Amber Riley

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Amber Riley
Amber Riley by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Born Amber Patrice Riley
(1986-02-15) February 15, 1986 (age 38)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • author
Years active 2002–present

Amber Patrice Riley (born February 15, 1986) is an American actress, singer and author, best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee (2009–15). She is also known for winning season 17 of Dancing with the Stars.[1]

Early life

Riley was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Tiny (née Hightower) and Elwin Riley. She has two older sisters, Toyia and Ashley.[2] Riley auditioned for American Idol when she was 17 years old, during the show's second season, but was turned down by the producers.[3] She graduated from La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California in 2004.[4]

Career

Acting and singing

Riley at a Toys for Tots event in December 2009

In 2008, Riley was cast in the role of Mercedes Jones on the comedy-drama television series Glee, and appeared as a main cast member for its first four seasons. She was demoted to a recurring guest star status for the fifth season, but was reinstated as a series regular for the sixth and final season.[5] Riley performed numerous solos throughout the series' run, 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", "Ain't No Way", "Try a Little Tenderness", "Spotlight", "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and, three days after Whitney Houston's death, performed a tribute version of "I Will Always Love You". She also played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the episode "The Rocky Horror Glee Show", singing the lead on the song "Sweet Transvestite" to generally positive reviews from critics.[6][7] For her role as Mercedes Jones, Riley won a Screen Actors Guild Award and received nominations for an NAACP Image Award and a Teen Choice Award.

In 2015, it was reported that Riley would star in a Christmas television film, her first movie role, and her first acting role, since Glee.[8] In December 2015, she portrayed Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, in NBC's live performance of The Wiz.[9]

Riley appeared at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, sang the national anthem at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, and is currently working on a debut solo studio album.[10] She also co-wrote a track titled "Leave a Light On" for British group The Saturdays, which is featured on their album Living for the Weekend.[11] Riley's debut single, "Colorblind", premiered live on April 3, 2014, on The Queen Latifah Show. The song was written by Emeli Sandé, Claude Kelly and Steve Mac, and was released as a digital download on April 8, 2014.[12] The song was also performed by Riley on Glee.

Dancing with the Stars

In 2013, Riley won the seventeenth season of ABC's dancing competition Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with the show's one and only five-time champion, Derek Hough.[13] Riley and Hough tied the record for highest first-week score of 27, received 5 perfect scores of 30, and only received a score lower than 8 one time. Riley is the first African-American woman to win Dancing With the Stars."

Performances
Week # Dance/song Judges' score Result
Inaba Goodman Tonioli
1 Cha-Cha-Cha/"Wings" 9 9 9 No Elimination
2 Jive/"Reet Petite" 8 8 8 Safe
3 Charleston/"Bang Bang" 8 8 8 Safe
4 Tango/"Love Lockdown" 9 91 9 Safe
5 Foxtrot/"Try a Little Tenderness" 9 7 10 Safe
6 Samba/"Get It Right"
Switch-Up Challenge		 10
Awarded		 8
4		 10
Points		 No Elimination
7 Paso Doble/"Diablo Rojo"
Group Dance Freestyle/"The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)"		 10
10		 10
10		 9
10		 Safe
8 Rumba/"If I Could Turn Back Time" 9 92 10 Safe (Immunity)
9 Quickstep/"That's It!"
Salsa (Trio challenge)3/"Que Viva la Vida"		 8
9		 8
9		 8
9		 Safe
10
Semi-finals		 Jazz/"Locked Out of Heaven"
Viennese Waltz/"Locked Out of Heaven" (Acoustic Version)		 10
10		 10/94
10/104		 10
10		 Safe
11
Finals		 Charleston/"Bang Bang"
Samba relay/"No Scrubs"
Freestyle/"Can You Do This"		 10
Awarded
10		 10
4
10		 10
points
10		 Safe
Quickstep & Samba Fusion/"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" 10 10 10 Won
1In week four, judge Len Goodman was absent and guest judge Julianne Hough filled in for him.
2In week eight, judge Len Goodman was absent and guest judge Cher filled in for him.
3The dancer Hough and Riley chose for the Trio Challenge is Mark Ballas.
4Scores from guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Fashion

In January 2014, Riley and her sister Ashley launched a plus-size online clothing boutique, "Rileyland Fashions". She also models the garments.[14]

Philanthropy

In 2011, Riley acted as a campaign spokesperson for Do Something 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.[15] Riley has also teamed up with State Farm's Celebrate My Drive campaign to advocate safe awareness for Beginner Drivers, and Encouragement for youth.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2002 St. Sass Toby Unsold pilot
2009–15 Glee Mercedes Jones 93 episodes
2010 The Simpsons Aiesha Episode: "Elementary School Musical"
2011 Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Mercedes Jones Concert movie
2013 Dancing With the Stars Herself / Contestant Season 17 winner; performer on May 20, 2014
2015 My One Christmas Wish Jackie Turner Television film
2015 The Wiz Live! Addaperle Television special

Discography

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See also: Glee discography

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US
2014 "Colorblind" — TBA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Work Result
2010 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Female Scene Stealer Glee Nominated
Teen Choice Award for Choice Music: Group (shared with Glee cast) Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
2011 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Female Scene Stealer Nominated
2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated

References

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External links

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