Renn Woods

Renn Woods, also known as Ren Woods (born 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, and also for her role as "Aquarius" in the film version of Hair and The Moon in "Caroline, Or Change.”

Music career

Renn began singing at the age of six. By age 10, she and two girlfriends had taken the show business world by storm. Calling their trio, Sunday’s Child, the young teens were adored by such legendary celebrities as George Carlin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Johnny Carson. The trio toured the world, performing the very last tour of duty with Bob Hope in Vietnam.

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. Azz Izz was well received. The second album featured a new composition by Prince titled "I Don't Wanna Stop." Woods released a third album featuring jazz standards, Crazy, in 2015.

Renn is currently recording her first American Songbook CD.

Acting

Television roles

Woods achieved fame as "Fanta" in Roots in 1977, a role for which she won a People's Choice Award. She appeared in other American television series, including What's Happening!!, Lou Grant, Hill Street Blues, The White Shadow, The Jeffersons, Roc, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Beauty and the Beast and NYPD Blue. She starred as Edie in the Golden Globe-winning 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.

In 2016, she appeared in the TruInside tv documentary The Jerk, about the film she had co-starred in with Steve Martin, exploring what makes the comedy a classic.

Theater

Renn's interpretation of “Aquarius” in Milos Foreman’s movie musical "Hair" was a career-defining moment, as was her role as Dorothy in the first national Broadway tour of "The Wiz." She 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).

She also appeared in the Tony Award-nominated production of "Caroline, Or Change" (the role of "The Moon") at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Personal life

Woods was born in Portland, Oregon. She added an extra "n" to her first name to lessen confusion with a company that used the domain name Renwoods.