Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957 in Kinloch, Missouri) is an American actress, voice artist, and singer. She has a long, storied career, having memorable roles on stage and on screen. She is also known for playing a mother in several productions such as playing Tina Turner's mother in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) and in Whitney Houston's character's mother in The Preachers Wife, earning her the nickname of "The Mother of Black Hollywood." She's also a voice actress, most notably playing Mama Odie in The Princess and the Frog.
Selected Filmography
Film
- Beaches (1988) - Diva
- Sister Act (1992) - Michelle
- What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) (1993) - Zelma Bullock
- Poetic Justice (1993) - Anne
- The Meteor Man (1993) - Mrs. Williams
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) - Michelle
- Renaissance Man (1994) - Mrs. Coleman
- Corrina, Corrina (1994) - Jevina Washington
- Panther (1995) - Rita
- Dead Presidents (1995) - Mrs. Curtis
- The Preachers Wife (1996) - Marguerite Coleman
- Blast from the Past (1999) - Dr. Aron
- Mystery Men (1999) - Lucille
- Get Bruce (1999) - Herself
- Cast Away (2000) - Becca Twig
- The Brothers (2001) - Louise Smith
- Juwanna Mann (2002) - Aunt Ruby
- Antwone Fisher (2002) - Aunt Mary Williams
- The Cookout (2004) - Emma "Lady Em" Andersen
- Shark Tale (2004) - Motown Turtle, voice
- Madea's Family Reunion (2006) - Milay Jenay Lori
- Cars (2006) - Flo, voice
- Dirty Laundry (2006) - Aunt Lettuce
- The Heart Specialist (2006) - Nurse Jackson
- Whos Your Caddy (2007) - Mrs. Hawkins
- Redrum (2007) - Therapist
- Meet The Browns (2008) - Vera Brown
- Not Easily Broken (2009) - Mary 'Mama' Clark
- The Princess and the Frog (2009) - Mama Odie, voice
- Hereafter (2010) - Candace
- Cars 2 (2011) - Flo, voice
- Think Like a Man (2012) - Loretta Hanover
- Zambezia (2012) - Gogo, voice
- Playin For Love (2013) - Alize Gates
- Baggage Claim (2013) - Catherine Moore
- Think Like a Man Too (2014) - Loretta Hanover
- The Wedding Ringer (2015) - Doris Jenkins
- Cars 3 (2017) - Flo, voice
- The Addams Family (2019) - Great Auntie Sloom, voice
Television
- A Different World (1990–1993) - Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport, recurring role, 9 episodes
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1991–1996) - Aunt Helen Smith, recurring role, 8 episodes
- Courthouse (1995) - Judge Rosetta Reide, series regular
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1997–1999) - Black Widow Spider, Hazel
- The Temptations (1998) - Mama Rose Franklin
- The PJs (1999–2001) - Bebe Ho, series regular
- Strong Medicine (2000–2006) - Receptionist Lana Hawkins, series regular
- Girlfriends (2000) (2002–2006) - Veretta Childs, recurring role, 7 episodes
- The Proud Family (2003) - Aunt Spice, episode: "Penny Potter"
- That's So Raven (2004) - Vivian Baxter, episode: "To See or Not to See"
- Meet the Browns (2009–2010) - Vera Brown, recurring role, 4 episodes
- The Cleveland Show (2011) - Various roles, recurring
- The Playboy Club (2011) - Pearl, recurring role, 7 episodes
- The Boondocks (2014) - Boss Willona/Geraldine, episodes: "Breaking Grandad" and "Early Bird Special"
- black•ish (2014–present) - Ruby Johnson, recurring (Season 1), series regular (Season 2-)
- Big Hero 6: The Series (2017–2021) - Professor Granville, main cast
- Young Justice (2019) as Olympia Savage (1 episode)
- Elena of Avalor (2019) - Tornado (2 episodes)
- Central Park (2022) - Celeste Tillerman (1 episode)
- History of the World Part II (2023) - TBA