Leilani Jones


Leilani Jones Wilmore is an American actress. Jones played the role of Chiffon for 5 years in the original cast of Little Shop of Horrors. Jones next went on to play the role of Satin in the original Broadway production of Grind for which she won a Tony as Best Featured Actress in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for her performance.
After Grind, she appeared in small roles on film and television and did voiceover work for video games, most notably Voodoo Lady in Monkey Island and the voice of the computer in Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?.

Early life

Jones was born in Oahu, Hawaii on 14 May 1957, the eldest of three children. Her father was an Air Force officer and her mother an English teacher. Jones attended a private prep school before attending the University of Hawaii.

Career

Jones originated the role of Chiffon at the WPA Theater in the original cast of Little Shop of Horrors. Marlene Danielle replaced her for a few weeks when the show opened Off Broadway at the Orpheum Theater. Jones resumed her role at that time and played the part for three more years. In total, she played the role for 5 years. Jones also recorded the role on the original cast recording.
Jones next went on to play the role of Satin, a stripper at a Chicago burlesque house, in the original Broadway production of Grind. Jones won a Tony as Best Featured Actress in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for her performance.
After leaving Grind, Jones married and she appeared only in small roles in a few movies and television shows and did voiceover work for video games, most notably portraying the voice performance of the Voodoo Lady in the popular video games series of Monkey Island, the voice of the computer in Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as serving as the narrator for the descriptive video service sections for various television shows and films.
In 2005, Jones reprised her role of Chiffon in New York at a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraiser.

Personal life

After leaving Grind, Jones married writer, actor and television producer Larry Wilmore. She and Wilmore divorced during his move to New York to become a host on Comedy Central. Jones currently lives in San Marino, California with her two children.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Discography