Jenifer Lewis was born and raised in Kinloch, Missouri. She holds a bachelor's degree in theater arts from Webster University in St. Louis. Jenifer has over 60 films and 200 TV appearances to her credit. Her uniquely recognizable voice is adored by fans, worldwide, in such animated roles as "Flo" in Cars - Quatre roues (2006) and Cars 2 (2011) and as "Mama Odie" in La princesse et la grenouille (2009). Jenifer earned the title, "Black Mother of Hollywood", thanks to memorable performances as Tina Turner's mother in Tina (1993) and, alongside Denzel Washington, in La femme du pasteur (1996). In 2010, she portrayed the distraught mother, "Candace", opposite Matt Damon, in Clint Eastwood's Au-delà (2010).
Jenifer is a series regular on NBC's The Playboy Club (2011). In October 2011, she plays a featured role on Lifetime's prestigious TV-movie, Un combat, 5 destins (2011), under the helm of first-time director, Alicia Keys. As an activist, Jenifer participates in mental health causes and, in 2007, Jenifer chose The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) as a platform to reveal that she has bipolar disorder.
Jenifer's versatility is at the heart of her long and diverse career. Her TV roles have ranged from regular appearances as "Aunt Helen" on Le prince de Bel-Air (1990) to guest star roles on Friends (1994), Boston Justice (2004) and Girlfriends (2000). For six seasons, Jenifer portrayed "Lana Hawkins" on Lifetime's number-one hit series, La vie avant tout (2000). Also on Lifetime, Jenifer achieved "Diva" status as star of the "mock-umentary", Jackie's Back! (1999).
For director Tyler Perry, Jenifer created unforgettable characters in Affaire de femmes (2006) and Meet the Browns (2008). She portrayed a small-yet-notable role as Tom Hanks' boss in Seul au monde (2000).
Jenifer is highly respected in the theatre world with five Broadway shows to her credit, including "Hairspray", as "Motormouth Maybelle". In 2006, Jenifer co-starred opposite Meryl Streep, in the Shakespeare in the Park presentation of "Mother Courage and Her Children", in New York City. Jenifer has performed her acclaimed one-woman show, "The Diva is Dismissed", worldwide.
