Amber Riley Biography

Amber Riley is an American actress and singer known for her role in the series ‘Glee’. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Quick Facts

Birthday: February 15, 1986

Nationality: American

Famous: Actresses Pop Singers

Age: 33 Years, 33 Year Old Females

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Also Known As: Amber Patrice Riley, Mama A

Born in: Los Angeles, California

Famous as: Actress, Singer

Height: 1.6 m

Family:

father: Elwin Riley

mother: Tiny Riley

siblings: Toyia and Ashley

U.S. State: California

City: Los Angeles

More Facts

education: La Mirada High School

awards: 2010 · Glee - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2017 · Dreamgirls - WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Musical
2017 · Dreamgirls - Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical

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Identify These Singers

Amber Patrice Riley is an American actress and singer best recognized for playing Mercedes Jones in the comedy series ‘Glee’. She has also guest-starred in a handful of TV programs including 'The Simpsons' and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'. Winner of the 17th season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’, Riley has also acted on stage in the musicals 'Cotton Club Parade', 'Dreamgirls' and 'Hair'. As a singer, Riley is a member of the musical theatre supergroup “Leading Ladies” alongside Cassidy Janson and Beverley Knight. The group is known for releasing the album ‘Songs from the Stage’. Talking about Riley’s awards and accolades, she received the ‘Whatsonstage.com Award’ under the category ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ for ‘Dreamgirls.’ Her performance in the same fetched her the ‘Olivier Award’ for ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ as well. ‘Dreamgirls’ also earned her the ‘Evening Standard Award’ under the category Best Musical Performance.

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Amber Riley

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Career

In 2008, Amber Riley was cast as Mercedes Jones in the comedy-drama TV series ‘Glee’. She also sang numerous solos for the series including "Bust Your Windows", "Respect", "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", "I Look to You", "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and "Bridge over Troubled Water". Then in 2010, she appeared in an episode of ‘The Simpsons’. Two years later, she performed in the off-Broadway production of ‘Cotton Club Parade’.
Riley appeared as a contestant in the 17th season of the reality dance competition ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2013. After winning the show, she acted in the musical ‘Hair’ in 2014. The same year, she sang her debut song "Colorblind" live on The Queen Latifah Show. Soon after this, the American artiste played Jackie Turner in the television film ‘My One Christmas Wish’.
In 2016, she was cast as Effie White in the musical theatre production ‘Dreamgirls’. The same year, Riley appeared in an episode of ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’. After this, she appeared a guest judge on ‘Let It Shine’ in 2017. That year, Riley also formed the musical theatre supergroup named "Leading Ladies” along with Cassidy Janson and Beverley Knight and released their debut album ‘Songs from the Stage’. The American singer has also recorded several songs for Todrick Hall's album ‘Straight Outta Oz.’ She co-wrote the song "Leave a Light On" for the group The Saturdays as well.

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Personal Life

Amber Riley was born as Amber Patrice Riley on February 15, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA, to Tiny and Elwin Riley. She has two elder sisters named Toyia and Ashley. She attended La Mirada High School and graduated from there in 2004. Talking about Riley’s love and dating life, no information regarding this is available to the media.

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