Jenifer Lewis
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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
Credits
GOAT (2026)
as Flo Everson (voice)
Cars 2 (2011)
as Flo (voice)
Cars (2006)
as Flo (voice)
Cars 3 (2017)
as Flo (voice)
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
as Mama Odie (voice)
Shark Tale (2004)
as Motown Turtle (voice)
The Addams Family (2019)
as Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
Cast Away (2000)
as Becca Twig
Sister Act (1992)
as Michelle
Blast from the Past (1999)
as Dr. Aron
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
as Vegas Backup Singer #1
The Wedding Ringer (2015)
as Doris Jenkins
Spellbound (2024)
as Nazara (voice)
Think Like a Man Too (2014)
as Loretta
Renaissance Man (1994)
as Mrs. Coleman
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
as Margueritte Coleman
Think Like a Man (2012)
as Loretta Hanover
This Is Me…Now (2024)
as Gemini
Mystery Men (1999)
as Lucille
Madea's Family Reunion (2006)
as Milay Jenay Lori
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
as Zelma Bullock
Zambezia (2012)
as Gogo (voice)
Dead Presidents (1995)
as Mrs. Curtis
Hereafter (2010)
as Candace
Corrina, Corrina (1994)
as Jevina
Beaches (1988)
as Diva
Baggage Claim (2013)
as Catherine Moore
Undercover Blues (1993)
as Cab Driver
Not Easily Broken (2009)
as Mary 'Mama' Clark
Poetic Justice (1993)
as Annie
The Greatest Love Story Never Told (2024)
as Self
The Mighty (1998)
as Mrs. Addison
Panther (1995)
as Rita
Antwone Fisher (2002)
as Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
The Meteor Man (1993)
as Mrs. Williams
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square (2020)
as Margeline
Juwanna Mann (2002)
as Aunt Ruby
The Radiator Springs 500½ (2014)
as Flo (voice)
Who's Your Caddy? (2007)
as C-Note's Mom
Geared-Up (2006)
Actor
Get Bruce! (1999)
as Self
Meet the Browns (2008)
as Vera
Girl 6 (1996)
as Boss #1 - Lil
Jackie's Back! (1999)
as Jackie Washington
Five (2011)
as Maggie
Prop 8: The Musical (2008)
as Riffing Prop 8'er
The Cookout (2004)
as Lady Em
Nora's Hair Salon (2004)
as Nora
The Brothers (2001)
as Louise Smith
Jewel's Catch One (2017)
as Self
black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special (2022)
as Self
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan (1995)
as Denice Cooper
Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1994)
as Amanda
Secrets of the Magic City (2015)
as Aunt Valerie
Hiccups (2013)
as Flo (voice)
Forbidden (2018)
Actor
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren (2011)
as Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
Commitment to Life (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
Deconstructing Sarah (1994)
as Betty
Little Richard (2000)
as Muh Penniman
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back (2019)
as Self (archive footage)
Frozen Assets (1992)
as Jomisha
Ado (2025)
as Ms. Hopkins
Bette Midler: Art or Bust (1984)
as Self - Harlette
Earth to America (2005)
as Self
Redrum (2007)
as Therapist
Finding Kendrick Johnson (2021)
as Narrator (voice)
Rituals (1998)
as Carmen
An Unexpected Life (1998)
as Camille
All Boys Aren't Blue (2021)
Actor
Bette Midler: No Frills (1983)
as Herself
Dancing in September (2001)
as Judge Warner
Women Like Us (—)
Actor
Partners (2000)
as Detective Lancy
Dirty Laundry (2006)
as Aunt Lettuce
Sunday in Paris (1991)
as Taylor Chase