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JENIFER LEWIS

Actress
Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an American film and television actress and singer.
BORN January 25, 1957
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HEIGHT 5'4" (1.63 m)
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NATIONALITY American
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YEARS ACTIVE 1983 – Present
JENIFER LEWIS

🏆 AWARDS & ACCOLADES

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2010
ACADEMY AWARDS

Best Lead Performance (Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen)

WINNER
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1997
GOLDEN GLOBES

Best Actor/Actress in a Motion Picture (The Daily Show)

WINNER
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2006
BAFTA FILM AWARDS

Outstanding Cinematic Achievement (American Dad!)

WINNER
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1995
CRITICS' CHOICE

Best Performance (Friends)

WINNER

👤 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.

She has also written two books: The Mother of Black Hollywood and Walking in My Joy: In These Streets.

🗉 QUICK FACTS

  • Nick Name Jenifer
  • Born January 25, 1957
  • Height 5'4" (1.63 m)
  • Nationality American
  • Citizenship American
  • Education Studied Dramatic Arts / Private performance training
  • Current Status Active (Recently in Spellbound, This Is Me…Now)
  • Years Active 1983 – Present
  • Occupation Actress
  • Family Background 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.
  • Early Career 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.
  • Partner Private
  • Children N/A
  • Social

🎬 FILMOGRAPHY

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