Lynn Whitfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lynn Whitfield
Whitfield in 1999
Born	(1953-02-15) February 15, 1953 (age 72) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Alma mater	Howard University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Vantile Whitfield ​ (m. 1974⁠–⁠1978)​ Brian Gibson ​ (m. 1990⁠–⁠1992)​
Children	1

Lynn Whitfield (born February 15, 1953) is an American actress. She started her acting journey in television and theater. Later, she took on supporting roles in movies.

She won an Emmy Award for her amazing performance. This was for playing Josephine Baker in the HBO movie The Josephine Baker Story (1991). She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this role.

In the 1990s, Lynn Whitfield played main characters in many TV movies. She also had starring roles in films like A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) and Eve's Bayou (1997). From 2016 to 2020, she starred as Lady Mae Greenleaf in the TV show Greenleaf. For this role, she won two NAACP Image Awards and a Gracie Award. Lynn Whitfield has won a total of seven NAACP Image Awards.

Early life

Lynn Whitfield was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her mother, Jean, was a leader in housing finance. Her father, Dr. Valerian Smith, was a composer. He wrote musicals.

Lynn is the oldest of four children. She graduated from Howard University. Her parents were very involved in the arts in Baton Rouge. They helped her get interested in acting. Her grandmother, Estelle Devall Butler, also loved movies. She shared this love with Lynn. By age five, Lynn knew she wanted to be an actress.

Career

1970s: Starting Out

After college, Lynn Whitfield first became known on stage. She performed with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C. In 1974, she married Vantile Whitfield. He was a playwright and director. He was also a pioneer in black theater.

She later moved to New York. She appeared in off-Broadway shows. In 1977, she toured the U.S., Australia, and London. This was for the famous play "for colored girls ..../ when the rainbow is enuf". She performed alongside Alfre Woodard.

1980s: First Screen Roles

Lynn Whitfield made her first screen appearance in 1981. She played Jill Thomas in the TV drama Hill Street Blues. In 1983, she was in the comedy film Doctor Detroit. She played Thelma Cleland.

She later co-starred in films like The Slugger's Wife and Silverado. She also appeared in Jaws: The Revenge. She starred in TV movies too. These included The George McKenna Story with Denzel Washington. She also played the main character in Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI. She was in the miniseries The Women of Brewster Place. In this show, she acted with Oprah Winfrey and Cicely Tyson.

1990s: Breakthrough Success

Whitfield in 1996

Lynn Whitfield became widely famous in 1991. This was for her role in The Josephine Baker Story. She played Josephine Baker, a famous American performer. Josephine Baker was also a French Resistance fighter in World War II. She was a civil rights activist too. The movie showed her life from age 18 to 68. Lynn Whitfield was chosen from hundreds of actresses for this role.

She won an Emmy Award for her performance. She said this was a huge achievement for her. She also got a Golden Globe Award nomination. She won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

After this big success, Whitfield had a role in the TV drama Equal Justice. She continued to star in TV movies. These included A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story (1991) and Stompin' at the Savoy (1992). She also appeared in The Wedding (1998), playing Halle Berry's mother. She was a regular on The Cosby Mysteries from 1994 to 1995. She also guest-starred on Martin and Touched by an Angel.

In 1996, Lynn Whitfield starred with Martin Lawrence in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. The movie made over $35 million. In 1997, she co-starred with Danny Glover in Gone Fishin'. She also played the mother of Jurnee Smollett's character in Eve's Bayou. In 1998, she had a supporting role in the film Stepmom.

2000s–Present: Continued Roles

Whitfield on the set of Curveball, in 2014

In the 2000s, Lynn Whitfield had many supporting roles. She was in the comedy film Head of State (2003). She also appeared in Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion (2006). She was in The Women (2008) and The Rebound (2009).

She played Dorothea Garibaldi in the Disney Channel movies. These were The Cheetah Girls and The Cheetah Girls 2. In 2004, she played Barbara Becnel in the TV movie Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story. She won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for this role.

On television, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and Without a Trace. From 2014 to 2015, she was in How to Get Away with Murder. She played Mary Walker. She also appeared on Hit the Floor and Mistresses.

In 2015, Lynn Whitfield was cast in Greenleaf. This was an Oprah Winfrey Network drama series. It was about the Greenleaf family and their large church. Whitfield played Lady Mae Greenleaf. She was the powerful and money-hungry mother of the family. Critics praised her performance. She won NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 and 2020. She also won a Gracie Award in 2017. The series ended in 2020.

In 2018, Whitfield co-starred in the romantic comedy film Nappily Ever After. It was released on Netflix. In 2021, she was in the comedy film Vacation Friends. In 2023, she appeared with Nicolas Cage in The Retirement Plan. Also in 2023, she joined the TV series The Chi. She played Alicia, a strong family leader. In 2024, she starred in the film Albany Road.

Personal life

Whitfield speaking at a rally for Jon Ossoff's Senate campaign in 2020

Lynn Whitfield has been married two times. Her first husband was Vantile Whitfield. They were married from 1974 to 1978. From 1990 to 1992, she was married to director Brian Gibson. They have a daughter named Grace.

Filmography (selected)

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Lynn Whitfield para niños