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.
GOAT
Florence Everson (voice)
2026
ADO
Ms. Hopkins
2025
Spellbound
Nazara (voice)
2024
The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish
Mother Nature (voice) · (1 episode)
2024
The Greatest Love Story Never Told
Self
2024
This Is Me…Now
Gemini
2024
History of the World: Part II
Grandma · (1 episode)
2023
Not Dead Yet
Donna · (2 episodes)
2023
Night Court
Erika · (1 episode)
2023
So Help Me Todd
Jacqueline Burton · (1 episode)
2022
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
Cars on the Road
Flo (voice) · (1 episode)
2022
I Love That for You
Patricia Cochran · (8 episodes)
2022
black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special
Self
2022
The Ghost and Molly McGee
Patty (voice) · (7 episodes)
2021
Mickey Mouse Funhouse
Wheezelene (voice) · (1 episode)
2021
All Boys Aren't Blue
2021
Finding Kendrick Johnson
Narrator (voice)
2021
Monsters at Work
Grandma Tuskmon (voice) · (5 episodes)
2021
Rugrats
Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
2021
Rugrats
Ms. Marjorie (voice) · (1 episode)
2021
The Upshaws
Dr. Pearl Edmunds · (3 episodes)
2021
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2021
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
Margeline
2020
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Bartender (voice) · (1 episode)
2020
Stars in the House
Self - Special Guest · (1 episode)
2020
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
Self (archive footage)
2019
The Addams Family
Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
2019
Amphibia
Mama Hasselback (voice) · (1 episode)
2019
Forbidden
2018
grown-ish
Ruby Johnson · (2 episodes)
2018
Big Hero 6 The Series
Professor Granville (voice) · (1 episode)
2017
Cars 3
Flo (voice)
2017
Jewel's Catch One
Self
2017
The $100,000 Pyramid
Self · (1 episode)
2016
Match Game
Self - Panelist · (1 episode)
2016
To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist · (1 episode)
2016
Secrets of the Magic City
Aunt Valerie
2015
The Wedding Ringer
Doris Jenkins
2015
black-ish
Ruby Johnson · (159 episodes)
2014
Think Like a Man Too
Loretta
2014
The Radiator Springs 500½
Flo (voice)
2014
Baggage Claim
Catherine Moore
2013
Hiccups
Flo (voice)
2013
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2012
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela
Jenifer Lewis · (4 episodes)
2012
Zambezia
Gogo (voice)
2012
Think Like a Man
Loretta Hanover
2012
Five
Maggie
2011
The Playboy Club
Pearl · (3 episodes)
2011
Cars 2
Flo (voice)
2011
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
2011
Young Justice
Olympia Savage (voice) · (1 episode)
2010
Hereafter
Candace
2010
The Princess and the Frog
Mama Odie (voice)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
Not Easily Broken
Mary 'Mama' Clark
2009
Prop 8: The Musical
Riffing Prop 8'er
2008
Meet the Browns
Vera
2008
Redrum
Therapist
2007
Who's Your Caddy?
C-Note's Mom
2007
Day Break
(1 episode)
2006
Cars Wal-Mart Exclusive Geared UP
2006
Shark
(1 episode)
2006
Dirty Laundry
Aunt Lettuce
2006
Cars
Flo (voice)
2006
Madea's Family Reunion
Milay Jenay Lori
2006
Earth to America
Self
2005
The Boondocks
Boss Willona (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
The Boondocks
Geraldine (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
American Dad!
Lessie (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
Boston Legal
Judge Isabel Fisher · (1 episode)
2004
Shark Tale
Motown Turtle (voice)
2004
The Cookout
Lady Em
2004
Nora's Hair Salon
Nora
2004
That's So Raven
Vivian · (1 episode)
2003
Juwanna Mann
Aunt Ruby
2002
The Brothers
Louise Smith
2001
Dancing in September
Judge Warner
2001
Cast Away
Becca Twig
2000
Bette
(1 episode)
2000
Girlfriends
(8 episodes)
2000
Strong Medicine
Lana Hawkins · (132 episodes)
2000
Partners
Detective Lancy
2000
Little Richard
Muh Penniman
2000
Time of Your Life
(1 episode)
1999
Mystery Men
Lucille
1999
Grown Ups
(1 episode)
1999
Jackie's Back!
Jackie Washington
1999
Blast from the Past
Dr. Aron
1999
The PJs
Bebe Ho (voice) · (43 episodes)
1999
Get Bruce!
Self
1999
The Temptations
Mama Rose · (2 episodes)
1998
An Unexpected Life
Camille
1998
The Mighty
Mrs. Addison
1998
The Chris Rock Show
Self · (1 episode)
1997
The Preacher's Wife
Margueritte Coleman
1996
Promised Land
Queenie · (1 episode)
1996
The Jamie Foxx Show
Josie · (1 episode)
1996
The Daily Show
(1 episode)
1996
Girl 6
Boss #1 - Lil
1996
Moesha
(1 episode)
1996
Dead Presidents
Mrs. Curtis
1995
Courthouse
Judge Rosetta Reide · (11 episodes)
1995
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
Denice Cooper
1995
Panther
Rita
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Female Black Widow Spider (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Hazel (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
The Parent 'Hood
(1 episode)
1995
Deconstructing Sarah
Betty
1994
Friends
Paula · (1 episode)
1994
Touched by an Angel
Queenie · (1 episode)
1994
New York Undercover
(1 episode)
1994
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Amanda
1994
Corrina, Corrina
Jevina
1994
Rebel Highway
Amanda · (10 episodes)
1994
Renaissance Man
Mrs. Coleman
1994
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Vegas Backup Singer #1
1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
(1 episode)
1993
Undercover Blues
Cab Driver
1993
Living Single
(1 episode)
1993
The Meteor Man
Mrs. Williams
1993
Poetic Justice
Annie
1993
What's Love Got to Do with It
Zelma Bullock
1993
Frozen Assets
Jomisha
1992
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Georgia Rodman · (3 episodes)
1992
Sister Act
Michelle
1992
Roc
Charlaine · (1 episode)
1991
Sunday in Paris
Taylor Chase
1991
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Aunt Helen · (8 episodes)
1990
Dream On
Carolyn · (1 episode)
1990
In Living Color
(1 episode)
1990
Beaches
Diva
1988
A Different World
Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
1987
A Different World
Susan Clayton · (1 episode)
1987
A Different World
Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport · (8 episodes)
1987
Bette Midler: Art or Bust
Self - Harlette
1984
Bette Midler: No Frills
Herself
1983