Jenifer Lewis
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1957-01-25 (68 years old)
Place of Birth
Kinloch, Missouri, USA
Jenifer Lewis
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.
Acting
(2025)
ADO
as Ms. Hopkins
(2024)
Spellbound
as Nazara (voice)
(2024)
This Is Me…Now
as Gemini
(2024)
(2022)
(2021)
Finding Kendrick Johnson
as Narrator (voice)
(2021)
(2020)
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
as Margeline
(2019)
The Addams Family
as Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
(2019)
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
as Self (archive footage)
(2018)
(2017)
Cars 3
as Flo (voice)
(2017)
Jewel's Catch One
as Self
(2015)
The Wedding Ringer
as Doris Jenkins
(2015)
Secrets of the Magic City
as Aunt Valerie
(2014)
Think Like a Man Too
as Loretta
(2014)
The Radiator Springs 500½
as Flo (voice)
(2013)
Baggage Claim
as Catherine Moore
(2013)
Hiccups
as Flo (voice)
(2012)
Think Like a Man
as Loretta Hanover
(2012)
Zambezia
as Gogo (voice)
(2011)
Cars 2
as Flo (voice)
(2011)
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
as Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
(2011)
Five
as Maggie
(2010)
Hereafter
as Candace
(2009)
The Princess and the Frog
as Mama Odie (voice)
(2009)
Not Easily Broken
as Mary 'Mama' Clark
(2008)
Meet the Browns
as Vera
(2008)
Prop 8: The Musical
as Riffing Prop 8'er
(2007)
Who's Your Caddy?
as C-Note's Mom
(2007)
Redrum
as Therapist
(2006)
Cars
as Flo (voice)
(2006)
Madea's Family Reunion
as Milay Jenay Lori
(2006)
Dirty Laundry
as Aunt Lettuce
(2006)
(2005)
Earth to America
as Self
(2004)
Shark Tale
as Motown Turtle (voice)
(2004)
The Cookout
as Lady Em
(2004)
Nora's Hair Salon
as Nora
(2002)
Juwanna Mann
as Aunt Ruby
(2001)
The Brothers
as Louise Smith
(2001)
Dancing in September
as Judge Warner
(2000)
Cast Away
as Becca Twig
(2000)
Little Richard
as Muh Penniman
(2000)
Partners
as Detective Lancy
(1999)
Blast from the Past
as Dr. Aron
(1999)
Mystery Men
as Lucille
(1999)
Get Bruce!
as Self
(1999)
Jackie's Back!
as Jackie Washington
(1998)
The Mighty
as Mrs. Addison
(1998)
An Unexpected Life
as Camille
(1996)
The Preacher's Wife
as Margueritte Coleman
(1996)
Girl 6
as Boss #1 - Lil
(1995)
Dead Presidents
as Mrs. Curtis
(1995)
Panther
as Rita
(1995)
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
as Denice Cooper
(1994)
Corrina, Corrina
as Jevina
(1994)
Renaissance Man
as Mrs. Coleman
(1994)
Deconstructing Sarah
as Betty
(1994)
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
as Amanda
(1993)
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
as Vegas Backup Singer #1
(1993)
Poetic Justice
as Annie
(1993)
What's Love Got to Do with It
as Zelma Bullock
(1993)
Undercover Blues
as Cab Driver
(1993)
The Meteor Man
as Mrs. Williams
(1992)
Sister Act
as Michelle
(1992)
Frozen Assets
as Jomisha
(1991)
Sunday in Paris
as Taylor Chase
(1988)
Beaches
as Diva
(1984)
Bette Midler: Art or Bust
as Self - Harlette
(1983)
Bette Midler: No Frills
as Herself
Crew
(2013)
(1999)
Jackie's Back!
Co-Producer