Jenifer Lewis

Biography

Jenifer Jeanette Lewis, born on January 25, 1957, is an American actress and singer renowned for her extensive work in film and television. She began her career on Broadway and served as a backup singer for Bette Midler. Lewis gained prominence with notable film roles in "Beaches" (1988), "Sister Act" (1992), and various films where she portrayed matriarchal figures, earning her the nickname "The Mother of Black Hollywood." Her voice work includes Mama Odie in Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" (2009) and Flo in Pixar's "Cars" series. On television, she starred in the medical drama "Strong Medicine" and gained acclaim for her role as Ruby Johnson in "Black-ish," earning two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations. Lewis has openly discussed her experiences with bipolar disorder and has an adopted daughter, Charmaine. In 2022, she sustained serious injuries from a fall, requiring extensive medical treatment.