186443386/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |work=The Peninsula Times Tribune |pages=B-1}}</ref>
In 1984, Vanity signed with Motown Records as a solo artist and recorded the funk-pop album ''Wild Animal''.<ref>{{cite journal |date=August 13, 1984|title=Vanity 6 Lead Singer Cutting Motown Record|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4LADAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+motown+1984&pg=PA62|journal=Jet|pages=62}}</ref> She had mild success on the US pop and R&B charts with the singles "Pretty Mess" and "Mechanical Emotion."<ref name=":5">{{cite web |title=Vanity Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Vanity.art |access-date=January 1, 2022|website=Music VF, US & UK hits charts}}</ref>
In 1985, Vanity made her mainstream film debut in ''The Last Dragon'', which featured her song, "7th Heaven."<ref name=":3">{{cite web |date=February 15, 2021|title=Remembering Vanity Five Years Later|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/02/remembering-vanity-five-years-later/|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=Spin|language=en-US}}</ref> She wanted a role in the 1985 film ''The Color Purple'', but Steven Spielberg thought she looked too young.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 27, 1988|title=Vanity is HOT|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/01/27/Vanity-is-HOT/7365570258000/ |access-date=December 31, 2021|work=United Press International|language=en}}</ref>
In 1986, she released her second, final album, ''Skin on Skin'', which produced the top 10 R&B hit "Under the Influence".<ref name=":5" /> She starred that year in the action film ''Never Too Young to Die'' opposite John Stamos, and in the Neo-noir crime film ''52 Pick-Up''.<ref name=":2" />
Her highest profile role was co-starring with Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, and Sharon Stone in the 1988 film ''Action Jackson''.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal |date=February 15, 1988|title=Carl Weathers and Vanity Talk About Hot Romance In 'Action jackson'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fbsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+action+jackson+1988&pg=PA56|journal=Jet|pages=56–58}}</ref> Film ciritc Roger Ebert of ''The Chicago Sun-Times'' praised Vanity's performance as "the movie's one redeeming merit".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/action-jackson-1988 | title=Action Jackson movie review & film summary (1988) | Roger Ebert }}</ref> In the film, she portrays a heroin addict, and during production, she was using cocaine heavily. After filming wrapped, she entered a rehabilitation program at a Los Angeles hospital.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Pollack |first=Joe |date=1988-02-23 |title=Vanity In a Serious Vein |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-vanity-in-action/184932161/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |pages=47}}</ref>
She appeared nude in the April 1988 issue of ''Playboy'' magazine.<ref name=":3" />
Vanity had roles on numerous TV programs. She guest-starred in a 1987 episode of ''Miami Vice''{{'}}s third season.<ref name=":3" /> She appeared in the ''Friday the 13th: The Series'' episode "Mesmer's Bauble" in 1989. She played a villain who tortured Nancy Allen's character in the 1990 TV movie ''Memories of Murder'', and appeared in an episode of ''Highlander: The Series'' in 1992. Her last role was in the 1993 film ''Kiss of Death''.
==Personal life==
=== Relationships === Matthews met Prince at the American Music Awards in 1982.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Lufkin |first=Liz |date=1985-02-27 |title=Vanity talk still turns to her (former) Prince |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-vanity-talk/186443386/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |work=The Peninsula Times Tribune |pages=B-1}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> She later recalled: "I didn't know who he was, and he kept following me. I thought he was gay, and I kept thinking, 'Why is this gay guy following me around?'<ref name=":1" /> They soon began dating, and she left her New York City apartment, where she had been pursuing modeling and acting, and moved to Minneapolis to live with Prince.<ref name=":10" /> Their relationship lasted a year, until she left Vanity 6 in 1983.<ref name=":6" />
She was romantically linked to Adam Ant, who wrote the track "Vanity" on his album ''Strip'' (1983), and with Billy Idol.<ref name="jet">{{cite journal |last=Christian |first=Margena A. |date=November 26, 2007 |title=Vanity |journal=Jet |volume=112 |issue=21 |page=49 |issn=0021-5996 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1joDAAAAMBAJ&q=vanity+anthony+smith&pg=PA49}}</ref>
Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx had a crush on Matthews for years before reaching out through her management in 1986.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Handelman |first=David |date=1987-10-04 |title=Crue and Unusual |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-nikki-sixx-and-vanity/184932594/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |work=The Sacramento Bee |pages=285}}</ref> Once they met, their relationship intensified quickly—she fell for him within hours and proposed in just three weeks.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Sixx |first=Nikki |url=http://archive.org/details/heroindiariesyea0000nikk |title=The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star |last2=Gittins |first2=Ian |date=2008-09-01 |publisher=Pocket Books |others= |isbn=978-1-84739-206-0 |pages=26-27}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> Matthews announced her engagement on ''The Late Show'' in September 1987, and joked that she would become Vanity 6 (Sixx) again.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-09-15 |title=Television Hilights |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-vanity-on-the-late-sho/184936359/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |work=The Tampa Tribune |pages=5-Hernando}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> They had intended to marry at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California in December 1987.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-11-05 |title=Heavy Metal Breakdown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-observer-nikki-sixx-and-vanity-weddi/184932379/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |work=The Observer |pages=30}}</ref> The wedding was postponed, and then Sixx called off the engagement in 1988.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stone |first=Adrianne |date=February 29, 1988 |title=Nikki Sixx leads Motley Crue poll landslide |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_circus_1988-02-29/page/n57/mode/2up |journal=Circus |pages=62}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-02-14 |title=Who's the vain one? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-nikki-sixx-calls-of/184932136/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |work=The Arizona Republic |pages=F2}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> In his book, ''The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star'', Sixx wrote that he viewed Matthews callously during this period, and she taught him how to freebase cocaine, which intensified his drug dependency.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Daly|first=Sean|date=October 14, 2007|title=Motley Crue memoir not for squeamish|url=https://www.montereyherald.com/general-news/20071014/motley-crue-memoir-not-for-squeamish |access-date=December 31, 2021|website=Monterey Herald|language=en-US}}</ref>
While working as an evangelist in San Jose, Matthews read about the philanthropic activities of football player Anthony Smith of the Oakland Raiders in Los Angeles. She told ''Ebony'' magazine, "The Lord told me that I would go down to L.A. and minister to him."<ref name="Ebony">{{cite journal |date=June 1995 |title=At Home With Vanity And Her New Husband |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jd-pEXo2P7UC&dq=ebony&q=vanity#v=snippet&q=vanity&f=false |journal=Ebony |volume=50 |issue=8 |pages=54–58}}</ref> They met in late February 1995, and she proposed to him three days later. After a one-month whirlwind romance, they married in April at Smith's home in Playa del Rey on the first anniversary of her sobriety.<ref>{{cite journal|date=April 17, 1995|title=Vanity Weds Pro Football Star Anthony Smith After Monthlong Courtship|journal=Jet|volume=87|issue=23|page=14|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=czkDAAAAMBAJ&q=vanity+anthony+smith&pg=PA14}}</ref> Smith later revealed that they often argued about her kind nature; she would habitually invite homeless people into their home for food and showers and give out their home number to complete strangers.<ref name="Ebony"></ref> Their marriage ended in 1996 due to his volatile behavior. After they separated, Smith was arrested for domestic violence against another woman, and he was later convicted of three murders.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/story/nfl-anthony-smith-oakland-raiders-murder|title=Ex-Raider Anthony Smith's Murder Trial and Violent Past|last=Dobie|first=Kathy|date=January 24, 2013|website=GQ}}</ref>
===Religion=== Matthews met actor Sam J. Jones in 1992 during filming of ''Da Vinci's War''. Jones invited Matthews to read the Bible with him during a lunch break.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 12, 1997 |title=Vanity interview |work=Daily Press (Newspapers.com) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/237450622/?terms=%22DaVinci%27s%20War%22&match=1}}</ref> Matthews became a born-again Christian, and stated in interviews that she would not play any more sexualized roles.<ref name=":0"/> She renounced her stage name Vanity and reverted to her birth name Denise Matthews.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Stereo|date=February 20, 2016|title=The Sexy, Holy Saga of Vanity: Prince's Muse Who Found God|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/20/the-sexy-holy-saga-of-vanity-prince-s-muse-who-found-god|access-date=December 31, 2021}}</ref> She traveled extensively throughout the South of the United States with her friend and agent Benjamin Jimerson-Phillips, giving her testimony of conversion to Christianity.
In 1994, Matthews rushed to the hospital for near-fatal kidney failure from a drug overdose. Doctors said she had three days to live while on life support. She remained in hospital for three months. Jimerson-Phillips telegramed her condition to Prince. She explained that Jesus appeared and said that if she promised to abandon her Vanity persona, He would save her.
Upon recovery, Matthews ended her performing career by cutting off ties with Hollywood and shunning her former life in show business. She devoted herself to born-again Christianity.<ref name="denisematthews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.iloveoldschoolmusic.com/wow-smoking-crack-cocaine-vanity-says-jesus-came-said/|access-date=February 18, 2016|date=October 5, 2014|work=I Love Old School Music|title=Wow! After Smoking Crack Cocaine, Vanity Says Jesus Came To Her And Said...}}</ref> In 1995, she said, "When I came to the Lord Jesus Christ, I threw out about 1,000 tapes of mine— every interview, every tape, every video, everything."<ref>{{cite book|last=Rettenmund|first=Matthew |title=Totally Awesome 80s: A Lexicon Of the Music, Videos, Movies, TV shows, Stars, and Trends Of That Decadent Decade|publisher=Macmillan|year=1996|page=57|isbn=0-312-14436-9}}</ref> Jimerson-Phillips stated: "I was there at her apartment at The Grand in Sherman Oaks, when she just started dumping things down the incinerator. I grabbed some of the items including a painting titled Tailspin, by famed artist Olivia; a cassette hand painted by Prince of unreleased music; and an assortment of other items I didn't want to see go into the trash. I even had to go down to the office and ask them to retrieve her gold album she had thrown away."
After a kidney transplant in 1997, Matthews dedicated the rest of her life full-time to Christ. She made speaking engagements at churches worldwide and she headed Pure Hearts Ministries in Fremont, California.<ref>{{cite web |title=Evangelist Denise Matthews (formerly Vanity of Vanity 6 with Prince) to Speak at A Positive Force LDC's African Fashion Show, Youth Benefit and Gospel Extravaganza on December 5, 2005 at CSUS University, Sacramento Grand Ballroom|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb180857.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041123074806/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb180857.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2004|access-date=December 31, 2021|website=PRWeb}}</ref><ref name="jet"/>
In 2010, Matthews released her autobiography, ''Blame It On Vanity: Hollywood, Hell and Heaven''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blameitonvanity.com/index3.php|access-date=August 18, 2010|date=February 15, 2016|work=Blame It On Vanity|title=Former Prince Protege', Denise "Vanity" Matthews of Vanity 6, Dies At 57|archive-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223073904/http://www.blameitonvanity.com/index3.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Illness and death== Due to kidney problems resulting from her decade-long cocaine addiction,<ref name="Ebony"/> Matthews had to undergo 20 minutes of peritoneal dialysis five times a day.<ref name="jet" /><ref name="denisematthews.com"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Aria|last=Ellise|url=http://blackdoctor.org/481664/singer-vanity-dies-at-57/|website=BlackDoctor.org|access-date=February 18, 2016|date=February 15, 2016|title=Former Prince Protege', Denise "Vanity" Matthews of Vanity 6, Dies At 57}}</ref> She underwent a kidney transplant in 1997, but her health worsened in 2015 when she was diagnosed with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grow|first=Kory|date=February 16, 2016|title=Prince Collaborator Vanity Dead at 57|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/prince-collaborator-vanity-dead-at-57-224480/ |access-date=December 31, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>
Matthews died of kidney failure aged 57 in a Fremont, California, hospital on February 15, 2016.<ref>Lenker, Margaret (February 15, 2016). [https://variety.com/2016/music/obituaries-people-news/vanity-dead-prince-denise-matthews-1201706763/ "Denise 'Vanity' Matthews, Singer and Protege of Prince, Dies at 57"]. ''Variety''. Retrieved November 20, 2019.</ref> She left much of her estate to her church. Her ashes were scattered off the coast of Hawaii.<ref name="Bossip" />
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Wild Animal'' (1984) * ''Skin on Skin'' (1986)
====Vanity 6==== * ''Vanity 6'' (1982)
===Solo singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:0.5em;| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title ! colspan="3" scope="col" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| <br/>Album<br/><br/> |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:80%;"| {{small|US<br/>Pop}}<br /><ref name="Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004">Whitburn, Joel (2005). Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100 1959–2004 (2nd ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 277. {{ISBN|0-89820-162-4}}.></ref><ref name="Top Pop Singles 1955-2002">{{cite book | first= Joel | last= Whitburn | year= 2003 | title= Top Pop Singles 1955–2002 | edition= 10th | publisher= Record Research Inc. | location= Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin | isbn= 0-89820-155-1 | page= [https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/739 739] | url-access= registration | url= https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/739 }}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:80%;"| {{small|US<br/>R&B}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:80%;"| {{small|US<br/>Dance}}<br /><ref name="allmusic1">(((Vanity > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles))). AllMusic. Retrieved August 18, 2010.</ref> |- |rowspan="2"|1984 | "Pretty Mess" | 75 || 15 || 13 |rowspan=2| ''Wild Animal'' |- | "Mechanical Emotion" | 107 || 23 || — |- |1985 | "7th Heaven" | — || — || — | ''The Last Dragon (soundtrack)'' |- |rowspan="2"| 1986 | "Under the Influence" | 56 || 9 || 6 |rowspan=2| ''Skin on Skin'' |- | "Animals" | — || — || — |- |1988 | "Undress" | — || — || — | ''Action Jackson'' (soundtrack) |- | colspan="6" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |}
=== Soundtrack appearances === * 1985: ''The Last Dragon''; "7th Heaven" * 1988: ''Action Jackson''; "Undress", "Faraway Eyes", and "Shotgun" with David Koz and featuring vocalist Kareem
===Guest vocals=== * 1982: ''1999'', Prince; "Free" (backing vocals) * 1982: ''What Time Is It?'', The Time; "The Walk"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=Album:_What_Time_Is_It?|title=Album: What Time Is It? – Prince Vault|website=princevault.com|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref> (spoken vocals) * 1986: ''El DeBarge'', El DeBarge; "Secrets of the Night" (backing vocals)
===Music videos=== * 1982: "Nasty Girl", "He's So Dull", and "Drive Me Wild" * 1984: "Pretty Mess" * 1985: "7th Heaven" (video clips were from the movie ''The Last Dragon'') * 1986: "Under the Influence" * 1988: "He Turned Me Out", a song performed by The Pointer Sisters from the soundtrack of ''Action Jackson''. Vanity's co-star in the movie, Carl Weathers, appears alongside her in the video. * 1991: "Vanity", a song performed by Dweezil Zappa. Vanity makes a cameo appearance
==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Vanity film credits}}<!-- WP:ACCESSIBILITY & MOS:TABLECAPTION --> ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | rowspan="3" | 1980 | ''Klondike Fever'' | Background Dancer (uncredited) | Adventure, based on the writings of Jack London. Vanity plays a background dancer near the beginning of the film. |- | ''Terror Train'' | Merry | Horror (credited as D. D. Winters) |- | ''Tanya's Island'' | Tanya | Fantasy (credited as D. D. Winters) |- | 1985 | data-sort-value="Last Dragon, The" | ''The Last Dragon'' | Laura Charles | Martial arts drama (a.k.a. Berry Gordy's ''The Last Dragon'') |- | rowspan="2" | 1986 | ''Never Too Young to Die'' | Danja Deering | Action/crime thriller (co-starring with John Stamos and Gene Simmons) |- | ''52 Pick-Up'' | Doreen | Crime thriller (co-starring with Roy Scheider and Ann-Margret) |- | 1987 | ''Deadly Illusion'' | Rina | Action/drama (co-starring with Billy Dee Williams) |- | 1988 | ''Action Jackson'' | Sydney Ash | Action/crime thriller (co-starring with Carl Weathers) |- | 1991 | ''Neon City'' | Reno | Post-apocalyptic science fiction (a.k.a. ''Anno 2053'' in Italy and ''Neonski Grad'' in Serbia) |- | rowspan="2" | 1993 | ''South Beach'' | Jennifer Derringer | Action/crime thriller (co-starring with Fred Williamson and Gary Busey). Directed by Fred Williamson<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/90942/south-beach|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212075224/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/90942/South-Beach/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2013|title=South Beach|work=TCM database|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref> |- | ''Da Vinci's War'' | Lupe | Action/thriller Directed and co-written by Raymond Martino<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/519981/davincis-war|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302025533/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/519981/davincis-war|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2021|title=Da Vinci's War|work=TCM database|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref> |- | 1997 | ''Kiss of Death'' | Blair | Thriller (Filmed in April 1993, Vanity's last role) directed by Andrei Feher<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/519981/davincis-war|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302025533/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/519981/davincis-war|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2021|title=Kiss of Death|work=IMDb database|publisher=IMDb|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Vanity television credits}}<!-- WP:ACCESSIBILITY & MOS:TABLECAPTION --> ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | rowspan="3" | 1987 | ''D.C. Follies'' | Vanity (guest) | Episode: "Comedy Parody" {{small|(S1.E6)}} |- | data-sort-value="New Mike Hammer, The" | ''The New Mike Hammer'' | Holly | Episode: "Green Lipstick" {{small|(S3.E21)}} |- | ''Miami Vice'' | Ali Ferrand | Episode: "By Hooker By Crook" {{small|(S3.E20)}} |- | 1988 | ''T. and T.'' | K.C. Morgan | Episode: "A Secret No More" {{small|(S2.E6)}} |- | rowspan="2" | 1989 | ''Friday the 13th: The Series'' | Angelica | Episode: "The Secret Agenda of Mesmer's Bauble" {{small|(S2.20)}} |- | ''Booker'' | Tina Maxwell | Episode: "Deals and Wheels: Part 1" {{small|(S1.E8)}} aka ''21 Jump Street'' {{small|(S4.E10)}} |- | 1990 | ''Memories of Murder'' | Carmen | Lifetime Television Network (aka ''Passing through Veils'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/466694/jackie-collins-lady-boss|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203181049/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/466694/jackie-collins-lady-boss|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2020|title=Memories of Murder|work=TCM database|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Jet|title=Vanity (singer)|date=August 27, 1990|page=62|volume=78|number=20}}</ref><ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/08/10/memories-murder/|title=TV Review: Memories of Murder|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 10, 1990|access-date=February 16, 2016|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205184813/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20243249,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 1991 | ''Tropical Heat'' (aka ''Sweating Bullets'') | Maria |Episode: "Mafia Mistress" {{small|(S2.E2)}}<ref name="B&M">{{cite book |author1=Tim Brooks|author-link1=Tim Brooks (television historian)|author2=Earle Marsh|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York City|edition=Eighth|year=2003|section=Sweating Bullets (''Detective'')|page=1158|isbn=978-0-345-45542-0}}</ref> |- | ''Tales from the Crypt'' | Kathrine | Episode: "Dead Wait" {{small|(S3.E6)}} |- | rowspan="3" | 1992 | ''Silk Stalkings'' | Chantel | Episode: "Powder Burn" {{small|(S1.E20)}} |- | ''Lady Boss'' | Mary Lou Morley | Miniseries, based on Jackie Collins' novel of the same name with the teleplay by Jackie Collins<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/466694/jackie-collins-lady-boss|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203181049/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/466694/jackie-collins-lady-boss|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2020|title=Lady Boss|work=TCM database|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jackiecollins.com/movie/lady-boss-miniseries/|access-date=February 16, 2016|work=JackieCollins.com|title=Lady Boss (miniseries)}}</ref> |- | ''Highlander: The Series'' | Rebecca Lord | Episode: "Revenge Is Sweet" {{small|(S1.E10)}} |- | 1993 | ''Counterstrike'' | Sandra | Episode: "Muerte" {{small|(S3.E21)}} |}
==See also== {{Portal|Biography|Canada|Ontario|Music|Film|Television}} * List of people in Playboy 1980–1989
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://blameitonvanity.com Vanity Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201062432/https://www.blameitonvanity.com/ |date=February 1, 2025 }} * {{IMDb name|0889152|Vanity}} * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p21236|label=Vanity}} * [https://sites.google.com/site/lastdragontribute/vanity--denise-katrina-matthews Denise "Vanity" Matthews from The Last Dragon Tribute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010162532/https://sites.google.com/site/lastdragontribute/vanity--denise-katrina-matthews |date=October 10, 2020 }} * {{cite magazine |magazine= Billboard |url= https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/vanity-denise-katrina-matthews-prince-vanity-6-dies-at-57-6875318/ |title= Vanity, Former Prince Protégé & Leader of the Vanity 6, Dies at 57 |first= Colin |last= Stutz |series= Obituary |date= February 15, 2016 }}
{{Vanity (singer)}} {{Vanity 6}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vanity}} Category:1959 births Category:2016 deaths Category:20th-century Black Canadian women singers Category:20th-century Canadian women singers Category:20th-century Canadian actresses Category:21st-century Canadian memoirists Category:21st-century Canadian women writers Category:20th-century Christians Category:21st-century Christians Category:Actresses from Ontario Category:A&M Records artists Category:Black Canadian actresses Category:Canadian Christians Category:Canadian dance musicians Category:Canadian expatriate actresses in the United States Category:Female models from Ontario Category:Canadian film actresses Category:Canadian people of African-American descent Category:Canadian contemporary R&B singers Category:Canadian soul singers Category:Canadian television actresses Category:Converts to Christianity Category:Deaths from kidney failure in California Category:Geffen Records artists Category:Motown artists Category:Musicians from the Regional Municipality of Niagara Category:Singers from Ontario Category:People from Niagara Falls, Ontario Category:Vanity 6 members Category:Musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Canadian people of Polish-Jewish descent Category:Canadian evangelists Category:Canadian women pop singers Category:Canadian people of German-Jewish descent Category:Canadian feminist musicians Category:Kidney transplant recipients Category:Warner Records artists Category:Women evangelists