Victoria Dillard facts for kids

Victoria Dillard (born September 20, 1969) is an American actress. She is also a strong supporter of research for Parkinson's disease. You might know her from her roles as Janelle Cooper in the TV show Spin City. She also appeared in the movie Coming to America and with Denzel Washington in Ricochet.

Life and Career Highlights

Victoria Dillard was born in New York City. She started performing at a very young age. When she was just five years old, she joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She danced with this famous company until she was eighteen.

During her time with the Dance Theatre, she performed in big shows. One of these was Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera. After that, she went on tour with the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She even performed alongside the famous actor Mickey Rooney.

Victoria Dillard became well-known for her TV roles. Her most famous role was Janelle Cooper in the ABC sitcom Spin City. She was on the show for four seasons, leaving in 2000. She also appeared in other popular TV shows. These include Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seinfeld, Law & Order, and Moesha.

She also had roles in several movies. She was in Coming to America (1988) and Ricochet (1991). She worked with LL Cool J in Out-of-Sync (1995). Her last film role was in 2001. She played Betty Shabazz in the movie Ali.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Victoria Dillard lives in New York City. In her free time, she enjoys dancing. She also likes to write screenplays and plays for the stage.

In 2005, when she was 38 years old, Victoria was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This is the same condition that affects her former Spin City co-star, Michael J. Fox. Since her diagnosis, Victoria Dillard has become a strong advocate. She works to support research and new treatments for Parkinson's disease.