Lynn Whitfield
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- February 15, 1953 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
- Active Years
- 1944–2026 (83 Years)
- Total Credits
- 113 credits in database
Biography
Lynn Whitfield is an American actress born on February 15, 1953, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She began her acting career in television and theatre before transitioning to film roles. Whitfield has appeared in numerous made-for-television movies and theatrical films, including A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Gone Fishin', Eve's Bayou, Stepmom, and Head of State. She is known for her breakout performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical film The Josephine Baker Story, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and a Golden Globe Award nomination. Whitfield's acting credits span over 109 titles, showcasing her extensive experience in the film and television industry.
Career overview
Lynn Whitfield began her acting career in television and theatre before transitioning to film. She gained recognition for her performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical film. This breakout role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.
Whitfield continued to take on leading roles in made-for-television movies and theatrical films throughout the 1990s. Her film credits include A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Gone Fishin', and Eve's Bayou. She also appeared in the film Stepmom.
In addition to her film work, Whitfield has had a long-standing career in television. The provided information does not specify the nature or extent of her television work, but it does indicate that she has been involved in numerous projects. Her film career has spanned several decades, with notable roles in Head of State and Madea's.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
113 titles- Strung (2026) as Audra Jelani
- Eyes of Wakanda (2025) as Older Noni (voice)
- St. Denis Medical (2024) as Barb
- Albany Road (2024) as Paula Henderson
- The Retirement Plan (2023) as Drisdale
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- We Need a Little Christmas (2022) as Irene
- Vacation Friends (2021) as Suzanne
- Woman in Motion (2021) as Self
- Tales from the Hood 3 (2020) as Marie Benoît
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- The Chi (2018) as Alicia
- The Resident (2018) as Josephine Okeke
- Nappily Ever After (2018) as Paulette Jones
- Solace (2018) as Irene
- Steve (2017) as Self
- Espionage Tonight (2017) as Sydney Greenstreet
- Greenleaf (2016) as Lady Mae Greenleaf
- Prayer Never Fails (2016) as Loral Brown
- Fear Files (2015) as Madam Mabry
- How to Get Away with Murder (2014) as Mary Walker
- Chasing Life (2014) as Karen Callahan
- Lap Dance (2014) as Momma Pearl
- The Fright Night Files (2014) as Madame Mabry
- 30 Days in Atlanta (2014) as Clara
- My Other Mother (2014) as Mary Jo
- The Ugly Duckling (2014) as Narrator (voice)
- Fatal Attraction (2013) as Narrator (voice)
- King's Faith (2013) as Vanessa
- Act Like You Love Me (2013) as Harriett Lofton
- And Then There Was You (2013) as Sophia Brent
- And Then There Was You (2013) Thanks
- And Then There Was You (2013) Producer
- The Last Letter (2013) as Lorraine
- Lonely Boy (2013) as Dr. Christine Nolan
- The Dempsey Sisters (2013) as Olivia Norman
- 24 Hour Love (2013) as Cynthia
- Battlefield America (2012) as Ms. Parker
- Somebody's Child (2012) as Constance
- The Redemption of a Dog (2012) as Francine
- All Things Fall Apart (2011) as Bee
- Mama, I Want to Sing! (2011) as Lillian Winter
- FlashForward (2009) as Anastasia Markham
- The Rebound (2009) as Laura Reilly
- PoliWood (2009) as Self
- The Women (2008) as Glenda Hill
- Kings of the Evening (2008) as Gracie
- Shark (2006) as Anita Astin
- Madea's Family Reunion (2006) as Victoria
- The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) as Dorothea Garibaldi
- Confessions (2006) as Dr. Page
- The Tyra Banks Show (2005)
- Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story (2004) as Barbara Becnel
- The Cheetah Girls (2003) as Dorothea Garibaldi
- Head of State (2003) as Debra Lassiter
- Without a Trace (2002) as Paula Van Doren
- A Time for Dancing (2002) as Linda Derricks, the Dance Teacher
- A Girl Thing (2001) as Nia Morgan
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Dr. Marshall
- Boston Public (2000) as Louanna Harper
- Deep in My Heart (1999) as Corrine Burrell
- Love Songs (1999) as Jean Simpson
- Intimate Portrait: Josephine Baker (1999) as Herself
- The Color of Courage (1999) as Minnie McGhee
- Dangerous Evidence: The Lori Jackson Story (1999) as Lori Jackson
- Stepmom (1998) as Dr. P. Sweikert
- The Wedding (1998) as Corinne Coles
- Gone Fishin' (1997) as Angie
- Eve's Bayou (1997) as Roz Batiste
- The Planet of Junior Brown (1997) as Mrs. Brown
- Promised Land (1996) as Dr. Serena Hall
- Saturday Night Special (1996)
- A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) as Brandi
- Sophie and the Moonhanger (1996) as Sophie
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Dr. Serena Hall
- In the Army Now (1994) as Sgt. Ladd
- The Cosby Mysteries (1994)
- State of Emergency (1994) as Dehlia Johnson
- Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story (1994) as Bobbie Mallory
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Taking the Heat (1993) as Carolyn Hunter
- Martin (1992) as Ellen
- Stompin' at the Savoy (1992) as Esther
- The Josephine Baker Story (1991) as Josephine Baker
- A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story (1991)
- Zora is My Name! (1990)
- Snoops (1989) as Denise Kendall
- The Women of Brewster Place (1989) as Ciel
- The Women of Brewster Place (1989) as Ciel
- HeartBeat (1988) as Dr. Cory Banks
- The George McKenna Story (1988) as Bobbie Maxwell
- Jaws: The Revenge (1987) as Louisa
- Dead Aim (1987) as Sheila Freeman
- The Making of Jaws The Revenge (1987) as Self
- Matlock (1986) as Angela Page
- Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI (1986) as Johnnie Mae Gibson
- John Henry (1986) as Pollie Ann
- Tall Tales & Legends (1985) as Pollie Ann
- Silverado (1985) as Rae
- The Slugger's Wife (1985) as Tina Alvarado
- Miami Vice (1984) as Odette Ribaud
- Trauma Center (1983)
- Doctor Detroit (1983) as Thelma Cleland
- St. Elsewhere (1982) as Annie Callan
- American Playhouse (1982) as Woman in the bath
- American Playhouse (1982)
- Cagney & Lacey (1982)
- Matt Houston (1982) as Val
- For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf (1982) as Woman in bath
- Hill Street Blues (1981)
- Hill Street Blues (1981) as Jill Thomas
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen as Dorothea Garibaldi
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lynn Whitfield best known for?
Lynn Whitfield is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Strung (2026), St. Denis Medical (2024), The Retirement Plan (2023), Sherri (2022).
When and where was Lynn Whitfield born?
Lynn Whitfield was born on February 15, 1953 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
How many credits does Lynn Whitfield have?
Lynn Whitfield has accumulated over 113 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2026.
What is Lynn Whitfield's background in cinema and television?
Lynn Whitfield is an American actress born on February 15, 1953, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She began her acting career in television and theatre before transitioning to film roles. Whitfield has appeared in numerous made-for-television movies and theatrical films, including A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Gone Fish...
Lynn Whitfield by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Love Songs (1999) as Jean Simpson — aged about 46
- The Resident (2018) as Josephine Okeke — aged about 65
- The Chi (2018) as Alicia — aged about 65
- How to Get Away with Murder (2014) as Mary Walker — aged about 61
- Strung (2026) as Audra Jelani — aged about 73
- Boston Public (2000) as Louanna Harper — aged about 47
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