Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis
Biography
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.
Known For
Actor
as Minister Nazara Prone (voice)
as Gemini
as Grandma
as Donna
as Erika
as Jacqueline Burton
as Self - Guest
as Flo (voice)
as Patricia Cochran
as Narrator (voice)
as Patty (voice)
as Wheezelene (voice)
as Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
as Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
as Ms. Marjorie (voice)
as Dr. Pearl Edmunds
as Self - Contestant
as Margeline
as Bartender (voice)
as Self - Special Guest
as Self (archive footage)
as Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
as Mama Hasselback (voice)
as Ruby Johnson
as Flo (voice)
as Self
as Professor Granville (voice)
as Self
as Self - Panelist
as Self - Panelist
as Aunt Valerie
as Doris Jenkins
as Loretta
as Flo (voice)
as Ruby Johnson
as Catherine Moore
as Flo (voice)
as Gogo (voice)
as Loretta Hanover
as Self - Guest Judge
as Jenifer Lewis
as Maggie
as Flo (voice)
as Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
as Pearl
as Candace
as Olympia Savage (voice)
as Mama Odie (voice)
as Mary 'Mama' Clark
as Self - Guest
as Riffing Prop 8'er
as Vera
as Therapist
as C-Note's Mom
as Aunt Lettuce
as Flo (voice)
as Milay Jenay Lori
as Self
as Boss Willona (voice)
as Geraldine (voice)
as Lessie (voice)
as Motown Turtle (voice)
as Lady Em
as Nora
as Judge Isabel Fisher
as Vivian Baxter
as Aunt Ruby
as Louise Smith
as Judge Warner
as Becca Twig
as Detective Lancy
as Muh Penniman
as Lana Hawkins
as Lucille
as Jackie Washington
as Dr. Aron
as Self
as Bebe Ho (voice)
as Camille
as Mrs. Addison
as Mama Rose
as Margueritte Coleman
as Boss #1 - Lil
as Queenie
as Mrs. Curtis
as Denice Cooper
as Rita
as Judge Rosetta Reide
as Female Black Widow Spider (voice)
as Hazel (voice)
as Betty
as Amanda
as Jevina
as Mrs. Coleman
as Paula
as Queenie
as Amanda
as Vegas Backup Singer #1
as Cab Driver
as Mrs. Williams
as Annie
as Zelma Bullock
as Jomisha
as Michelle
as Taylor Chase
as Charlaine
as Aunt Helen
as Carolyn
as Diva
as Susan Clayton
as Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
as Self - Harlette
as Herself
Producer
as Producer
as Co-Producer
Crew
as Thanks
Sound
as Theme Song Performance
Creator
as Creator