
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.
TV Shows(67)

Haunted Hotel
Additional Voices (voice)
2025

The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish
Mother Nature (voice)
2024

History of the World: Part II
Grandma
2023

Not Dead Yet
Donna
2023

Night Court
Erika
2023

So Help Me Todd
Jacqueline Burton
2022

Sherri
Self - Guest
2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self - Guest
2022

Cars on the Road
Flo (voice)
2022

I Love That for You
Patricia Cochran
2022

And Just Like That…
Lucille Highwater
2021

The Ghost and Molly McGee
Patty (voice)
2021

Mickey Mouse Funhouse
Wheezelene (voice)
2021

Monsters at Work
Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
2021

Rugrats
Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice)
2021

The Upshaws
Dr. Pearl Edmunds
2021

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant
2021

Star Trek: Lower Decks
Bartender (voice)
2020

Stars in the House
Self - Special Guest
2020

Amphibia
Mama Hasselback (voice)
2019

grown-ish
Ruby Johnson
2018

Big Hero 6 The Series
Professor Granville (voice)
2017

The $100,000 Pyramid
Self
2016

Match Game
Self - Panelist
2016

To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist
2016

black-ish
Ruby Johnson
2014

Teen Titans Go!
Microwavabelle (voice)
2013

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Self - Guest Judge
2012

Jenifer Lewis and Shangela
Jenifer Lewis
2012

The Playboy Club
Pearl
2011

Young Justice
Olympia Savage (voice)
2010

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009

Day Break
Elizabeth Hopper
2006

Shark
Ellie Broussard
2006

The Boondocks
Boss Willona (voice)
2005

Dancing with the Stars
Self - Musical Guest
2005

American Dad!
Lessie (voice)
2005

Boston Legal
Judge Isabel Fisher
2004

That's So Raven
Vivian
2003

Bette
2000

Girlfriends
Veretta Childs
2000

Strong Medicine
Lana Hawkins
2000

Time of Your Life
1999
Grown Ups
Kathy
1999

The PJs
Bebe Ho (voice)
1999

The Temptations
Mama Rose
1998

The Chris Rock Show
Self
1997

Promised Land
Queenie
1996

The Jamie Foxx Show
Josie
1996

The Daily Show
1996

Moesha
Mrs. Biggs
1996
Courthouse
Judge Rosetta Reide
1995

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Female Black Widow Spider (voice)
1995

The Parent 'Hood
1995

Friends
Paula
1994

Touched by an Angel
Queenie
1994

New York Undercover
1994

Rebel Highway
Amanda Baldwin Cooper
1994

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Mystique
1993

Living Single
1993

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Georgia Rodman
1992

Roc
Charlaine
1991

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Aunt Helen
1990

Dream On
Carolyn
1990

In Living Color
1990

A Different World
Susan Clayton
1987
Rhona Who Lives by the River
Missy
Movies(76)

GOAT
Flo Everson (voice)
2026

Ado
Ms. Hopkins
2025

Tiana's Bayou Adventure | Disneyland Resort
Mama Odie (Voice)
2025

Spellbound
Nazara (voice)
2024

The Greatest Love Story Never Told
Self
2024

This Is Me…Now
Gemini
2024

Commitment to Life
Self (archive footage)
2023

black-ish: A Celebration – An ABC News Special
Self
2022

All Boys Aren't Blue
2021

Finding Kendrick Johnson
Narrator (voice)
2021

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
Margeline
2020

Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
Self (archive footage)
2019

The Addams Family
Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
2019

Forbidden
2018

Cars 3
Flo (voice)
2017

Jewel's Catch One
Self
2017

Secrets of the Magic City
Aunt Valerie
2015

The Wedding Ringer
Doris Jenkins
2015

Think Like a Man Too
Loretta
2014

The Radiator Springs 500½
Flo (voice)
2014

Baggage Claim
Catherine Moore
2013

Hiccups
Flo (voice)
2013

Zambezia
Gogo (voice)
2012

Think Like a Man
Loretta Hanover
2012

Five
Maggie
2011

Cars 2
Flo (voice)
2011

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren
Retirement Home Waitress (uncredited)
2011

Hereafter
Candace
2010

The Princess and the Frog
Mama Odie (voice)
2009

Not Easily Broken
Mary 'Mama' Clark
2009

Prop 8: The Musical
Riffing Prop 8'er
2008

Meet the Browns
Vera
2008

Redrum
Therapist
2007

Who's Your Caddy?
C-Note's Mom
2007

Geared-Up
2006

Dirty Laundry
Aunt Lettuce
2006

Cars
Flo (voice)
2006

Madea's Family Reunion
Milay Jenay Lori
2006

Earth to America
Self
2005

Shark Tale
Motown Turtle (voice)
2004

The Cookout
Lady Em
2004

Nora's Hair Salon
Nora
2004

Antwone Fisher
Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
2002

Juwanna Mann
Aunt Ruby
2002

The Brothers
Louise Smith
2001

Dancing in September
Judge Warner
2001

Cast Away
Becca Twig
2000

Partners
Detective Lancy
2000

Little Richard
Muh Penniman
2000

Mystery Men
Lucille
1999

Jackie's Back!
Jackie Washington
1999

Blast from the Past
Dr. Aron
1999

Get Bruce!
Self
1999

An Unexpected Life
Camille
1998

The Mighty
Mrs. Addison
1998

Rituals
Carmen
1998

The Preacher's Wife
Margueritte Coleman
1996

Girl 6
Boss #1 - Lil
1996

Dead Presidents
Mrs. Curtis
1995

Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
Denice Cooper
1995

Panther
Rita
1995

Deconstructing Sarah
Betty
1994

Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Amanda
1994

Corrina, Corrina
Jevina
1994

Renaissance Man
Mrs. Coleman
1994

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Vegas Backup Singer #1
1993

Undercover Blues
Cab Driver
1993

The Meteor Man
Mrs. Williams
1993

Poetic Justice
Annie
1993

What's Love Got to Do with It
Zelma Bullock
1993

Frozen Assets
Jomisha
1992

Sister Act
Michelle
1992

Sunday in Paris
Taylor Chase
1991

Beaches
Diva
1988

Bette Midler: Art or Bust
Self - Harlette
1984
Bette Midler: No Frills
Herself
1983