# Angela Robinson (actress)

Angela Robinson is an American actress and singer. Best known for playing the role of Veronica Harrington in the OWN primetime soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots, winning the Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actress. During her career she acted on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, working under the direction of Sheldon Epps, Tina Landau, Kathleen Marshall, Gary Griffin.
Notable Robinson stage roles were as Shug Avery on The Color Purple's U.S. National Tour and as Deena Jones on Dreamgirls' U.S. National Tour.

## Life and career

Robinson was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. While in college, she won the crown of Miss Florida A&M University.
She moved to New York City in 1992 and began acting career on the stages. In 1995 she appeared on Dreamgirls as Deena Jones at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. In 1997 she was cast in the original Broadway production of Play On! directed by Sheldon Epps. Between 1998 and 1999 Robinson was cast in The Wizard of Oz U.S. National Tour acting with Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt. During the same years, she performed at TheatreFest at Montclair State University with Ruth Brown and Carol Woods.
In 2001 Robinson starred as Gwynne on Bells Are Ringing Broadway revival, with the direction of Tina Landau and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun. The same year she also made her film acting debout on Another Bed. In 2002 she performed in Golden Boy at the New York City Center's musical concert series Encores!. Between 2003 and 2004 she starred as member of the cast on The Public Theater's Off-Broadway production of Radiant Baby, on Ain't Misbehavin' at the Paper Mill Playhouse, and on Kathleen Marshall's Wonderful Town Broadway revival. In 2024 Robinson reprised her role of Deena Jones on Dreamgirls's U.S. National Tour, starring with Frenchie Davis.
In 2005 she appeared on television in the episode "Contagious" of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Between 2005 and 2008 Robinson was selected as cast member of Gary Griffin's The Color Purple original production at the Broadway Theatre. She continued to be a cast member on the first U.S. National Tour, in which she also served as understudy actress for the role of Shug Avery, played by former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams. During the final part of the tour Robinson played as Shug Avery, acting with Fantasia Barrino, Felicia P. Fields and LaToya London.
From May 2013 to July 2021, Robinson starred as Veronica Harrington, with albeit a high-end and classy presentation, a no-holds-barred prominent villainess on the Oprah Winfrey Network primetime soap opera, The Haves and the Have Nots, produced by Tyler Perry. For her performance on The Haves and the Have Nots, Robinson received a Gracie Award for "Outstanding Female Actor - One to Watch," in 2015.
In 2021, Robinson starred as Billie Holiday in the North Carolina Theatre production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. In 2024 she acted on Tyler Perry's Netflix film Mea Culpa alongside Kelly Rowland and Trevante Rhodes, and return to television with the miniseries Lady in the Lake for Apple TV+.

## Personal life

In 1996, Robinson married stage actor Scott Whitehurst. In June 2018, they adopted a son named Robinson Scott.

## Acting credits
### Film and television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Another Bed | Alma | Short film |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mrs. Wheeler | Episode: "Contagious" |
| 2013—2021 | The Haves and the Have Nots | Veronica Harrington | Series regular Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor- One to Watch (2015) |
| 2024 | Mea Culpa | Renee | |
| 2024 | Lady in the Lake | Myrtle Summer | Miniseries |

### Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
| 1995 | Dreamgirls | Deena Jones | Paper Mill Playhouse | |
| 1997 | Play On! | Lady Liv; Miss Mary; Vy | Brooks Atkinson Theatre | Original Broadway Production |
| 1998—1999 | The Wizard of Oz | Apple Tree Voice; Ensemble | U.S. National Tour | |
| 2000 | Lucky Duck | Serena | Mountain View Center | |
| 2001 | Bells Are Ringing | Gwynne | Plymouth Theatre | Broadway revival |
| 2002 | Golden Boy | Ensemble | Encores! | |
| 2003 | Radiant Baby | Ensemble | The Public Theater | Original Off-Broadway Production |
| 2003 | Ain't Misbehavin' | Ensemble | Paper Mill Playhouse | |
| 2004 | Wonderful Town | Ensemble | Al Hirschfeld Theatre | Broadway revival |
| 2004 | Bye Bye Birdie | Ensemble | Encores! | |
| 2004 | Dreamgirls | Deena Jones | U.S. National Tour | |
| 2009—2010 | The Color Purple | Shug Avery | U.S. National Tour | |
| 2021 | Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill | Billie Holiday | North Carolina Theatre | |