Jenifer Lewis
Acting
🎂 1957-01-25
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.
Cast credits(138)
1996
Self - Guest
2009
Self - Guest
2022
Self - Guest Judge
2012
Lessie (voice)
2005
Wheezelene (voice)
2021
Queenie
1994
Paula
1994
Bartender (voice)
2020
Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
2021
Ms. Marjorie (voice)
2021
Judge Isabel Fisher
2004
Queenie
1996
1993
1995
Georgia Rodman
1992
Josie
1996
Olympia Savage (voice)
2010
Vivian
2003
2000
Self - Special Guest
2020
Lana Hawkins
2000
Susan Clayton
1987
Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
1987
Erika
2023
Jacqueline Burton
2022
Mama Hasselback (voice)
2019
Boss Willona (voice)
2005
Geraldine (voice)
2005
Professor Granville (voice)
2017
1996
Patty (voice)
2021
Ruby Johnson
2018
1999
Aunt Helen
1990
Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
2021
Female Black Widow Spider (voice)
1995
Hazel (voice)
1995
1990
1993
Grandma
2023
1994
Self - Contestant
2021
Self - Panelist
2016
Flo (voice)
2022
Self
2016
Mother Nature (voice)
2024
Donna
2023
Amanda
1994
Self - Panelist
2016
Ruby Johnson
2014
Dr. Pearl Edmunds
2021
Bebe Ho (voice)
1999
Self
1997
2006
2000
2006
1999
Mama Rose
1998
Flo (voice)
2011
Flo (voice)
2017
Patricia Cochran
2022
Flo (voice)
2006
Carolyn
1990
Mama Odie (voice)
2009
Charlaine
1991
Pearl
2011
Becca Twig
2000
Nazara (voice)
2024
Motown Turtle (voice)
2004
Michelle
1992
Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
2019
Dr. Aron
1999
Vegas Backup Singer #1
1993
Doris Jenkins
2015
Jenifer Lewis
2012
Mrs. Curtis
1995
Diva
1988
Judge Rosetta Reide
1995
Loretta Hanover
2012
Gemini
2024
Gogo (voice)
2012
Loretta
2014
Annie
1993
Candace
2010
Milay Jenay Lori
2006
Zelma Bullock
1993
Margeline
2020
Lucille
1999
Catherine Moore
2013
Jevina
1994
Cab Driver
1993
Margueritte Coleman
1996
Mrs. Coleman
1994
Lady Em
2004
Mrs. Williams
1993
Mrs. Addison
1998
Mary 'Mama' Clark
2009
Vera
2008
Flo (voice)
2014
C-Note's Mom
2007
Florence Everson (voice)
2026
Louise Smith
2001
Self
2024
Boss #1 - Lil
1996
Flo (voice)
2013
Aunt Ruby
2002
Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
2011
Rita
1995
Self
2005
Self
1999
Jackie Washington
1999
Denice Cooper
1995
Maggie
2011
Amanda
1994
Riffing Prop 8'er
2008
Detective Lancy
2000
Betty
1994
2018
Therapist
2007
Jomisha
1992
Aunt Lettuce
2006
Camille
1998
Judge Warner
2001
Nora
2004
Self
2022
Self (archive footage)
2019
Self - Harlette
1984
Taylor Chase
1991
Muh Penniman
2000
Self
2017
2021
Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
1987
Aunt Valerie
2015
Ms. Hopkins
2025
Narrator (voice)
2021
Herself
1983
2006
