Jenifer Lewis
Known for Acting · 143 credits
- Born
- 1957-01-25 (age 69)
- Place of birth
- Kinloch, Missouri, USA
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.
Known For
TV Shows (67)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
The Daily Show
1996
American Dad!
2005
as Lessie (voice)
Friends
1994
as Paula
Dancing with the Stars
2005
as Self - Musical Guest
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
as Self - Guest
Teen Titans Go!
2013
as Microwavabelle (voice)
Young Justice
2010
as Olympia Savage (voice)
Boston Legal
2004
as Judge Isabel Fisher
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
as Mystique
Sherri
2022
as Self - Guest
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Queenie
Strong Medicine
2000
as Lana Hawkins
black-ish
2014
as Ruby Johnson
Shark
2006
as Ellie Broussard
Amphibia
2019
as Mama Hasselback (voice)
Girlfriends
2000
as Veretta Childs
A Different World
1987
as Susan Clayton / Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
Star Trek: Lower Decks
2020
as Bartender (voice)
The Ghost and Molly McGee
2021
as Patty (voice)
The Boondocks
2005
as Boss Willona (voice) / Geraldine (voice)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Aunt Helen
That's So Raven
2003
as Vivian
Moesha
1996
as Mrs. Biggs
New York Undercover
1994
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
2012
as Self - Guest Judge
grown-ish
2018
as Ruby Johnson
Stars in the House
2020
as Self - Special Guest
And Just Like That…
2021
as Lucille Highwater
Monsters at Work
2021
as Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
Big Hero 6 The Series
2017
as Professor Granville (voice)
To Tell the Truth
2016
as Self - Panelist
Match Game
2016
as Self - Panelist
The Jamie Foxx Show
1996
as Josie
In Living Color
1990
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Female Black Widow Spider (voice) / Hazel (voice)
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
as Georgia Rodman
The $100,000 Pyramid
2016
as Self
Living Single
1993
The Parent 'Hood
1995
So Help Me Todd
2022
as Jacqueline Burton
Rugrats
2021
as Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice) / Ms. Marjorie (voice)
Dream On
1990
as Carolyn
The Upshaws
2021
as Dr. Pearl Edmunds
Night Court
2023
as Erika
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
2021
as Self - Contestant
The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish
2024
as Mother Nature (voice)
History of the World: Part II
2023
as Grandma
Mickey Mouse Funhouse
2021
as Wheezelene (voice)
Promised Land
1996
as Queenie
Day Break
2006
as Elizabeth Hopper
The Chris Rock Show
1997
as Self
The PJs
1999
as Bebe Ho (voice)
Rebel Highway
1994
as Amanda Baldwin Cooper
Not Dead Yet
2023
as Donna
Haunted Hotel
2025
as Additional Voices (voice)
Cars on the Road
2022
as Flo (voice)
Bette
2000
Grown Ups
1999
as Kathy
Time of Your Life
1999
Movies (76)
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)
Blast from the Past
1999
as Dr. Aron
The Addams Family
2019
as Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
Spellbound
2024
as Nazara (voice)
The Wedding Ringer
2015
as Doris Jenkins
Sister Act
1992
as Michelle
Dead Presidents
1995
as Mrs. Curtis
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
1993
as Vegas Backup Singer #1
Mystery Men
1999
as Lucille
Poetic Justice
1993
as Annie
Hereafter
2010
as Candace
Baggage Claim
2013
as Catherine Moore
What's Love Got to Do with It
1993
as Zelma Bullock
Think Like a Man Too
2014
as Loretta
Madea's Family Reunion
2006
as Milay Jenay Lori
Undercover Blues
1993
as Cab Driver
Think Like a Man
2012
as Loretta Hanover
Not Easily Broken
2009
as Mary 'Mama' Clark
Zambezia
2012
as Gogo (voice)
Five
2011
as Maggie
The Meteor Man
1993
as Mrs. Williams
Renaissance Man
1994
as Mrs. Coleman
Beaches
1988
as Diva
Antwone Fisher
2002
as Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
Corrina, Corrina
1994
as Jevina
This Is Me…Now
2024
as Gemini
Who's Your Caddy?
2007
as C-Note's Mom
Meet the Browns
2008
as Vera
Earth to America
2005
as Self
Hiccups
2013
as Flo (voice)
The Preacher's Wife
1996
as Margueritte Coleman
The Mighty
1998
as Mrs. Addison
Panther
1995
as Rita
Juwanna Mann
2002
as Aunt Ruby
The Radiator Springs 500½
2014
as Flo (voice)
Girl 6
1996
as Boss #1 - Lil
The Cookout
2004
as Lady Em
The Brothers
2001
as Louise Smith
The Greatest Love Story Never Told
2024
as Self
Get Bruce!
1999
as Self
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
2011
as Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
Jackie's Back!
1999
as Jackie Washington
black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special
2022
as Self
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
2020
as Margeline
Forbidden
2018
Prop 8: The Musical
2008
as Riffing Prop 8'er
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
1994
as Amanda
Commitment to Life
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Frozen Assets
1992
as Jomisha
Rituals
1998
as Carmen
Redrum
2007
as Therapist
An Unexpected Life
1998
as Camille
Partners
2000
as Detective Lancy
Deconstructing Sarah
1994
as Betty
Dancing in September
2001
as Judge Warner
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Geared-Up
2006
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
1995
as Denice Cooper
Dirty Laundry
2006
as Aunt Lettuce
Secrets of the Magic City
2015
as Aunt Valerie
Nora's Hair Salon
2004
as Nora
Sunday in Paris
1991
as Taylor Chase
Little Richard
2000
as Muh Penniman
Bette Midler: Art or Bust
1984
as Self - Harlette
Tiana's Bayou Adventure | Disneyland Resort
2025
as Mama Odie (Voice)
All Boys Aren't Blue
2021
Jewel's Catch One
2017
as Self
Ado
2025
as Ms. Hopkins
Bette Midler: No Frills
1983
as Herself
Finding Kendrick Johnson
2021
as Narrator (voice)
About Jenifer Lewis
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… With 143 credits spanning from 1983 to 2026, Jenifer Lewis has appeared in 76 films and 67 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jenifer Lewis movies, Jenifer Lewis filmography, or the latest projects starring Jenifer Lewis can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jenifer Lewis Movies
- 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)
Where to Watch Jenifer Lewis Films
Most Jenifer Lewis movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jenifer Lewis, check our movies catalogue and browse page.