1957-01-25 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.
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GOAT | Florence Everson (voice) | 2026-02-12 |
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ADO | Ms. Hopkins | 2025-01-21 |
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The Greatest Love Story Never Told | Self | 2024-02-26 |
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Spellbound | Nazara (voice) | 2024-11-22 |
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This Is Me…Now | Gemini | 2024-02-15 |
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black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special | Self | 2022-04-19 |
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Finding Kendrick Johnson | Narrator (voice) | 2021-07-30 |
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All Boys Aren't Blue | 2021-08-13 | |
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Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square | Margeline | 2020-11-22 |
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The Addams Family | Great Auntie Sloom (Voice) | 2019-10-10 |
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Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back | Self (archive footage) | 2019-11-10 |
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Forbidden | 2018-03-15 | |
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Jewel's Catch One | Self | 2017-01-07 |
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Cars 3 | Flo (voice) | 2017-06-15 |
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Secrets of the Magic City | Aunt Valerie | 2015-06-26 |
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The Wedding Ringer | Doris Jenkins | 2015-01-16 |
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The Radiator Springs 500½ | Flo (voice) | 2014-05-20 |
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Think Like a Man Too | Loretta | 2014-06-20 |
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Hiccups | Flo (voice) | 2013-03-22 |
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Baggage Claim | Catherine Moore | 2013-09-27 |
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Think Like a Man | Loretta Hanover | 2012-04-20 |
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Zambezia | Gogo (voice) | 2012-06-05 |
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Five | Maggie | 2011-10-10 |
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When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren | Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited) | 2011-04-06 |
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Cars 2 | Flo (voice) | 2011-06-11 |
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Hereafter | Candace | 2010-10-22 |
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Not Easily Broken | Mary 'Mama' Clark | 2009-01-09 |
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The Princess and the Frog | Mama Odie (voice) | 2009-12-08 |
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Prop 8: The Musical | Riffing Prop 8'er | 2008-12-03 |
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Meet the Browns | Vera | 2008-03-21 |
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Redrum | Therapist | 2007-10-30 |
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Who's Your Caddy? | C-Note's Mom | 2007-07-27 |
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Cars Wal-Mart Exclusive Geared UP | 2006-11-07 | |
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Cars | Flo (voice) | 2006-06-08 |
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Madea's Family Reunion | Milay Jenay Lori | 2006-02-24 |
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Dirty Laundry | Aunt Lettuce | 2006-07-15 |
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Earth to America | Self | 2005-11-20 |
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The Cookout | Lady Em | 2004-09-03 |
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Shark Tale | Motown Turtle (voice) | 2004-09-20 |
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Nora's Hair Salon | Nora | 2004-05-25 |
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Juwanna Mann | Aunt Ruby | 2002-06-21 |
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Dancing in September | Judge Warner | 2001-02-03 |
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The Brothers | Louise Smith | 2001-03-23 |
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Little Richard | Muh Penniman | 2000-02-20 |
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Partners | Detective Lancy | 2000-07-20 |
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Cast Away | Becca Twig | 2000-12-22 |
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Mystery Men | Lucille | 1999-08-06 |
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Get Bruce! | Self | 1999-01-01 |
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Jackie's Back! | Jackie Washington | 1999-06-14 |
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Blast from the Past | Dr. Aron | 1999-02-12 |
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An Unexpected Life | Camille | 1998-06-24 |
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The Mighty | Mrs. Addison | 1998-06-01 |
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Girl 6 | Boss #1 - Lil | 1996-03-22 |
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The Preacher's Wife | Margueritte Coleman | 1996-12-13 |
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Panther | Rita | 1995-05-03 |
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Dead Presidents | Mrs. Curtis | 1995-09-29 |
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Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan | Denice Cooper | 1995-05-08 |
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Shake, Rattle and Rock! | Amanda | 1994-08-26 |
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Deconstructing Sarah | Betty | 1994-12-16 |
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Corrina, Corrina | Jevina | 1994-08-12 |
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Renaissance Man | Mrs. Coleman | 1994-06-03 |
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The Meteor Man | Mrs. Williams | 1993-08-06 |
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Poetic Justice | Annie | 1993-07-23 |
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Undercover Blues | Cab Driver | 1993-09-10 |
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What's Love Got to Do with It | Zelma Bullock | 1993-06-09 |
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Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Vegas Backup Singer #1 | 1993-12-09 |
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Sister Act | Michelle | 1992-05-28 |
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Frozen Assets | Jomisha | 1992-10-23 |
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Sunday in Paris | Taylor Chase | 1991-07-07 |
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Beaches | Diva | 1988-12-21 |
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A Different World | Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport | 1987-09-24 |
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Bette Midler: Art or Bust | Self - Harlette | 1984-08-18 |
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Bette Midler: No Frills | Herself | 1983-08-23 |
