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Amber Patrice Riley (born February 15, 1986) sometimes known mononymously as RILEY (stylized in all caps), is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee (2009–2015).
Apr 8, 2024 · By Mekishana Pierre. Published: 10:57 AM PDT, April 8, 2024. The CMT Performance of the Year nominee spoke with ET on the red carpet of the 2024 CMT Music Awards on Sunday.
- Mekishana Pierre
Single Black Female (2022) 3 Videos. 99+ Photos. Amber Riley was born on 15 February 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Glee (2009), The Wiz Live! (2015) and Glee: Director's Cut Pilot Episode (2009). More at IMDbPro.
- January 1, 1
- 1.57 m
- Los Angeles, California, USA
Apr 8, 2024 · How Amber Riley Feels About Glee Family 15 Years Later. At the 2024 CMT Music Awards April 7, Amber Riley shared her feelings with E! News about being part of Glee 15 years after its...
- 2 min
- Brahmjot Kaur
- Overview
- Personal Life
- Career
- Links and Social Networks
- Trivia
Amber Patrice Riley, born February 15, 1986, is an American actress, dancer, and singer. She is known for her role as Mercedes Jones on Glee.
Riley was born to Elwin Riley and Tiny Hightower in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in La Mirada, California and has two older sisters, Toyia and Ashley. She graduated from La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California in 2004.
Film and Television
Riley auditioned for American Idol at age seventeen but didn't make it past producers. She auditioned for the role as Effie White in the 2006 movie musical Dreamgirls however Jennifer Hudson was chosen instead. Riley was casted as Mercedes Jones in 2008 and has had a main role on Glee from 2009 - 2012. Her role from then on was reduced to a guest role. Riley was announced, in August 2015, to have joined NBC's upcoming live-action remake of The Wiz, titled "The Wiz Live". It aired on December 3rd and she portrayed Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North. Riley appeared in UP's television movie musical My One Christmas Wish as Jackie Turner, which is based off a true story of Turner. In 2017, Riley appeared as a judge on BBC One musical theatre talent show Let It Shine. Riley began filming for Tyler Perry's film Nobody's Fool on April 4, 2018. Filming lasted through April 20, 2018. Riley has wanted to work with Perry for sometime. During an interview with AOL Build, Riley stated: "It was amazing. I actually put Tyler in the bullseye of my dream book. I do a dream book at the end of the year and he was in the bullseye on the page. I really wanted to work with him. And I got the audition in January and then I booked it, and was like 'Wow that was fast God, thanks!' ... I had to bring my A Game and I had so much fun. Everyone was just inviting ... It was a dream come true. I hit the bullseye." The film went on to earn $33.5 million at the box office.
Stage
In 2012 Riley made an impressive New York stage debut, in an off-Broadway production of Cotton Club Parade. On August 1st, 2014 Riley starred in ‘Hair the Musical’ alongside friend and Glee co-star Jenna Ushkowitz. The Adam Shankman directed production was shown at the Hollywood Bowl. On February 5, 2016 it was announced that Riley would star as Effie White in the West End production of Dreamgirls musical at the Savoy Theatre. Riley went on to win the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her turn as Effie. Her run with the production lasted from December 2016 to November 18th 2017. On Feburary 24, 2018 Amber performed 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You)' with American singer and stage actress Shoshana Bean at Bean's concert, 'For The Record Presents Shoshana Bean' at Spectrum Live in Los Angeles. She had an amazing time saying Bean "melted my face with her vocals!" On June 14, 2018 Amber sang at the 2018 National Geographic Awards at GWU Lisner Auditorium on June 14, 2018 in Washington, DC.
Music
Riley's debut single was titled "Colorblind". It was premiered live on April 3, 2014, on The Queen Latifah Show. The song was written by Emeli Sandé, Claude Kelly and Steve Mac. The song was later performed by Riley on Glee on an episode titled Bash (Season Five, Episode Fifteen).
•She auditioned for American Idol when she was 18, but she was rejected.
•The first song she sang in front of an audience was "Just a Prayer Away" by Yolanda Adams.
•She's best known for being the "prankster" of the Glee Cast.
•She's obsessed with shoes.
•She loves fish and had one for 3 years.
•She loves pizza.
Mar 7, 2024 · Amber Riley is thankful for her time on Glee . While speaking exclusively to PEOPLE during Wednesday's Billboard Women in Music Awards in Inglewood, California, the actress — who played...
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Feb 1, 2021 · POPSUGAR sat down with Amber Riley to discuss her latest EP, RILEY, playing Mercedes Jones on Glee, and being a Black artist during turbulent times.
