Jenifer Lewis
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.
Known For
Flo (voice)
Cars
Riffing Prop 8'er
Prop 8: The Musical
Mama Odie (voice)
The Princess and the Frog
Diva
Beaches
Michelle
Sister Act
Louise Smith
The Brothers
Margueritte Coleman
The Preacher's Wife
Mrs. Addison
The Mighty
Lucille
Mystery Men
Aunt Lettuce
Dirty Laundry
Rita
Panther
Jackie Washington
Jackie's Back!
Mary 'Mama' Clark
Not Easily Broken
Milay Jenay Lori
Madea's Family Reunion
Lady Em
The Cookout
Self
Get Bruce!
Loretta Hanover
Think Like a Man
Nora
Nora's Hair Salon
Vera
Meet the Browns
Motown Turtle (voice)
Shark Tale
Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
Self
black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special
Loretta
Think Like a Man Too
Vegas Backup Singer #1
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Detective Lancy
Partners
Betty
Deconstructing Sarah
Doris Jenkins
The Wedding Ringer
Catherine Moore
Baggage Claim
Nazara (voice)
Spellbound
Judge Warner
Dancing in September
Cab Driver
Undercover Blues
Gogo (voice)
Zambezia
Herself
Bette Midler: No Frills
Mama Rose
The Temptations Le film de leur ascension vers la gloire
Camille
An Unexpected Life
Amanda
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Self
Earth to America
Gemini
This Is Me…Now
Flo (voice)
Cars 2
Self
The Greatest Love Story Never Told
Narrator (voice)
Finding Kendrick Johnson
Cars Wal-Mart Exclusive Geared UP
Zelma Bullock
What's Love Got to Do with It
Maggie
Five
Jomisha
Frozen Assets
Denice Cooper
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
Aunt Ruby
Juwanna Mann
Flo (voice)
Cars 3
Dr. Aron
Blast from the Past
Self - Harlette
Bette Midler: Art or Bust
Candace
Hereafter
Muh Penniman
Little Richard
Flo (voice)
Hiccups
Flo (voice)
The Radiator Springs 500½
Self
Jewel's Catch One
Forbidden
Boss #1 - Lil
Girl 6
Taylor Chase
Sunday in Paris
Jevina
Corrina, Corrina
Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
The Addams Family
Becca Twig
Cast Away
Mrs. Curtis
Dead Presidents
Aunt Valerie
Secrets of the Magic City
C-Note's Mom
Who's Your Caddy?
Therapist
Redrum
Margeline
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
Mrs. Coleman
Renaissance Man
All Boys Aren't Blue
Annie
Poetic Justice
Mrs. Williams
The Meteor Man
Self (archive footage)
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
71
Gender
Female
Birthday
1957-01-25
Place of Birth
Kinloch, Missouri, USA
Also Known As