Film Snail

Jenifer Lewis

Born · January 25, 1957 (67 years old)

Known For: Acting

Place of Birth: Kinloch, Missouri, USA

Bio

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

Spellbound

Nazara (voice)

6.9

2024

History of the World: Part II

Grandma · (1 episode)

5.6

2023

Not Dead Yet

Donna · (2 episodes)

7.1

2023

Night Court

Erika · (1 episode)

6.5

2023

So Help Me Todd

Jacqueline Burton · (1 episode)

7.6

2022

Sherri

Self - Guest · (1 episode)

4.2

2022

Cars on the Road

Flo (voice) · (1 episode)

7.5

2022

I Love That for You

Patricia Cochran · (8 episodes)

6.5

2022

black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special

Self

10.0

2022

The Ghost and Molly McGee

Patty (voice) · (7 episodes)

8.1

2021

Mickey Mouse Funhouse

Wheezelene (voice) · (1 episode)

7.4

2021

Monsters at Work

Grandma Tuskmon (voice) · (5 episodes)

7.2

2021

Rugrats

Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)

7.0

2021

Rugrats

Ms. Marjorie (voice) · (1 episode)

7.0

2021

The Upshaws

Dr. Pearl Edmunds · (3 episodes)

7.9

2021

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

Self - Contestant · (1 episode)

7.1

2021

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Bartender (voice) · (1 episode)

7.6

2020

Stars in the House

Self - Special Guest · (1 episode)

0.0

2020

Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back

Self (archive footage)

5.0

2019

Amphibia

Mama Hasselback (voice) · (1 episode)

8.6

2019

grown-ish

Ruby Johnson · (2 episodes)

8.1

2018

Big Hero 6 The Series

Professor Granville (voice) · (1 episode)

7.6

2017

The $100,000 Pyramid

Self · (1 episode)

7.3

2016

Match Game

Self - Panelist · (1 episode)

6.0

2016

To Tell the Truth

Self - Panelist · (1 episode)

6.0

2016

The Wedding Ringer

Doris Jenkins

6.5

2015

black-ish

Ruby Johnson · (159 episodes)

7.2

2014

Think Like a Man Too

Loretta

6.4

2014

Baggage Claim

Catherine Moore

5.3

2013

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)

7.4

2012

Jenifer Lewis and Shangela

Jenifer Lewis · (4 episodes)

0.0

2012

Zambezia

Gogo (voice)

6.2

2012

Think Like a Man

Loretta Hanover

6.8

2012

The Playboy Club

Pearl · (3 episodes)

5.6

2011

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren

Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)

6.9

2011

Young Justice

Olympia Savage (voice) · (1 episode)

8.4

2010

The Princess and the Frog

Mama Odie (voice)

7.2

2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Self - Guest · (1 episode)

5.0

2009

Not Easily Broken

Mary 'Mama' Clark

6.2

2009

Prop 8: The Musical

Riffing Prop 8'er

7.2

2008

Meet the Browns

Vera

Judge Isabel Fisher · (1 episode)

7.9

2004

Shark Tale

Motown Turtle (voice)

6.0

2004

The Cookout

Lady Em

4.6

2004

Nora's Hair Salon

Nora

8.0

2004

That's So Raven

Vivian Baxter · (1 episode)

7.2

2003

The Brothers

Louise Smith

6.5

2001

Dancing in September

Judge Warner

6.5

2001

Bette

(1 episode)

7.9

2000

Girlfriends

(8 episodes)

7.6

2000

Strong Medicine

Lana Hawkins · (132 episodes)

7.1

2000

Partners

Detective Lancy

4.8

2000

Time of Your Life

(1 episode)

5.7

1999

Mystery Men

7.2

1994

Rebel Highway

Amanda · (10 episodes)

10.0

1994

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Vegas Backup Singer #1

6.4

1993

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

(1 episode)

7.0

1993

Undercover Blues

Cab Driver

6.0

1993

Living Single

(1 episode)

8.3

1993

The Meteor Man

Mrs. Williams

5.8

1993

Poetic Justice

Annie

6.9

1993

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

(3 episodes)

6.4

1992

Sister Act

Michelle

6.8

1992

Roc

Charlaine · (1 episode)

7.8

1991

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Aunt Helen · (8 episodes)

7.9

1990

Dream On

Carolyn · (1 episode)

6.9

1990

In Living Color

(1 episode)

7.5

1990

Beaches

Diva

6.7

1988

A Different World

Susan Clayton · (1 episode)

7.0

1987

A Different World

Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport · (8 episodes)

7.0

1987

Bette Midler: No Frills

Herself

0.0

1983

The Temptations Le film de leur ascension vers la gloire

Mama Rose

0.0

The Greatest Love Story Never Told

Self

6.4

2024

This Is Me…Now

Gemini

5.3

2024

All Boys Aren't Blue

0.0

2021

Finding Kendrick Johnson

Narrator (voice)

7.8

2021

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

Margeline

5.8

2020

The Addams Family

Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)

6.6

2019

Maggie

7.0

2011

Cars 2

Flo (voice)

6.1

2011

Hereafter

Candace

6.1

2010

Redrum

Therapist

1.5

2007

Who's Your Caddy?

C-Note's Mom

3.5

2007

Cars Wal-Mart Exclusive Geared UP

0.0

2006

Earth to America

Self

8.0

2005

Juwanna Mann

Aunt Ruby

5.2

2002

Cast Away

Becca Twig

7.7

2000

Little Richard

Muh Penniman

6.3

2000

Blast from the Past

Dr. Aron

6.8

1999

An Unexpected Life

Camille

4.5

1998

Girl 6

Boss #1 - Lil

5.0

1996

Dead Presidents

Mrs. Curtis

6.6

1995

Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan

Denice Cooper

5.0

1995

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

Amanda

5.8

1994

Corrina, Corrina

Jevina

6.7

1994

Renaissance Man

Mrs. Coleman

6.1

1994

What's Love Got to Do with It

Zelma Bullock

7.1

1993

Frozen Assets

Jomisha

4.0

1992

Sunday in Paris

Taylor Chase

0.0

1991

Bette Midler: Art or Bust

Self - Harlette

6.0

1984