Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, to Mae Alice Davis (née Logan) and Dan Davis. She was born on her grandmother's farm on the … See more

Early work and breakthrough on stage (1992–1999)
In 1992, Davis starred in her first professional stage … See more

In 2011, Davis donated funds to her hometown public library in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to assist in preventing its closure due to a lack of city funding. In 2018, Davis donated funds to her alma mater, Central Falls High School, for its theater program. See more

Davis married actor Julius Tennon in June 2003. In 2011, the couple adopted an infant daughter named Genesis. Davis is also a stepmother to Tennon's two children from previous relationships.
Davis is a Christian and regularly … See more

For her stage work, Davis has won two Tony Awards, three Drama Desk Awards, an Obie Award, and a Theater World Award. She holds the distinction of becoming the first actress of color … See more

• Davis, Viola (September 4, 2018). Corduroy Takes a Bow. New York: Viking Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780425291474.
• Davis, Viola (April 22, 2022). Finding Me: An Oprah's Book Club Pick. New York: HarperOne. ISBN See more

• List of Rhode Island College people
• List of Juilliard School people See more