Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis
Born 25/01/1957 in Kinloch, Missouri, USA

Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an American film and television actress and singer.

Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an American film and television actress and singer.

She is one of Hollywood's most familiar faces, with more than 300 appearances in film and television and was dubbed a "national treasure" by TV Guide.com. She began her career appearing in Broadway musicals and worked as a back-up singer for Bette Midler before appearing in the films Beaches and Sister Act.

She delivered legendary performances as Tina Turner's mother in What's Love Got to Do With It and in The Preacher's Wife as the mother of Whitney Houston's character.

She starred opposite Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood's Hereafter. For director Tyler Perry, she created unforgettable characters in Madea's Family Reunion and Meet the Browns. In the movie Cast Away, she portrayed Tom Hanks' boss. In animated films, Jenifer's uniquely recognizable voice is adored by Disney fans worldwide in roles such as "Flo" in Cars and Cars 2, and as "Mama Odie" in The Princess and the Frog.

For six seasons, Jenifer portrayed "Lana Hawkins" on Lifetime's hit series Strong Medicine. She starred on the hit show Black-ish (ABC), where her hilarious portrayal of "Ruby Johnson" earned her a nomination for the 2016 Critics Choice Award.

She has also written two books: The Mother of Black Hollywood and Walking in My Joy: In These Streets.

External links

Filmography (Movies)

GOAT

GOAT

Character:Florence Everson (voice)

Release Date:11/02/2026

Ado

Ado

Character:Ms. Hopkins

Release Date:22/08/2025

Spellbound

Spellbound

Character:Nazara (voice)

Release Date:22/11/2024

The Greatest Love Story Never Told

The Greatest Love Story Never Told

Character:Self

Release Date:26/02/2024

This Is Me…Now

This Is Me…Now

Character:Gemini

Release Date:15/02/2024

black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special

black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special

Character:Self

Release Date:19/04/2022

All Boys Aren't Blue

All Boys Aren't Blue

Character:

Release Date:13/08/2021

Finding Kendrick Johnson

Finding Kendrick Johnson

Character:Narrator (voice)

Release Date:30/07/2021

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

Character:Margeline

Release Date:22/11/2020

Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back

Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back

Character:Self (archive footage)

Release Date:10/11/2019

The Addams Family

The Addams Family

Character:Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)

Release Date:10/10/2019

Forbidden

Forbidden

Character:

Release Date:15/03/2018

Cars 3

Cars 3

Character:Flo (voice)

Release Date:15/06/2017

Jewel's Catch One

Jewel's Catch One

Character:Self

Release Date:07/01/2017

Secrets of the Magic City

Secrets of the Magic City

Character:Aunt Valerie

Release Date:26/06/2015

The Wedding Ringer

The Wedding Ringer

Character:Doris Jenkins

Release Date:16/01/2015

Think Like a Man Too

Think Like a Man Too

Character:Loretta

Release Date:20/06/2014

The Radiator Springs 500½

The Radiator Springs 500½

Character:Flo (voice)

Release Date:20/05/2014

Baggage Claim

Baggage Claim

Character:Catherine Moore

Release Date:27/09/2013

Hiccups

Hiccups

Character:Flo (voice)

Release Date:22/03/2013

Zambezia

Zambezia

Character:Gogo (voice)

Release Date:05/06/2012

Think Like a Man

Think Like a Man

Character:Loretta Hanover

Release Date:20/04/2012

Five

Five

Character:Maggie

Release Date:10/10/2011

Cars 2

Cars 2

Character:Flo (voice)

Release Date:11/06/2011

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren

Character:Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)

Release Date:06/04/2011

Hereafter

Hereafter

Character:Candace

Release Date:22/10/2010

The Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog

Character:Mama Odie (voice)

Release Date:08/12/2009

Not Easily Broken

Not Easily Broken

Character:Mary 'Mama' Clark

Release Date:09/01/2009

Prop 8: The Musical

Prop 8: The Musical

Character:Riffing Prop 8'er

Release Date:03/12/2008

Meet the Browns

Meet the Browns

Character:Vera

Release Date:21/03/2008

Redrum

Redrum

Character:Therapist

Release Date:30/10/2007

Who's Your Caddy?

Who's Your Caddy?

Character:C-Note's Mom

Release Date:27/07/2007

Geared-Up

Geared-Up

Character:

Release Date:07/11/2006

Dirty Laundry

Dirty Laundry

Character:Aunt Lettuce

Release Date:15/07/2006

Cars

Cars

Character:Flo (voice)

Release Date:08/06/2006

Madea's Family Reunion

Madea's Family Reunion

Character:Milay Jenay Lori

Release Date:24/02/2006

Earth to America

Earth to America

Character:Self

Release Date:20/11/2005

Shark Tale

Shark Tale

Character:Motown Turtle (voice)

Release Date:20/09/2004

The Cookout

The Cookout

Character:Lady Em

Release Date:03/09/2004

Nora's Hair Salon

Nora's Hair Salon

Character:Nora

Release Date:25/05/2004

Antwone Fisher

Antwone Fisher

Character:Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)

Release Date:19/12/2002

Juwanna Mann

Juwanna Mann

Character:Aunt Ruby

Release Date:21/06/2002

The Brothers

The Brothers

Character:Louise Smith

Release Date:23/03/2001

Dancing in September

Dancing in September

Character:Judge Warner

Release Date:03/02/2001

Cast Away

Cast Away

Character:Becca Twig

Release Date:22/12/2000

Partners

Partners

Character:Detective Lancy

Release Date:20/07/2000

Little Richard

Little Richard

Character:Muh Penniman

Release Date:20/02/2000

Mystery Men

Mystery Men

Character:Lucille

Release Date:06/08/1999

Jackie's Back!

Jackie's Back!

Character:Jackie Washington

Release Date:14/06/1999

Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past

Character:Dr. Aron

Release Date:12/02/1999

Get Bruce!

Get Bruce!

Character:Self

Release Date:01/01/1999

An Unexpected Life

An Unexpected Life

Character:Camille

Release Date:24/06/1998

The Mighty

The Mighty

Character:Mrs. Addison

Release Date:01/06/1998

Rituals

Rituals

Character:Carmen

Release Date:01/01/1998

The Preacher's Wife

The Preacher's Wife

Character:Margueritte Coleman

Release Date:13/12/1996

Girl 6

Girl 6

Character:Boss #1 - Lil

Release Date:22/03/1996

Dead Presidents

Dead Presidents

Character:Mrs. Curtis

Release Date:29/09/1995

Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan

Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan

Character:Denice Cooper

Release Date:08/05/1995

Panther

Panther

Character:Rita

Release Date:03/05/1995

Deconstructing Sarah

Deconstructing Sarah

Character:Betty

Release Date:16/12/1994

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

Character:Amanda

Release Date:26/08/1994

Corrina, Corrina

Corrina, Corrina

Character:Jevina

Release Date:12/08/1994

Renaissance Man

Renaissance Man

Character:Mrs. Coleman

Release Date:03/06/1994

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Character:Vegas Backup Singer #1

Release Date:09/12/1993

Undercover Blues

Undercover Blues

Character:Cab Driver

Release Date:10/09/1993

The Meteor Man

The Meteor Man

Character:Mrs. Williams

Release Date:06/08/1993

Poetic Justice

Poetic Justice

Character:Annie

Release Date:23/07/1993

What's Love Got to Do with It

What's Love Got to Do with It

Character:Zelma Bullock

Release Date:09/06/1993

Frozen Assets

Frozen Assets

Character:Jomisha

Release Date:23/10/1992

Sister Act

Sister Act

Character:Michelle

Release Date:28/05/1992

Sunday in Paris

Sunday in Paris

Character:Taylor Chase

Release Date:07/07/1991

Beaches

Beaches

Character:Diva

Release Date:21/12/1988

A Different World

A Different World

Character:Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport

Release Date:24/09/1987

Bette Midler: Art or Bust

Bette Midler: Art or Bust

Character:Self - Harlette

Release Date:18/08/1984

Bette Midler: No Frills

Bette Midler: No Frills

Character:Herself

Release Date:23/08/1983

Television Appearances

Haunted Hotel

Haunted Hotel

Character:Additional Voices (voice)

The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish

The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish

Character:Mother Nature (voice)

History of the World: Part II

History of the World: Part II

Character:Grandma

Not Dead Yet

Not Dead Yet

Character:Donna

Night Court

Night Court

Character:Erika

So Help Me Todd

So Help Me Todd

Character:Jacqueline Burton

Sherri

Sherri

Character:Self - Guest

Cars on the Road

Cars on the Road

Character:Flo (voice)

I Love That for You

I Love That for You

Character:Patricia Cochran

And Just Like That…

And Just Like That…

Character:Lucille Highwater

The Ghost and Molly McGee

The Ghost and Molly McGee

Character:Patty (voice)

Mickey Mouse Funhouse

Mickey Mouse Funhouse

Character:Wheezelene (voice)

Monsters at Work

Monsters at Work

Character:Grandma Tuskmon (voice)

Rugrats

Rugrats

Character:Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)

Rugrats

Rugrats

Character:Ms. Marjorie (voice)

The Upshaws

The Upshaws

Character:Dr. Pearl Edmunds

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

Character:Self - Contestant

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Character:Bartender (voice)

Stars in the House

Stars in the House

Character:Self - Special Guest

Amphibia

Amphibia

Character:Mama Hasselback (voice)

grown-ish

grown-ish

Character:Ruby Johnson

Big Hero 6 The Series

Big Hero 6 The Series

Character:Professor Granville (voice)

The $100,000 Pyramid

The $100,000 Pyramid

Character:Self

Match Game

Match Game

Character:Self - Panelist

To Tell the Truth

To Tell the Truth

Character:Self - Panelist

black-ish

black-ish

Character:Ruby Johnson

Teen Titans Go!

Teen Titans Go!

Character:Microwavabelle (voice)

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

Character:Self - Guest Judge

Jenifer Lewis and Shangela

Jenifer Lewis and Shangela

Character:Jenifer Lewis

The Playboy Club

The Playboy Club

Character:Pearl

Young Justice

Young Justice

Character:Olympia Savage (voice)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Character:Self - Guest

Day Break

Day Break

Character:Elizabeth Hopper

Shark

Shark

Character:Ellie Broussard

The Boondocks

The Boondocks

Character:Boss Willona (voice)

The Boondocks

The Boondocks

Character:Geraldine (voice)

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars

Character:Self - Musical Guest

American Dad!

American Dad!

Character:Lessie (voice)

Boston Legal

Boston Legal

Character:Judge Isabel Fisher

That's So Raven

That's So Raven

Character:Vivian

Bette

Bette

Character:

Girlfriends

Girlfriends

Character:Veretta Childs

Strong Medicine

Strong Medicine

Character:Lana Hawkins

Time of Your Life

Time of Your Life

Character:

Grown Ups

Grown Ups

Character:

The PJs

The PJs

Character:Bebe Ho (voice)

The Temptations

The Temptations

Character:Mama Rose

The Chris Rock Show

The Chris Rock Show

Character:Self

Promised Land

Promised Land

Character:Queenie

The Jamie Foxx Show

The Jamie Foxx Show

Character:Josie

The Daily Show

The Daily Show

Character:

Moesha

Moesha

Character:Mrs. Biggs

Courthouse

Courthouse

Character:Judge Rosetta Reide

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Character:Female Black Widow Spider (voice)

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Character:Hazel (voice)

The Parent 'Hood

The Parent 'Hood

Character:

Friends

Friends

Character:Paula

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

Character:Queenie

New York Undercover

New York Undercover

Character:

Rebel Highway

Rebel Highway

Character:Amanda

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Character:Mystique

Living Single

Living Single

Character:

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Character:Georgia Rodman

Roc

Roc

Character:Charlaine

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Character:Aunt Helen

Dream On

Dream On

Character:Carolyn

In Living Color

In Living Color

Character:

A Different World

A Different World

Character:Susan Clayton

A Different World

A Different World

Character:Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport

Images

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