- Jenifer Lewis
Infobox actress
imagesize = 150px
name = Jenifer Lewis
birthname = Jenifer Jeanette Lewis
birthdate = birth date and age|1957|01|25
birthplace =Kinloch, Missouri , U.S.
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Actress
spouse =Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born
January 25 ,1957 ) is an African-American film and television actress.Career
Soon after she arrived in
New York City , Lewis began on Broadway in a small role in "Eubie " (1979), the musical based on the work ofEubie Blake . She next landed the role of Effie White in the workshop of theMichael Bennett -directed musical "Dreamgirls ", but when the show moved to Broadway, Bennett choseJennifer Holliday for the role. Undaunted, Lewis accepted a position as a Harlette, a back-up singer forBette Midler which led to Lewis' first TV appearances on Midler'sHBO specials. She also landed her first screen role as a result, appearing as one of the buxom chorines in the 'Otto Titsling' production number in the Midler vehicle "Beaches " (1988). At the same time, Lewis was developing her nightclub act, "The Diva Is Dismissed", an autobiographical comedy and music show in NYC cabarets. She performed the showoff-Broadway at the Public Theatre.In 1987, Lewis was hired as the Pre-Show announcer on the
Star Tours ride atDisneyland . In 1988, Lewis relocated toLos Angeles . In 1992, she was cast as one of the back-up singers toWhoopi Goldberg in "Sister Act ". Goldberg sponsored several performances of "The Diva Is Dismissed" as a possibleHBO series. In 1992 to 1993, she played Dean Davenport in the sixth and final season of "A Different World ". She also had a recurring role asWill Smith 's Aunt Helen on "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air ", as well as stints on a few episodes of "In Living Color ", reprising several of her characters from her nightclub act. Also in 1993, she played the mother ofTupac Shakur 's character in "Poetic Justice ".Although she auditioned for role of
Tina Turner in the biopic "What's Love Got to Do with It?" she landed the role of Turner’s mother. In 1994 she followed with other supporting roles, including Mrs. Coleman the Unemployment Office lady in "Renaissance Man " and asWhoopi Goldberg 's sister in "Corrina, Corrina ". In 1995, she was cast in maternal roles toKadeem Hardison in "Panther" and toLarenz Tate in "Dead Presidents " before she accepted the role of alesbian judge on the short-livedCBS series "Courthouse". Lewis returned to the big screen asTheresa Randle 's telephone sex line boss inSpike Lee 's "Girl 6 " . She then playedWhitney Houston 's character's mother in Penny Marshall's "The Preacher's Wife ".In 1999, she starred in a
Robert Townsend made-for-TV film "Jackie's Back", amockumentary about the struggling comeback of adiva in turmoil. She recently appeared in "The Cookout ", "Nora's Hair Salon ", "Shark Tale " and "Cars". She was in a few episodes of "Friends" asMonica Gellar 's co-worker. Since 2000, she has played Lana Hawkins on the Lifetime television medical drama "Strong Medicine ", the show ended February 2006. In 2007, she had a featured role as the wedding planner inTyler Perry 's "Madea's Family Reunion ".In one episode of "
That's So Raven " she played the titular character's maternal grandmother, who haspsychic powers. She recently starred as a judge in thedramedy "Boston Legal " and appeared in the 2008 film "Meet The Browns ". OnApril 22 ,2008 , Lewis will replaceDarlene Love as Motormouth Maybelle in Broadway's "Hairspray", a role that was originally written for her.Personal life
Lewis was born in
Kinloch, Missouri . In May 2005, Lewis discussed losing her beloved cousin, stylist Ronald Stewart, toAIDS . She also mentioned enteringpsychotherapy following her being diagnosed withbipolar disorder in 1997. She is the mother of an adopted daughter.Filmography
External links
*imdb name|id=0507338|name=Jenifer Lewis
* [http://www.aumag.org/coverstory/May05cover.html May 05 A&U interview: Jenifer discusses AIDS Affecting Her and her psychotherapy since being diagnosed as bipolar in 1997]
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