1949-08-21 Houston, Texas, USA
Loretta Devine was born on August 21, 1949 in Houston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Houston in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama and BrandeisUniversity in 1976 with a MFA in Theater. Devine is a member of The Epsilon Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She began her career on Broadway starring in Dreamgirls. Minor roles for Devine followed in films such as Little Nikita (1988) and Stanley & Iris (1990). She also appeared in the first season of the TV series A Different World. In 1995, she landed a high-profile role as Gloria Matthews in Waiting to Exhale, joined in the cast by Whitney Houston, Gregory Hines, and Angela Bassett, among others. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress, as did her next movie, The Preacher's Wife, her second movie with Houston and Hines. In 2000, Devine took on the role of impassioned high school teacher Marla Hendricks on the Fox TV drama Boston Public. Devine won three more Image Awards for her work in the series. She also continued to work in film, playing prominent roles in Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut, and I Am Sam. Devine earned yet another Image Award nomination and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her work in the 2004 film Woman Thou Art Loosed. She also appeared in the 2005 Academy Awards Best Picture winning film Crash. She also plays Rochelle's mother, Maxine on the sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris. In 2007, she appeared in This Christmas, co-starring Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, and Regina King. Devine also appeared in Grey's Anatomy as Adele Webber. She played Patti on Eli Stone, an ABC television series which began airing in 2008 an in 2009, Devine starred in the TV series Cold Case. Most recently she can be seen in Lottery Ticket (2010), For Colored Girls (2010), Death at a Funeral and Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011).
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Mack & Rita | Sharon | 2022-08-12 |
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Queen Bees | Sally | 2021-06-11 |
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Christmas in Harmony | Mama | 2021-10-29 |
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The Starling | Velma | 2021-09-17 |
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Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | Self | 2021-08-14 |
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Spell | Eloise | 2020-10-30 |
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Always and Forever | Elda | 2020-11-20 |
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A Family Reunion Christmas | Amelia 'M'Dear' McKellan | 2019-12-09 |
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A Sweet Christmas Romance | Loretta | 2019-11-10 |
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Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror | 2019-02-07 | |
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Postmarked | Hattie | 2019-11-08 |
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The Trap | Mama Jay | 2019-04-01 |
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The Doc McStuffins Christmas Special | Hallie | 2018-12-02 |
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Jingle Belle | Emory Simons | 2018-11-25 |
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Sierra Burgess Is a Loser | Ms. Thomson | 2018-09-07 |
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Urban Legacy: The Story Behind Urban Legend | Self | 2018-11-20 |
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Behind the Movement | Jo Ann Robinson | 2018-11-15 |
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Naked | Carol | 2017-08-11 |
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Chapter & Verse | Miss Maddy | 2017-02-03 |
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Norm of the North | Tamecia (voice) | 2016-01-14 |
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No Regrets | Ms Carey | 2016-09-24 |
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Grandma's House | 2016-04-29 | |
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Caged No More | Aggie | 2016-01-15 |
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Brett Gelman's Dinner in America | Herself | 2016-07-01 |
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For the Love of Ruth | Naomi | 2015-05-09 |
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Back to School Mom | Meghan Graham | 2015-02-14 |
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The Sound and the Fury | Dilsey | 2015-10-23 |
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Comeback Dad | Malinda | 2014-06-21 |
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Welcome to Me | Barb Vaughn | 2014-09-05 |
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Doc Mcstuffins: A Little Cuddle Goes A Long Way | Hallie | 2014-03-17 |
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You're Not You | Marilyn | 2014-10-10 |
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A Very Larry Christmas | Mrs. Claus | 2013-12-31 |
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Saving Westbrook High | Doris | 2013-10-20 |
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Khumba | Mama V (voice) | 2013-07-18 |
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In the Hive | Mrs. Inez | 2012-12-14 |
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Jumping the Broom | Mrs. Taylor | 2011-05-06 |
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Politics of Love | Shirlee Gupta | 2011-08-26 |
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Madea's Big Happy Family | Shirley | 2011-04-22 |
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Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Delta (voice) | 2011-02-01 |
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For Colored Girls | Juanita / Green | 2010-11-05 |
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Death at a Funeral | Cynthia | 2010-04-15 |
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Lottery Ticket | Grandma | 2010-08-20 |
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Spring Breakdown | Dr. Marguerite | 2009-05-22 |
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My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done | Miss Roberts | 2009-12-11 |
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First Sunday | Sister Doris | 2008-01-11 |
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Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Delta (voice) | 2008-10-03 |
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Cougar Club | Dolly | 2007-01-01 |
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This Christmas | Shirley Ann "Ma'Dere" Whitfield | 2007-11-27 |
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Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story | Addie Collins | 2006-08-19 |
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Dreamgirls | Jazz Singer | 2006-12-25 |
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Dirty Laundry | Evelyn | 2006-07-15 |
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King's Ransom | Miss Gladys | 2005-04-22 |
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Crash | Shaniqua Johnson | 2005-05-06 |
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Woman Thou Art Loosed | Cassey Jordan | 2004-09-30 |
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Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs | 2002-02-14 | |
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I Am Sam | Margaret Calgrove | 2001-12-28 |
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Kingdom Come | Marguerite Slocumb | 2001-04-11 |
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Best Actress | Connie Travers | 2000-03-18 |
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Freedom Song | Evelyn Walker | 2000-02-27 |
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What Women Want | Flo | 2000-12-15 |
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Urban Legends: Final Cut | Reese | 2000-09-22 |
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Funny Valentines | Dearie B. | 1999-02-14 |
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Love Kills | Sylvia Finkelstein | 1999-10-04 |
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Jackie's Back! | Snookie Tate (Jackie's Childhood Friend) | 1999-06-14 |
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Introducing Dorothy Dandridge | Ruby Dandridge | 1999-08-21 |
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The Breaks | Floria | 1999-02-26 |
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Down in the Delta | Zenia | 1998-12-25 |
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Urban Legend | Reese Wilson | 1998-09-25 |
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Clover | Everleen | 1997-09-10 |
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Lover Girl | Leticia / 'Coco' | 1997-09-11 |
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The Price of Kissing | Jackee | 1997-04-01 |
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Don King: Only in America | Connie Harper | 1997-11-15 |
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Hoodlum | Pigfoot Mary | 1997-08-27 |
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The Preacher's Wife | Beverly | 1996-12-13 |
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Waiting to Exhale | Gloria Matthews | 1995-12-22 |
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The American Clock | 1993-01-02 | |
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Amos & Andrew | Ula | 1993-03-05 |
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Class Act | Blade's Mom | 1992-06-05 |
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Livin' Large! | Nadine Biggs | 1991-09-20 |
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Caged Fear | Judy | 1991-05-17 |
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Stanley & Iris | Bertha | 1990-02-09 |
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Parent Trap III | Thelma | 1989-04-09 |
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Sticky Fingers | Diane | 1988-05-06 |
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Little Nikita | 1988-03-17 | |
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Anna to the Infinite Power | Mrs. Benson | 1983-01-12 |
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Will | 1981-01-01 |
