Jenifer Lewis

Jenifer Lewis

Acting
Born 1957-01-25Kinloch, Missouri, USA

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.

Movies (76)

GOAT
8.1

GOAT

2026Movie8.1
Cars
7.0

Cars

2006Movie7.0
Cars 3
6.9

Cars 3

2017Movie6.9
Cars 2
6.2

Cars 2

2011Movie6.2
The Princess and the Frog
7.2

The Princess and the Frog

2009Movie7.2
Cast Away
7.7

Cast Away

2000Movie7.7
Shark Tale
6.0

Shark Tale

2004Movie6.0
Sister Act
6.8

Sister Act

1992Movie6.8
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
6.4

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

1993Movie6.4
The Addams Family
6.6

The Addams Family

2019Movie6.6
Blast from the Past
6.8

Blast from the Past

1999Movie6.8
The Wedding Ringer
6.5

The Wedding Ringer

2015Movie6.5
Spellbound
6.6

Spellbound

2024Movie6.6
What's Love Got to Do with It
7.0

What's Love Got to Do with It

1993Movie7.0
Poetic Justice
6.7

Poetic Justice

1993Movie6.7
Antwone Fisher
6.9

Antwone Fisher

2002Movie6.9
Think Like a Man
6.8

Think Like a Man

2012Movie6.8
Mystery Men
5.9

Mystery Men

1999Movie5.9
Dead Presidents
6.7

Dead Presidents

1995Movie6.7
Beaches
6.7

Beaches

1988Movie6.7
Hereafter
6.1

Hereafter

2010Movie6.1
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
5.8

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

2020Movie5.8
Zambezia
6.2

Zambezia

2012Movie6.2
Madea's Family Reunion
6.3

Madea's Family Reunion

2006Movie6.3
Panther
6.3

Panther

1995Movie6.3
The Brothers
6.6

The Brothers

2001Movie6.6
Not Easily Broken
6.3

Not Easily Broken

2009Movie6.3
Renaissance Man
6.1

Renaissance Man

1994Movie6.1
Frozen Assets
3.6

Frozen Assets

1992Movie3.6
Meet the Browns
6.7

Meet the Browns

2008Movie6.7
Corrina, Corrina
6.7

Corrina, Corrina

1994Movie6.7
The Meteor Man
5.8

The Meteor Man

1993Movie5.8
The Preacher's Wife
5.8

The Preacher's Wife

1996Movie5.8
Undercover Blues
6.0

Undercover Blues

1993Movie6.0
Think Like a Man Too
6.4

Think Like a Man Too

2014Movie6.4
This Is Me…Now
5.4

This Is Me…Now

2024Movie5.4
Who's Your Caddy?
3.4

Who's Your Caddy?

2007Movie3.4
Girl 6
5.0

Girl 6

1996Movie5.0
Earth to America
7.7

Earth to America

2005Movie7.7
Commitment to Life

Commitment to Life

2023Movie
Get Bruce!
6.5

Get Bruce!

1999Movie6.5
Baggage Claim
5.3

Baggage Claim

2013Movie5.3
Jackie's Back!
6.9

Jackie's Back!

1999Movie6.9
The Radiator Springs 500½
6.2

The Radiator Springs 500½

2014Movie6.2
The Cookout
4.7

The Cookout

2004Movie4.7
The Mighty
7.2

The Mighty

1998Movie7.2
Prop 8: The Musical
6.9

Prop 8: The Musical

2008Movie6.9
Five
7.1

Five

2011Movie7.1
Juwanna Mann
5.1

Juwanna Mann

2002Movie5.1
Deconstructing Sarah
3.0

Deconstructing Sarah

1994Movie3.0
The Greatest Love Story Never Told
6.5

The Greatest Love Story Never Told

2024Movie6.5
Women Like Us

Women Like Us

Movie
Hiccups
5.9

Hiccups

2013Movie5.9
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
6.8

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren

2011Movie6.8
Geared-Up

Geared-Up

2006Movie
Forbidden
8.2

Forbidden

2018Movie8.2
An Unexpected Life
4.9

An Unexpected Life

1998Movie4.9
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
6.0

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

1994Movie6.0
Ado
5.5

Ado

2025Movie5.5
black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special
2.5

black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special

2022Movie2.5
Redrum
1.5

Redrum

2007Movie1.5
Bette Midler: No Frills

Bette Midler: No Frills

1983Movie
Nora's Hair Salon
7.9

Nora's Hair Salon

2004Movie7.9
Rituals
9.0

Rituals

1998Movie9.0
Little Richard
6.6

Little Richard

2000Movie6.6
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
7.0

Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan

1995Movie7.0
Dancing in September
6.5

Dancing in September

2001Movie6.5
Sunday in Paris
6.0

Sunday in Paris

1991Movie6.0
Dirty Laundry
5.4

Dirty Laundry

2006Movie5.4
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
5.0

Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back

2019Movie5.0
Bette Midler: Art or Bust
7.0

Bette Midler: Art or Bust

1984Movie7.0
Partners
5.5

Partners

2000Movie5.5
Finding Kendrick Johnson
7.6

Finding Kendrick Johnson

2021Movie7.6
Jewel's Catch One
6.6

Jewel's Catch One

2017Movie6.6
Secrets of the Magic City
5.5

Secrets of the Magic City

2015Movie5.5
All Boys Aren't Blue

All Boys Aren't Blue

2021Movie

TV Shows (67)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
Teen Titans Go!
6.4

Teen Titans Go!

2013Series6.4
American Dad!
7.0

American Dad!

2005Series7.0
The Daily Show
6.4

The Daily Show

1996Series6.4
Friends
8.4

Friends

1994Series8.4
The Jennifer Hudson Show
5.6

The Jennifer Hudson Show

2022Series5.6
Dancing with the Stars
6.1

Dancing with the Stars

2005Series6.1
Boston Legal
7.9

Boston Legal

2004Series7.9
Young Justice
8.4

Young Justice

2010Series8.4
Strong Medicine
7.4

Strong Medicine

2000Series7.4
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
6.9

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

1993Series6.9
Sherri
2.6

Sherri

2022Series2.6
black-ish
7.1

black-ish

2014Series7.1
Touched by an Angel
7.2

Touched by an Angel

1994Series7.2
grown-ish
7.8

grown-ish

2018Series7.8
New York Undercover
7.3

New York Undercover

1994Series7.3
Girlfriends
7.3

Girlfriends

2000Series7.3
The Boondocks
8.3

The Boondocks

2005Series8.3
A Different World
7.1

A Different World

1987Series7.1
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
7.3

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

2012Series7.3
Amphibia
8.6

Amphibia

2019Series8.6
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
7.9

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990Series7.9
The Jamie Foxx Show
6.7

The Jamie Foxx Show

1996Series6.7
That's So Raven
7.2

That's So Raven

2003Series7.2
Star Trek: Lower Decks
7.6

Star Trek: Lower Decks

2020Series7.6
Big Hero 6 The Series
7.6

Big Hero 6 The Series

2017Series7.6
And Just Like That…
7.2

And Just Like That…

2021Series7.2
Rugrats
6.9

Rugrats

2021Series6.9
Moesha
6.9

Moesha

1996Series6.9
Haunted Hotel
8.1

Haunted Hotel

2025Series8.1
Monsters at Work
7.2

Monsters at Work

2021Series7.2
Living Single
8.1

Living Single

1993Series8.1
Mickey Mouse Funhouse
6.3

Mickey Mouse Funhouse

2021Series6.3
Stars in the House

Stars in the House

2020Series
To Tell the Truth
5.8

To Tell the Truth

2016Series5.8
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
6.3

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995Series6.3
Match Game
6.4

Match Game

2016Series6.4
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
7.1

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

2021Series7.1
Shark
6.7

Shark

2006Series6.7
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
6.7

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

1992Series6.7
The Ghost and Molly McGee
8.1

The Ghost and Molly McGee

2021Series8.1
The $100,000 Pyramid
7.0

The $100,000 Pyramid

2016Series7.0
In Living Color
7.6

In Living Color

1990Series7.6
Night Court
6.5

Night Court

2023Series6.5
The Parent 'Hood
7.3

The Parent 'Hood

1995Series7.3
Dream On
6.9

Dream On

1990Series6.9
The Upshaws
7.6

The Upshaws

2021Series7.6
So Help Me Todd
7.3

So Help Me Todd

2022Series7.3
The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish
8.2

The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish

2024Series8.2
The Chris Rock Show
4.6

The Chris Rock Show

1997Series4.6
The PJs
6.9

The PJs

1999Series6.9
Cars on the Road
7.4

Cars on the Road

2022Series7.4
Not Dead Yet
7.0

Not Dead Yet

2023Series7.0
History of the World: Part II
5.7

History of the World: Part II

2023Series5.7
Day Break
7.4

Day Break

2006Series7.4
Promised Land
6.5

Promised Land

1996Series6.5
Rebel Highway
8.0

Rebel Highway

1994Series8.0
Time of Your Life
5.9

Time of Your Life

1999Series5.9
I Love That for You
6.4

I Love That for You

2022Series6.4
Roc
7.9

Roc

1991Series7.9
Grown Ups
6.2

Grown Ups

1999Series6.2
Bette
7.8

Bette

2000Series7.8
The Playboy Club
5.3

The Playboy Club

2011Series5.3
The Temptations
8.0

The Temptations

1998Series8.0
Rhona Who Lives by the River

Rhona Who Lives by the River

Series
Courthouse
8.0

Courthouse

1995Series8.0
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela

Jenifer Lewis and Shangela

2012Series