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.

Known For

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

American Dad!

The Daily Show

Friends

GOAT

Teen Titans Go!

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Dancing with the Stars

All Movies (76)

• GOAT2026 · as Flo Everson (voice)
• Tiana's Bayou Adventure | Disneyland Resort2025 · as Mama Odie (Voice)
• Ado2025 · as Ms. Hopkins
• Spellbound2024 · as Nazara (voice)
• The Greatest Love Story Never Told2024 · as Self
• This Is Me…Now2024 · as Gemini
• Commitment to Life2023 · as Self (archive footage)
• black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special2022 · as Self
• All Boys Aren't Blue2021
• Finding Kendrick Johnson2021 · as Narrator (voice)
• Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square2020 · as Margeline
• Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Addams Family2019 · as Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
• Forbidden2018
• Cars 32017 · as Flo (voice)
• Jewel's Catch One2017 · as Self
• Secrets of the Magic City2015 · as Aunt Valerie
• The Wedding Ringer2015 · as Doris Jenkins
• Think Like a Man Too2014 · as Loretta
• The Radiator Springs 500½2014 · as Flo (voice)
• Baggage Claim2013 · as Catherine Moore
• Hiccups2013 · as Flo (voice)
• Zambezia2012 · as Gogo (voice)
• Think Like a Man2012 · as Loretta Hanover
• Five2011 · as Maggie
• Cars 22011 · as Flo (voice)
• When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren2011 · as Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
• Hereafter2010 · as Candace
• The Princess and the Frog2009 · as Mama Odie (voice)
• Not Easily Broken2009 · as Mary 'Mama' Clark
• Prop 8: The Musical2008 · as Riffing Prop 8'er
• Meet the Browns2008 · as Vera
• Redrum2007 · as Therapist
• Who's Your Caddy?2007 · as C-Note's Mom
• Geared-Up2006
• Dirty Laundry2006 · as Aunt Lettuce
• Cars2006 · as Flo (voice)
• Madea's Family Reunion2006 · as Milay Jenay Lori
• Earth to America2005 · as Self
• Shark Tale2004 · as Motown Turtle (voice)
• The Cookout2004 · as Lady Em
• Nora's Hair Salon2004 · as Nora
• Antwone Fisher2002 · as Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
• Juwanna Mann2002 · as Aunt Ruby
• The Brothers2001 · as Louise Smith
• Dancing in September2001 · as Judge Warner
• Cast Away2000 · as Becca Twig
• Partners2000 · as Detective Lancy
• Little Richard2000 · as Muh Penniman
• Mystery Men1999 · as Lucille
• Jackie's Back!1999 · as Jackie Washington
• Blast from the Past1999 · as Dr. Aron
• Get Bruce!1999 · as Self
• An Unexpected Life1998 · as Camille
• The Mighty1998 · as Mrs. Addison
• Rituals1998 · as Carmen
• The Preacher's Wife1996 · as Margueritte Coleman
• Girl 61996 · as Boss #1 - Lil
• Dead Presidents1995 · as Mrs. Curtis
• Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan1995 · as Denice Cooper
• Panther1995 · as Rita
• Deconstructing Sarah1994 · as Betty
• Shake, Rattle and Rock!1994 · as Amanda
• Corrina, Corrina1994 · as Jevina
• Renaissance Man1994 · as Mrs. Coleman
• Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit1993 · as Vegas Backup Singer #1
• Undercover Blues1993 · as Cab Driver
• The Meteor Man1993 · as Mrs. Williams
• Poetic Justice1993 · as Annie
• What's Love Got to Do with It1993 · as Zelma Bullock
• Frozen Assets1992 · as Jomisha
• Sister Act1992 · as Michelle
• Sunday in Paris1991 · as Taylor Chase
• Beaches1988 · as Diva
• Bette Midler: Art or Bust1984 · as Self - Harlette
• Bette Midler: No Frills1983 · as Herself

All TV Shows (71)

• Haunted Hotel2025 · as Additional Voices (voice)
• The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish2024 · as Mother Nature (voice)
• History of the World: Part II2023 · as Grandma
• Not Dead Yet2023 · as Donna
• Night Court2023 · as Erika
• So Help Me Todd2022 · as Jacqueline Burton
• Sherri2022 · as Self - Guest
• The Jennifer Hudson Show2022 · as Self - Guest
• Cars on the Road2022 · as Flo (voice)
• I Love That for You2022 · as Patricia Cochran
• And Just Like That…2021 · as Lucille Highwater
• The Ghost and Molly McGee2021 · as Patty (voice)
• Mickey Mouse Funhouse2021 · as Wheezelene (voice)
• Monsters at Work2021 · as Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
• Rugrats2021 · as Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
• Rugrats2021 · as Ms. Marjorie (voice)
• The Upshaws2021 · as Dr. Pearl Edmunds
• Celebrity Wheel of Fortune2021 · as Self - Contestant
• Star Trek: Lower Decks2020 · as Bartender (voice)
• Stars in the House2020 · as Self - Special Guest
• Amphibia2019 · as Mama Hasselback (voice)
• grown-ish2018 · as Ruby Johnson
• Big Hero 6 The Series2017 · as Professor Granville (voice)
• The $100,000 Pyramid2016 · as Self
• Match Game2016 · as Self - Panelist
• To Tell the Truth2016 · as Self - Panelist
• black-ish2014 · as Ruby Johnson
• Teen Titans Go!2013 · as Microwavabelle (voice)
• RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars2012 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Jenifer Lewis and Shangela2012 · as Jenifer Lewis
• The Playboy Club2011 · as Pearl
• Young Justice2010 · as Olympia Savage (voice)
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Day Break2006 · as Elizabeth Hopper
• Shark2006 · as Ellie Broussard
• The Boondocks2005 · as Boss Willona (voice)
• The Boondocks2005 · as Geraldine (voice)
• Dancing with the Stars2005 · as Self - Musical Guest
• American Dad!2005 · as Lessie (voice)
• Boston Legal2004 · as Judge Isabel Fisher
• That's So Raven2003 · as Vivian
• Bette2000
• Girlfriends2000 · as Veretta Childs
• Strong Medicine2000 · as Lana Hawkins
• Time of Your Life1999
• Grown Ups1999 · as Kathy
• The PJs1999 · as Bebe Ho (voice)
• The Temptations1998 · as Mama Rose
• The Chris Rock Show1997 · as Self
• Promised Land1996 · as Queenie
• The Jamie Foxx Show1996 · as Josie
• The Daily Show1996
• Moesha1996 · as Mrs. Biggs
• Courthouse1995 · as Rosetta Reide
• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · as Female Black Widow Spider (voice)
• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · as Hazel (voice)
• The Parent 'Hood1995
• Friends1994 · as Paula
• Touched by an Angel1994 · as Queenie
• New York Undercover1994
• Rebel Highway1994 · as Amanda Baldwin Cooper
• Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman1993 · as Mystique
• Living Single1993
• Hangin' with Mr. Cooper1992 · as Georgia Rodman
• Roc1991 · as Charlaine
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air1990 · as Aunt Helen
• Dream On1990 · as Carolyn
• In Living Color1990
• A Different World1987 · as Susan Clayton
• A Different World1987 · as Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
• Rhona Who Lives by the River— · as Missy