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.
Filmography
all 136
Movies 78
TV Shows 58
Voice 17
self 16
Narrator 1
![Spellbound](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/514694-spellbound.jpg)
Spellbound (2024)
![Night Court](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/735101-night-court.jpg)
Night Court (2023)
![So Help Me Todd](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/736140-so-help-me-todd.jpg)
So Help Me Todd (2022)
![Sherri](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/795697-sherri.jpg)
Sherri (2022)
![Cars on the Road](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/478092-cars-the-series.jpg)
Cars on the Road (2022)
![I Love That for You](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/728849-i-love-that-for-you.jpg)
I Love That for You (2022)
![The Ghost and Molly McGee](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/297806-the-ghost-and-molly-mcgee.jpg)
The Ghost and Molly McGee (2021)
![Monsters at Work](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/279818-monsters-at-work.jpg)
Monsters at Work (2021)
![Rugrats](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/554331-rugrats.jpg)
Rugrats (2021)
![The Upshaws](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/531516-the-upshaws.jpg)
The Upshaws (2021)
![Star Trek: Lower Decks](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/229154-star-trek-lower-decks.jpg)
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020)
![Stars in the House](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/960605-stars-in-the-house.jpg)
Stars in the House (2020)
![The Addams Family](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/170566-the-addams-family.jpg)
The Addams Family (2019)
![Amphibia](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/220956-amphibia.jpg)
Amphibia (2019)
![grown-ish](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/54158-grown-ish.jpg)
grown-ish (2018)
![Big Hero 6 The Series](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/28595-big-hero-6-the-series.jpg)
Big Hero 6 The Series (2017)
![Cars 3](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/1100-cars-3.jpg)
Cars 3 (2017)
![Match Game](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/129922-match-game.jpg)
Match Game (2016)
![To Tell the Truth](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/190142-to-tell-the-truth.jpg)
To Tell the Truth (2016)
![Secrets of the Magic City](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/38294-secrets-of-the-magic-city.jpg)
Secrets of the Magic City (2015)
![Playin' for Love](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/53781-playin-for-love.jpg)
Playin' for Love (2015)
![The Wedding Ringer](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/15649-the-wedding-ringer.jpg)
The Wedding Ringer (2015)
![The Radiator Springs 500½](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/18186-the-radiator-springs-500.jpg)
The Radiator Springs 500½ (2014)
![Baggage Claim](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/7510-baggage-claim.jpg)
Baggage Claim (2013)
![RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/11161-rupaul-s-drag-race-all-stars.jpg)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012)
![Jenifer Lewis and Shangela](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/830851-jenifer-lewis-and-shangela.jpg)
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela (2012)
![Five](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/11789-five.jpg)
Five (2011)
![Cars 2](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/1099-cars-2.jpg)
Cars 2 (2011)
![When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/296858-when-harry-met-sally-2-with-billy-crystal-and-helen-mirren.jpg)
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren (2011)
![Young Justice](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/6605-young-justice.jpg)
Young Justice (2010)
![Hereafter](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/6932-hereafter.jpg)
Hereafter (2010)
![Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/166412-watch-what-happens-live.jpg)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009)
![Not Easily Broken](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/12378-not-easily-broken.jpg)
Not Easily Broken (2009)
![Prop 8: The Musical](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/174680-prop-8-the-musical.jpg)
Prop 8: The Musical (2008)
![Redrum](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/426206-redrum.jpg)
Redrum (2007)
![Who's Your Caddy?](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/15101-who-s-your-caddy.jpg)
Who's Your Caddy? (2007)
![Dirty Laundry](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/87497-dirty-laundry.jpg)
Dirty Laundry (2006)
![Madea's Family Reunion](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/16526-madea-s-family-reunion.jpg)
Madea's Family Reunion (2006)
![The Boondocks](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/15719-the-boondocks.jpg)
The Boondocks (2005)
![American Dad!](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/15726-american-dad.jpg)
American Dad! (2005)
![Boston Legal](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/19421-boston-legal.jpg)
Boston Legal (2004)
![Shark Tale](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/11503-shark-tale.jpg)
Shark Tale (2004)
![The Cookout](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/15107-the-cookout.jpg)
The Cookout (2004)
![That's So Raven](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/25086-that-s-so-raven.jpg)
That's So Raven (2003)
![Juwanna Mann](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/18873-juwanna-mann.jpg)
Juwanna Mann (2002)
![The Ponder Heart](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/60792-the-ponder-heart.jpg)
The Ponder Heart (2001)
![The Brothers](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/12348-the-brothers.jpg)
The Brothers (2001)
![Dancing in September](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/80944-dancing-in-september.jpg)
Dancing in September (2001)
![Cast Away](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/8065-cast-away.jpg)
Cast Away (2000)
![Strong Medicine](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/34369-strong-medicine.jpg)
Strong Medicine (2000)
![Partners](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/74107-partners.jpg)
Partners (2000)
![Little Richard](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/14102-little-richard.jpg)
Little Richard (2000)
![Mystery Men](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/16273-mystery-men.jpg)
Mystery Men (1999)
![Jackie's Back!](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/34344-jackie-s-back.jpg)
Jackie's Back! (1999)
![Blast from the Past](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/15144-blast-from-the-past.jpg)
Blast from the Past (1999)
![The PJs](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/20491-the-pjs.jpg)
The PJs (1999)
![The Temptations](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/81154-the-temptations.jpg)
The Temptations (1998)
![The Mighty](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/12033-the-mighty.jpg)
The Mighty (1998)
![The Temptations](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/1025978-the-temptations.jpg)
The Temptations (1998)
![The Preacher's Wife](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/12401-the-preacher-s-wife.jpg)
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
![Promised Land](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/69113-promised-land.jpg)
Promised Land (1996)
![Girl 6](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/9548-girl-6.jpg)
Girl 6 (1996)
![Dead Presidents](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/9827-dead-presidents.jpg)
Dead Presidents (1995)
![Courthouse](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Courthouse (1995)
![Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/252172-happily-ever-after-fairy-tales-for-every-child.jpg)
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995)
![Friends](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/11538-friends.jpg)
Friends (1994)
![Rebel Highway](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/793522-rebel-highway.jpg)
Rebel Highway (1994)
![Renaissance Man](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/18548-renaissance-man.jpg)
Renaissance Man (1994)
![Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/16037-sister-act-2-back-in-the-habit.jpg)
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
![Undercover Blues](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/31816-undercover-blues.jpg)
Undercover Blues (1993)
![The Meteor Man](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/35020-the-meteor-man.jpg)
The Meteor Man (1993)
![What's Love Got to Do with It](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/14103-what-s-love-got-to-do-with-it.jpg)
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
![Frozen Assets](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/93776-frozen-assets.jpg)
Frozen Assets (1992)
![Sister Act](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/16036-sister-act.jpg)
Sister Act (1992)
![Roc](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/369622-roc.jpg)
Roc (1991)
![Sunday in Paris](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Sunday in Paris (1991)
![Sunday in Paris](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/567382-sunday-in-paris.jpg)
Sunday in Paris (1991)
![The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/14777-the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air.jpg)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
![A Different World](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/17077-a-different-world.jpg)
A Different World (1987)
![Sister Act 3](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/477401-sister-act-3.jpg)
Sister Act 3
Ratings
Gallery
![Jenifer Lewis](https://images.moviefit.me/p/o/12094-jenifer-lewis.jpg)
![Jenifer Lewis](https://images.moviefit.me/p/o/12094-jenifer-lewis.jpg)
![Jenifer Lewis](https://images.moviefit.me/p/o/12094-jenifer-lewis.jpg)
Information
Known ForActing
GenderFemale
Birthday1957-01-25 (67 years old)
Birth PlaceKinloch, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
Last updated:
- Jenifer Lewis
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