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