profile image

Jenifer Lewis

Jan 25, 1957 (68 years old) in Kinloch, Missouri, USA

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

poster
American Dad!
Lessie (voice)
poster
Friends
Paula
poster
black-ish
Ruby Johnson
poster
Girlfriends
poster
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
poster
Touched by an Angel
Queenie
poster
Young Justice
Olympia Savage (voice)
poster
Strong Medicine
Lana Hawkins
poster
Moesha
poster
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Bartender (voice)

Credits

Images

image
image