Amber Riley
Encyclopedia
Amber Patrice Riley is an American actress and singer best known for her role on the series Glee
as Mercedes Jones
.
when she was 17 years old, during the show's second season
, but was turned down by the producers. Amber graduated from La Mirada High School
in La Mirada, California
in 2004.
In 2006, Riley auditioned for the part of Effie White in Dreamgirls
, yet was refused because of her age.
Riley appeared at the 2010 MTV VMAs on September 12, 2010.
on the hit 'dramedy' Glee
. She has sung numerous solos, including "Respect
", "Bust Your Windows
", "Hate on Me
", "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
", "Beautiful
", "Bridge over Troubled Water
", "I Look to You
", "Hell to the No", "Ain't No Way
", "Try a little Tenderness
" & "Spotlight
". Her character gets through her schooldays with her 'diva-style', stylish clothes, and her friendship with the only openly gay boy in school, Kurt Hummel
(Chris Colfer
). In 2011, Riley received an NAACP Image Award
nomination for her portrayal of Mercedes; she has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her acting on Glee, along with the show's ensemble, and has also been nominated for a Teen Choice Award for her acting on the show. Her mother was a member of the choir with whom Mercedes dances in the song "Like a Prayer
" during the 15th episode of the first season
. Riley is also making a solo album. Her vocal range is Light Lyric Soprano.
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
as Mercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones is a fictional character from the Fox popular musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Amber Riley, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Mercedes was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and...
.
Early life and career
Riley was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Tiny (née Hightower) and Elwin Riley. Riley auditioned for American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
when she was 17 years old, during the show's second season
American Idol (Season 2)
The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003 and continued until May 21, 2003. The title of show was shortened from American Idol: The Search for a Superstar of Season 1 to just American Idol. Brian Dunkleman quit after the first season, and Seacrest therefore became the lone...
, but was turned down by the producers. Amber graduated from La Mirada High School
La Mirada High School
La Mirada High School is a high school in La Mirada, California. It is a member school of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. Built in 1960 as one of three high schools in the district...
in La Mirada, California
La Mirada, California
La Mirada is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of the Gateway Cities. The population was 48,527 at the 2010 census, up from 46,783 at the 2000 census....
in 2004.
In 2006, Riley auditioned for the part of Effie White in Dreamgirls
Dreamgirls (film)
Dreamgirls is a 2006 musical drama film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures. The film debuted in three special road show engagements beginning December 15, 2006 before its nationwide release on December 25, 2006...
, yet was refused because of her age.
Riley appeared at the 2010 MTV VMAs on September 12, 2010.
Glee and solo album
As of May 2009, Riley plays the role of Mercedes JonesMercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones is a fictional character from the Fox popular musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Amber Riley, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Mercedes was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and...
on the hit 'dramedy' Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
. She has sung numerous solos, including "Respect
Respect (song)
"Respect" is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. "Respect" became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. The music in the two versions is significantly different, and through a few minor changes in the lyrics, the stories told...
", "Bust Your Windows
Bust Your Windows
"Bust Your Windows" is the second single by R&B singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan from her debut Grammy-nominated album Fearless. It was available as a digital download on Amazon.com in the U.S. on the September 16, 2008...
", "Hate on Me
The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3
The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 is the third studio album by American recording artist Jill Scott. It was released in the United States on September 25, 2007 by Hidden Beach Recordings to positive reviews from music critics. On certain editions of the album, recordings of live performances...
", "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" is a torch song from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, with lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger...
", "Beautiful
Beautiful (Christina Aguilera song)
"Beautiful" is a song written by Linda Perry and recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for Aguilera's fourth studio album, Stripped...
", "Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge over Troubled Water (song)
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel's album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, though it also appears on the live album Live 1969, released in 2008. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at...
", "I Look to You
I Look to You
I Look to You is the seventh studio album by American R&B-pop singer Whitney Houston. It was first released on August 28, 2009 through Sony Music in Europe, then August 31, 2009 with Arista Records in the United States before being released by RCA Records in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2009...
", "Hell to the No", "Ain't No Way
Ain't No Way
"Ain't No Way" is a song written by singer-songwriter Carolyn Franklin and sung by her elder sister Aretha Franklin as the b-side to her 1968 hit, " Since You've Been Gone."-History:...
", "Try a little Tenderness
Try a Little Tenderness
"Try a Little Tenderness" is a love song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly and Harry M. Woods, and recorded initially on December 8, 1932 by the Ray Noble Orchestra followed by both Ruth Etting and Bing Crosby in 1933...
" & "Spotlight
Spotlight
Spotlight may refer to:-Lighting:* Searchlight* Any of several types of stage lighting instruments** Followspot, a light used in theatre- Music :* "Spotlight" , 2005* "Spotlight" , 2009...
". Her character gets through her schooldays with her 'diva-style', stylish clothes, and her friendship with the only openly gay boy in school, Kurt Hummel
Kurt Hummel
Kurt Hummel is a fictional character and one of the male leads in the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. Series creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan initially conceived of him as a fashionable gay countertenor who is routinely bullied at school...
(Chris Colfer
Chris Colfer
Christopher Paul "Chris" Colfer is an American actor and singer known for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the television series Glee, for which he won a 2011 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and was also nominated twice for an Emmy...
). In 2011, Riley received an NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
nomination for her portrayal of Mercedes; she has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her acting on Glee, along with the show's ensemble, and has also been nominated for a Teen Choice Award for her acting on the show. Her mother was a member of the choir with whom Mercedes dances in the song "Like a Prayer
Like a Prayer (song)
"Like a Prayer" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna on her fourth studio album of the same name . It was released on March 21, 1989, by Sire Records as the album's lead single...
" during the 15th episode of the first season
The Power of Madonna
"The Power of Madonna" is the 15th episode of the American television series Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on April 20, 2010...
. Riley is also making a solo album. Her vocal range is Light Lyric Soprano.
Philanthropy
In 2011, Riley acted as a campaign spokesperson for http://www.Dosomething.org and VH1 Save The Music Foundation's second annual "Battle for the Bands." Riley starred in a PSA campaign and engaged fans through social media to participate in the campaign that mobilized young people in the fight for keeping music education in schools.Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | St. Sass | Toby | Television film |
| 2009–present | Glee Glee (TV series) Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues... |
Mercedes Jones Mercedes Jones Mercedes Jones is a fictional character from the Fox popular musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Amber Riley, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Mercedes was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and... |
Series regular Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:-Stats:*Most Wins**Terri J. Vaughn & Camille Winbush- 3 wins*Most Nominations**1. Sheryl Lee Ralph, Wendy Raquel Robinson- 5 nominations, 0 wins... Nominated — Teen Choice Award Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... for Choice TV: Female Scene Stealer (2010) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Music: Group (2010) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Female Scene Stealer (2011) |
| 2010 | Aiesha | Episode: "Elementary School Musical Elementary School Musical (The Simpsons) "Elementary School Musical" is the season premiere of The Simpsons twenty-second season. It aired on the Fox Network in the United States on September 26, 2010... " |
|
| 2011 | Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Glee: The 3D Concert Movie is a 2011 American 3-D concert film directed by Kevin Tancharoen. It is based on the Fox television series Glee and features the cast performing during the Glee Live! In Concert! tour.-Synopsis:... |
Mercedes Jones Mercedes Jones Mercedes Jones is a fictional character from the Fox popular musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Amber Riley, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Mercedes was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and... |