Lynn Whitfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lynn Whitfield
Whitfield in 1999
Born	Lynn Smith (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; div. 1978)​ Brian Gibson ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1992)​
Children	1

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

Lynn Whitfield became widely known for her amazing performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO movie The Josephine Baker Story (1991). For this role, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film.

During the 1990s, Whitfield starred in many TV movies. She also had leading roles in films like A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996), Gone Fishin' (1997), and Eve's Bayou (1997). Other notable films include Stepmom (1998) and Head of State (2003).

From 2016 to 2020, she played Lady Mae Greenleaf in the TV series Greenleaf on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Her performance earned her great praise and several awards. She has also appeared in recent films like Nappily Ever After (2018), Vacation Friends (2021), and The Retirement Plan (2023). Overall, Lynn Whitfield has won seven NAACP Image Awards for her work.

Early Life and Family

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 who wrote musicals.

Lynn is the oldest of four children. She graduated from Howard University. Both her parents were very involved in the arts in Baton Rouge. They helped her discover her love for acting. Her grandmother, Estelle Devall Butler, also shared her passion for movies. By the time she was five years old, Lynn knew she wanted to be an actress.

Acting Career Highlights

Lynn Whitfield has had a long and successful career. She has worked in theater, television, and movies.

Starting Out in the 1970s

After college, Lynn first gained attention on stage. She performed with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C. In 1974, she married Vantile Whitfield, a pioneer in black theater.

She later moved to New York City. There, she appeared in off-Broadway shows. In 1977, she toured the United States, Australia, and London. She performed in the famous play "for colored girls who have considered ... / when the rainbow is enuf". She acted alongside Alfre Woodard in this production.

Success in the 1980s

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 also co-starred in films like The Slugger's Wife and Silverado. She appeared in Jaws: The Revenge. Lynn also starred in TV movies such as The George McKenna Story with Denzel Washington. She played the main character in Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI. She was also in the miniseries The Women of Brewster Place with Oprah Winfrey.

Breakthrough in the 1990s

Whitfield in 1996

Lynn Whitfield became very famous for her role in The Josephine Baker Story (1991). She played Josephine Baker, an American who became a star in Paris. Baker was also a French Resistance fighter during World War II and a civil rights activist. The movie showed Baker's life from age 18 to 68.

Lynn was chosen for the role after many auditions. Critics praised her performance. Entertainment Weekly said she was "exceptionally good." The New York Times noted that Whitfield "powerfully captures her passionate determination." Lynn won an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for this role. She also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film nomination. She won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

After this big success, Whitfield continued to work a lot. She had a role in the TV drama Equal Justice. She starred in many 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) as Halle Berry's mother.

In 1996, Lynn Whitfield starred with Martin Lawrence in the comedy film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. The movie was very successful. In 1997, she co-starred in Gone Fishin'. She also played the mother of Jurnee Smollett's character in the praised drama Eve's Bayou. In 1998, she had a supporting role in the film Stepmom.

Work from 2000s to Today

Whitfield on the set of Curveball, in 2014

In the 2000s, Lynn Whitfield took on 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). Other films included The Women (2008) and The Rebound (2009).

She played Dorothea Garibaldi, the mother of Galleria, in the Disney Channel movies The Cheetah Girls and The Cheetah Girls 2. In 2004, she played Barbara Becnel in the TV movie Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story. This role earned her another NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

On television, Whitfield had recurring roles in Boston Public and Without a Trace. From 2014 to 2015, she appeared in the ABC drama How to Get Away with Murder. She also had a recurring role on Hit the Floor.

In 2015, Lynn Whitfield was cast in Greenleaf. This Oprah Winfrey Network series was about a powerful church family. Whitfield played Lady Mae Greenleaf, the strong and influential mother of the family. Critics loved her performance. She won the 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 finished in 2020 after five seasons.

In 2018, Whitfield co-starred in the romantic comedy film Nappily Ever After on Netflix. In 2019, she was a guest star on the medical drama The Resident. In 2021, she co-starred in the comedy film Vacation Friends. In 2023, she appeared with Nicolas Cage in The Retirement Plan. Also in 2023, she joined the Showtime crime drama The Chi as Alicia. She was promoted to a regular cast member for the seventh season. In 2024, Whitfield starred in the road drama 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 marriage was to Vantile Whitfield from 1974 to 1978. From 1990 to 1992, she was married to director Brian Gibson. They have one daughter named Grace.

Awards and Recognition

Lynn Whitfield has received many awards for her acting. She is especially known for her work in television movies and drama series.

See also

In Spanish: Lynn Whitfield para niños