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Loretta Devine

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Loretta Devine
Devine in 2010
Born (1949-08-21) August 21, 1949 (age 75)
EducationUniversity of Houston (BA)
Brandeis University (MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1977–present
Spouse
Glenn Marshall Tyler
(m. 1967)
Children2
AwardsFull list

Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original (1981) Broadway production of Dreamgirls, Gloria Matthews in the film Waiting to Exhale (1995), and her recurring role as Adele Webber on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Devine also played Juanita Sims in the film adaptation of For Colored Girls (2010).

Early life

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Loretta Devine was born in Houston, Texas, on August 21, 1949.[1] She grew up in the Acres Homes area of Houston, where her mother was a single mother to six children.[2] She was very active on the pep squad, and performed in talent shows at George Washington Carver High School.[3]

In 1971, Devine graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama.[3] In 1976, she received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater from Brandeis University.[4]

Career

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Stage work

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Devine has worked extensively on Broadway. Her Broadway debut was in 1978 in a musical called A Broadway Musical, which closed after 14 previews and only one performance on December 21, 1978. She captured attention in her second Broadway show, called Comin' Uptown, which featured Gregory Hines.[5]

She rose to stardom in Dreamgirls, a smash 1983 Broadway musical loosely based on the history of The Supremes, in which she originated the role of Lorrell Robinson (a fictional character based on Mary Wilson). The story of Dreamgirls was created during workshops that were carried out in six-week workshops over the period of three years, which Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Jennifer Holliday developed via improv.[5] She also received raves in the 1995 Apollo revival of The Wiz as Glinda the Good Witch of the South.[citation needed] In May 2024 she starred in The Preacher’s Wife, a musical that began its run in Atlanta at The Alliance Theatre and is based on the previous films.

Film

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While rehearsing for Dreamgirls with a little girl in 1981, Devine was cast in Jessie Maple's Will, the first independent feature-length film directed by an African-American woman.[6] For her featured role in the low-budget film, Devine earned $500.[6]

Minor roles for Devine followed in films such as Little Nikita and Stanley & Iris.

In 1995, she landed a major role as Gloria Matthews in Waiting to Exhale, opposite Whitney Houston, Gregory Hines, and Angela Bassett. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, as did her next film, The Preacher's Wife, her second film with Houston and Hines. She later co-starred opposite Alfre Woodard in Down in the Delta (1998) and Funny Valentines (1999).

She has a cameo performance in the film version of Dreamgirls.

Television and continued film successes

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Devine played roles as a repertory character in the play The Colored Museum with Vickilyn Reynolds. Devine and Reynolds both went on to play sisters in the short-lived TV series Sugar and Spice. During the period between the play and the series, Devine appeared in the first season of the TV series A Different World as Stevie Rallen, a dormitory director at the fictional Hillman College.

From 2000 to 2004, Devine starred as high school teacher Marla Hendricks on the Fox drama series Boston Public. Devine won three more Image Awards for her work in the series. She also continued to work in film, playing prominent roles in Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut, and I Am Sam. Devine earned yet another Image Award nomination and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her work in the 2004 film Woman Thou Art Loosed. She also appeared in the 2005 film Crash. In 2007, she appeared in This Christmas, and in the next year had a series regular role on the ABC comedy-drama Eli Stone. Devine also was part of the ensemble casts of two Tyler Perry-directed films For Colored Girls and Madea's Big Happy Family. In 2008, she was featured prominently on George Michael's remake of the song "Feeling Good." She also appeared in First Sunday, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Jumping the Broom.[5]

Devine had a recurring role in the Shonda Rhimes drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Richard Webber's first wife, Adele.[7] In 2011 she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance. She was nominated for a second time for her performance in 2012.[8] Devine also won Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Feature Role for Grey's Anatomy in 2012.[9]

In 2011, she also starred on the short-lived ABC Family comedy State of Georgia. In 2012, she was part of Being Mary Jane cast. She also voiced the character Hallie, on the Disney Junior series Doc McStuffins. Later that year she began starring in the Lifetime series The Client List, playing the role of Georgia Cummings, the owner of the massage parlor where the lead character Riley Parks works. The series was canceled after two seasons.[10] Devine also played Cynthia Carmichael on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show.[11][12] Devine starred on the Netflix series, Family Reunion, with Richard Roundtree and Tia Mowry-Hardrict.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 Will Will's Wife
1988 Little Nikita Verna McLaughlin
Sticky Fingers Diane Cooley
1990 Stanley & Iris Bertha Simmons
1991 Caged Fear Judy
Livin' Large! Nadine Biggs
1992 Class Act Ms. Brown
1993 Amos & Andrew Ula
1994 The Hard Truth Rose Maxwell Direct-to-DVD
1995 Waiting to Exhale Gloria Matthews
1996 The Preacher's Wife Beverly
1997 The Price of Kissing Jackee Blaine
Hoodlum Pigfoot Mary
Lover Girl Leticia
1998 Love Kills Sylvia Finkelstein
Down in the Delta Zenia
Urban Legend Reese Wilson
Operation Splitsville Principal
Alyson's Closet Raul's Mother (voice) Short film
1999 Funny Valentines Dearie B.
The Breaks Floria
Lillie Michelle
2000 Punks Aretha Stone
Urban Legends: Final Cut Reese Wilson
What Women Want Florence "Flo" Glover
2001 Kingdom Come Marguerite Slocumb
I Am Sam Margaret Calgrove
2002 Book of Love Mary Baker
Baby of the Family Delores Evans
2004 Woman Thou Art Loosed Cassey Jordan
Crash Shaniqua Johnson
2005 King's Ransom Miss Gladys
2006 Dirty Laundry Evelyn
Dreamgirls Gladys Brooks
2007 Cougar Club Dolly
This Christmas Shirley Ann "Ma'Dere" Whitfield
2008 First Sunday Sister Doris
Beverly Hills Chihuahua Delta (voice)
2009 Spring Breakdown Dr. Marguerite Tyson
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? Ms Willheima Roberts
2010 Death at a Funeral Cynthia
Lottery Ticket Grandma Dorothy Carson
For Colored Girls Juanita Sims/Green
2011 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 Delta (voice) Direct-to-DVD
Madea's Big Happy Family Shirley
Jumping the Broom Pamela Taylor
Politics of Love Shirlee Gupta
2012 In the Hive Mrs. Inez
2013 The Get Away Ms. Crawford Short film
Khumba Mama V (voice)
A Very Larry Christmas Mrs. Claus
2014 Comeback Dad Malinda
Welcome to Me Barb Vaughn
The Sound and the Fury Dilsey
You're Not You Marilyn
2015 Back to School Mom Meghan Graham
1440 and Counting Mrs. Nickel Short film
For the Love of Ruth Naomi
2016 Norm of the North Tamecia (voice)
Caged No More Aggie James
Grandma's House Grandma Margie
Chapter & Verse Miss Maddy
No Regrets Ms. Carey
2017 My Other Home Mabel Marbury
Naked Carol
Violets Marcy Short film
2018 Sierra Burgess Is a Loser Ms. April Thomson
2019 The Trap Mama Jay
First Day Back Superintendent Lola Greene Short film
Postmarked Hattie
2020 The Last Starship Dorothy
Spell Eloise
Always and Forever Elda
The McHenry Trial - Don't Judge a Kid by Their Hoodie Doris McHenry Short film
2021 Queen Bees Sally Hanson
The Starling Velma
2022 Mack & Rita Sharon
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Irene (voice)
2023 A Snowy Day in Oakland Jeanette
Lucille Lucille
2024 Bull Street Mrs. Big-Gal
Rock the Boat 2 TBA
TBA Lost & Found in Cleveland Joy Morris

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Anna to the Infinite Power Ms. Benson Television film
1986 The Core of the Apple Herself Episode: "Manhattan Afrodreams"
1987 CBS Summer Playhouse Cheryl Episode: "Sirens"
1987–88 A Different World Stevie Rallen Main cast (season 1)
1988 The Murder of Mary Phagan Annie Maude Carter Episodes: "Episode #1.1 & #1.2"
Amen Lydia Cummings Episode: "Court of Love"
1989 Parent Trap III Thelma Television film
Heart and Soul Tonia Harris
1990 Murphy Brown Nurse Diana Hawking Episode: "The Bitch's Back"
Sugar and Spice Loretta Fontaine Main cast
Cop Rock Juror Episode: "Marital Blitz" & "No Noose Is Good Noose"
1991 Great Performances Janine Episode: "The Colored Museum"
Reasonable Doubts Valerie Hall Episode: "Hard Bargains"
1992 Love & War Donna Episode: "For John"
1992–93 Roc Cynthia Recurring cast (season 2)
1993 Out All Night Crystal Episode: "The Way We Were"
Family Album June Episode: "Salon, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Goodbye"
The American Clock Irene Mack Shaw Television film
1995 Picket Fences Marla Melrose Episode: "Close Encounters"
Ned and Stacey Mrs. Duncan Episode: "Reality Check"
1996 Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault Miss Mary Johnson Television film
1997 Touched by an Angel Tonya Hawkins Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 1"
Promised Land Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 2"
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Mother (voice) Episode: "The Golden Goose"
Clover Everleen Television film
Don King: Only in America Connie Harper
1998 E! Behind the Scenes Herself Episode: "Urban Legend"
1999 Moesha Steph Episode: "It Takes Two"
Clueless Phyllis Holiday Episode: "Graduation"
Jackie's Back Snookie Tate Television film
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Ruby Dandridge
1999–01 The PJs Muriel Stubbs (voice) Main cast
2000 Family Law Gloria Rivers Episode: "Playing God"
Ally McBeal Nora Mills Episode: "I Will Survive"
Freedom Song Evelyn Walker Television film
Best Actress Connie Travers
Cold Shoulder Rosie
2000–04 Boston Public Marla Hendricks Main cast
2003 Half & Half Erika Duke Episodes: "The Big Phat Mouth Episode: Part 1 & 2"
2004–05 Wild Card M. Pearl McGuire Main cast (season 2)
2005; 2017 Supernatural Missouri Moseley Episodes: "Home" & "Patience"
2005–06 Girlfriends Judge Vashti Jackson Episodes: "Trial and Errors", "...Ain't Nothing Over There"
2005–13 Grey's Anatomy Adele Webber Recurring cast (season 2-4 & 7-8), guest (season 5-6 & 9)
2006 Life Is Not a Fairy Tale Addie Collins Television film
2006–07 Everybody Hates Chris Maxine Guest (season 1), recurring cast (season 2)
2006; 2007 Boston Legal Judge Victoria Thomson / Annabelle Carruthers Episode: "The Nutcrackers" & "Oral Contracts"
2008–09 Eli Stone Patti Dellacroix Main cast
2009 Cold Case Chandra Patterson '09 Episode: "Soul"
2010 Legally Mad Jeanette Woods Television film
Party Down Diane Ellison Episode: "James Ellison Funeral"
2011 Glee Sister Mary Constance Episode: "Original Song"
State of Georgia Aunt Honey Dupree Main cast
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Episode: "Snatch Game"
Shake It Up Judge Marsha Sanders Episode: "Judge It Up"
The Game Grandma Mack Episode: "There's No Place Like Home"
The Cleveland Show Shirley (voice) Episode: "Mama Drama"
The Soul Man Della Ballentine Episodes: "To Leave or Not to Leave" & "Momma's Home"
2012–13 The Client List Georgia Cummings-Clemens Main cast
2012–20 Doc McStuffins Hallie Hippo (voice) Main cast
2013 The Doc Files Miniseries
Teachers Doris Television film
2014 Psych Melba Birdson Episode: "1967: A Psych Odyssey"
Sullivan & Son Rose Episode: "Hank Goes Black"
Turbo Fast Lydia (voice) Episode: "Zoo Lander/Balloonatics"
2014–15 Sirens Rosemary St. Claire Recurring cast (season 1), guest (season 2)
2015 Being Mary Jane CeCe Robinson Recurring cast (season 3)
2015–17 The Carmichael Show Cynthia Carmichael Main cast
2016 Nubbin & Friends Mrs. Sandy Johnson Episode: "The Letter "A""
2017 The Lost Souls Cafe Geneva Television film
2018 Dear White People Sorbet (voice) Episode: "Volume 2: Chapter VII"
Living Biblically Estelle Episode: "Never Let Loyalty Love You"
Love Is Rose Episodes: "Nuri and Yasir" & "Supportive"
Behind the Movement Jo Ann Robinson Television film
Jingle Belle Emory Simons
2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show Pastor Rosetta Daniels Episode: "Your Boss Knows You Don't Have Eyebrows"
Black-ish Lynette Mae Episodes: "Pops the Question", "O Mother Where Art Thou?" & "Father Christmas"
A Sweet Christmas Romance Mrs. Rose Television film
A Family Reunion Christmas Amelia 'M'Dear' McKellan
2019–22 Family Reunion Main cast
2020 Cherish the Day Herself Episode: "Catharsis"
Game On: A Comedy Crossover Event Amelia 'M'Dear' McKellan Episode: "Family Reunion: Remember the Family's Feud?"
Connecting... Dayleen Episodes: "Day 82" & "Day 90"
Pandemically Single Hazel Grant Television pilot
2020–22 P-Valley Ernestine Sayles Main cast (season 1), recurring cast (season 2)
2021 Summer Camp Island Sea Cow (voice) Episode: "Sea Bunnies"
Teenage Euthanasia God (voice) Episode: "First Date with the Second Coming"
Christmas in Harmony Mama Television film
Christmas Déjà Vu Crystal
2021–23 The Loud House Nana Gayle McBride (voice) Recurring cast (season 5-6), guest (season 7)
2022 Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Angela Main cast (season 2); Miniseries
Eureka! Wanda (voice) Episodes: "Eurek-Or-Treat/Nomad Like Home" & "Barry's Brrr-thday/Ptero Tap"
RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Herself/Fabulosity Episode: "I'm Coming Out: First Time in Drag!"
All I Didn't Want for Christmas Lorraine Television film
2023 Days of Our Lives Angela Episodes: "Episode #1.14592" & "Episode #1.14595"
Doc McStuffins: The Doc and Bella Are In! Hallie Hippo (voice) Miniseries
God-ly Clotho Episode: "King of the Castle P1"
Young Love Gigi Young (voice) Recurring cast
Kingdom Business Darlene Recurring cast (season 2)
Act Your Age Judith Episode: "Yo' Mama"
2024 Tempted by Love: A Terry McMillan Presentation Miss Mimi Television film
2024 Everybody Still Hates Chris Maxine (voice) Guest (season 1), recurring cast (season 1)

Music video

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Year Song Artist
2004 "What If" Ruben Studdard

Video games

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Year Title Role
2015 King's Quest Muriel Hobblepot

Broadway

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Year Musical Role Location
1977 Hair Dionne Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Langston Hughes Soloist AMAS Repertory Theatre
Karma - Richard Allen Center
Verandah Gloria New Dramatists
Seasons Reasons Soloists Henry Street Settlement Playhouse
1978 Godsong Minister La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
A Broadway Musical Yenta Lady Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Miss Truth Loretta Apollo Theatre
Bones - Circle in the Square Theatre
The Wiz Glinda the Good Witch of the South Henry Street Settlement Playhouse
The Blacks Virtue Richard Allen Center
1979 Comin' Uptown Young Mary Winter Garden Theatre
1980 Lion and the Jewel Jewel Lincoln Center
Dementos Precious New York City Center
1981 Dreamgirls Lorell Robinson Imperial Theatre
1983 The Casting of Kevin Christian - Shepherd Street Art Gallery
1984 Gotta Getaway! Mermaid Radio City Music Hall
1985 Long Time Since Yesterday Janeen Earl-Taylor Henry Street Settlement Playhouse
1986 Big Deal Lilly Broadway Theatre
The Colored Museum Lala, Wigs, and Model Public Theaters/Susan Stein Shiva Theater
1990 Spunk Delia Mark Taper Forum
Woman from the Town Cissy -
A Midsummer Night's Dream Cissy -
The Hot Mikado Cissy -
1991 Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Billie Holiday Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, then Little Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, 1991
Rabbit Foot Holly Day Los Angeles Theatre Center
East Texas Hot Links Charlesetta The Met
Rodgers, Hart, Hammerstein Tribute Soloist Embassy Theatre
Big Moments on Broadway Soloist Kennedy Center Opera House
1995 The Wiz Glinda the Good Witch of the South Apollo Revival

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Title Outcome
1995 Helen Hayes Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical Hot Mikado Nominated
1996 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Waiting to Exhale Won
1997 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The Preacher's Wife Won
2001 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Boston Public Won
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Freedom Song Won
2002 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Kingdom Come Nominated
2003 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Boston Public Won
2003 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Television Series Drama Boston Public Nominated
2004 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Boston Public Won
2004 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Television Series Drama Boston Public Nominated
2005 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Woman Thou Art Loosed Nominated
2005 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Female Woman Thou Art Loosed Nominated
2007 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Life Is Not a Fairy Tale Nominated
2008 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture This Christmas Nominated
2009 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Eli Stone Nominated
2011 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Grey's Anatomy Won
2012 Gracie Allen Awards Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role Grey's Anatomy Won
2012 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Grey's Anatomy Nominated
2012 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Grey's Anatomy Nominated
2012 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series Grey's Anatomy Nominated
2013 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture In the Hive Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Grey's Anatomy Won
Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special Doc McStuffins Won
2022 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Performance Family Reunion Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7864-5804-2. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Loewenstein, Melinda (August 19, 2011). "Emmy Nominee Loretta Devine Reflects on a Divine Career". Backstage. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Kelly, Chris (February 26, 2013). "Devine Calling". Modern Luxury – Houston. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  4. ^ Pease, Theresa (Summer 2011). "Achieving Devinity: Even if you don't know this Brandeis actress' name, you'll recognize her face". Brandeis Magazine. Brandeis University. Archived from the original on December 19, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Smiley, Tavis (May 4, 2011). "Actress Loretta Devine" (Video interview). Tavis Smiley. PBS. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Oxendine, Alece (July 31, 2013). "Remembering Jessie Maple And Her Landmark 1981 Feature-Length Film, 'Will'". Indie Wire. indiewire.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  7. ^ Braxton, Greg (April 17, 2008). "Devine counts many blessings". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  8. ^ "| Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  9. ^ "2012 Gracie Awards". thegracies.org. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  10. ^ "The Client List: canceled, no season three | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. November 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  11. ^ Wells, Veronica (August 25, 2015). "Loretta Devine Talks New Show, Waiting To Exhale & More". MadameNoire. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  12. ^ Raqiyah, Mays (August 26, 2015). "Loretta Devine Tackles Topical Comedy on 'The Carmichael Show' [Interview]". Ebony. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016..
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