Jenifer Lewis

Jenifer Lewis was born Jenifer Jeanette Lewis on January 25, 1957, in Kinloch, Missouri. Her professional journey began in New York City, where she made her Broadway debut in “Eubie” (1979). She notably performed as a Harlette, a backup singer for Bette Midler, appearing in Midler’s HBO specials and the film “Beaches” (1988). Parallel to her singing career, Lewis developed her autobiographical comedy and music show, “The Diva Is Dismissed,” which she performed in New York City cabarets and off-Broadway at The Public Theater. Her diverse talents quickly established her in the entertainment industry.

Upon relocating to Los Angeles, Lewis expanded her career into television, appearing in sitcoms like “Murphy Brown,” “Dream On,” and “In Living Color.” She held a recurring role as Dean Davenport in “A Different World” (1992-1993) and as Aunt Helen in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1991-1996). In film, she gained recognition for her role as Tina Turner’s mother, Zelma Bullock, in “What’s Love Got to Do With It” (1993), earning her first NAACP Image Award nomination. She also featured in “Poetic Justice” (1993) and later played Whitney Houston’s character’s mother in “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996), which brought another NAACP Image Award nomination. Her roles in this period often cast her as a maternal figure, earning her the unofficial title “The Mother of Black Hollywood.”

Lewis continued to build a prominent career in the new millennium with significant roles in both live-action and animated projects. From 2000 to 2006, she starred as Lana Hawkins in the Lifetime medical drama “Strong Medicine,” also performing the theme song. Her voice acting career flourished with iconic roles such as Flo in the “Cars” franchise (starting 2006) and Mama Odie in “The Princess and the Frog” (2009), for which she received an Annie Award nomination. She contributed memorable performances to Tyler Perry’s films, including “Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006) and “Meet the Browns” (2008). From 2014 to 2022, Lewis played Ruby Johnson in the ABC comedy series “Black-ish,” a role that earned her two Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations and solidified her status as a beloved television personality. In 2022, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2024, on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.