Composing the The Mother of Black Hollywood was two years of blood, sweat, and tears—so many fucking tears—reliving all that drama and so many deaths. There’s no foolproof recipe, y’all. You gotta live you. Make your own choices, build your own house, and set your own goals. I hope you find some tools in my honesty that will help you on your way. Don’t let me have bared my soul for nothing! Ain’t nobody got time for that in these streets!
Now, go get ’em, tiger.
Love,
Jenifer
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I started out trying to write each of you a personal thank-you. But there are just too many of you. So many of you. And all of you know what you did for me. And to me (MARC SHAIMAN—Asshole).
I used to say that when I won an award on television, I would begin my speech with, “I want to thank everybody everywhere for everything.” So there you have it. Thank you all for every iota of your love and support over the years.
—Jenifer
PROFESSIONAL FABULOUSNESS
Tammy Ader-Green
Debbie Allen
Terry Apanasewicz
David Armstrong
Kenya Barris
Mel Berger
black-ish, entire Cast and Crew
Shirley Black-Brown
Brandy
Artie Butler
Clint Culpepper
Dominique Curtis
Tim Curtis
Chad Damon
Loretta Devine
Robert Ellis Studio and the Girls
John “Lypsinka” Epperson
Sheldon Epps
Ann Epting
George Faison
Valente Frazier
Jeff Friday
Trish Garland
Ron Gibbs
Whoopi Goldberg
Robyn Goodman
Dr. Pearl E. Grimes, M.D.
Joseph Hampton
Bob Harrington
Keith Harrison
Kevin Hart
Taraji P. Henson
Maurice Hines
Chad Hodge
Jonathan Howard
Lon Hoyt
Deborah Hyte
The Innovative Artists Team
Jackie’s Back! Cameo Cast
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela, entire Cast and Crew
Eileen Knight
Maria Knupfer
Barry Krost
Dee LaDuke
Shirley Leflore
Tom Leonardis
Andrea & James Lopez
Dell McDonald
Bette Midler
William P. Miller
Roy Milton, II
Iona Morris
Linda Morris
Tony Moses
Niecy Nash
Ilan Nunez
Jack O’Brien
Rosie O’Donnell
Judi Pace
Will Packer
George Pennacchio
Dottie Peoples
Tyler Perry
D. J. “Shangela” Pierce
Arnie Preston
Richard Read
Charles Randolph-Wright
Kevin Reher
Roz Ryan
The St. John of Beverly Hills Team
The Sara’s Lingerie Team
Tracy Sherrod
Malika Smith
The Sweet Butter Kitchen Team
David E. Talbert
Jackie Taylor
Beverly Todd
Robert Townsend
Gabrielle Union
The WME Team; The William Morris Agency
Robert Wachs
Michael Waddington
Julia Walker
Mervyn Warren
Camrin Williams
Oprah Winfrey
George C. Wolfe
David Zippel
Joanne Zippel
LOVE & SUPPORT (There are so many more of you who’ve been there for me but please take under consideration all memory was lost after I turned 169 years old.)
Malaika Adero
The Allan Jeffries Framing Team
Joseph Aviv
Azhar
Cleo Babilonia
The Bechtel Physical Therapy Team
Mary Lou Belli
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Jasmine Blue Flowers
Bernice Bronson
Betty Ambrose Brown
Roberta Brunelle
Theresa Butler Long
Rudy Calvo
Victoria Carter
Ella Cesaria-Brown & Sander Cesario-Brown
Robert “Bobby” Cesario
Jerry Cleveland
The Coffee Roaster Team
Deborah Dean Davis
Erin Diab
Deesha Dyer
Sherry Eaker
Dr. Neal Ellatrache, M.D.
Jose Enriquez
Evelyn, The Lowland Gorilla
Eytan’s Jewelry
Lorraine Fields
Terrence Flack
Dora Frank
Carol Fulgrum
Jeffrey Gunter
Tess Haley
Terri S. Hashaway
Jill Hattersly
Charmaine Headspeth
Beverly Heath
Bea Henle
Sharon Hessler
Scott Howard
Temi Hyde
Ebony Jo-Ann
Virginia Justo
Freya Kay
Leniece Kincaid
The People of Kinloch, Missouri
John Lasseter
Butters Lewis
Roma Little-Walker
Toni Y. Long
Ann MacDonald
Reta Madsen
Essie Metcalf
Lou Mirabal
Dokhi Mirmirani
Sandra Mitchell
Mrs. Vera Mitchell
My Whole Family
Omolafe
Gay Iris Parker
Vicki Patman
Maria Perateau
Nita Whitaker-Perkins & Scott Perkins
Sidney Poitier
Erv Raible
Roxanne Reese
Jason Rice
Michiko Rice
Ethel Rue
Synthia St. James
Peter Sargent
Jill Scott
Dr. Douglas Sears, M.D.
The Sego Nursery Family
Mark D. Sendroff
Attallah Shabazz
Marc Shaiman
Hannah Shearer
Michael Skloff
Kira Tirimacco
Annette & Joseph Walker
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Lance Williams
Medria Williams
Rose Wilson
Scott Wittman
Marita Woodruff
Don Zilbermintz
THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE ORGY—Don’t deny you were there. Remember? It was at a Motel 6 in ancient Rome in AD 476, around the corner from the Colosseum.
Clare Bathé-Williams
Greg Bell
Mark Alton Brown
Bonnie Bruckheimer
Terry Burrell
Eric Butler
Martha Callender
Lee Daniels
Flotilla DeBarge
Brian Edwards
Thom Fennessey
Michael Goodall
WiLetta Harmon
Cheryl Hayes
Todd Hunter
Jon Imparato
Jeanne King
Billy Masters
Perry Moore
Brian Norber
Matthew Parker
Dean Payne
Beverly Jo Pryor
Laura Richter
Margie Rifenbark
RuPaul
Linda Saputo
Steve Semien
Kiki Shephard
Ken Simmons
Michael Siplin
Louis St. Louis
Lee Summers
Lena Waithe
Nathan Hale Williams
Spec
ial thanks to Mark Alton Bown and Linda Morris for their amazing contributions to The Mother of Black Hollywood.
CAREER OVERVIEW
Broadway*
Comin’ Uptown, 1979–1980
Eubie!, 1978–1979
Hairspray, 2008
Rock ’N Roll! The First 5,000 Years, 1982
Feature Films and Animation*
Antwone Fisher, “Aunt” (uncredited), 2002
Baggage Claim, “Catherine,” 2013
Beaches, “Diva,” 1988
Blast from the Past, “Dr. Aron,” 1999
The Brothers, “Louise Smith,” 2001
Cars, “Flo” (voice), 2006
Cars 2, “Flo” (voice), 2011
Cars 3, “Flo” (voice), 2017
Cast Away, “Becca Twig,” 2000
The Cookout, “Lady Em,” 2004
Corrina, Corrina, “Jevina,” 1994
Dancing in September, “Judge Warner,” 2000
Dead Presidents, “Mrs. Curtis,” 1995
Dirty Laundry, “Aunt Lettuce,” 2006
The Exes, “Caren Dupree,” 2015
Frozen Assets, “Jomisha,” 1992
Girl 6, “Boss #1—Lil,” 1996
The Heart Specialist, “Nurse Jackson,” 2006
Hereafter, “Candace,” 2010
Juwanna Mann, “Aunt Ruby,” 2002
Madea’s Family Reunion, “Milay Jenay Lori,” 2006
Meet the Browns, “Vera,” 2008
The Meteor Man, “Mrs. Williams, Lewis’s Mother,” 1993
The Mighty, “Mrs. Addison,” 1998
Mystery Men, “Lucille,” 1999
Nora’s Hair Salon, “Nora Harper,” 2004
Not Easily Broken, “Mary ‘Mama’ Clark,” 2009
Panther, “Rita,” 1995
Playin’ for Love, “Alize Gates,” 2013
Poetic Justice, “Annie,” 1993
The Preacher’s Wife, “Margueritte Coleman,” 1996
The Princess and the Frog, “Mama Odie” (voice), 2009
Prop 8: The Musical, “Riffing Prop 8’er,” Film Short, 2008
Red Heat, “Judge Jenifer Lewis” (uncredited), 1988
Redrum, “Therapist,” 2007
Renaissance Man, “Mrs. Coleman,” 1994
Rituals, Film Short, 1998
Secrets of the Magic City, “Aunt Valerie,” 2014
Shark Tale, “Motown Turtle” (voice), 2004
Sister Act, “Michelle,” 1992
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, “Vegas Backup Singer #1,” 1993
The Sunday Morning Stripper, “Demetria,” Film Short, 2003
Think Like a Man, “Loretta,” 2012
Think Like a Man Too, “Loretta,” 2014
Undercover Blues, “Cab Driver,” 1993
The Wedding Ringer, “Doris Jenkins,” 2015
What’s Love Got to Do with It, “Zelma Bullock,” 1993
When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren, “Retirement Home Waitress,” Video short, 2011
Who’s Your Caddy?, “C-Note’s Mom,” 2007
Zambezia, “Gogo,” 2012
Television*
American Dad!, “Lessie” (voice), 1 episode, 2011
An Unexpected Life, “Camile,” TV Movie, 1998
Bette, “Inez,” 1 episode, 2000
Big Hero 6: The Series, “Professor Granville,” 2 episodes, 2017
black-ish, “Ruby,” 56 episodes, 2014–
The Boondocks, “Geraldine/Boss Willona” (voice), 2014
Boston Legal, “Judge Isabel Fisher,” 2 episodes, 2007–2008
The Cleveland Show, “Receptionist/Middle-Aged Woman/Woman/Kevin Garnett’s Mom” (voice), 2 episodes, 2011
Cosby, “Bernice,” 1 episode, 1996
Courthouse, “Judge Rosetta Reide,” 11 episodes, 1995
Day Break, “Elizabeth Hopper,” 1 episode, 2007
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan, “Denice Cooper,” TV Movie, 1995
Deconstructing Sarah, “Betty,” TV Movie, 1994
A Different World, “Susan Clayton/Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport,” 9 episodes, 1990–1993
Dream On, “Carolyn,” 1 episode, 1992
Elena of Avalor, “Tornado,” 1 episode, 2017
Family Affair, “Mrs. Summers,” pilot episode, 2002
Five, “Maggie,” TV Movie, 2011
For Your Love, “Mel and Reggie’s Mother/Sylvia Ellis,” 2 episodes, 1998–2000
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, “Aunt Helen,” 8 episodes, 1991–1996
Friends, “Paula,” 1 episode, 1994
Girlfriends, “Veretta Childs,” 7 episodes, 2002–2006
Grown-ups, “Melissa’s Mother,” 1 episode, 1999
Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, “Georgia Rodman,” 2 episodes, 1992–1994
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, “Hazel/Black Widow Spider” (voice), 2 episodes, 1997–1999
In Living Color, “Various,” 2 episodes, 1993
Instant Mom, “Delois,” 2 episodes, 2015
It Had to Be You, “Reggie,” TV Movie, 2015
Jackie’s Back!, “Jackie Washington,” TV Movie, 1999
The Jamie Foxx Show, “Josie,” 1 episode, 1999
Last Days of Russell, “Aunt Yvette,” TV Movie, 1994
Little Richard, “Muh Penniman,” TV Movie, 2000
Living Single, “Delia Deveaux,” 1 episode, 1995
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, “Mystique,” 1 episode, 1994
Meet the Browns, “Vera Brown,” 5 episodes, 2009–2010
Moesha, “Mrs. Biggs,” 1 episode, 1999
Moon Over Miami, “Aurora Tyler,” 1 episode, 1993
Murphy Brown, “Sales Person,” 2 episodes, 1990–1991
New York Undercover, “Medina,” 1 episode, 1995
The Parent ’Hood, “Linda,” 1998
Partners, “Detective Lancy,” TV Movie, 2000
Piper’s Picks TV, “Herself,” 1 episode, 2012
The PJs, “Bebe Ho,” 36 episodes, 1999–2001
The Playboy Club, “Pearl,” 7 episodes, 2011
The Ponder Heart, “Narcissa Wingfield,” TV Movie, 2001
Promised Land, “Queenie,” 1 episode, 1997
The Proud Family, 2001–2005, “Aunt Spice” (voice), 1 episode, 2003
Rebel Highway, “Amanda Baldwin Cooper,” 1 episode, 1994
Roc, “Charlaine,” 1 episode, 1993
Shark, “Ellie Broussard,” 1 episode, 2007
Shattle, Rattle and Rock!, “Amanda,” TV Movie, 1994
Stat, “Felicia Brown,” 1 episode, 1991
State of Georgia, “Patrice,” 1 episode, 2011
Strong Medicine, “Lana Hawkins,” 131 episodes, 2000–2006
Sunday in Paris, “Taylor Chase,” TV Short, 1991
Tales from Radiator Springs, “Flo” (voice), 2 episodes, 2013–2014
The Temptations, “Mama Rose,” 2 episodes, 1998
That’s So Raven, “Vivian Baxter,” 1 episode, 2004
Time of Your Life, “Joss’s Mother,” 1 episode, 1999
Touched by an Angel, “Queenie,” 1 episode, 1997
Young Justice, “Olympia,” 1 episode, 2017
Video Games* (Voices)
Cars, “Flo,” 2006
Cars 2: The Video Game, “Flo,” 2011
Cars Mater-National, “Flo,” 2007
Cars Race-O-Rama, “Flo,” 2009
Disney Infinity, “Flo,” 2013
The Princess and the Frog, “Mama Odie,” 2009
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, “Mama Odie/Shenzi,” 2012
Social Media Videos
Amazing Grace. YouTube. Marc Shaiman. May 31, 2017
An Artist’s Duty (aka 50 Million of Us), with Brandy and Roz Ryan. Instagram. jeniferlewisforreal, January 16, 2017.
Brandy, Roz Ryan, & Jenifer Lewis Perform “In These Streets.” YouTube. ForeverBrandy. May 6, 2016. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Ud
2E6TSfJ0M
How You Gonna Call SOMEONE ELSE #Legend, with Brandy and Todrick Hall. Instagram. jeniferlewisforreal. October 6, 2016.
Jenifer Lewis—Carnegie Hall “Shaiman/Wittman” Tribute—“I Know Where I’ve Been.” YouTube. Shangela L. Wadley. April 29, 2014.
Jenifer Lewis and Marc Shaiman Preview “Black Don’t Crack” and More! playbill.com.
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela: Ep. 1: Doo Doo. YouTube. Jenifer Lewis and Shangela. September 4, 2012.
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela: Ep. 2: Recognition. YouTube. Jenifer Lewis and Shangela. September 12, 2012.
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela: Ep. 3: Gold Earring. Jenifer Lewis and Shangela. September 18, 2012.
Jenifer Lewis and Shangela: Ep. 4: Mouse. Jenifer Lewis and Shangela. September 25, 2012.
Jenifer Lewis Performs Last Dance at APLA Commitment to Life Event. TheJeniferLewis. June 21, 2011.
Jenifer Lewis Gives Powerful Speech at Baggage Claim Premiere. YouTube. TrueExclusives. September 20, 2013
Jenifer Lewis Gives Webster University Commencement Speech. YouTube. Webster University. May 12, 2015
Jenifer Lewis’ Get Your Ass Out and Vote. YouTube. TheJeniferLewis. November 8, 2016.
Jenifer Lewis on Oprah. YouTube. TheJeniferLewis. May 8, 2011.
Josh Gad Impersonates Jenifer Lewis on the set of The Wedding Ringer. YouTube. Sony Pictures Entertainment. January 14, 2015.
“Pussy Bone.” YouTube. Marc Shaiman. May 23, 2017.
Social Media Handles
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeniferlewisforreal
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeniferlewisforreal/
Twitter: @jeniferlewis
PHOTOGRAPH SECTION
Little Jenny Lewis, age 6.
Me and Mama.
With my family. Front row (left to right): Edward, Vertrella, Wilatrel, Mama. Back row (left to right): Lawrence, Robin, Jackie, and me.
Five generations (left to right): Dorothy Mae Lewis, Wilatrel Bernice Rice, David Rice Jr., Grandma Neil, and Grandma Small.
COURTESY OF NAPOLEON WILLIAMS
“Bring it!” (clockwise from bottom left): Bridgette, Tereasa, Karla, Monique, Debbie, Fannie, and me, in the center.
The love of my life, Miguel Gomez.
Quitman Daniel Fludd III.
My doodle, my brain.
“THE REIGNING QUEEN OF HIGH-CAMP CABARET”
PHOTOGRAPH BY KENN DUNCAN
COURTESY OF THE 5TH AVENUE THEATRE
DESIGN BY PAULA SCHER/PENTAGRAM.
PHOTOGRAPH BY TERESA LIZOTTE
GRAPHIC DESIGN BY ERV RAIBLE;
PHOTOGRAPH BY KENN DUNCAN
The Mother of Black Hollywood Page 24