Biography
A classically trained actress-singer with soulful eyes and a lilting voice, Loretta Devine was a professional actor for nearly 20 years before rising to prominence through her co-starring turn in the hit film "Waiting to Exhale" (1995). After years of theater study and a period working as a stage director at Houston's Black Arts Center, Devine began acting professionally on and off-Broadway in productions such as "Hair" and "Dreamgirls" in the …
Loretta Devine SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2012 | Played the tough-talking massage parlor owner Georgia on Lifetime series "The Client List" | |
2010 | Joined an ensemble cast for Tyler Perry's "For Colored Girls" | |
2010 | Acted opposite Ice Cube and Bow Wow in the comedy feature "Lottery Ticket" | |
2010 | Appeared in the ensemble comedy "Death at a Funeral," starring Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence | |
2008 | Co-starred opposite Jonny Lee Miller on the short-lived ABC series "Eli Stone" | |
2008 | Voiced the character of Delta in the comedy "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" | |
2007 | Cast in "This Christmas," co-starring Mekhi Phifer and Regina King | |
2006 | Played Rochelle's mother Maxine on the sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" (The CW) | |
2005 | Cast in a recurring role as Adele Webber on the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" | |
2005 | Cast in the comedy "King's Ransom" with Anthony Anderson | |
2004 | Cast in the Academy Award winning film "Crash" | |
2004 | Cast in "Woman Thou Art Loosed," based on the self-help novel by Bishop T.D. Jakes; received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Female | |
2001 | Cast as a socal worker in the drama "I Am Sam," starring Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer | |
2001 | Played an overly religious woman whose brother has died in the comedy "Kingdom Come" | |
2000 | Had featured role in the ensemble of "Boston Public" (Fox) | |
2000 | Reprised role in "Urban Legends: Final Cut" | |
1999 | Provided voice of Muriel Stubbs on the animated series "The PJs" (Fox) | |
1998 | Cast in "Urban Legend" | |
1995 | Landed breakthrough film role in ensemble drama "Waiting to Exhale" | |
1991 | Reprised stage role in PBS version of "The Colored Museum" | |
1990 | Starred in CBS sitcom "Sugar and Spice" | |
1988 | Appeared in feature films "Little Nikita" and "Sticky Fingers" | |
1987 | Cast in the first season of the NBC sitcom "A Different World" as Stevie Rallen, the dormitory director | |
1986 | Co-starred in off-Broadway production of George C. Wolfe's "The Colored Museum" | |
1986 | Had featured role in Bob Fosse's musical "Big Deal" | |
1981 | Played featured role of Lorell in Michael Bennett's Broadway production "Dreamgirls" | |
1977 | Made Broadway debut in revival of "Hair" | |
1977 | New York stage debut, off-off-Broadway production of "Godsong" | |
| Was an instructor at a summer program at Harvard University | ||
| Taught English at Brandeis University | ||
1972 | Began career as a stage director at the Black Arts Center in Houston, TX | |
Awards
2012 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series in Grey's Anatomy |
2011 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series in Grey's Anatomy |
2005 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female in Woman Thou Art Loosed |