Jenifer Lewis

Jenifer Lewis Headshot

Actress • Comedian • Activist

Birth Date: January 25, 1957

Age: 67 years old

Birth Place: Kinloch, Missouri

Nicknamed the Black Mother of Hollywood, Jenifer Lewis played dozens of maternal figures during a prolific screen career, most notably Zelma Bullock in Tina Turner biopic "What's Love Got to Do With It" (1993) and Ruby Johnson in socially-conscious sitcom "Black-ish" (ABC, 2014-). Born in St. Louis, MO in 1957, Lewis studied theatre at Webster University before moving to New York to pursue a performing career. After making her Broadway debut in "Eabie," she was invited to join Bette Midler's backing band, The Staggering Harlettes, who performed with the star on various HBO specials and in "Beaches" (1988). Switching her focus to acting, Lewis played a judge in "Red Heat" (1988), back-up singer in "Sister Act" (1992) and college dean in "A Different World" (NBC, 1987-1993), and in 1991 joined "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" cast (NBC, 1990-96) as Aunt Helen. Her breakthrough came when she portrayed Tina Turner's real-life mother in "What's Love Got to Do With It" (1993). Lewis subsequently played maternal figures in "Poetic Justice" (1993), "The Meteor Man" (1993), "Panther" (1995), "Dead Presidents" (1995) and "The Preacher's Wife" (1996), but proved there was more to her talents when she became the first actress to play an African-American lesbian character in legal drama "Courthouse" (CBS, 1995). There were also memorable supporting roles as Whoopi Goldberg's sister in "Corrina, Corrina" (1994), sex line boss Lil in "Girl 6" (1996) and school principal Mrs. Addison in "The Mighty" (1998). After adding "An Unexpected Life" (1998), "Blast from the Past" (1999) and "Mystery Men" (1999) to her credits, she enjoyed a rare leading role in "Jackie's Back" (1999), a mockumentary about an aging soul diva's comeback attempt, played Tom Hanks' boss in "Cast Away" (2000) and voiced Bebe Ho in "The PJs" (Fox, 1999-2002). She landed her longest-recurring role when she was cast as receptionist Lana Hawkins in "Strong Medicine" (Lifetime, 2000-06). During her six-year stint on the medical drama she also performed the theme tune to, Lewis returned to motherly roles in "Little Richard" (2000), "The Brothers" (2001) and "Girlfriends" (UPN, 2002-08), and played aunts in "Juwanna Mann" (2002), "Antwone Fisher" (2002) and "Dirty Laundry" (2006). She also assumed the titular role in "Nora's Hair Salon" (2004) and voiced the Motown Turtle in "Shark Tale" and Flo in "Cars" (2006). Lewis then showed up in Tyler Perry's "Madea's Family Reunion" (2006) and "Meet the Browns" (2008), played mom in "Who's Your Caddy?" (2007), "Not Easily Broken" (2009), "Hereafter" (2010), "Think Like A Man" (2012) and "Baggage Claim" (2013), and voiced Mama Odie in "The Princess and the Frog" (2009) and Gogo in "Zambezia" (2012). There was also a recurring role as seamstress Pearl in "The Playboy Club" (NBC, 2011) and supporting parts in "Five" (2011), "Playin' for Love" (2013), "Secrets of the Magic City" (2014), "The Wedding Ringer" (2015) and "It Had To Be You" (2015). Lewis also became a regular prime-time face again when she was cast as Anthony Anderson's overbearing mother Ruby Johnson on "Black-ish" (ABC, 2014-).

Credits

A Conversation With Robin Roberts and Jenifer Lewis

Self
Show
2024

This Is Me... NowStream

Actor
Gemini
Movie
2024
75%

Night CourtStream

Guest Star
Erika Ellis
Series
2023
74%

So Help Me ToddStream

Guest Star
Jacqueline
Series
2022
56%

Sherri

Guest
Talk
2022

I Love That for YouStream

Actor
Patricia
Series
2022
81%

black-ish: A Celebration -- An ABC News Special

Self
Show
2022

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

Celebrity Wheel of FortuneStream

Guest
Game Show
2021

Finding Kendrick Johnson

Executive Producer
Movie
2021

Finding Kendrick Johnson

Narrator
Movie
2021

Jenifer Lewis Feat. The Pinnacle Gospel Choir: Dig a Little Deeper (From The Princess and the Frog)

Music Performer
Show
2020

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the SquareStream

Actor
Margeline
Movie
2020
64%

Tamron Hall

Guest
Talk
2019

Kiana Lede Feat. Jennifer Lewis: Heavy

Music Performer
Show
2019

The Addams FamilyStream

Voice
Great Auntie Sloom
Movie
2019
45%

Daily Blast Live

Guest
Show
2017

Harlem Story

Actor
Show
2017

Elena of AvalorStream

Guest Voice
Tornado
Series
2016

Match GameStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

To Tell the TruthStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

The Daily Show with Trevor NoahStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Celebrity Family FeudStream

Guest
Game Show
2015

The Wedding RingerStream

Actor
Doris Jenkins
Movie
2015
29%

It Had to Be You

Actor
Reggie
Movie
2015

Black-ishStream

Actor
Ruby
Series
2014
92%

Black-ishStream

Guest Star
Series
2014
92%

Black-ishStream

Voice
Ruby
Series
2014
92%

blackish: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Think Like a Man TooStream

Actor
Loretta
Movie
2014
24%

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Exhale

Guest
Show
2013

Mo'Nique Show: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

The Magic City

Actor
Aunt Valerie
Movie
2013

Playin' for Love

Actor
Alize Gates
Movie
2013

Zambezia - In jedem steckt ein kleiner Held!

Voice
Gogo
Movie
2012

Think Like a ManStream

Actor
Loretta
Movie
2012
54%

Zambezia

Voice
Gogo
Movie
2012

The Playboy Club

Actor
Pearl
Series
2011
21%

Dish Nation

Guest
Talk
2011

Cars 2Stream

Voice
Flo
Movie
2011
40%

Five

Actor
Pearl
Movie
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

The Cleveland ShowStream

Guest Voice
Receptionist/Middle-Aged Woman
Series
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Meet the BrownsStream

Guest Star
Series
2009

Not Easily BrokenStream

Actor
Mary "Mama" Clark
Movie
2009
31%

The Princess and the FrogStream

Voice
Mama Odie
Movie
2009
85%

The Doctors

Guest
Talk
2008

Tyler Perry's Meet the BrownsStream

Actor
Vera
Movie
2008
33%

Redrum

Actor
Therapist
Movie
2007

Tyler Perry's Madea's Family ReunionStream

Actor
Milay Jenay Lori
Movie
2006
26%

Dirty Laundry

Actor
Lettuce
Movie
2006

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Lessie
Series
2005

Boston LegalStream

Guest Star
Judge Isabel Fisher
Series
2004
86%

Cracking Up

Guest Star
Show
2004

The CookoutStream

Actor
Lady Em
Movie
2004
5%

Nora's Hair Salon

Actor
Nora
Movie
2004

That's So RavenStream

Guest Star
Series
2003

Juwanna Mann

Actor
Aunt Ruby
Movie
2002

The Proud FamilyStream

Guest Voice
Aunt Spice
Series
2001

The BrothersStream

Actor
Louise Smith
Movie
2001
63%

The Ponder Heart

Actor
Narcissa Wingfield
Movie
2001

GirlfriendsStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

Strong MedicineStream

Actor
Series
2000

Little Richard

Actor
Muh Penniman
Movie
2000

Dancing in September

Actor
Judge Warner
Movie
2000

Partners

Actor
Detective Lancy
Movie
2000

Grown Ups

Guest Star
Show
1999

The PJsStream

Voice
Bebe Ho
Series
1999

Jackie's Back!

Actor
Jackie Washington
Movie
1999

Jackie's Back!

Producer
Movie
1999

For Your Love

Guest Star
Show
1998

An Unexpected Life

Actor
Camille
Movie
1998

The MightyStream

Actor
Mrs. Addison
Movie
1998
75%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

CosbyStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

The Jamie Foxx ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

The Chris Rock ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1996

MoeshaStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

Girl 6

Actor
Lil
Movie
1996

The Preacher's WifeStream

Actor
Margueritte Coleman
Movie
1996
62%

Courthouse

Actor
Judge Rosetta Reide
Show
1995

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Voice
Show
1995

The Parent 'HoodStream

Guest Star
Series
1995

Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan

Actor
Denice Cooper
Movie
1995

Panther

Actor
Rita
Movie
1995

Dead PresidentsStream

Actor
Mrs. Curtis
Movie
1995
49%

FriendsStream

Guest Star
Paula
Series
1994
78%

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

Actor
Amanda
Movie
1994

Corrina, Corrina

Actor
Jevina
Movie
1994

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanStream

Guest Star
Series
1993
86%

Living SingleStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

What's Love Got to Do With ItStream

Actor
Zelma Bullock
Movie
1993
97%

Undercover Blues

Actor
Cab Driver
Movie
1993

The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

News aboutJenifer Lewis