---
name: "Jenifer Lewis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jenifer-lewis"
fi1m_id: "jenifer-lewis"
imdb_id: "nm0507338"
tmdb_id: 15899
wikidata_id: "Q542262"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 January 1957"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 66
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-23T20:57:07.312744+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jenifer Lewis

## Identity

Jenifer Lewis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jenifer-lewis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jenifer-lewis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0507338
- **TMDB ID:** 15899
- **Wikidata ID:** Q542262
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenifer_Lewis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q542262, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507338/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15899

Actor. Born 25 January 1957 in Kinloch, Missouri, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 January 1957, Kinloch, Missouri, USA
- **Active:** 1992–present
- **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 78 (1), 2000s 64 (3), 2010s 58 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 63 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Animation 3, Family 3, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Drama 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,683m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenifer_Lewis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q542262, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507338/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15899

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Princess and the Frog*](https://film.one/film/the-princess-and-the-frog.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Jenifer Lewis is an American actress and singer. She was born on 25 January 1957 in Kinloch, Missouri.

Lewis began her career in Broadway musicals and worked as a backup singer for Bette Midler before appearing in films including *Beaches* (1988) and *Sister Act* (1992). She played Becca Twig in *Cast Away* (2000). Her other film roles include *What's Love Got to Do with It* (1993) and voice performances as Flo in the *Cars* films (2006–2017) and Mama Odie in *The Princess and the Frog* (2009). On television she starred as Lana Hawkins in *Strong Medicine* (2000–2006) and as Ruby Johnson in *Black-ish* (2014–2022).

Lewis has written two memoirs: *The Mother of Black Hollywood* and *Walking in My Joy: In These Streets*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Cars 3* (2017), Fi1m 58, as Flo (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/cars-3.md)
- *The Princess and the Frog* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Mama Odie (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-princess-and-the-frog.md)
- *Shark Tale* (2004), Fi1m 40, as Motown Turtle (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/shark-tale.md)
- *Cast Away* (2000), Fi1m 81, as Becca Twig — [page](https://film.one/film/cast-away.md)
- *Sister Act* (1992), Fi1m 78, as Michelle — [page](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md)

## Complete filmography (123)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *GOAT* (2026), as Flo Everson (voice)
- *Haunted Hotel* (2025), series, as Additional Voices (voice)
- *Ado* (2025), as Ms. Hopkins
- *Spellbound* (2024), as Nazara (voice)
- *The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish* (2024), series, as Mother Nature (voice)
- *This Is Me…Now* (2024), as Gemini
- *History of the World: Part II* (2023), series, as Grandma
- *Not Dead Yet* (2023), series, as Donna
- *Night Court* (2023), series, as Erika
- *So Help Me Todd* (2022), series, as Jacqueline Burton
- *Cars on the Road* (2022), series, as Flo (voice)
- *I Love That for You* (2022), series, as Patricia Cochran
- *And Just Like That…* (2021), series, as Lucille Highwater
- *The Ghost and Molly McGee* (2021), series, as Patty (voice)
- *Mickey Mouse Funhouse* (2021), series, as Wheezelene (voice)
- *All Boys Aren't Blue* (2021), Actor
- *Finding Kendrick Johnson* (2021), as Narrator (voice)
- *Monsters at Work* (2021), series, as Grandma Tuskmon (voice)
- *Rugrats* (2021), series, as Ms. Marjorie / Narrator (voice), Ms. Marjorie (voice)
- *The Upshaws* (2021), series, as Dr. Pearl Edmunds
- *Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square* (2020), as Margeline
- *Star Trek: Lower Decks* (2020), series, as Bartender (voice)
- *The Addams Family* (2019), as Great Auntie Sloom (Voice)
- *Amphibia* (2019), series, as Mama Hasselback (voice)
- *Forbidden* (2018), Actor
- *grown-ish* (2018), series, as Ruby Johnson
- *Big Hero 6 The Series* (2017), series, as Professor Granville (voice)
- *Cars 3* (2017), as Flo (voice) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/cars-3.md)
- *Secrets of the Magic City* (2015), as Aunt Valerie
- *The Wedding Ringer* (2015), as Doris Jenkins
- *black-ish* (2014), series, as Ruby Johnson
- *Think Like a Man Too* (2014), as Loretta
- *The Radiator Springs 500½* (2014), as Flo (voice)
- *Baggage Claim* (2013), as Catherine Moore
- *LaQuifa is Halleloosin' It!* (2013), Thanks
- *Teen Titans Go!* (2013), series, as Microwavabelle (voice)
- *Hiccups* (2013), as Flo (voice)
- *Jenifer Lewis and Shangela* (2012), series, as Jenifer Lewis, Theme Song Performance · Producer, Creator
- *Zambezia* (2012), as Gogo (voice)
- *Think Like a Man* (2012), as Loretta Hanover
- *Five* (2011), as Maggie
- *The Playboy Club* (2011), series, as Pearl
- *Cars 2* (2011), as Flo (voice)
- *When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren* (2011), as Retirement Home Waitress  (uncredited)
- *Young Justice* (2010), series, as Olympia Savage (voice)
- *Hereafter* (2010), as Candace
- *The Princess and the Frog* (2009), as Mama Odie (voice) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-princess-and-the-frog.md)
- *Not Easily Broken* (2009), as Mary 'Mama' Clark
- *Prop 8: The Musical* (2008), as Riffing Prop 8'er
- *Meet the Browns* (2008), as Vera
- *Redrum* (2007), as Therapist
- *Who's Your Caddy?* (2007), as C-Note's Mom
- *Day Break* (2006), series, as Elizabeth Hopper
- *Geared-Up* (2006), Actor
- *Shark* (2006), series, as Ellie Broussard — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/shark.md)
- *Dirty Laundry* (2006), as Aunt Lettuce
- *Cars* (2006), as Flo (voice)
- *Madea's Family Reunion* (2006), as Milay Jenay Lori
- *The Boondocks* (2005), series, as Boss Willona (voice), Geraldine (voice)
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Lessie (voice)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Judge Isabel Fisher — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Shark Tale* (2004), as Motown Turtle (voice) — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/shark-tale.md)
- *The Cookout* (2004), as Lady Em
- *Nora's Hair Salon* (2004), as Nora
- *That's So Raven* (2003), series, as Vivian
- *Antwone Fisher* (2002), as Aunt Mary Williams (uncredited)
- *Juwanna Mann* (2002), as Aunt Ruby
- *The Brothers* (2001), as Louise Smith
- *Dancing in September* (2001), as Judge Warner
- *Cast Away* (2000), as Becca Twig — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/cast-away.md)
- *Bette* (2000), series, Actor
- *Girlfriends* (2000), series, as Veretta Childs
- *Strong Medicine* (2000), series, as Lana Hawkins
- *Partners* (2000), as Detective Lancy
- *Little Richard* (2000), as Muh Penniman
- *Time of Your Life* (1999), series, Actor
- *Grown Ups* (1999), series, as Kathy
- *Mystery Men* (1999), as Lucille
- *Jackie's Back!* (1999), as Jackie Washington · Co-Producer
- *Blast from the Past* (1999), as Dr. Aron
- *The PJs* (1999), series, as Bebe Ho (voice)
- *The Temptations* (1998), series, as Mama Rose
- *An Unexpected Life* (1998), as Camille
- *The Mighty* (1998), as Mrs. Addison
- *Rituals* (1998), as Carmen
- *The Preacher's Wife* (1996), as Margueritte Coleman
- *Promised Land* (1996), series, as Queenie
- *The Jamie Foxx Show* (1996), series, as Josie
- *Girl 6* (1996), as Boss #1 - Lil
- *Moesha* (1996), series, as Mrs. Biggs
- *Dead Presidents* (1995), as Mrs. Curtis
- *Courthouse* (1995), series, as Rosetta Reide
- *Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan* (1995), as Denice Cooper
- *Panther* (1995), as Rita
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Female Black Widow Spider (voice), Hazel (voice)
- *The Parent 'Hood* (1995), series, Actor
- *Deconstructing Sarah* (1994), as Betty
- *Friends* (1994), series, as Paula — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Queenie
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, Actor
- *Shake, Rattle and Rock!* (1994), as Amanda
- *Corrina, Corrina* (1994), as Jevina
- *Rebel Highway* (1994), series, as Amanda Baldwin Cooper
- *Renaissance Man* (1994), as Mrs. Coleman
- *Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit* (1993), as Vegas Backup Singer #1
- *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Mystique
- *Undercover Blues* (1993), as Cab Driver
- *Living Single* (1993), series, Actor
- *The Meteor Man* (1993), as Mrs. Williams
- *Poetic Justice* (1993), as Annie
- *What's Love Got to Do with It* (1993), as Zelma Bullock
- *Frozen Assets* (1992), as Jomisha
- *Hangin' with Mr. Cooper* (1992), series, as Georgia Rodman
- *Sister Act* (1992), as Michelle — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md)
- *Roc* (1991), series, as Charlaine
- *Sunday in Paris* (1991), as Taylor Chase
- *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Aunt Helen
- *Dream On* (1990), series, as Carolyn
- *In Living Color* (1990), series, Actor
- *Beaches* (1988), as Diva
- *A Different World* (1987), series, as Susan Clayton, Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport
- *Rhona Who Lives by the River*, series, as Missy
- *Women Like Us*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Jenifer Lewis](https://film.one/media/person/96953/gallery-b193c620fed2.jpg) Jenifer Lewis — greginhollywood (Greg Hernandez), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Jenifer_Lewis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jenifer Lewis](https://film.one/media/person/96953/gallery-c87545233a47.jpg) Jenifer Lewis — Image via TMDB

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jenifer-lewis