Loretta Devine - wikipedia Loretta Devine Loretta Devine Devine in December 2010 ( 1949 - 08 - 21 ) August 21, 1949 ( age 68 ) Houston, Texas, U.S. Alma mater University of Houston Occupation Actress, singer Years active 1977 -- present Spouse ( s ) Glenn Marshall ( divorced ) Lamar Tyler ( m. 1973 ; div. 2008 ) Children Loretta Devine ( born August 21, 1949 ) is an American actress and singer, best known for her roles as Marla Hendricks in the Fox drama series Boston Public, and for her recurring role as Adele Webber on the Shonda Rhimes ' Grey 's Anatomy, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2011. She had a role in the series Everybody Hates Chris as Rochelle 's mother. In film, Devine appeared in Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher 's Wife, I Am Sam, Urban Legend, Crash, Woman Thou Art Loosed, For Colored Girls, This Christmas and Jumping the Broom. She also played Cynthia Carmichael on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Broadway 2.2 Film 2.3 Television 3 Filmography 3.1 Film 3.2 Television 4 Stage appearances 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Early life Devine was born in Houston, Texas. Her mother, Eunice O'Neal ( née Toliver ), was a beautician, and her father, James Devine, worked as a laborer. She grew up in the Acres Homes area of Houston where her mom was a single mom to six children. She was very active on the pep squad, and performed in talent shows at George Washington Carver High School. In 1971, Devine graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama. In 1976, she received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater from Brandeis University. Devine was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha the Epsilon Lambda Chapter. Career Broadway Devine has worked extensively on Broadway. She appeared in the 1978 musical A Broadway Musical, which closed after one performance. Her first Broadway show was called Comin ' Uptown, and featured Gregory Hines. She captured attention in Dreamgirls, a 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. Film Minor roles for Devine followed in films such as Little Nikita and Stanley & Iris. She has a cameo performance in the film version of Dreamgirls. 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 movie, The Preacher 's Wife, her second movie with Houston and Hines. She later co-starred opposite Alfre Woodard in Down in the Delta ( 1998 ) and Funny Valentines ( 1999 ). Television She was 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 Rollins, dormitory director at 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. Devine had a recurring role in the Shonda Rhimes drama series Grey 's Anatomy as Dr. Richard Webber 's wife, Adele. 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. Devine also won Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Feature Role for Grey 's Anatomy in 2012. 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 played Hallie, a nurse, on Playhouse Disney 's 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 cancelled after two seasons. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1981 Will Will 's wife Anna to the Infinite Power Ms. Benson 1988 Little Nikita Verna McLaughlin 1988 Sticky Fingers Diane 1989 Heart and Soul Tonia Harris Short film 1990 Stanley & Iris Bertha 1990 Sugar and Spice Loretta Fontaine 1990 Cop Rock Juror 1991 Livin ' Large Nadine Biggs 1992 Caged Fear Judy 1992 Class Act Blade 's mom 1993 Amos & Andrew Ula The Hard Truth Nichols ' secretary 1995 Waiting to Exhale Gloria Matthews NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The Preacher 's Wife Beverly NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 1997 The Price of Kissing Jackee 1997 Hoodlum Pigfoot Mary 1997 Lover Girl Leticia 1998 Urban Legend Reese Wilson 1999 Lillie Michelle 1999 Operation Splitsville Principal 1999 The Breaks Floria 2000 Punks Health counselor 2000 Urban Legends : Final Cut Reese Wilson 2000 What Women Want Flo the Doorwoman 2001 Kingdom Come Marguerite Slocumb Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 2001 I Am Sam Margaret Calgrove 2002 Baby of the Family Delores 2002 Book of Love N / A 2003 Zoe Busiek : Wild Card N / A Woman Thou Art Loosed Cassey Jordan Nominated -- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Crash Shaniqua Johnson Nominated -- Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress 2005 King 's Ransom Miss Gladys 2006 Dirty Laundry Evelyn 2006 Dreamgirls Jazz singer 2007 Cougar Club Dolly 2007 This Christmas Shirley Ann `` Ma'Dere '' Whitfield Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 2008 First Sunday Sister Doris 2008 Beverly Hills Chihuahua Delta ( voice ) 2008 Spring Breakdown Dr. Marguerite 2009 My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done ? Miss Roberts Death at a Funeral Cynthia Lottery Ticket Grandma For Colored Girls Juanita Sims Politics of Love Shirlee Gupta 2011 Jumping the Broom Pamela Taylor 2011 Madea 's Big Happy Family Shirley 2013 Khumba Mama V ( voice ) 2014 You 're Not You Marilyn 2015 Welcome to Me The Lawyer 2016 Norm of the North Tamecia ( voice ) 2016 Caged No More Aggie 2017 Naked Carol Television Year Title Role Notes CBS Summer Playhouse Cheryl Episode : `` Sirens '' 1987 -- 1988 A Different World Stevie Rallen 10 episodes 1988 The Murder of Mary Phagan Annie Maude Carter Television film 1989 Amen Lydia Cummings Episode : `` Court of Love '' 1989 Parent Trap III Thelma Television film 1990 Murphy Brown Nurse Hawking Episode : `` The Bitch 's Back '' 1991 Great Performances Janine Episode : `` The Colored Museum '' 1991 Reasonable Doubts Valerie Hall Episode : `` Hard Bargains '' 1992 -- 1993 Roc Cynthia 5 episodes 1993 The American Clock Irene Television film 1995 Picket Fences Marla Melrose Episode : `` Close Encounters '' 1995 Ned and Stacey Mrs. Duncan Episode : `` Reality Check '' Rebound : The Legend of Earl ' The Goat ' Manigault Miss Mary Television film 1997 Happily Ever After : Fairy Tales for Every Child Mother Episode : `` The Golden Goose '' 1997 Touched by an Angel Tonya Hawkins Episode : `` Amazing Grace - Part 1 '' 1997 Clover Everleen Television film 1997 Don King : Only in America Connie Harper Television film 1999 -- 2003 The PJs Muriel Stubbs ( voice ) 43 episodes 1999 Moesha Steph Episode : `` It Takes Two '' 1999 Clueless Phyliss Holiday Episode : `` Graduation '' 1999 Funny Valentines Dearie B. Television film 1999 Jackie 's Back ! Snookie Tate Television film 1999 Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Ruby Dandridge Television film 2000 -- 2004 Boston Public Marla Hendricks 81 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series ( 2001, 2003 -- 04 ) Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Nominated -- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress -- Television Series ( 2003 -- 04 ) 2000 Family Law Gloria Rivers Episode : `` Playing God '' 2000 Ally McBeal Nora Mills Episode : `` I Will Survive '' 2000 Freedom Song Evelyn Walker Television film Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special 2000 Best Actress Connie Travers Television film 2003 The System Mrs. Marsha Waters Unsold TV pilot 2003 Half & Half Erika 2 episodes 2004 -- 2005 Wild Card M. Pearl McGuire 19 episodes 2005 -- 2013 Grey 's Anatomy Adele Webber 22 episodes Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Nominated -- Critics ' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated -- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series 2005 Supernatural Missouri Moseley Episode : `` Home '' 2005 -- 2006 Girlfriends Judge Vashti Jackson 2 episodes 2006 Boston Legal Annabelle Carruthers Episode : `` The Nutcrackers '' 2006 Life Is Not a Fairy Tale Addie Collins Television film Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special 2006 -- 2007 Everybody Hates Chris Maxine 3 episodes 2007 Boston Legal Judge Victoria Thomson Episode : `` Oral Contracts '' 2008 -- 2009 Eli Stone Patti Dellacroix 26 episodes Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series 2009 Cold Case Chandra Patterson ' 09 Episode : `` Soul '' Party Down Diane Ellison Episode : `` James Ellison Funeral '' Legally Mad Jeanette Television film 2011 Glee Sister Mary Constance Episode : `` Original Song '' 2011 State of Georgia Aunt Honey 12 episodes 2012 -- present Doc McStuffins Hallie Hippo / Nurse Hattie ( voice ) 18 episodes 2012 The Game Grandma Mack Episode : `` There 's No Place Like Home '' 2012 The Cleveland Show Shirley ( voice ) Episode : `` Mama Drama '' 2012 RuPaul 's Drag Race Herself Episode : `` Snatch Game '' 2012 Shake It Up Judge Marsha Episode : `` Judge It Up '' 2012 -- 2013 The Client List Georgia Cummings 25 episodes 2014 Psych Melba Birdson Episode : `` 1967 : A Psych Odyssey '' 2014 -- 2015 Sirens Hank 's Mother 3 episodes 2015 Being Mary Jane CeCe 6 episodes 2015 -- 2017 The Carmichael Show Cynthia Carmichael Series Regular 2016 Dinner in America with Brett Gelman Herself TV Special Stage appearances Minister, Godsong, La MaMa E.T.C., New York City, 1978 ( Broadway debut ) Dionne, Hair ( revival ), Biltmore Theatre, 1977 Soloist, Langston Hughes, AMAS Repertory Theatre, 1977 Title role, Karma, Richard Allen Center, New York City, 1977 Gloria, Verandah, New Dramatists, 1977 Soloists, Seasons Reasons, Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, New York City, 1977 Yenta lady, A Broadway Musical, Lunt - Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1978 Loretta, Miss Truth, Apollo Theatre, New York City, 1978 Bones, Circle in the Square Theatre, New York City, 1978 Ms. Dabney, Mahalia, Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, 1978 Virtue, The Blacks, Richard Allen Center, New York City, 1978 Young Mary, Comin ' Uptown, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1979 Jewel, Lion and the Jewel, Lincoln Center, New York City, 1980 Precious, Dementos, City Center, New York City, 1980 Lorell Robinson, Dreamgirls, Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1981 The Casting of Kevin Christian, Shepherd Street Art Gallery, 1983 Mermaid, Gotta Getaway !, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1984 Janeen Earl - Taylor, Long Time Since Yesterday, Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, New York City, 1985 Lilly, Big Deal, Broadway Theater, New York City, 1986 Lala, Wigs, and model, The Colored Museum, Public Theaters / Susan Stein Shiva Theater, New York City, 1986 Delia, Spunk, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1990 Billie Holiday, Lady Day at Emerson 's Bar and Grill, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, then Little Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, 1991 Holly Day, Rabbit Foot, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles, 1991 Charlesetta, East Texas Hot Links, The Met, Los Angeles, 1991 Soloist, Rodgers, Hart, Hammerstein Tribute, Embassy Theatre, 1991 Soloist, Big Moments on Broadway, Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, DC, 1991 Also appeared as Cissy, Woman from the Town and in A Midsummer Night 's Dream and The Hot Mikado in 1990. See also History of the African - Americans in Houston References ^ Jump up to : `` Loretta Devine - Texas Birth Index ''. FamilySearch. 21 August 1949. Retrieved 5 August 2016. ^ Jump up to : Smiley, Tavis ( 4 May 2011 ). `` Actress Loretta Devine '' ( Video interview ). Tavis Smiley. PBS. Retrieved 5 August 2016. Jump up ^ Wells, Veronica ( 25 August 2015 ). `` Loretta Devine Talks New Show, Waiting To Exhale & More ''. MadameNoire. Retrieved 5 August 2016. Jump up ^ Raqiyah, Mays ( 26 August 2015 ). `` Loretta Devine Tackles Topical Comedy on ' The Carmichael Show ' ( Interview ) ''. Ebony. Retrieved 5 August 2016. Jump up ^ Loewenstein, Melinda ( 19 August 2011 ). `` Emmy Nominee Loretta Devine Reflects on a Divine Career ''. Backstage. Retrieved 5 August 2016. ^ Jump up to : Kelly, Chris ( 26 February 2013 ). `` Devine Calling ''. Modern Luxury - Houston. Retrieved 5 August 2016. Jump up ^ Pease, Theresa ( Summer 2011 ). `` Achieving Devinity : Even if you do n't know this Brandeis actress ' name, you 'll recognize her face ''. Brandeis Magazine. Brandeis University. Retrieved 5 August 2016. Jump up ^ Braxton, Greg ( 17 April 2008 ). `` Devine counts many blessings ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Academy of Television Arts & Sciences ''. Emmys.com. Retrieved 2014 - 01 - 12. Jump up ^ `` 2012 Gracie Awards ''. thegracies.org. Archived from the original on 2012 - 10 - 04. Retrieved 2012 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` The Client List : canceled, no season three canceled + renewed TV shows ''. TV Series Finale. Retrieved 2014 - 01 - 12. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Loretta Devine. Loretta Devine on IMDb Loretta Devine at the Internet Broadway Database Loretta Devine at the Internet Off - Broadway Database Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Zohra Lampert ( 1974 ) Fionnula Flanagan ( 1976 ) Beulah Bondi ( 1977 ) Rita Moreno ( 1978 ) Alfre Woodard ( 1987 ) Shirley Knight ( 1988 ) Kay Lenz ( 1989 ) Viveca Lindfors ( 1990 ) Peggy McCay ( 1991 ) Elaine Stritch ( 1993 ) Faye Dunaway ( 1994 ) Shirley Knight ( 1995 ) Amanda Plummer ( 1996 ) Dianne Wiest ( 1997 ) Cloris Leachman ( 1998 ) Debra Monk ( 1999 ) Beah Richards ( 2000 ) Sally Field ( 2001 ) Patricia Clarkson ( 2002 ) Alfre Woodard ( 2003 ) Sharon Stone ( 2004 ) Amanda Plummer ( 2005 ) Patricia Clarkson ( 2006 ) Leslie Caron ( 2007 ) Cynthia Nixon ( 2008 ) Ellen Burstyn ( 2009 ) Ann - Margret ( 2010 ) Loretta Devine ( 2011 ) Martha Plimpton ( 2012 ) Carrie Preston ( 2013 ) Allison Janney ( 2014 ) Margo Martindale ( 2015 ) Margo Martindale ( 2016 ) Alexis Bledel ( 2017 ) VIAF : 65697074 LCCN : n94031125 ISNI : 0000 0001 2137 0543 GND : 135500656 SUDOC : 148824528 BNF : cb14171491t ( data ) MusicBrainz : 6eac1367 - d006 - 437a - adca - 0c52bad24dc7 IATH : w6vq437q Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loretta_Devine&oldid=799679798 '' Categories : 1949 births Brandeis University alumni Living people Actresses from Houston University of Houston alumni 20th - century American actresses 21st - century American actresses Primetime Emmy Award winners African - American actresses American actresses American television actresses American film actresses American voice actresses American musical theatre actresses African - American female singers American stage actresses Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Articles with IBDb links Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 9 September 2017, at 05 : 37. 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Question: who plays adele webber on grey's anatomy
Answer: Loretta Devine