Jenifer Lewis Biography

Fast Facts

• Began singing in her hometown church and performed her first solo there at the age of 5
• Was president of her senior class in high school
• Helped developed and originally performed the role of Effie in Dreamgirls before the part was ultimately given to Jennifer Holliday when the show went to Broadway
• In 1979, made her Broadway debut in a small role in Eubie
• Was one of Bette Midler's back-up singers, the Harlettes, which eventually led to her first appearance on television in Midler's HBO special
• In 1994, wrote and headlined an autobiographical cabaret act entitled The Diva Is Dismissed, which earned her two NAACP Theater Awards
• Adopted her daughter, Charmaine, through the Los Angeles chapter of the Big Brother/Big Sister program
• Received her Doctorate of Humane Letters from Webster University for her career accomplishments and international philanthropic efforts
• In 2015, was the headline performer at Webster University's Centennial Gala, which raised $1
• 2 million for the college's Next Century Leaders Scholarship Fund
• Is an avid activist for AIDS research and a Human Rights Campaign Ally for Equality