Biography
This flamboyant, gutsy singer and cabaret performer parlayed an autobiographical cabaret act called "The Diva Is Dismissed" into a buoyant career as a supporting player of in TV and film. Soon after she arrived in NYC, Jenifer Lewis began on Broadway in a small role in "Eubie" (1979), the musical based on the work of Eubie Blake. She next landed the role of Effie White in the workshop of the Michael Bennett-directed musical "Dreamgirls", but …
Jenifer Lewis SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2012 | Cast in the ensemble comedy "Think Like a Man" | |
2011 | Reprised voice role in animated sequel "Cars 2" | |
2009 | Voiced Mama Odie, a 197-year-old voodoo priestess in Disney's animated feature "The Princess and the Frog" | |
2008 | Co-starred in "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns" | |
2006 | Voiced character of Flo in Pixar animated feature "Cars" | |
2004 | Appeared in the comedy "The Cookout," co-written by Queen Latifah | |
2002 | Headlined and co-wrote the nightclub act "Now What?" | |
2000 | Cast as a series regular on Lifetime's "Strong Medicine," playing receptionist Lana Hawkins | |
1999 | Starred in the Lifetime movie "Jackie's Back" | |
1996 | Cast as Whitney Houston's mother in Penny Marshall's "The Preacher's Wife" | |
1995 | Played lesbian judge on the short-lived CBS drama "Courthouse" | |
1994 | First screen collaboration with director Penny Marshall, "Renaissance Man" | |
1994 | TV-movie debut, "Deconstructing Sarah" (USA Network) | |
1993 | Auditioned for the lead role of Tina Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It?"; cast instead as Tina's mother Zelma Bullock | |
1992 | Played Whoopi Goldberg's back-up singer in "Sister Act" | |
1992 | Cast as Dean Davenport on the NBC sitcom "A Different World" | |
1991 | Played recurring role as Aunt Helen on the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" | |
1988 | Film debut, "Beaches" starring Midler | |
1984 | Appeared in the music documentary "Bette Midler: Art or Bust" | |
| Began performing her evolving cabaret act "The Diva Is Dismissed" | ||
| Became a Harlette, a back-up singer to Bette Midler | ||
1979 | Made Broadway debut in "Eubie" | |