Jenifer Lewis
Milestones
- Birthplace: Kinloch, Missouri, USA
- Birthday: January 25, 1957
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2009
Voiced Mama Odie, a 197-year-old voodoo priestess in Disney's animated feature, "The Princess and the Frog"
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2008
Co-starred in "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns"
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2006
Lent her voice to the animated feature, "Cars"
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2004
Appeared in the comedy, "The Cookout" co-written by Queen Latifah
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2002
Headlined and co-wrote the nightclub act "Now What?"
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2000 to 2006
Was a regular on the Lifetime series "Strong Medicine" playing receptionist Lana Hawkins
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1999
Starred in the Lifetime movie "Jackie's Back"
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1996
Cast as Whitney Houston's mother in Penny Marshall's "The Preacher's Wife"
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1995
Played lesbian judge on the short-lived CBS drama "Courthouse"
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1994
First screen collaboration with director Penny Marshall, "Renaissance Man"
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1994
TV-movie debut, "Deconstructing Sarah"
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1993
Auditioned for the lead role of Tina Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It?"; cast instead as Tina's mother
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1992
Cast as Dean Davenport on the NBC sitcom "A Different World"
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1992
Co-starred in "Sister Act"
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1991 to 1993
Played recurring role as Aunt Helen on the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air"
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1988
Film debut, "Beaches" starring Midler
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1984
TV debut, "Bette Midler: Art or Bust"
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1979
Made Broadway debut in "Eubie"
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Became a Harlette, a back-up singer to Bette Midler
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Began performing her evolving cabaret act, "The Diva Is Dismissed"