Background
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, the daughter of a jazz musician, Kelly was raised in New York City"s Harlem where she attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, majoring in music
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, the daughter of a jazz musician, Kelly was raised in New York City"s Harlem where she attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, majoring in music
Graduating with an Master of Surgery degree, she performed as a soloist with major modern dance companies such as Martha Graham, Donald McKayle, and Alvin Ailey.
Kelly made her Broadway debut as Mistress Veloz in the 1964 musical Something More!, sharing the stage with Barbara Cook. Her other Broadway credits include The Dozens (1969), Paul Sills" Story Theatre (1971), Ovid"s Metamorphoses (1971), and Duke Ellington"s Sophisticated Ladies (1981) with Gregory Hines and Phyllis Hyman.
She continued her studies at the Juilliard School of Music majoring in dance under Martha Hill.
Kelly performed a dance solo at the Academy Awards for the nominated song "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Kelly"s film credits include the Bob Fosse-directed film Sweet Charity.
Soylent Green. The Spook Who Sat By The Door.
The Andromeda Strain. Uptown Saturday Night.
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling. Drop Squad; and When We Were Colored.
Kelly had a recurring role as Liz Williams on the first season of the sitcom Night Court, for which she received an Emmy nomination.
She was nominated for a second Emmy for her role in The Women of Brewster Place.