Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an American film and television actress and singer.She is one of Hollywoods 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 Turners mother in Whats Love Got to Do With It and in The Preachers Wife as the mother of Whitney Houstons character.She starred opposite Matt Damon in Clint Eastwoods Hereafter. For director Tyler Perry, she created unforgettable characters in Madeas Family Reunion and Meet the Browns. In the movie Cast Away, she portrayed Tom Hanks boss. In animated films, Jenifers 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 Lifetimes 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.
Riffing Prop 8'er
Film 2008
Diva
Film 1988
Aunt Lettuce
Film 2006
Milay Jenay Lori
Film 2006
Self
Film 1999
Nora
Film 2004
Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
Film 2011
Self
Film 2022
Catherine Moore
Film 2013
Judge Warner
Film 2001
Herself
Film 1983
Mama Rose
Film
Camille
Film 1998
Self
Film 2005
Self
Film 2024
Narrator (voice)
Film 2021
Film 2006
Denice Cooper
Film 1995
Aunt Ruby
Film 2002
Self - Harlette
Film 1984
Candace
Film 2010
Muh Penniman
Film 2000
Self
Film 2017
Film 2018
Taylor Chase
Film 1991
Aunt Valerie
Film 2015
Therapist
Film 2007
Margeline
Film 2020
Film 2021
Mrs. Williams
Film 1993
Self (archive footage)
Film 2019
Tv 2006
Lessie (voice)
Tv 2005
Paula
Tv 1994
Aunt Helen
Tv 1990
Tv 1996
Tv 2000
Tv 1999
Tv 1995
Tv 1996
Tv 1994
Tv 2000
Tv 1993
Tv 1993
Tv 1990
Tv 1992
Bebe Ho (voice)
Tv 1999
Judge Isabel Fisher
Tv 2004
Tv 1999
Judge Rosetta Reide
Tv 1995
Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
Tv 2021
Bartender (voice)
Tv 2020
Ms. Marjorie (voice)
Tv 2021
Tv 1997
Ruby Johnson
Tv 2018
Olympia Savage (voice)
Tv 2010
Self
Tv 2016
Charlaine
Tv 1991
Susan Clayton
Tv 1987
Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
Tv 1987
Self - Guest
Tv 2022
Queenie
Tv 1996
Female Black Widow Spider (voice)
Tv 1995
Hazel (voice)
Tv 1995
Self - Guest Judge
Tv 2012
Self - Guest
Tv 2009
Tv 2006
Erika
Tv 2023
Tv 1996
Self - Panelist
Tv 2016
Jenifer Lewis
Tv 2012
Vivian Baxter
Tv 2003
Self - Panelist
Tv 2016
Flo (voice)
Tv 2022
Dr. Pearl Edmunds
Tv 2021
Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
Tv 2021
Donna
Tv 2023
Jacqueline Burton
Tv 2022
Self - Special Guest
Tv 2020
Carolyn
Tv 1990
Boss Willona (voice)
Tv 2005
Geraldine (voice)
Tv 2005
Patty (voice)
Tv 2021
Grandma
Tv 2023
Queenie
Tv 1994
Professor Granville (voice)
Tv 2017
Mama Hasselback (voice)
Tv 2019
Self - Contestant
Tv 2021
Wheezelene (voice)
Tv 2021