Ren Woods

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, for her performance of "Aquarius" in the film version of Hair (1979) and as Edie in the 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), and the "Aquarius" soloist in 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, and as The Moon in a Los Angeles production of Caroline, or Change.

Early life

Woods was born in Chicago, Illinois, one of six children, and was raised in Portland, Oregon by her divorced mother, who was a nurse. Woods described her mother as a "politically conscious and very unusual woman." Woods and her siblings attended private Catholic schools in Portland. At age eight, Woods began singing in a trio with two friends in her neighborhood, performing as the Three Little Souls.

She added an extra "n" to her first name to lessen confusion with a company that used the domain name Renwoods.

Career beginnings

Renn began singing at the age of six. 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. 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 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 in 1977, a role for which she won a People's Choice Award. She also sang the opening song, "Aquarius", in Miloš Forman’s movie musical version of Hair (1979).

In 1984, Woods acted in John Sayles's science-fiction comedy film The Brother from Another Planet. She, Darryl Edwards, Steve James, and Bill Cobbs play barflies. Reviewer Deborah Jerome of The Record said that they brought good performances to the film.

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 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.

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).

She also appeared in the musical Caroline, or Change as The Moon at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Discography:

Albums:

(1979) Out Of The Woods

(1982) Azz Izz

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"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renn_Woods

https://www.discogs.com/artist/331851-Ren-Woods