Jenifer Lewis
Acting
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
Acting143
movieGOAT
2026
Flo Everson (voice)
tvHaunted Hotel
2025
Additional Voices (voice)
movieTiana's Bayou Adventure | Disneyland Resort
2025
Mama Odie (Voice)
movieAdo
2025
Ms. Hopkins
movieSpellbound
2024
Nazara (voice)
tvThe Fairly OddParents: A New Wish
2024
Mother Nature (voice)
movieThis Is Me…Now
2024
Gemini
movieCommitment to Life
2023
Self (archive footage)
tvNot Dead Yet
2023
Donna
tvNight Court
2023
Erika
tvSo Help Me Todd
2022
Jacqueline Burton
tvSherri
2022
Self - Guest
tvThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
Self - Guest
tvCars on the Road
2022
Flo (voice)
tvI Love That for You
2022
Patricia Cochran
tvAnd Just Like That…
2021
Lucille Highwater
tvThe Ghost and Molly McGee
2021
Patty (voice)
tvMickey Mouse Funhouse
2021
Wheezelene (voice)
movieFinding Kendrick Johnson
2021
Narrator (voice)
tvMonsters at Work
2021
Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
tvRugrats
2021
Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice) / Ms. Marjorie (voice)
tvThe Upshaws
2021
Dr. Pearl Edmunds
tvCelebrity Wheel of Fortune
2021
Self - Contestant
tvStar Trek: Lower Decks
2020
Bartender (voice)
tvStars in the House
2020
Self - Special Guest
movieMaurice Hines: Bring Them Back
2019
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Addams Family
2019
Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
tvAmphibia
2019
Mama Hasselback (voice)
tvgrown-ish
2018
Ruby Johnson
tvBig Hero 6 The Series
2017
Professor Granville (voice)
movieCars 3
2017
Flo (voice)
tvMatch Game
2016
Self - Panelist
tvTo Tell the Truth
2016
Self - Panelist
movieSecrets of the Magic City
2015
Aunt Valerie
movieThe Wedding Ringer
2015
Doris Jenkins
tvblack-ish
2014
Ruby Johnson
movieThe Radiator Springs 500½
2014
Flo (voice)
movieBaggage Claim
2013
Catherine Moore
tvTeen Titans Go!
2013
Microwavabelle (voice)
movieHiccups
2013
Flo (voice)
tvRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
2012
Self - Guest Judge
tvJenifer Lewis and Shangela
2012
Jenifer Lewis
movieZambezia
2012
Gogo (voice)
movieThink Like a Man
2012
Loretta Hanover
movieFive
2011
Maggie
movieCars 2
2011
Flo (voice)
movieWhen Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
2011
Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
tvYoung Justice
2010
Olympia Savage (voice)
movieHereafter
2010
Candace
movieThe Princess and the Frog
2009
Mama Odie (voice)
tvWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
Self - Guest
movieNot Easily Broken
2009
Mary 'Mama' Clark
movieProp 8: The Musical
2008
Riffing Prop 8'er
movieRedrum
2007
Therapist
movieWho's Your Caddy?
2007
C-Note's Mom
tvDay Break
2006
Elizabeth Hopper
tvShark
2006
Ellie Broussard
movieDirty Laundry
2006
Aunt Lettuce
movieCars
2006
Flo (voice)
movieMadea's Family Reunion
2006
Milay Jenay Lori
tvThe Boondocks
2005
Boss Willona (voice) / Geraldine (voice)
tvDancing with the Stars
2005
Self - Musical Guest
tvAmerican Dad!
2005
Lessie (voice)
tvBoston Legal
2004
Judge Isabel Fisher
movieShark Tale
2004
Motown Turtle (voice)
movieThe Cookout
2004
Lady Em
tvThat's So Raven
2003
Vivian
movieAntwone Fisher
2002
Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
movieJuwanna Mann
2002
Aunt Ruby
movieThe Brothers
2001
Louise Smith
movieDancing in September
2001
Judge Warner
movieCast Away
2000
Becca Twig
tvGirlfriends
2000
Veretta Childs
tvStrong Medicine
2000
Lana Hawkins
moviePartners
2000
Detective Lancy
movieLittle Richard
2000
Muh Penniman
movieMystery Men
1999
Lucille
movieJackie's Back!
1999
Jackie Washington
movieBlast from the Past
1999
Dr. Aron
tvThe PJs
1999
Bebe Ho (voice)
tvThe Temptations
1998
Mama Rose
movieAn Unexpected Life
1998
Camille
movieThe Mighty
1998
Mrs. Addison
movieRituals
1998
Carmen
movieThe Preacher's Wife
1996
Margueritte Coleman
tvPromised Land
1996
Queenie
movieGirl 6
1996
Boss #1 - Lil
tvMoesha
1996
Mrs. Biggs
movieDead Presidents
1995
Mrs. Curtis
Courthouse
1995
Rosetta Reide
moviePanther
1995
Rita
tvHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
Female Black Widow Spider (voice) / Hazel (voice)
tvFriends
1994
Paula
tvTouched by an Angel
1994
Queenie
tvRebel Highway
1994
Amanda Baldwin Cooper
movieRenaissance Man
1994
Mrs. Coleman
movieSister Act 2: Back in the Habit
1993
Vegas Backup Singer #1
movieUndercover Blues
1993
Cab Driver
movieThe Meteor Man
1993
Mrs. Williams
movieWhat's Love Got to Do with It
1993
Zelma Bullock
movieFrozen Assets
1992
Jomisha
tvHangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
Georgia Rodman
movieSister Act
1992
Michelle
tvRoc
1991
Charlaine
movieSunday in Paris
1991
Taylor Chase
tvThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
Aunt Helen
tvDream On
1990
Carolyn
movieBeaches
1988
Diva
tvA Different World
1987
Susan Clayton / Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
movieBette Midler: Art or Bust
1984
Self - Harlette
Production2
tvJenifer Lewis and Shangela
2012
Producer
movieJackie's Back!
1999
Co-Producer
Creator1
Crew1
Sound1
tvJenifer Lewis and Shangela
2012
Theme Song Performance