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