Dawnn Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dawnn Lewis
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Lewis in 2012
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Dawnn Jewel Lewis
August 13, 1961 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Miami (BM) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1985–present |
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| Awards | 1990, 1991, 1992 – BMI TV Music Award (A Different World) |
Dawnn Jewel Lewis (born August 13, 1961) is an American actress famous for her roles in television shows and movies. She is also a talented singer and voice actress.
Many people know her as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor from the popular NBC TV show A Different World. She starred in the show from 1987 to 1992. She also helped write and sing the theme song for the show's first season.
Lewis also played Robin Dumars in the sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and appeared in the movie I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. She has had a long career, acting in many TV shows, performing in plays, and voicing characters in cartoons and video games.
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Early Life and School
Dawnn Lewis was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Her parents, Carl and Joyce Lewis, have African-American and Guyanese roots. She started singing when she was only four years old and began acting at age eleven.
She went to the High School of Music & Art in New York City and graduated when she was sixteen. For college, she attended the University of Miami. There, she studied musical theatre and journalism. She graduated with honors in 1982 with a Bachelor of Music degree.
Career Highlights
Famous TV Roles
A Different World (1987–1992)
Lewis became famous for playing Jaleesa Vinson on the show A Different World. The show was about students at a fictional college. Lewis was a main character for the first five seasons. She helped create the show's theme song with Bill Cosby and Stu Gardner. Her character was very popular with viewers.
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–1993)
After leaving A Different World, Lewis joined the cast of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. She played Robin Dumars, the smart and funny roommate of the main character, Mark Cooper. She starred alongside Mark Curry and Holly Robinson. Lewis, Robinson, and the music group En Vogue sang the theme song for the first season. She left the show after one season when the producers decided to change the story.
Voice Acting and Other Work
Dawnn Lewis is also a very successful voice actress. She has given her voice to many characters in animated shows and video games.
Some of her famous voice roles include:
- LaBarbara Conrad in the animated series Futurama.
- Detective Terri Lee in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
- Granny Grim in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.
- Storm from the X-Men in video games like Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.
- The Chief in the Netflix series Carmen Sandiego.
- Captain Carol Freeman in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks.
- Bernice Hibbert on The Simpsons.
She has also appeared in movies like Dreamgirls and the Disney Channel Original Movie Let It Shine.
Stage and Music
Lewis began her career in theater. In 1985, she toured with the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid. She has continued to perform on stage throughout her career. She played the role of Zelma, Tina Turner's mother, in the Broadway musical Tina from 2019 to 2022.
As a singer, Lewis released her own album, Worth Waiting For, in 2006. She has also been featured on albums by other artists, such as Vanessa Williams and Take 6. In 2021, she was honored by being added to the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Selected Film and TV Roles
Dawnn Lewis has appeared in dozens of movies and television shows. Here are some of her notable projects.
Movies
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) as Cheryl Spade
- The Poof Point (2001) as Marigold Ballard
- Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (2003) as Bessie (voice)
- Dreamgirls (2006) as Melba Early
- Futurama: Bender's Big Score (2007) as LaBarbara Conrad (voice)
- Let It Shine (2012) as Gail DeBarge
- Inside Out (2015) as Additional Voices
- Bunyan and Babe (2017) as Maybelle Mundy (voice)
- Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) as Additional Voices
Television Shows
- A Different World (1987-1992) as Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992-1993) as Robin Dumars
- Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1995-1997) as Detective Terri Lee (voice)
- Futurama (1999–present) as LaBarbara Conrad (voice)
- The 10th Kingdom (2000) as Blabberwort the Troll
- Static Shock (2004) as Brickhouse (voice)
- One Tree Hill (2008-2009) as Denise Fields
- Major Crimes (2014-2018) as Patrice Perry
- Doc McStuffins (2016-2020) as April McStuffins (voice)
- iZombie (2018) as Mama "Renegade" Leone
- Carmen Sandiego (2019-2021) as The Chief (voice)
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-2024) as Captain Carol Freeman (voice)
- Grey's Anatomy (2022) as Jamarah Blake
