Acting · Kinloch, Missouri, USA · Born January 25, 1957
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.
MovieGOAT
2026
as Flo Everson (voice)
TVHaunted Hotel
2025
as Additional Voices (voice)
MovieTiana's Bayou Adventure | Disneyland Resort
2025
as Mama Odie (Voice)
MovieAdo
2025
as Ms. Hopkins
MovieSpellbound
2024
as Nazara (voice)
TVThe Fairly OddParents: A New Wish
2024
as Mother Nature (voice)
MovieThe Greatest Love Story Never Told
2024
as Self
MovieThis Is Me…Now
2024
as Gemini
TVHistory of the World: Part II
2023
as Grandma
MovieCommitment to Life
2023
as Self (archive footage)
TVNot Dead Yet
2023
as Donna
TVNight Court
2023
as Erika
TVSo Help Me Todd
2022
as Jacqueline Burton
TVSherri
2022
as Self - Guest
TVThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
as Self - Guest
TVCars on the Road
2022
as Flo (voice)
TVI Love That for You
2022
as Patricia Cochran
Movieblack-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special
2022
as Self
TVAnd Just Like That…
2021
as Lucille Highwater
TVThe Ghost and Molly McGee
2021
as Patty (voice)
TVMickey Mouse Funhouse
2021
as Wheezelene (voice)
MovieAll Boys Aren't Blue
2021
MovieFinding Kendrick Johnson
2021
as Narrator (voice)
TVMonsters at Work
2021
as Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
TVRugrats
2021
as Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
TVThe Upshaws
2021
as Dr. Pearl Edmunds
TVCelebrity Wheel of Fortune
2021
as Self - Contestant
MovieDolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
2020
as Margeline
TVStar Trek: Lower Decks
2020
as Bartender (voice)
TVStars in the House
2020
as Self - Special Guest
MovieMaurice Hines: Bring Them Back
2019
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Addams Family
2019
as Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
TVAmphibia
2019
as Mama Hasselback (voice)
MovieForbidden
2018
TVgrown-ish
2018
as Ruby Johnson
TVBig Hero 6 The Series
2017
as Professor Granville (voice)
MovieCars 3
2017
as Flo (voice)
MovieJewel's Catch One
2017
as Self
TVThe $100,000 Pyramid
2016
as Self
TVMatch Game
2016
as Self - Panelist
TVTo Tell the Truth
2016
as Self - Panelist
MovieSecrets of the Magic City
2015
as Aunt Valerie
MovieThe Wedding Ringer
2015
as Doris Jenkins
TVblack-ish
2014
as Ruby Johnson
MovieThink Like a Man Too
2014
as Loretta
MovieThe Radiator Springs 500½
2014
as Flo (voice)
MovieBaggage Claim
2013
as Catherine Moore
TVTeen Titans Go!
2013
as Microwavabelle (voice)
MovieHiccups
2013
as Flo (voice)
TVRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
2012
as Self - Guest Judge
TVJenifer Lewis and Shangela
2012
as Jenifer Lewis
MovieZambezia
2012
as Gogo (voice)
MovieThink Like a Man
2012
as Loretta Hanover
MovieFive
2011
as Maggie
TVThe Playboy Club
2011
as Pearl
MovieCars 2
2011
as Flo (voice)
MovieWhen Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
2011
as Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
TVYoung Justice
2010
as Olympia Savage (voice)
MovieHereafter
2010
as Candace
MovieThe Princess and the Frog
2009
as Mama Odie (voice)
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
MovieNot Easily Broken
2009
as Mary 'Mama' Clark
MovieProp 8: The Musical
2008
as Riffing Prop 8'er
MovieMeet the Browns
2008
as Vera
MovieRedrum
2007
as Therapist
MovieWho's Your Caddy?
2007
as C-Note's Mom
TVDay Break
2006
as Elizabeth Hopper
MovieGeared-Up
2006
TVShark
2006
as Ellie Broussard
MovieDirty Laundry
2006
as Aunt Lettuce
MovieCars
2006
as Flo (voice)
MovieMadea's Family Reunion
2006
as Milay Jenay Lori
MovieEarth to America
2005
as Self
TVThe Boondocks
2005
as Boss Willona (voice)
TVDancing with the Stars
2005
as Self - Musical Guest
TVAmerican Dad!
2005
as Lessie (voice)
TVBoston Legal
2004
as Judge Isabel Fisher
MovieShark Tale
2004
as Motown Turtle (voice)
MovieThe Cookout
2004
as Lady Em
MovieNora's Hair Salon
2004
as Nora
TVThat's So Raven
2003
as Vivian
MovieAntwone Fisher
2002
as Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
MovieJuwanna Mann
2002
as Aunt Ruby
MovieThe Brothers
2001
as Louise Smith
MovieDancing in September
2001
as Judge Warner
MovieCast Away
2000
as Becca Twig
TVBette
2000
TVGirlfriends
2000
as Veretta Childs
TVStrong Medicine
2000
as Lana Hawkins
MoviePartners
2000
as Detective Lancy
MovieLittle Richard
2000
as Muh Penniman
TVTime of Your Life
1999
Grown Ups
1999
as Kathy
MovieMystery Men
1999
as Lucille
MovieJackie's Back!
1999
as Jackie Washington
MovieBlast from the Past
1999
as Dr. Aron
TVThe PJs
1999
as Bebe Ho (voice)
MovieGet Bruce!
1999
as Self
TVThe Temptations
1998
as Mama Rose
MovieAn Unexpected Life
1998
as Camille
MovieThe Mighty
1998
as Mrs. Addison
MovieRituals
1998
as Carmen
TVThe Chris Rock Show
1997
as Self
MovieThe Preacher's Wife
1996
as Margueritte Coleman
TVPromised Land
1996
as Queenie
TVThe Jamie Foxx Show
1996
as Josie
TVThe Daily Show
1996
MovieGirl 6
1996
as Boss #1 - Lil
TVMoesha
1996
as Mrs. Biggs
MovieDead Presidents
1995
as Mrs. Curtis
Courthouse
1995
as Rosetta Reide
MovieDeadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
1995
as Denice Cooper
MoviePanther
1995
as Rita
TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Female Black Widow Spider (voice)
TVThe Parent 'Hood
1995
MovieDeconstructing Sarah
1994
as Betty
TVFriends
1994
as Paula
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Queenie
TVNew York Undercover
1994
MovieShake, Rattle and Rock!
1994
as Amanda
MovieCorrina, Corrina
1994
as Jevina
TVRebel Highway
1994
as Amanda Baldwin Cooper
MovieRenaissance Man
1994
as Mrs. Coleman
MovieSister Act 2: Back in the Habit
1993
as Vegas Backup Singer #1
TVLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
as Mystique
MovieUndercover Blues
1993
as Cab Driver
TVLiving Single
1993
MovieThe Meteor Man
1993
as Mrs. Williams
MoviePoetic Justice
1993
as Annie
MovieWhat's Love Got to Do with It
1993
as Zelma Bullock
MovieFrozen Assets
1992
as Jomisha
TVHangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992
as Georgia Rodman
MovieSister Act
1992
as Michelle
TVRoc
1991
as Charlaine
MovieSunday in Paris
1991
as Taylor Chase
TVThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Aunt Helen
TVDream On
1990
as Carolyn
TVIn Living Color
1990
MovieBeaches
1988
as Diva
TVA Different World
1987
as Susan Clayton
MovieBette Midler: Art or Bust
1984
as Self - Harlette
Bette Midler: No Frills
1983
as Herself
Rhona Who Lives by the River
as Missy
