Jenifer Lewis

Last updated

Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis.jpg
Lewis in 2008
Born
Jenifer Jeanette Lewis

(1957-01-25) January 25, 1957 (age 67)
Education Webster University
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present
SpouseArnold Byrd (m. 2012)[ citation needed ][ contradictory ]
Children1

Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) [1] is an American actress. She began her career appearing in Broadway musicals and worked as a back-up singer for Bette Midler before appearing in films Beaches (1988) and Sister Act (1992). Lewis is known for playing roles of mothers in the films What's Love Got to Do With It (1993), Poetic Justice (1993), The Preacher's Wife (1996), The Brothers (2001), The Cookout (2004), Think Like a Man (2012) and in the sequel Think Like a Man Too (2014), Baggage Claim (2013) and The Wedding Ringer (2015), as well as in The Temptations miniseries (1998).

Contents

Lewis is known unofficially as "The Mother of Black Hollywood" (also the name of her memoir) given her frequent matriarchal film and television roles. [2] [3] She also provided the voice for Mama Odie in Disney's animated feature The Princess and the Frog (2009), and Flo in Pixar's Cars series. Additional film roles include Dead Presidents (1995), Cast Away (2000) and Hereafter (2010).

On television, Lewis starred as Lana Hawkins in the Lifetime medical drama Strong Medicine from 2000 to 2006. She also had recurring roles on sitcoms A Different World , The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Girlfriends . In 2014, Lewis began starring as Ruby Johnson in the ABC comedy series Black-ish , for which she received two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations.

Early life

Lewis was born in Kinloch, Missouri, [1] a suburb of St. Louis, to a nurse's aide mother, Dorothy, and a factory worker father. Lewis is the youngest of seven children. She sang in her church choir at the age of five. She attended Kinloch High School and then college at Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri. She received an honorary degree from Webster in 2015. [4] After college, Lewis moved to New York.

Career

1970s1980s

Soon after she arrived in New York City, Lewis debuted on Broadway in a small role in Eubie (1979), the musical based on the work of Eubie Blake. [5] She next landed the role of Effie White in the workshop of the Michael Bennett–directed musical Dreamgirls , but when the show moved to Broadway, Bennett chose Jennifer Holliday for the role.[ citation needed ]

Lewis became a Harlette, a back-up singer for Bette Midler, which led to Lewis' first TV appearances on Midler's HBO specials. She was cast as a backup singer in the Otto Titsling production number in Midler's film Beaches (1988). At the same time, Lewis was developing her nightclub act, The Diva Is Dismissed, an autobiographical comedy and music show in New York City cabarets. She performed the show off-Broadway at the Public Theater. [6]

1990s

After Lewis relocated to Los Angeles, she began appearing in television sitcoms, including Murphy Brown , Dream On , In Living Color , Roc , Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and Friends . From 1992 to 1993, she played Dean Davenport in the sixth and final season of the NBC sitcom A Different World . She also had a recurring role as Will Smith's Aunt Helen in the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1991 to 1996. As a series regular, Lewis starred alongside Patricia Wettig in her short-lived legal drama Courthouse in 1995, playing Judge Rosetta Reide, the first main African American lesbian character on television. [7]

In 1992, Lewis was cast as one of the back-up singers to Whoopi Goldberg in the comedy film Sister Act . The following year, Lewis played the mother of Tupac Shakur's character in the film Poetic Justice , and as Zelma Bullock, Tina Turner's mother, in the biopic What's Love Got to Do With It starring Angela Bassett. Lewis has stated that she never auditioned to play Turner, but would have been thrilled to play the iconic singer. Lewis is only one year older than Bassett. For her performance, she received her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture nomination. In 1994, she followed with other comedic supporting roles, including Mrs. Coleman, the Unemployment Office lady, in Renaissance Man and as Whoopi Goldberg's sister in Corrina, Corrina . In 1995, she was cast in maternal roles to Kadeem Hardison in Panther and to Larenz Tate in Dead Presidents .[ citation needed ]

In 1996, Lewis appeared as Theresa Randle's telephone sex line boss in the film Girl 6 . Later that year, she played Whitney Houston's character's mother in the film The Preacher's Wife , [8] for which she received her second NAACP Image Award nomination. She also had roles in The Mighty (1998), The Temptations miniseries (1998), Mystery Men (1999) and Blast from the Past (1999), and the leading role in the film Jackie's Back (1999). [5]

2000s

In 2000, Lewis had a supporting role in the adventure drama film Cast Away , directed by Robert Zemeckis. [9] In the same year, she began starring as Lana Hawkins on the Lifetime television medical drama Strong Medicine , for which she also performed the theme song. [10] The show ended in February 2006. She also voiced Flo in Pixar's Cars franchise. She also had a recurring role as Veretta Childs (Toni's mother) in the UPN sitcom Girlfriends . In film, she appeared as Morris Chestnut's mother in the romantic comedy The Brothers (2001). In 2006, she had a featured role as the wedding planner in Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion , and also appeared in Perry's comedy-drama Meet the Browns (2008) as Vera Brown. She also appeared in Juwanna Mann (2002), The Cookout (2004), Nora's Hair Salon (2004), Dirty Laundry (2006) and Not Easily Broken (2009).

On April 22, 2008, Lewis replaced Darlene Love as Motormouth Maybelle in Broadway's Hairspray . [11] On television, she guest-starred on That's So Raven and Boston Legal . Lewis also had a number of voice acting roles, including Walt Disney Animation Studios's animated musical The Princess and the Frog (2009), for which she was nominated for the Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production. [12]

2010s

In June 2010, Lewis told the Jazz Joy and Roy syndicated radio show: "I just did a production of Hello Dolly at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle and it had to be one of the greatest productions that I have ever done, because I got to just do a character, Dolly Levi, and it was just great." [13] In 2012, Lewis began working with Shangela on the online reality show parody Jenifer Lewis and Shangela, where she acts as herself alongside Shangela, a "drag queen living in her basement." She later appeared in Shangela's music video for "Werqin Girl (Professional)".[ citation needed ]

In 2010, Clint Eastwood cast Lewis in his fantasy film Hereafter . [14] The following year, she starred alongside Rosario Dawson and Tracee Ellis Ross in Five , for which she received her third NAACP Image Award nomination. She also co-starred in the short-lived NBC series The Playboy Club . [15] She played Terrence J's overbearing mother in box-office hit Think Like a Man (2012) and its sequel Think Like a Man Too (2014). In 2013, she played Paula Patton's mother in the romantic comedy Baggage Claim . In 2015, she starred in the romantic comedy The Wedding Ringer . [3]

In 2014, Lewis was cast as Ruby Johnson, Anthony Anderson's character's mother in the ABC comedy series Black-ish . [16] She was elevated to series regular status as of the second season. In 2016, she received Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series nomination for her performance. [17] She has also been featured in various TV commercials.

In 2017, she published a book about her life and career, entitled The Mother of Black Hollywood, in which she shared her life experiences with Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, Chris Rock, Bette Midler, Rosie O'Donnell, Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. [18]

2020s

In 2022, Lewis was honored with a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. [19]

In 2024, Lewis competed in season eleven of The Masked Singer as "Miss Cleocatra" who later utilized an Egyptian throne prop. She was eliminated on "Girl Group Night". [20]

Also in 2024, the ABC special, After the Fall: A Conversation with Robin Roberts and Jenifer Lewis, premiered detailing a life threatening accident that happened while she was vacation in Africa.

In 2024, Lewis was honored with a star in the St. Louis Walk of Fame. [21]

Personal life

Lewis has revealed that she's been engaged four times but never married. She has an adopted daughter named Charmaine Lewis. [22] [23]

In 2015, Lewis was defrauded by a romance-scheme con man, which was detailed in the 2022 episode "Financial Infidelity", of the series American Greed . [24]

In 1990, Lewis was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. [25] She originally hid her diagnosis, as she felt ashamed, but eventually came to embrace it after 17 years of therapy and 10 years of medication. In a 2014 interview, she said: "You have to look in the mirror... and say—before you can go or grow into anything—you have to say you love yourself." [26]

In 2022, Lewis sustained life-threatening injuries after falling 10-feet from her hotel balcony in Serengeti. She was then airlifted to Nairobi where she underwent a nine-hour surgery followed by a six-day ICU stay. [27]

In April 2024, Lewis made remarks about the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, comparing him to Adolf Hitler. [28]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Red Heat Judge Jenifer LewisUncredited
Beaches Diva
1992 Sister Act Michelle
Frozen Assets Jomisha
1993 What's Love Got to Do With It Zelma BullockNominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Poetic Justice Anne
The Meteor Man Mrs. Williams
Undercover Blues Cab Driver
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Michelle
1994 Renaissance Man Mrs. Coleman
Corrina, Corrina Jevina Washington
1995 Panther Rita
Dead Presidents Mrs. Curtis
1996 Girl 6 Boss #1 — Lil
The Preacher's Wife Marguerite ColemanNominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
1998 The Mighty Mrs. Addison
1999 Blast from the Past Dr. Nina Aron
Mystery Men Lucille
Get Bruce Herself
2000 Dancing in September Judge Warner
Cast Away Becca Twig
2001 The Brothers Louise Smith
2002 Juwanna Mann Aunt Ruby
Antwone Fisher Aunt Mary WilliamsUncredited
2004 Nora's Hair Salon Nora Harper
The Cookout Emma "Lady Em" Andersen
Shark Tale Motown Turtle (voice)
2006 Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion Milay Jenay Lori
Cars Flo (voice) [29]
Dirty Laundry Aunt Lettuce
The Heart Specialist Nurse Jackson
2007 Who's Your Caddy? Mrs. Hawkins
RedrumTherapist
2008 Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns Vera Brown
2009 Not Easily Broken Mary "Mama" Clark
The Princess and the Frog Mama Odie (voice) [29]

Nominated — Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production

2010 Hereafter Candace
2011 Cars 2 Flo (voice) [29]
2012 Think Like a Man Loretta Hanover
Zambezia Gogo (voice) [29]
2013 Playin' for Love Alize Gates
Baggage Claim Catherine MooreNominated — Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast
2014 Secrets of the Magic City Aunt Valerie
Think Like a Man Too Loretta Hanover
2015 The Wedding Ringer Doris Jenkins
2017 Cars 3 Flo (voice) [29]

Nominated — Black Reel Award for Outstanding Voice Performance

2019 The Addams Family Great Auntie Sloom (voice) [29]
2020 Christmas on the Square Margeline
2024 This Is Me... Now: A Love Story Gemini
Spellbound Minister Nazara Prone (voice) [30]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990–91 Murphy Brown Sales Person2 episodes
1990–93 A Different World Susan Clayton / Dean Dorothy Dandridge DavenportRecurring role
1991 Stat Felicia BrownEpisode: "Psychosomatic"
Sunday in ParisTaylor ChasePilot
1991–96 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Aunt Helen SmithRecurring role
1992 Dream On CarolynEpisode: "To the Moon, Alex!"
1993 In Living Color Various charactersRecurring role
Roc CharlaineEpisode: "Joey the Bartender"
Moon Over Miami Aurora TylerEpisode: "If You Only Knew"
1993–95 Hangin' With Mr. Cooper Georgia Rodman3 episodes
1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman MystiqueEpisode: "All Shook Up"
Friends PaulaEpisode: "The One With the Thumb"
Deconstructing SarahBettyTelevision film
Shake, Rattle and Rock! Amanda
Last Days of RussellAunt Yvette
1995 New York Undercover MedinaEpisode: "Private Enemy No. 1"
Living Single Delia DeveauxEpisode: "Talk Showdown"
Courthouse Judge Rosetta ReideMain role
1996 Cosby BerniceEpisode: "Basketball Story"
1997 Touched by an Angel QueenieEpisode: "Amazing Grace: Part 1"
Promised Land Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 2"
1997–99 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Black Widow Spider / Hazel (voice)2 episodes
1998 The Parent 'Hood LindaEpisode: "Hurricane Linda"
The Temptations Mama Rose FranklinTelevision film
An Unexpected LifeCamille
1998–00 For Your Love Sylvia Ellis / Mel and Reggie's Mother2 episodes
1999 The Jamie Foxx Show JosieEpisode: "Always Follow Your Heart"
Moesha Mrs. BiggsEpisode: "A Den Is a Terrible Thing to Waste"
Grown Ups Melissa's motherEpisode: "Family Circus"
Time of Your Life Joss's motherEpisode: "The Time They Had Not"
Jackie's Back Jackie WashingtonTelevision film
Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actress
1999–01 The PJs Bebe Ho (voice)Main role
2000 Bette InezEpisode: "The Grammy Pre-Show"
Little Richard Muh PennimanTelevision film
PartnersDetective Lancy
2000–06 Strong Medicine Receptionist Lana HawkinsMain role
Nominated – NAMIC Vision Awards for Best Performance – Drama (2006)
2001 The Ponder Heart Narcissa WingfieldTelevision film
2002 Family Affair Mrs. SummersEpisode: "Pilot: Part 1"
2002–06 Girlfriends Veretta ChildsRecurring role
2003 The Proud Family Aunt Spice (voice)Episode: "Penny Potter"
2004 That's So Raven Vivian BaxterEpisode: "To See or Not to See"
2007 Day Break Elizabeth HopperEpisode: "What If She's Lying?"
Shark Ellie BroussardEpisode: "Backfire"
2007–08 Boston Legal Judge Isabel Fisher2 episodes
2009–10 Meet the Browns Vera BrownRecurring role
2011 The Cleveland Show Various voices2 episodes
American Dad! LessieEpisode: "School Lies"
State of Georgia PatriceEpisode: "Best Friends For-Never"
The Playboy Club PearlMain role
Five MaggieTelevision film
Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actress in a Television Miniseries or Movie
Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Nominated – NAMIC Vision Awards for Best Performance – Drama
2014 The Boondocks Boss Willona / Geraldine (voice)2 episodes
2014–22 Black-ish Ruby JohnsonRecurring (Season 1), Main role (Season 2-8)
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2017–2019)
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series (2016)
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2017)
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2017–2018)
2015 The Exes Caren DupreeEpisode: "Requiem for a Dream"
Instant Mom Delois2 episodes
It Had to Be YouReggieTelevision film
2017–21 Big Hero 6: The Series Professor Granville, additional voicesMain role [29]
2018 Young Justice Olympia Savage (voice)Episode: "Evolution" [29]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Guest JudgeEpisode: "All Star Super Queen Variety Show"
2019 Elena of Avalor Tornado (voice)2 episodes
2019–22 Tuca & Bertie Aunt Tallulah Toucan (voice)4 episodes
2020 Amphibia Mama Hasselback (voice)Episode: "The Ballad of Hopediah Planter" [29]
Twenties HerselfEpisode: "Redemption Song"
2021 Star Trek: Lower Decks Bartender (voice)Episode: "An Embarrassment of Dooplers"
2021–22 Rugrats Ms. Marjorie (voice)2 episodes
2021–24 The Ghost and Molly McGee Patty (voice) [29] Recurring role
2021–present Mickey Mouse Funhouse Wheezelene (voice)
2022 Grown-ish Ruby Johnson2 episodes
Central Park Celeste (voice)Episode: "Celeste We Forget"
I Love That for You Patricia CochranMain role [31]
Cars on the Road Flo (voice)Episode: "Dino Park" [29]
2023 The Upshaws Dr. Pearl Edmunds3 episodes
History of the World, Part II Grandma / Crimean War nurseEpisode: "IV"
2023; 2024 Princess Power Hilda (voice)2 episodes
2024 Night Court Erika EllisEpisode: "A Crime of Fashion"
Monsters at Work Virginia Tuskmon (voice)Recurring role [29]
So Help Me Todd Jacqueline BurtonEpisode: "End on a High Note" [32]
The Masked Singer Herself / Miss Cleocatra2 episodes [33]
Not Dead Yet Donna2 episodes [34]
The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish Mother Nature (voice)Episode: "Potazel Potahzel"
TBARhona Who Lives by the RiverMissy (voice)Upcoming series

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006 Cars Flo (voice)
2007 Cars Mater-National Championship
2009 Cars Race-O-Rama
2013 Disney Infinity

Music videos

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996"On & On"Erykah's Mother
2018 Forbidden Nosy neighbor"What's Going On", "Ring-a-Ling", "Apple Pie"

Theme parks

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989 Body Wars Ride Cue Instructional Video AnnouncerDisney attraction
2012 Radiator Springs Racers FloDisney attraction
2024 Tiana's Bayou Adventure Mama OdieDisney attraction

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Kane</span> American actress (born 1952)

Carolyn Laurie Kane is an American actress. She gained recognition for her role in Hester Street (1975), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She became known in the 1970s and 1980s in films such as Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Annie Hall (1977), When a Stranger Calls (1979), The Princess Bride (1987), Scrooged (1988) and Flashback (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bette Midler</span> American actress and singer (born 1945)

Bette Midler is an American actress, comedian, singer, and author. Throughout her five-decade career Midler has received numerous accolades, including four Golden Globe Awards, three Grammy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards and a British Academy Film Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katey Sagal</span> American actress (born 1954)

Catherine Louise Sagal is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Peggy Bundy on Married... with Children (1987–1997), Leela on Futurama, Cate Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules (2002–2005), Gemma Teller Morrow on the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2011, and Louise Goldufski-Conner on The Conners (2018–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Light</span> American actress (born 1949)

Judith Ellen Light is an American actress. She made her professional stage debut in 1970, before making her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of A Doll's House. Her breakthrough role was in the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1977 to 1983, where she played the role of Karen Wolek; for this role, she won two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1980 and 1981. In 2024, Light won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Poker Face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allison Janney</span> American actress (born 1959)

Allison Brooks Janney is an American actress. Known for her performances across the screen and stage, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and seven Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for two Tony Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendie Malick</span> American actress (born 1950)

Wendie Malick is an American actress and former fashion model, known for her roles in various television comedies. She starred as Judith Tupper Stone in the HBO sitcom Dream On and as Nina Van Horn in the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me!, with the latter earning nominations for two Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe Award.

Annie Golden is an American actress and singer. She first came to prominence as the lead singer of the punk band the Shirts from 1975 to 1981 with whom she recorded three albums. She began her acting career as Mother in the 1977 Broadway revival of Hair; later taking on the role of Jeannie Ryan in the 1979 film version of the musical. Other notable film credits include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Baby Boom (1987), Longtime Companion (1989), Strictly Business (1991), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), 12 Monkeys (1995), The American Astronaut (2001), It Runs in the Family (2003), Adventures of Power (2008), and I Love You Phillip Morris (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Smart</span> American actress (born 1951)

Jean Elizabeth Smart is an American actress. Her work includes both comedy and drama, and her accolades include six Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and nominations for a Tony Award and a Grammy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracee Ellis Ross</span> American actress (born 1972)

Tracee Joy Silberstein, known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000–2008) and Black-ish (2014–2022) receiving nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Anderson</span> American actor and comedian (born 1970)

Anthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian, and television host. He is known for his leading roles in television shows such as Andre "Dre" Johnson on the comedy series Black-ish (2014–2022), Marlin Boulet on the drama series K-Ville (2007), and NYPD Detective Kevin Bernard on the NBC crime drama Law & Order. He has also had major roles in feature films such as Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Kangaroo Jack (2003), Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004), Hustle & Flow (2005), The Departed (2006), Transformers (2007), and Scream 4 (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicki Lewis</span> American actress and singer (born 1960)

Vicki Lewis is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Beth in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio. She is also well known for her roles as Deb and Flo in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, April Smuntz in Mouse Hunt, and Dr. Elsie Chapman in Godzilla. Additionally, she starred as Headmistress Knightslinger in Upside-Down Magic on Disney Channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justina Machado</span> American actress

Justina Milagros Machado is an American actress. She began her career playing secondary roles on television and film before starring as Vanessa Diaz in the HBO comedy-drama series, Six Feet Under (2001—05), for which she received Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Machado later starred in the short-lived series Missing, Three Rivers and Welcome to the Family and was a regular cast member in the first season of the USA Network crime drama Queen of the South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheryl Lee Ralph</span> American actress and singer (born 1956)

Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress and singer. Known for her performances on stage and screen, she earned acclaim for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since 2021 she has starred as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, becoming the first Black woman in 35 years to win the award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Lenehan</span> American actress

Nancy Lenehan is an American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1980 action comedy film Smokey and the Bandit II and later had supporting roles in films She's Having a Baby (1988), Pleasantville (1998), and Catch Me If You Can (2002). Better known for her television appearances, Lenehan was regular cast member in a number of short-lived sitcoms, including Great Scott! (1992), The Faculty (1996), Married to the Kellys (2003–04), Worst Week (2008–09), How to Be a Gentleman (2011), and People of Earth (2016–17). She also had recurring roles on Grace Under Fire, My Name Is Earl, Caroline in the City, Ellen, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Veep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yara Shahidi</span> American actress and producer (born 2000)

Yara Sayeh Shahidi is an American actress and producer. She began her career as a child, appearing in the films Imagine That (2009), Butter (2011) and Alex Cross (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shangela</span> American drag queen

Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, better known by the stage name Shangela Laquifa Wadley or simply as Shangela, is an American drag queen, reality television personality, TV producer, and actor best known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race. Shangela was the first contestant eliminated in season two, and returned as a surprise contestant in the series' third season, placing sixth. She returned once again for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars where she finished in joint-third/fourth place alongside winner of the first season, BeBe Zahara Benet. Shangela has also made several television appearances and regularly performs across the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Brooks</span> American actress (born 1989)

Danielle Brooks is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was as prison inmate Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019).

Black-ish is an American sitcom television series created by Kenya Barris. It aired on ABC from September 24, 2014, to April 19, 2022, running for eight seasons with 176 episodes. Black-ish follows an upper class well-off black family headed by Andre "Dre" Johnson, a successful advertising executive, and his wife Rainbow "Bow", an anaesthesiologist. The show revolves around the wealthy Johnson family as they juggle personal, familial and sociopolitical issues, particularly in trying to reconcile their desire to stay true to their black identities with their choice to live in a wealthy, suburban white neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Scribner</span> American Actor

Marcus Scribner is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Andre "Junior" Johnson Jr. in all eight seasons of the ABC sitcom Black-ish, before starring as Junior in its spin-off Grown-ish from the fifth season onward, as well as voicing the characters Bow in the Netflix animated series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and D’Angelo Baker in DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marsai Martin</span> American actress (born 2004)

Caila Marsai Martin is an American actress and producer, best known for her role as Diane Johnson on the ABC sitcom Black-ish (2014–2022).

References

  1. 1 2 McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. p. 205. ISBN   9780786458042.
  2. Pendleton, Tonya (3 February 2014). "Jenifer Lewis: 'They Call Me the Black Mother of Hollywood'". Black America Web. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 Stephens, Stephanie (14 January 2015). "Mega Diva Jenifer Lewis on 'The Wedding Ringer' and Seeing Yourself". Parade. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  4. "Honorary Degrees at Webster University". Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Jenifer Lewis". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  6. Holden, Stephen (31 October 1994). "THEATER REVIEW; A Diva in Progress Travels the Road to Fame - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  7. "Lesbians on series TV" . Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  8. Lane, Clay (7 January 2009). "Jenifer Lewis: That's my mama!". BET.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  9. "Cast Away". Rotten Tomatoes. 22 December 2000. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  10. Winston, Oretha (20 October 2015). "Jenifer Lewis Brings Honesty To The Small Screen And Reminds Us To Live In Gratitude". Praise 104.7. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  11. The Broadway League. "Jenifer Lewis – IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information" . Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  12. "Annie Awards :: 37th Annie Awards" . Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  13. "Jenifer Lewis". Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  14. "Jenifer Lewis on "Hereafter"". BET.com. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  15. Williams, Brennan (22 September 2011). "Jenifer Lewis Talks: 'Playboy Club,' New Lifetime Film And Broadway Comeback". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  16. Slezak, Michael (30 September 2014). "ABC's black-ish Casts Jenifer Lewis as Anthony Anderson's Mother". TVLine. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  17. Gray, Tim (14 December 2015). "2016 Critics' Choice Award Nominations: Full List of Nominees – Variety". Variety. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  18. "Can We Talk About...? Divatastic Cult Classic "Jackie's Back ..." Logo TV. 10 July 2019.
  19. Pennacchio, George Pennacchio (16 July 2022). "Jenifer Lewis brings energy, joy, dancing to star unveiling on Hollywood Walk of Fame". KABC-TV.
  20. Schneider, Michael (24 April 2024). "'The Masked Singer' Reveals Identity of Miss Cleocatra: Here Is the Celebrity Under the Costume". Variety. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  21. Vaughn, Kenya (15 July 2024). "A star for a star: Jenifer Lewis enshrined on the St. Louis Walk of Fame". St. Louis American. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  22. Pennington, Gail (2 October 2011). "Actress Jenifer Lewis says Kinloch helped shape her". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  23. Stephens, Stephanie (9 January 2024) [1 April 2015]. "Jenifer Lewis: How a Diva Does Bipolar". bphope.com. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  24. "'It Was Beyond Shocking': 'Black-ish' Star Describes How She Helped Bring Down Fraudster Boyfriend After Discovering His Lies". Oxygen Official Site. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  25. "Jenifer Lewis Opens Up About Battle With Bipolar Disorder". BET.com. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  26. Lane, Derrick (25 January 2014). "Jenifer Lewis: "You Have To Love Yourself"". BlackDoctor. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  27. "Jenifer Lewis, 67, reveals 10-foot fall from Serengeti balcony: 'Nothing would move'". Los Angeles Times. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  28. "Jenifer Lewis Blasts 'F*cking Idiots' Who Don't See Trump Is 'Hitler'". Yahoo News UK. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Jenifer Lewis (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2 October 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  30. Grobar, Matt (21 June 2022). "Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Jenifer Lewis & More Board Animated Pic Spellbound From Apple & Skydance Animation". Deadline. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  31. Lambe, Stacy (18 February 2022). "First Look at Jenifer Lewis in Vanessa Bayer's I Love That for You". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  32. Swift, Andy (12 March 2024). "So Help Me Todd Casts Jenifer Lewis as Lyle's (Allegedly) Murderous Mother — Exclusive First Look". TVLine. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  33. Huff, Lauren (24 April 2024). "Miss Cleocatra was 'still on a little morphine' on The Masked Singer amid accident recovery". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  34. Boyle, Kelli (10 April 2024). "Not Dead Yet: Jenifer Lewis, Malcolm Barrett & Matt Walsh to Guest Star". TV Insider. Retrieved 2 October 2024.