Loretta Devine
A classically trained actress-singer with soulful eyes and a lilting voice, Loretta Devine was a professional actor for nearly 20 years before rising to prominence through her co-starring turn in the hit film "Waiting to Exhale" (1995). After years of theater study and a period working as a stage director at Houston's Black Arts Center, Devine began acting professionally on and off-Broadway in productions such as "Hair" and "Dreamgirls" in the late 1970s. Early TV and film appearances included a year-long stint on the sitcom "A Different World" (NBC, 1987-1993) and small role in the River Phoenix thriller "Little Nikita" (1988). Working steadily in minor roles in both mediums, Devine broke out with her warm and relatable performance as a single mother in "Waiting to Exhale." She went on to appear in a string of prominent supporting turns in projects like "The Preacher's Wife" (1996), "Down in the Delta" (1998), and "What Women Want" (2000). Regular or recurring roles on television included such shows as "Boston Public" (Fox, 2000-04) and "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ). Other work in film boasted such diverse projects as the screen adaptation of "Dreamgirls" (2006) and director Werner Herzog's psychodrama "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?" (2009). Exceptionally talented, professional and prolific, Devine had become one of Hollywood's most dependable ensemble cast members.
Photos
Loretta Devine
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
56% |
|
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie | Unknown (Voice) | - | 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bull Street | Mrs. Big-Gal (Character) | - | 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted by Love | Unknown (Character) | - | 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lost & Found in Cleveland | Unknown (Character) | - | 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rock the Boat 2 | Unknown (Character) | - | 2024 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Snowy Day in Oakland | Jeanette (Character) | - | 2023 |
24% |
|
Mack & Rita | Unknown (Character) | $2.0M | 2022 |
No Score Yet |
|
All I Didn't Want for Christmas | Lorraine (Character) | - | 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Christmas Déjà Vu | Crystal (Character) | - | 2021 |
20% |
|
The Starling | Unknown (Character) | - | 2021 |
55% |
|
Queen Bees | Sally (Character) | $1.9M | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Christmas in Harmony | Mama (Character) | - | 2021 |
No Score Yet |
|
Always and Forever | Elda (Character) | $196.3K | 2020 |
50% |
|
Spell | Eloise (Character) | $484.7K | 2020 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Sweet Christmas Romance | Loretta (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Family Reunion Christmas | Unknown (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet |
|
Jingle Belle | Emory Simons (Character) | - | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Behind the Movement | JoAnn Robinson (Character) | - | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | My Other Home | Mabel Marbury (Character) | - | 2017 |
0% |
|
Naked | Bride's Mother (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Lost Souls Café | Unknown (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 36 Hour Layover | Ms. Carey (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
|
Grandma's House | Margie (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
|
Caged No More | Aggie (Character) | $3.5K | 2016 |
6% |
|
Norm of the North | Tamecia (Voice) | $17.0M | 2016 |
93% |
|
Chapter & Verse | Miss Maddy (Character) | $81.9K | 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Back to School Mom | Meghan Graham (Character) | - | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
For the Love of Ruth | Naomi (Character) | - | 2015 |
22% |
|
The Sound & the Fury | Dilsey (Character) | - | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
Comeback Dad | Malinda (Character) | - | 2014 |
74% |
|
Welcome to Me | Barb Vaughn (Character) | $625.7K | 2014 |
52% |
|
You're Not You | Marilyn (Character) | - | 2014 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Very Larry Christmas | Mrs. Claus (Character) | - | 2014 |
44% |
|
Khumba | Mama V (Voice) | - | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Saving Westbrook High |
Doris (Character), Executive Producer |
- | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
In the Hive | Mrs. Inez (Character) | - | 2011 |
57% |
|
Jumping the Broom | Mrs. Taylor (Character) | $37.3M | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
Politics of Love | Shirlee Gupta (Character) | - | 2011 |
37% |
|
Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family | Shirley (Character) | $53.3M | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie | Unknown (Character) | - | 2011 |
31% |
|
For Colored Girls |
Juanita/ |
$37.7M | 2010 |
34% |
|
Lottery Ticket | Grandma (Character) | $24.7M | 2010 |
44% |
|
Death at a Funeral | Cynthia (Character) | $42.7M | 2010 |
50% |
|
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done | Miss Roberts (Character) | - | 2009 |
50% |
|
Spring Breakdown | Dr. Racine Marguerite (Character) | - | 2009 |
41% |
|
Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Delta (Voice) | $94.5M | 2008 |
12% |
|
First Sunday | Sister Doris (Character) | $37.9M | 2008 |
56% |
|
This Christmas | Ma'Dere Whitfield (Character) | $49.1M | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Cougar Club | Dolly (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale | Addie Collins (Character) | - | 2006 |
50% |
|
Dirty Laundry | Evelyn (Character) | $20.1K | 2006 |
2% |
|
King's Ransom | Miss Gladys (Character) | $4.0M | 2005 |
52% |
|
Woman Thou Art Loosed | Cassie (Character) | $6.9M | 2004 |
73% |
|
Crash | Shaniqua Johnson (Character) | $54.6M | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
|
Book of Love | Unknown (Character) | - | 2002 |
35% |
|
I Am Sam | Margaret Calgrove (Character) | $40.3M | 2001 |
26% |
|
Kingdom Come | Marguerite (Character) | $23.2M | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Freedom Song | Evelyn Walker (Character) | - | 2000 |
11% |
|
Urban Legends: Final Cut | Reese (Character) | $21.5M | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Best Actress | Connie Travers (Character) | - | 2000 |
56% |
|
Punks | Health Counselor (Character) | $155.2K | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Splitsville | Principal (Character) | - | 1999 |
83% |
|
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge | Ruby Dandridge (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Breaks | Floria (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Funny Valentines | Dearie B. (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Love Kills | Sylvia Finkelstein (Character) | - | 1998 |
30% |
|
Urban Legend | Reese Wilson (Character) | $38.1M | 1998 |
76% |
|
Down in the Delta | Zenia (Character) | $5.7M | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lover Girl |
Leticia/ |
- | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Price of Kissing | Jackee (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Clover | Everleen (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Don King: Only in America | Connie Harper (Character) | - | 1997 |
43% |
|
Hoodlum | Pigfoot Mary (Character) | $23.5M | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Rebound -- The Legend of Earl The Goat Manigault | Miss Mary (Character) | - | 1996 |
62% |
|
The Preacher's Wife | Beverly (Character) | $48.1M | 1996 |
56% |
|
Waiting to Exhale | Gloria 'Glo' Matthews (Character) | $64.2M | 1995 |
17% |
|
Amos & Andrew | Ula (Character) | $9.5M | 1993 |
17% |
|
Class Act | Blade's Mom (Character) | $11.1M | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hotel Oklahoma | Judy (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Livin' Large! | Nadine Biggs (Character) | $5.5M | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
Parent Trap III | Thelma (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Murder of Mary Phagan | Annie Maude Carter (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sticky Fingers | Diane (Character) | - | 1988 |
53% |
|
Little Nikita | Verna McLaughlin (Character) | $1.5M | 1988 |
No Score Yet |
|
Anna to the Infinite Power | Ms. Benson (Character) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Will | Unknown (Character) | - | 1981 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
100% | 88% | Young Love | Gigi Young (Voice) | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 85% | Act Your Age | Unknown (Character) | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 63% | Family Reunion | M'Dear (Character) | 2019-2022 |
No Score Yet | 55% | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Doc McStuffins | Hallie (Voice) | 2012-2021 |
67% | 67% | CONNECTING... | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2020 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Game On! A Comedy Crossover Event | Amelia "M'Dear" McKellan (Character) | 2020 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wendy Williams Show | Guest | 2012 2016 2019-2020 |
92% | 57% | black-ish | Lynette (Guest Star) | 2019 |
80% | 92% | Love Is... | Betty (Character) | 2018 |
18% | 58% | Living Biblically | Estelle (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Larry King Now | Guest | 2018 |
93% | 73% | Supernatural | Missouri Mosley (Guest Star) | 2005 2017 |
87% | 92% | The Carmichael Show | Cynthia Carmichael (Character) | 2015-2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Chew | Guest | 2016-2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hollywood Game Night | Guest | 2016 |
No Score Yet | 11% | The View | Guest | 2015 |
No Score Yet | 29% | Sullivan & Son | Guest | 2014 |
89% | 94% | Psych | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014 |
68% | 78% | The Client List | Georgia Cummings (Character) | 2012-2013 |
84% | 72% | Grey's Anatomy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005-2009 2011-2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Soul Man | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | 64% | The Cleveland Show | Shirley (Guest Voice) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Game | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | 68% | Shake It Up! | Judge Marsha Sanders (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | State of Georgia | Unknown (Character) | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Talk | Guest | 2011 |
70% | 72% | Glee | Sister Mary Constance (Guest Star) | 2011 |
94% | 91% | Party Down | Diane Ellison (Guest Star) | 2010 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Cold Case | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2009 |
60% | 100% | Eli Stone | Patti (Character) | 2008-2009 |
86% | 90% | Boston Legal | Annabelle Carruthers (Guest Star) | 2006-2007 |
96% | 98% | Everybody Hates Chris | Maxine (Guest Star) | 2006-2007 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Boston Public | Marla Hendricks (Character) | 2000-2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Girlfriends | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zoe Busiek: Wild Card | M. (Matilda) Pearl McGuire (Character) | 2004-2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Half & Half | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The PJs | Muriel Stubbs (Voice) | 1999-2001 |
61% | 78% | Ally McBeal | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Family Law | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Clueless | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Moesha | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Unknown (Voice) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Touched by an Angel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Different World | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1987-1988 |