Lesley Ann Warren

Celebrity   , , , , ,
Lesley Ann Warren

Name: Lesley Ann Warren

Introduction: Lesley Ann Warren is an American actress, singer, and dancer with a career spanning over six decades. She rose to fame as a charming ingenue in musicals, particularly “Cinderella,” and later transitioned to acclaimed dramatic and comedic roles in film and television, often playing complex or eccentric characters.

Date of birth: August 16, 1946

Height: 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)

Place of birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Family:

  • Parents’ names: William Warren (father, a real estate agent) and Carol Verblow Warren (mother, a singer).
  • Siblings: Information not widely publicized.
  • Spouse:
    • Jon Peters (m. 1967; div. 1977), a hairdresser and later a film executive/producer.
    • Ron Taft (m. 2000), an executive and producer.
  • Children: Christopher Peters (son, with Jon Peters).
  • Relatives: Not widely publicized beyond her immediate family.

Profession: Actress, singer, dancer.

Nationality: American

Religion: She was born into a Jewish family.

College or university attended:

  • Professional Children’s School, New York City
  • High School of Music and Art, New York City
  • Actors Studio (studied with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler)
  • School of American Ballet

Biography and What Famous For:

Lesley Ann Warren began her extensive training in the performing arts at a young age, studying ballet and then acting at the renowned Actors Studio, where she was reportedly the youngest student ever accepted.

She made her Broadway debut in “110 in the Shade” in 1963, and her performance in “Drat! The Cat!” (1965) earned her a Theatre World Award for “Most Promising Newcomer” at age 17.

However, Lesley Ann Warren achieved widespread fame as a young star in television musicals. She is most famous for her starring role as the titular character in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s television musical production of “Cinderella” (1965), which captivated millions and became a classic. This led to her being signed by Disney, starring in films like “The Happiest Millionaire” (1967) and “The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band” (1968).

In the 1970s, Warren transitioned away from her ingenue image, taking on more mature and often gritty roles. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for her portrayal of Marja Fludjicki in the miniseries “Harold Robbins’ 79 Park Avenue” (1977).

Her film career in the 1980s saw her gain critical recognition for her versatility:

  • “Victor/Victoria” (1982): Her role as the dim-witted but endearing gangster’s moll, Norma Cassady, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe nomination. This comedic performance was a significant turning point.
  • “Choose Me” (1984): Her role as Eve earned her a People’s Choice Award.
  • “Clue” (1985): As the eccentric Miss Scarlett, she was part of the beloved ensemble cast of this cult classic comedy.
  • “Songwriter” (1984): Earning another Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Throughout her career, Warren has continued to work prolifically in film, television, and on stage. She has appeared in:

  • Television: “Mission: Impossible” (1970), “Desperate Housewives” (2004-2005) as Sophie Bremmer, “Will & Grace,” “In Plain Sight,” “Community,” “Psych,” “Daredevil” (2018), “The Cool Kids” (2019), and “9-1-1” (2025).
  • Film: “Pure Country” (1992), “Color of Night” (1994), “The Limey” (1999), “Secretary” (2002), and “Jobs” (2013).

Lesley Ann Warren is famous for:

  • Her iconic portrayal of Cinderella in the 1965 television musical.
  • Her Academy Award-nominated performance in “Victor/Victoria.”
  • Her ability to reinvent herself from a sweet, wholesome ingenue to a respected dramatic and comedic actress.
  • Her distinctively raspy voice and vibrant personality.

Have participated (Selected Filmography, Television, and Stage):

Broadway:

  • 110 in the Shade (1963)
  • Drat! The Cat! (1965) – (Theatre World Award)
  • Dream (1997)

Television (Actress):

  • Cinderella (1965) – Cinderella
  • The Happiest Millionaire (1967)
  • Mission: Impossible (1970) – Danna Lambert
  • Columbo: A Deadly State of Mind (1975) – Nadia Donner
  • Harold Robbins’ 79 Park Avenue (1977) – Marja Fludjicki / Marianne (Golden Globe Award)
  • Betrayal (1978) – Julie Roy
  • Portrait of a Stripper (1979) – Susie Hanson
  • Beulah Land (1980) – Sarah Pennington
  • Portrait of a Showgirl (1982) – Jillian Brooks
  • Baja Oklahoma (1988) – Juanita Hutchins (Golden Globe & Emmy nominations)
  • Family of Spies (1990) – Barbara Walker (Golden Globe & Emmy nominations)
  • Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story (1992)
  • Joseph (1995) – Potiphar’s wife
  • Touched by an Angel (1999) – Sophie
  • Will & Grace (2001) – Candace LaRue
  • Desperate Housewives (2004–2005) – Sophie Bremmer
  • In Plain Sight (2008) – Jinx Shannon
  • Community (2010) – Sophie B. Hawkins (cameo)
  • Psych (2011) – Leeann
  • Marvel’s Daredevil (2018) – Mrs. Eleanor Crain
  • The Cool Kids (2019) – Kathleen
  • 9-1-1 (2025) – Ann

Film:

  • The Happiest Millionaire (1967) – Cordy Biddle
  • The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) – Alice Bower
  • Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) – Gloria Fontaine
  • Race for the Yankee Zephyr (1981) – Sally
  • Victor/Victoria (1982) – Norma Cassady (Academy Award & Golden Globe nominations)
  • A Night in Heaven (1983) – Faye Hanlon
  • Songwriter (1984) – Gilda (Golden Globe nomination)
  • Choose Me (1984) – Eve (People’s Choice Award)
  • Clue (1985) – Miss Scarlett
  • Burglar (1987) – Dr. Cynthia Sheldrake
  • Cop (1988) – Kathleen McCarthy
  • Worth Winning (1989) – Eleanor Larimore
  • Life Stinks (1991) – Molly
  • Pure Country (1992) – Lula Rogers
  • Color of Night (1994) – Sondra Dorio
  • The Limey (1999) – Elaine
  • Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999) – Faye Watson
  • Trixie (2000) – Dawn Sloane / Dorothy Slotnick
  • Secretary (2002) – Joan Holloway
  • My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? (2009)
  • Jobs (2013) – Clara Jobs
  • The Grand Son (2018) – Susan
  • Echo Boomers (2020) – Debbie

Awards:

  • Theatre World Award (1966) – “Drat! The Cat!”
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1978) – “79 Park Avenue”
  • Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress (1983) – “Victor/Victoria”
  • Golden Globe Nominations for “Victor/Victoria,” “Songwriter,” “Baja Oklahoma,” and “Family of Spies.”
  • People’s Choice Award for “Choose Me”