| Jenifer Lewis Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 5½ in |
| Weight | 64 kg |
| Date of Birth | January 25, 1957 |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Spouse | Arnold Byrd |
Jenifer Lewis is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer, voiceover artist, and activist who is best known for her on-screen roles like Zelma Bullock in What’s Love Got to Do With It, Jackie Washington in Jackie’s Back, Ruby Johnson in Black-ish, Marguerite Coleman in The Preacher’s Wife, Maggie in Five, Mama Odie in The Princess and the Frog, Judge Rosetta Reide in Courthouse, Catherine Moore in Baggage Claim, Vera Brown in Meet the Browns, Aunt Helen Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport in A Different World, and Receptionist Lana Hawkins in Strong Medicine.
Born Name
Jenifer Jeanette Lewis
Nick Name
The Black Mother of Hollywood
Sun Sign
Aquarius
Born Place
Kinloch, St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Residence
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Nationality
Education
Jenifer Lewis studied at Kinloch High School before getting enrolled at Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri.
In 2015, she received an honorary degree from Webster University.
Occupation
Actress, Comedian, Singer, Dancer, Voiceover Artist, Activist
Family
- Father – Edward James Lewis (Worked in a factory)
- Mother – Dorothy Lewis (Nurse’s aide)
- Siblings – She has 6 older siblings.
Manager
Jenifer Lewis is represented by –
- Innovative Artists, Talent Agency, Santa Monica, California, United States
- William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Talent and Literary Agency, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Genre
Soundtrack
Instruments
Vocals
Build
Average
Height
5 ft 5½ in or 166.5 cm
Weight
64 kg or 141 lbs
Boyfriend / Spouse
Jenifer Lewis has dated –
- Arnold Byrd (2012-Present) – She got married to Arnold Byrd in the year 2012 and has also adopted a daughter named Charmaine Lewis.
Race / Ethnicity
Black
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- A beauty spot under her lips
- Husky voice
Brand Endorsements
She appeared in a TV commercial for Wal-Mart stores in 2006.
Jenifer Lewis Facts
- She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1990 and kept her diagnosis hidden for several years because she felt ashamed. However, she later embraced it after 17 years of therapy and 10 years of medication and has said, “You have to look in the mirror… and say—before you can go or grow into anything—you have to say you love yourself”.
- For her performance as Maggie in the 2011 comedy-drama anthology television film Five, she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special”.
- In 2014, she started appearing as Ruby Johnson, Andre’s heavily religious mother who does not get along with Rainbow, in the television sitcom, Black-ish, and this role won her the 2017 Black Reel Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series” while she was also nominated Critics’ Choice Television Award for “Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series” in 2017.
- She has done voiceover work in video games like Cars, Cars Mater-National Championship, and Cars Race-O-Rama.
- During the 2022 Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards, Jenifer received the “Perserverance Award”.
- In July 2022, Jenifer was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Featured Image by Greg Hernandez / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
