JL
Jenifer Lewis
Actor, Producer, Additional CreditsBorn January 25, 1957 (68 years)
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.
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
Featured Videos
Jenifer Lewis Filmography
| 2026 | GOAT · as Florence Everson (voice) |
| 2025 | Haunted Hotel (TV Series) · as Additional Voices (voice) |
| 2025 | Tiana's Bayou Adventure | Disneyland Resort · as Mama Odie (voice) |
| 2024 | Spellbound · as Nazara (voice) |
| 2024 | Ariel (TV Series) · as Nana Xola |
| 2024 | The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish (TV Series) · as Mother Nature (voice) |
| 2024 | This Is Me... Now · as Gemini |
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II (TV Series) · as Grandma |
| 2023 | Not Dead Yet (TV Series) · as Donna |
| 2023 | Princess Power (TV Series) · as Hilda |
| 2023 | Night Court (2023) (TV Series) · as Erika |
| 2022 | So Help Me Todd (TV Series) · as Jacqueline Burton |
| 2022 | Firebuds (TV Series) · as Grandma Jones |
| 2022 | Cars on the Road (TV Series) · as Flo (voice) |
| 2022 | I Love That for You (TV Series) · as Patricia Cochran |
| 2021 | And Just Like That... (TV Series) · as Lucille Highwater |
| 2021 | The Ghost and Molly McGee (TV Series) · as Patty (voice) |
| 2021 | Finding Kendrick Johnson · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2021 | Mickey Mouse Funhouse (TV Series) · as Wheezelene (voice) |
| 2021 | Monsters at Work (TV Series) · as Grandma Tuskmon (voice) |
| 2021 | Rugrats (2021) (TV Series) · as Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice) |
| 2021 | The Upshaws (TV Series) · as Dr. Pearl Edmunds |
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | Christmas on the Square · as Margeline |
| 2020 | Star Trek: Lower Decks (TV Series) · as Bartender (voice) |
| 2020 | Central Park (TV Series) · as Celeste |
| 2019 | The Addams Family · as Great Auntie Sloom (voice) |
| 2019 | Amphibia (TV Series) · as Mama Hasselback (voice) |
| 2019 | Tuca & Bertie (TV Series) · as Tallulah |
| 2018 | |
| 2018 | grown-ish (TV Series) · as Ruby Johnson |
| 2017 | Big Hero 6: The Series (TV Series) · as Professor Granville (voice) |
| 2017 | Cars 3 · as Flo (voice) |
| 2016 | Elena of Avalor (TV Series) · as Tornado |
| 2015 | It Had to Be You · as Reggie |
| 2015 | The Wedding Ringer · as Doris Jenkins |
| 2014 | black-ish (TV Series) · as Ruby Johnson |
| 2014 | Secrets of the Magic City · as Aunt Valerie |
| 2014 | Think Like a Man Too · as Loretta |
| 2014 | The Radiator Springs 500½ · as Flo (voice) |
| 2013 | Instant Mom (TV Series) · as Delois |
| 2013 | Baggage Claim · as Catherine Moore |
| 2013 | Playin' for Love · as Alize Gates |
| 2013 | Teen Titans Go! (TV Series) · as Microwavabelle (voice) |
| 2013 | Hiccups · as Flo (voice) |
| 2012 | Adventures in Zambezia · as Gogo (voice) |
| 2012 | Think Like a Man · as Loretta Hanover |
| 2011 | The Exes (TV Series) · as Caren Dupree |
| 2011 | Five · as Maggie |
| 2011 | The Playboy Club (TV Series) · as Pearl |
| 2011 | State of Georgia (TV Series) · as Patrice |
| 2011 | Cars 2 · as Flo (voice) |
| 2011 | When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren · as Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited) |
| 2010 | Young Justice (TV Series) · as Olympia Savage (voice) |
| 2010 | Hereafter · as Candace |
| 2009 | The Princess and the Frog · as Mama Odie (voice) |
| 2009 | The Cleveland Show (TV Series) · as Kevin Garnett's Mom |
| 2009 | Not Easily Broken · as Mary 'mama' Clark |
| 2009 | Meet the Browns (TV Series) · as Vera Brown |
| 2008 | Prop 8: The Musical · as Riffing Prop 8'er |
| 2008 | Meet the Browns · as Vera |
| 2007 | Redrum · as Therapist |
| 2007 | Who's Your Caddy? · as C-Note's Mom |
| 2006 | Day Break (TV Series) · as Elizabeth Hopper |
| 2006 | Shark (TV Series) · as Ellie Broussard |
| 2006 | The Heart Specialist · as Nurse Jackson |
| 2006 | Dirty Laundry · as Aunt Lettuce |
| 2006 | Cars · as Flo (voice) |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion · as Milay Jenay Lori |
| 2005 | The Boondocks (TV Series) · as Geraldine (voice) |
| 2005 | American Dad! (TV Series) · as Lessie (voice) |
| 2004 | Boston Legal (TV Series) · as Judge Isabel Fisher |
| 2004 | Shark Tale · as Motown Turtle (voice) |
| 2004 | The Cookout · as Lady Em |
| 2004 | Nora's Hair Salon · as Nora |
| 2003 | The Sunday Morning Stripper · as Demetria |
| 2003 | That's So Raven (TV Series) · as Vivian |
| 2002 | Antwone Fisher · as Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Family Affair (2002) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Summers |
| 2002 | Juwanna Mann · as Aunt Ruby |
| 2001 | The Ponder Heart · as Narcissa Wingfield |
| 2001 | The Proud Family (TV Series) · as Aunt Spice |
| 2001 | The Brothers · as Louise Smith |
| 2000 | Cast Away · as Becca Twig |
| 2000 | Bette (TV Series) |
| 2000 | Girlfriends (TV Series) · as Veretta Childs |
| 2000 | Strong Medicine (TV Series) · as Lana Hawkins |
| 2000 | Partners · as Detective Lancy |
| 2000 | Dancing in September · as Judge Warner |
| 2000 | Little Richard · as Muh Penniman |
| 1999 | Time of Your Life (TV Series) |
| 1999 | |
| 1999 | Mystery Men · as Lucille |
| 1999 | Jackie's Back! · as Jackie Washington |
| 1999 | Blast from the Past · as Dr. Aron |
| 1999 | The PJs (TV Series) · as Bebe Ho (voice) |
| 1998 | The Temptations (TV Series) · as Mama Rose |
| 1998 | The Mighty · as Mrs. Addison |
| 1998 | Linc's (TV Series) · as Ivy |
| 1998 | An Unexpected Life · as Camille |
| 1998 | For Your Love (TV Series) · as Sylvia Ellis |
| 1996 | The Preacher's Wife · as Margueritte Coleman |
| 1996 | Cosby (TV Series) · as Bernice |
| 1996 | Promised Land (TV Series) · as Queenie |
| 1996 | The Jamie Foxx Show (TV Series) · as Josie |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) |
| 1996 | Girl 6 · as Boss #1 - Lil |
| 1996 | Moesha (TV Series) · as Mrs. Biggs |
| 1995 | Dead Presidents · as Mrs. Curtis |
| 1995 | Courthouse (TV Series) · as Judge Rosetta Reide |
| 1995 | Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan · as Denice Cooper |
| 1995 | Panther · as Rita |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series) · as Female Black Widow Spider (voice) |
| 1995 | The Parent 'Hood (TV Series) |
| 1994 | Friends (TV Series) · as Paula |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Queenie |
| 1994 | New York Undercover (TV Series) |
| 1994 | Corrina, Corrina · as Jevina |
| 1994 | Shake, Rattle and Rock! · as Amanda |
| 1994 | Rebel Highway (TV Series) · as Amanda Baldwin Cooper |
| 1994 | Deconstructing Sarah · as Betty |
| 1994 | Renaissance Man · as Mrs. Coleman |
| 1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit · as Vegas Backup Singer #1 |
| 1993 | Moon Over Miami (TV Series) · as Aurora Tyler |
| 1993 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) · as Mystique |
| 1993 | Undercover Blues · as Cab Driver |
| 1993 | Living Single (TV Series) |
| 1993 | The Meteor Man · as Mrs. Williams |
| 1993 | Poetic Justice · as Annie |
| 1993 | What's Love Got to Do with It · as Zelma Bullock |
| 1992 | Frozen Assets · as Jomisha |
| 1992 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV Series) · as Georgia Rodman |
| 1992 | Sister Act · as Michelle |
| 1991 | Roc (TV Series) · as Charlaine |
| 1990 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV Series) · as Aunt Helen |
| 1990 | Dream On (TV Series) · as Carolyn |
| 1990 | In Living Color (TV Series) |
| 1988 | Beaches · as Diva |
| 1988 | Murphy Brown (TV Series) · as Sales Person |
| 1988 | Red Heat · as Judge Jenifer Lewis |
| 1987 | A Different World (1987) (TV Series) · as Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport |
| 1987 | A Different World · as Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport |
Rhona Who Lives by the River (TV Series) · as Missy |
| 2024 | The Greatest Love Story Never Told · as Self |
| 2023 | Commitment to Life · as Self |
| 2023 | The Jason Lee Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2022 | Sherri (2022) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | The Problem With Jon Stewart (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Senior Entourage · as Self |
| 2021 | Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant |
| 2020 | The Drew Barrymore Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2020 | Stars In The House (TV Series) · as Self - Special Guest |
| 2020 | Twenties (TV Series) · as Jenifer Lewis |
| 2019 | Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2019 | Tamron Hall (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | The Masked Singer (US) (TV Series) · as Self - Cleocatra |
| 2018 | Fahrenheit 11/9 · as Self |
| 2018 | Uncensored (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2018 | 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2018 | 49th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2018 | 49th NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet · as Self |
| 2017 | The Beat with Ari Melber (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2017 | Hollywood First Look Features (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2017 | The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2016 | Jewel's Catch One · as Self |
| 2016 | Match Game (2016) (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 2016 | The $100,000 Pyramid (2016) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2016 | To Tell The Truth (2016) (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 2015 | Daily Blast Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | The Real Daytime (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | Of Two Minds · as Self |
| 2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Judge |
| 2012 | Jenifer Lewis and Shangela (TV Series) · as Jenifer Lewis |
| 2012 | Larry King Now (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Dish Nation (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2010 | The Talk (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2010 | Piper's QUICK Picks (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2010 | Family Feud (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | The Doctors (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | Celebrity Family Feud (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant |
| 2008 | Piper's Picks TV (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2007 | American Greed (TV Series) · as Self - Actress And Singer |
| 2006 | The Road to Cars · as Self |
| 2006 | 21st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards · as Self |
| 2005 | Earth to America · as Self |
| 2005 | Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Dancing with the Stars (TV Series) · as Self - Musical Guest |
| 2002 | The Wayne Brady Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2002 | American Idol (TV Series) · as Self - Performer |
| 1999 | Get Bruce · as Self |
| 1998 | Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1997 | The Roseanne Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1997 | 28th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1997 | The Chris Rock Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | 12th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1995 | E! Live from the Red Carpet (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | 26th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1994 | Sidewalks Entertainment (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1984 | Bette Midler: Art or Bust! · as Self - Harlette |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2021 | Finding Kendrick Johnson · as Executive Producer |
| 2012 | Jenifer Lewis and Shangela (TV Series) |
| 1999 | Jackie's Back! · as Co-Producer |
| 2012 | Jenifer Lewis and Shangela (TV Series) · as Theme Song Performance |
| 1990 | In Living Color (TV Series) · as Characters |