Biography
Who is Victoria Rowell?
Early life and education
Victoria Rowell was born on May 10, 1959, in Portland, Maine. Shortly after her birth, she and her sisters were placed into the foster care system. She spent her formative years raised by Agatha C. And Robert Armstead.
During her youth, she began studying ballet. Her dance training eventually led her to perform with the American Ballet Theater II and the Juilliard School of Music Dance Extension. She also accepted guest-artist teaching posts in New England during her early career.
Rise to acting fame
She began her professional career working as a runway and catalog model in the 1980s. Her film acting debut occurred in the 1987 comedy Leonard Part 6. In 1990, she joined the cast of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Drucilla Winters. This role became her signature television performance, earning her multiple NAACP Image Award wins. She departed the show in 2007.
Simultaneously, she portrayed Dr. Amanda Bentley on the CBS crime drama Diagnosis: Murder between 1993 and 2001. During the 1990s, she also appeared in several feature films, including The Distinguished Gentleman alongside Eddie Murphy, the comedy Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carrey, and the action film Barb Wire. She also had roles in Eve's Bayou and Home of the Brave.
Directing and writing
In addition to acting, she transitioned into writing and directing. She published her memoir, The Women Who Raised Me, in 2008. She later wrote novels including Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva and The Young and the Ruthless.
Her work behind the camera expanded significantly with the comedy series The Rich and the Ruthless, which she created, directed, and starred in from 2017 to 2021. She also directed several projects, such as the 2022 films A Rich Christmas, Blackjack Christmas, and Stranger Next Door. In 2022, she returned to CBS for a role in the medical drama Good Sam. In 2024, she appeared in the feature film Summer Camp alongside Diane Keaton.
Legal and advocacy work
Victoria Rowell founded the Rowell Foster Children Positive Plan in 1990 to provide support for those in the foster system. Regarding her professional history, she filed a lawsuit in 2015 against CBS, Sony Pictures Television, and associated production companies.
She accused the network of racial discrimination and retaliation regarding her efforts to return to television roles. The lawsuit alleged she was denied work due to her vocal criticism of diversity practices. CBS and the other defendants denied these claims and stated they would vigorously defend the case. The legal dispute was settled in 2017. Later, in 2018, she accused former executive Les Moonves of hindering her career advancement following his resignation.
Personal life
Her first marriage was to Tom Fahey in 1989, with whom she had a daughter named Maya. Following their divorce, she had a long-term relationship with musician Wynton Marsalis, and they had a son named Jasper.
In 2009, she married Atlanta artist Radcliffe Bailey. The couple filed for divorce in 2014.
Birthday and age
Victoria Rowell was born on May 10, 1959, which makes Victoria 67 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Victoria shares the date with 38 other famous people.
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