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
Acting
2006
asFlo (voice)
2008
asRiffing Prop 8'er
2009
asMama Odie (voice)
1988
asDiva
1992
asMichelle
2001
asLouise Smith
1996
asMargueritte Coleman
1998
asMrs. Addison
1999
asLucille
2006
asAunt Lettuce
1995
asRita
1999
asJackie Washington
2009
asMary 'Mama' Clark
2006
asMilay Jenay Lori
2004
asLady Em
1999
asSelf
2012
asLoretta Hanover
2004
asNora
2008
asVera
2004
asMotown Turtle (voice)
2011
asRetirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
2022
asSelf
2014
asLoretta
1993
asVegas Backup Singer #1
2000
asDetective Lancy
1994
asBetty
2015
asDoris Jenkins
2013
asCatherine Moore
2024
asNazara (voice)
2001
asJudge Warner
1993
asCab Driver
2012
asGogo (voice)
1983
asHerself
asMama Rose
1998
asCamille
1994
asAmanda
2005
asSelf
2024
asGemini
2011
asFlo (voice)
2024
asSelf
2021
asNarrator (voice)
2006
as
1993
asZelma Bullock
2011
asMaggie
1992
asJomisha
1995
asDenice Cooper
2002
asAunt Ruby
2017
asFlo (voice)
1999
asDr. Aron
1984
asSelf - Harlette
2010
asCandace
2000
asMuh Penniman
2013
asFlo (voice)
2014
asFlo (voice)
2017
asSelf
2018
as
1996
asBoss #1 - Lil
1991
asTaylor Chase
1994
asJevina
2019
asGreat Auntie Sloom (Voice)
2000
asBecca Twig
1995
asMrs. Curtis
2015
asAunt Valerie
2007
asC-Note's Mom
2007
asTherapist
2020
asMargeline
1994
asMrs. Coleman
2021
as
1993
asAnnie
1993
asMrs. Williams
2019
asSelf (archive footage)
2025
asMs. Hopkins
as
asLessie (voice)
asPaula
asAunt Helen
as
asas 
as
as
as
as
as
as
asLana Hawkins
as
asGeorgia Rodman
asBebe Ho (voice)
asJudge Isabel Fisher
asasJudge Rosetta Reide
asMs. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
asRuby Johnson
asBartender (voice)
asMs. Marjorie (voice)
asAmanda
asSelf
asRuby Johnson
asOlympia Savage (voice)
asSelf
asPatricia Cochran
asMama Rose
asCharlaine
asSusan Clayton
asDean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
asSelf - Guest
asQueenie
asFemale Black Widow Spider (voice)
asHazel (voice)
asSelf - Guest Judge
asSelf - Guest
as
asErika
as
asSelf - Panelist
asJenifer Lewis
asVivian Baxter
asSelf - Panelist
asFlo (voice)
asDr. Pearl Edmunds
asGrandma Tuskmon (voice)
asDonna
asJacqueline Burton
asSelf - Special Guest
asCarolyn
asBoss Willona (voice)
asGeraldine (voice)
asPearl
asPatty (voice)
asGrandma
asQueenie
asProfessor Granville (voice)
asMama Hasselback (voice)
asSelf - Contestant
asWheezelene (voice)
Production
1999
asas Crew
2013
asDirecting
