Lynn Whitfield

Biography

Lynn Whitfield is an American actress who started in theater and television before moving into film. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she first gained attention on stage with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C., and later appeared off-Broadway. Her breakout role was Josephine Baker in the HBO film The Josephine Baker Story (1991), which brought her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe nomination. In the 1990s she took leading parts in television movies and starred in films such as A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996), Eve's Bayou (1997), Stepmom (1998), Head of State (2003), and Madea's Family Reunion (2006). She also appeared in The Women (2008), Nappily Ever After (2018), and Vacation Friends (2021). From 2016 to 2020 she played Lady Mae Greenleaf in the series Greenleaf, earning critical praise, two NAACP Image Awards, and a Gracie Award. She has won seven NAACP Image Awards.

73years old

Turns 74 on February 15in 110 days

Born February 15, 1953Baton Rouge
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18

Movie Career

Films: 27
Career span: 41 years1982 to 2023

Genres

Comedy63%, 17 films
Drama59%, 16 films
Romance22%, 6 films
Crime11%, 3 films
Biography7%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
After she graduated, Whitfield gained her first notice on the stage, acting with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C.

Lynn Whitfield movies on Netflix

The Retirement Plan2023IMDb rating 5.1as Drisdale
We Need a Little Christmas2022IMDb rating 6.6as Irene
Vacation Friends2021IMDb rating 6.3as Suzanne
Tales from the Hood 32020IMDb rating 5.1as Marie Benoît
Woman in Motion2019IMDb rating 8.6as Himself
Nappily Ever After2018IMDb rating 6.4as Paulette Jones
King's Faith2013IMDb rating 6.4as Vanessa
Lonely Boy2013IMDb rating 6.0as Dr. Christine Nolan
Battlefield America2012IMDb rating 2.6as Ms. Parker
All Things Fall Apart2011IMDb rating 5.4as Bee
The Rebound2009IMDb rating 6.3as Laura Reilly
The Women2008IMDb rating 5.1as Glenda Hill
Madea's Family Reunion2006IMDb rating 5.4as Victoria
The Cheetah Girls 22006IMDb rating 5.2as Dorothea
Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story2004IMDb rating 6.3as Barbara Becnel
Head of State2003IMDb rating 5.5as Debra Lassiter
The Cheetah Girls2003IMDb rating 5.0as Dorothea Garibaldi
Stepmom1998IMDb rating 6.8as Dr. P. Sweikert
Eve's Bayou1997IMDb rating 7.2as Roz Batiste
Gone Fishin'1997IMDb rating 4.9as Angie
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate1996IMDb rating 5.7as Brandi
In the Army Now1994IMDb rating 5.0as Sgt. Ladd
The Josephine Baker Story1991IMDb rating 7.1as Josephine Baker
Jaws: The Revenge1987IMDb rating 3.1as Louisa
The Slugger's Wife1985IMDb rating 4.4as Tina Alvarado
Doctor Detroit1983IMDb rating 5.3as Thelma Cleland
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf1982IMDb rating 8.1as Woman in bath

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Stepmom1998 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Dr. P. Sweikert
IMDb rating 6.881K votes
The Rebound2009 Comedy, Romanceas Laura Reilly
IMDb rating 6.353K votes
Jaws: The Revenge1987as Louisa
IMDb rating 3.153K votes
Vacation Friends2021as Suzanne
IMDb rating 6.335K votes
Head of State2003as Debra Lassiter
IMDb rating 5.521K votes
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate1996as Brandi
IMDb rating 5.76.1K votes
Eve's Bayou1997as Roz Batiste
IMDb rating 7.213K votes
Madea's Family Reunion2006as Victoria
IMDb rating 5.413K votes

Most often with

Oz Scott directed two of these films. Nine actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Ernie Hudson

Mario Van Peebles

Tracy Morgan

Raven-Symoné

Joanna Gleason

Adrienne BailonOz ScottDirector, 2 films

Films together

Ernie Hudson2 films together, 2018 to 2023
Ernie Hudson's page
- The Retirement Plan2023IMDb rating 5.1Whitfield as DrisdaleHudson as Joseph
- Nappily Ever After2018IMDb rating 6.4Whitfield as Paulette JonesHudson as Richard Jones
Mario Van Peebles2 films together, 1987 to 2011
Mario Van Peebles's page
- All Things Fall Apart2011IMDb rating 5.4Whitfield as BeePeebles as Eric
- Jaws: The Revenge1987IMDb rating 3.1Whitfield as LouisaPeebles as Jake
Tracy Morgan2 films together, 1996 to 2003
Tracy Morgan's page
- Head of State2003IMDb rating 5.5Whitfield as Debra LassiterMorgan as Meat Man
- A Thin Line Between Love and Hate1996IMDb rating 5.7Whitfield as BrandiMorgan as Bartender
Raven-Symoné2 films together, 2003 to 2006
Raven-Symoné's page
- The Cheetah Girls 22006IMDb rating 5.2Whitfield as DorotheaRaven-Symoné as Galleria
- The Cheetah Girls2003IMDb rating 5.0Whitfield as Dorothea GaribaldiRaven-Symoné as Galleria Garibaldi
Joanna Gleason2 films together, 2008 to 2009
Joanna Gleason's page
- The Rebound2009IMDb rating 6.3Whitfield as Laura ReillyGleason as Roberta Finklestein
- The Women2008IMDb rating 5.1Whitfield as Glenda HillGleason as Barbara
Adrienne Bailon2 films together, 2003 to 2006
Adrienne Bailon's page
- The Cheetah Girls 22006IMDb rating 5.2Whitfield as DorotheaBailon as Chanel
- The Cheetah Girls2003IMDb rating 5.0Whitfield as Dorothea GaribaldiBailon as Chanel Simmons
Oz ScottDirector, 2 films, 1982 to 2003
All films by Oz Scott
- The Cheetah Girls2003IMDb rating 5.0Whitfield as Dorothea Garibaldi
- For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf1982IMDb rating 8.1Whitfield as Woman in bath
Also two films together3 more actors
- Lori AlterThe Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) and The Cheetah Girls (2003)
- Sabrina BryanThe Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) and The Cheetah Girls (2003)
- Kiely WilliamsThe Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) and The Cheetah Girls (2003)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Lynn Whitfield's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

Top

Combined worldwide box office

$495 million

13 of the 27 films have a worldwide figure.

13Worldwide figure
3US gross only
8Never in cinemas
3Figure not found

Top grosser

Stepmom1998Dr. P. Sweikert$160 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 91% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Stepmom1998as Dr. P. Sweikert
$160M32.3% of the total
2
Madea's Family Reunion2006as Victoria
$63M12.8% of the total
3
Jaws: The Revenge1987as Louisa
$52M10.5% of the total
4
The Women2008as Glenda Hill
$50M10.1% of the total
5
Head of State2003as Debra Lassiter
$38M7.6% of the total
6
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate1996as Brandi
$35M7.0% of the total
7
In the Army Now1994as Sgt. Ladd
$29M5.8% of the total
8
The Rebound2009as Laura Reilly
$22M4.4% of the total

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf (1982), $100,000

$46.9 millionfrom the other 5 films with a worldwide figure, 9% of the total

Awards

Two awards and honors from 1991 to 2000, one of them major.

Top

Lynn Whitfield's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Emmy Awards
1991	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	The Josephine Baker Story	Won
Other honors
2000	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special	The Planet of Junior Brown	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top