Jenifer Lewis

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Born: 25th of January 1957 (68 years old)

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.

Jenifer Lewis's Filmography

Haunted Hotel

Haunted Hotel

  •   TV Show
  • 2025
Additional Voices (voice)
ADO

ADO

  •   Movie
  • 2025
Ms. Hopkins
Spellbound

Spellbound

  •   Movie
  • 2024
Nazara (voice)
The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish

The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish

  •   TV Show
  • 2024
Mother Nature (voice)
This Is Me…Now

This Is Me…Now

  •   Movie
  • 2024
Gemini
History of the World: Part II

History of the World: Part II

  •   TV Show
  • 2023
Grandma
Not Dead Yet

Not Dead Yet

  •   TV Show
  • 2023
Donna
Night Court

Night Court

  •   TV Show
  • 2023
Erika
So Help Me Todd

So Help Me Todd

  •   TV Show
  • 2022
Jacqueline Burton
Cars on the Road

Cars on the Road

  •   TV Show
  • 2022
Flo (voice)
I Love That for You

I Love That for You

  •   TV Show
  • 2022
Patricia Cochran
And Just Like That…

And Just Like That…

  •   TV Show
  • 2021
Lucille Highwater
The Ghost and Molly McGee

The Ghost and Molly McGee

  •   TV Show
  • 2021
Patty (voice)
All Boys Aren't Blue

All Boys Aren't Blue

  •   Movie
  • 2021
Monsters at Work

Monsters at Work

  •   TV Show
  • 2021
Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
Rugrats

Rugrats

  •   TV Show
  • 2021
Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
The Upshaws

The Upshaws

  •   TV Show
  • 2021
Dr. Pearl Edmunds
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

  •   TV Show
  • 2021
Self - Contestant
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

  •   Movie
  • 2020
Margeline
Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Lower Decks

  •   TV Show
  • 2020
Bartender (voice)
The Addams Family

The Addams Family

  •   Movie
  • 2019
Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
Amphibia

Amphibia

  •   TV Show
  • 2019
Mama Hasselback (voice)
grown-ish

grown-ish

  •   TV Show
  • 2018
Ruby Johnson
Big Hero 6 The Series

Big Hero 6 The Series

  •   TV Show
  • 2017
Professor Granville (voice)
Cars 3

Cars 3

  •   Movie
  • 2017
Flo (voice)
Match Game

Match Game

  •   TV Show
  • 2016
Self - Panelist
To Tell the Truth

To Tell the Truth

  •   TV Show
  • 2016
Self - Panelist
The Wedding Ringer

The Wedding Ringer

  •   Movie
  • 2015
Doris Jenkins
black-ish

black-ish

  •   TV Show
  • 2014
Ruby Johnson
Think Like a Man Too

Think Like a Man Too

  •   Movie
  • 2014
Loretta
Baggage Claim

Baggage Claim

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Catherine Moore
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

  •   TV Show
  • 2012
Self - Guest Judge
Think Like a Man

Think Like a Man

  •   Movie
  • 2012
Loretta Hanover
Cars 2

Cars 2

  •   Movie
  • 2011
Flo (voice)
Hereafter

Hereafter

  •   Movie
  • 2010
Candace
The Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog

  •   Movie
  • 2009
Mama Odie (voice)
Not Easily Broken

Not Easily Broken

  •   Movie
  • 2009
Mary 'Mama' Clark
Meet the Browns

Meet the Browns

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Vera
Who's Your Caddy?

Who's Your Caddy?

  •   Movie
  • 2007
C-Note's Mom
Cars

Cars

  •   Movie
  • 2006
Flo (voice)
Madea's Family Reunion

Madea's Family Reunion

  •   Movie
  • 2006
Milay Jenay Lori
Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars

  •   TV Show
  • 2005
Self - Musical Guest
American Dad!

American Dad!

  •   TV Show
  • 2005
Lessie (voice)
Shark Tale

Shark Tale

  •   Movie
  • 2004
Motown Turtle (voice)
The Cookout

The Cookout

  •   Movie
  • 2004
Lady Em
That's So Raven

That's So Raven

  •   TV Show
  • 2003
Vivian
Antwone Fisher

Antwone Fisher

  •   Movie
  • 2002
Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
Juwanna Mann

Juwanna Mann

  •   Movie
  • 2002
Aunt Ruby
The Brothers

The Brothers

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Louise Smith
Cast Away

Cast Away

  •   Movie
  • 2000
Becca Twig
Little Richard

Little Richard

  •   Movie
  • 2000
Muh Penniman
Mystery Men

Mystery Men

  •   Movie
  • 1999
Lucille
Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past

  •   Movie
  • 1999
Dr. Aron
The Mighty

The Mighty

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Mrs. Addison
The Preacher's Wife

The Preacher's Wife

  •   Movie
  • 1996
Margueritte Coleman
The Jamie Foxx Show

The Jamie Foxx Show

  •   TV Show
  • 1996
Josie
Dead Presidents

Dead Presidents

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Mrs. Curtis
Panther

Panther

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Rita
The Parent 'Hood

The Parent 'Hood

  •   TV Show
  • 1995
Friends

Friends

  •   TV Show
  • 1994
Paula
New York Undercover

New York Undercover

  •   TV Show
  • 1994
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Vegas Backup Singer #1
Undercover Blues

Undercover Blues

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Cab Driver
Living Single

Living Single

  •   TV Show
  • 1993
The Meteor Man

The Meteor Man

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Mrs. Williams
Poetic Justice

Poetic Justice

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Annie
What's Love Got to Do with It

What's Love Got to Do with It

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Zelma Bullock
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

  •   TV Show
  • 1992
Georgia Rodman
Sister Act

Sister Act

  •   Movie
  • 1992
Michelle
Beaches

Beaches

  •   Movie
  • 1988
Diva
GOAT

GOAT

Movie
11th Feb 2026
🚀 Pre-Release