# Dawnn Lewis

Dawnn Jewel Lewis (born August 13, 1961) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor on the NBC television sitcom A Different World from the series beginning in 1987 until the end of its fifth season in 1992, in addition to co-writing the opening theme song for the series.
Lewis's other notable roles include portraying Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper for its first season (1992–93) and as Cheryl Spade in the 1988 film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Since then, Lewis has appeared in numerous TV series, including other sitcoms, and has also performed on stage.

## Early life and education

Dawnn Lewis was born on August 13, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York City, to Carl and Joyce Lewis, who are of African-American and Guyanese descent, She began singing at the age of four and acting at eleven. At sixteen, Lewis graduated from the High School of Music & Art in New York City, now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. In college, she majored in musical theatre with a minor in journalism, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1982.

## Career
### The Tap Dance Kid National Tour (1985-1986)

From August 1, 1985, to July 6, 1986, Lewis performed in the chorus and as the character Dulcie in the National Tour of the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid under the name "Dawnn J. Lewis".

### A Different World (1987–1992)

Lewis appeared in the first five of six seasons of A Different World as Jaleesa Vinson (later Vinson–Taylor), from 1987 until 1992. Lewis co-wrote the theme song to A Different World, with Bill Cosby and Stu Gardner, and co-performed the song for the first season. Although her character was married to another of the main characters on the show, her character disappeared from the series without explanation, similar to the Chuck Cunningham character in Happy Days. Lewis appeared in a special week-long segment of A Different World called the Hillman College Reunion airing on Nick at Nite, along with Lisa Bonet, Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, and Sinbad. On her Super Password appearance in 1988, she was paired with Dallas star Ken Kercheval, not any of her co-stars.

### Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–1993)

In September 1992, Lewis began starring in ABC's Hangin' with Mr. Cooper alongside Mark Curry and Holly Robinson. Lewis appeared in 20 of the 22 episodes of the first season as Robin Dumars, Mark's childhood best friend and roommate. Lewis did not appear on the two shows concurrently – she left A Different World to star in Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. Lewis and Holly Robinson, along with R&B quartet En Vogue, performed the theme song for season one of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. Sometime before the end of season one, the show producers decided to scale back on the updated version of the 1970s ABC sitcom Three's Company concept. Lewis left the show after the conclusion of the first season due to the producers deciding to change the direction of the show, replacing her character with a mother and child; Mark's cousin Geneva Lee (portrayed by Saundra Quarterman) and her daughter Nicole (portrayed by Raven-Symoné).

### Other work

Lewis provided additional voices in the video game, True Crime: New York City. She portrayed Deloris Van Cartier in Peter Schneider's Sister Act the Musical, which opened at the Pasadena Playhouse on October 24, 2006. Lewis has voiced Storm of the X-Men in three games, most recently Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. She also voiced Granny Grim on The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, and voiced the female Shokan (Sheeva) in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm. Lewis has also done voice work as LaBarbara Conrad, wife of Hermes Conrad, in the animated TV series Futurama, Detective Terri Lee on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, villainess Di Archer on Bruno the Kid, and voiced a number of characters on The Boondocks. Additionally, she voiced the character Sharona on King of the Hill.
Lewis co-starred in two Disney Channel Original Movies, The Poof Point as Marigold Ballord, and as Gail DeBarge in Let It Shine. In 2000, Lewis played Blabberwort the Troll in the five-episode NBC miniseries The 10th Kingdom.

### 2006–present

In 2006, Lewis starred as Melba Early in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls. Lewis released her debut CD, entitled Worth Waiting For, in 2006. She played Addaperle in The Wiz with New York City Center's Encores! In 2009, Lewis played Denise Fields on One Tree Hill. In 2010, Lewis played a minor recurring role as Lauren's mother in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. In 2012, she voiced Malora in Strange Frame. She also appeared as Dr. Knapp on Days of Our Lives in 2012–2013. In 2014 Lewis starred in The Divorce along with Vanessa Bell Calloway, Tatyana Ali & Freda Payne. As of 2015, Lewis is playing a recurring role on Major Crimes as Patrice, a love interest for Lt. Provenza, whom he met during a case. In that same year, she also voiced Ruby's mother Helen Hanshaw in one episode of Sofia The First.
In March 2016, Lewis was cast in Disney Junior's animated series Doc McStuffins as the voice of Grandma McStuffins. In 2017 she provided the voice of Maybelle Mundy in the film Bunyan and Babe. In 2018 she began voicing Fannie Granger on DreamWorks's Spirit Riding Free and Dr. Jones in Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, while in 2019 began voicing The Chief on Netflix's animated Carmen Sandiego. She voiced Attorney General's special agent Lenora Carter in The Simpsons episode "The Fat Blue Line" in 2019, and became the voice of Bernice Hibbert starting with "Uncut Femmes" in 2021.
On November 7, 2019, under the name "Dr. Dawnn Lewis", Lewis began portraying Zelma, Tina Turner's mother in the musical Tina on Broadway.
From August 2020 she starred as the voice of Captain Carol Freeman in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks.
From 2021 to 2022, Lewis voiced Ms. Jackie Washington, the Neighborhood Council President of Hansberry Heights, in the animated series Karma's World.
In 2021, Lewis was among the first honorees to be inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Lewis is an honorary member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Cheryl Spade | |
| 1992 | Stompin' at the Savoy | Ella Fitzgerald | Television film |
| 1992 | Mouse Soup | Bees | Voice, short |
| 1993 | A Cool Like That Christmas | Jarvis | Voice, television film |
| 1994 | Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad | Minnie | Television film |
| 1996 | The Cherokee Kid | Stagecoach Mary/Love Gang | Television film |
| 1996 | Bruno the Kid: The Animated Movie | Di Archer | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 1997 | Bad Day on the Block | Officer Sandy Tierra | |
| 1999 | The Wood | Woman in Cleaners | |
| 2001 | Nicolas | - | |
| 2001 | The Poof Point | Marigold Ballard | Television film |
| 2002 | Endgame: Ethics and Values in America | Alison | Television film |
| 2003 | Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure | Bessie/Female Judge | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2005 | The Venom Saga | Detective Terri Lee | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2006 | The Adventures of Brer Rabbit | Mom/Sister Mink | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Melba Early | |
| 2007 | The Last Sentinel | Angel - Tallis' Rifle | Voice |
| 2007 | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | LaBarbara Conrad | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2009 | Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder | LaBarbara Conrad/Women's Prison Warden | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2010 | Preacher's Kid | Mya | |
| 2012 | Strange Frame: Love & Sax | Malora | Voice |
| 2012 | Let It Shine | Gail DeBarge | Television film |
| 2012 | Jennifer | Dr. Fox | Short |
| 2012 | Dino Time | Additional Voices | |
| 2013 | Second Chances | Maria | Television film |
| 2013 | Monsters University | Additional Voices | |
| 2013 | Toy Story of Terror! | Delivery Lady | Voice, television film |
| 2013 | WHOA! Comedy Short | Kate Sterling | Short |
| 2014 | The Divorce | Yolanda Massey | Television film |
| 2014 | Mom and Dad Undergrads | Diane | Television film |
| 2015 | Megachurch Murder | Lucille Williams | |
| 2015 | Inside Out | Additional Voices | |
| 2015 | Alone Together | Katie | Short |
| 2017 | Bunyan and Babe | Maybelle Mundy | Voice |
| 2017 | The Legend of Master Legend | Tana | Television film |
| 2017 | Cycle 2017 | Robyn | |
| 2018 | Revival! | Cleo | |
| 2020 | Be the Light | Gladys | |
| 2020 | Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal | Chief | Voice, short |
| 2021 | The Good, the Bart, and the Loki | Ravonna Renslayer | Voice, short |
| 2021 | Writing Around the Christmas Tree | Sharon Samuels | |
| 2022 | For Gunter's Eyes Only | Additional Voices | Short |
| 2022 | Minions: The Rise of Gru | Additional Voices | |
| 2022 | Welcome to the Club | Ursula/Kaa | Voice, short |
| 2022 | Blackjack Christmas | Corrine Allen | |
| 2023 | Rogue Not Quite One | TIE Interceptor System | Voice, short |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987-92 | A Different World | Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor | Main Cast: Season 1-5 |
| 1990 | Kid 'n Play | Lela | Voice, main role |
| 1992-93 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Robin Dumars | Main Cast: Season 1 |
| 1995 | ABC Weekend Special | Temba's Sister | Episode: "Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale" |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Princess Songe | Voice, episode: "The Valiant Little Tailor" |
| 1995 | The Savage Dragon | Additional Voices | |
| 1996 | Dream On | Rema Hort | Recurring Cast: Season 6 |
| 1996 | The Faculty | Mrs. Lowman | Episode: "Daisy's Secret" |
| 1996 | C Bear and Jamal | Grandma | Voice, recurring role |
| 1996 | Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm | Sheeva | Voice, recurring role |
| 1995-97 | Spider-Man | Detective Terri Lee | Voice, recurring role |
| 1996-97 | Bruno the Kid | Di Archer | Voice, recurring role |
| 1997 | The Steve Harvey Show | Alise Peyton | Episode: "Coming to Chicago" |
| 1997 | Sliders | Dr. Natalie Sylvius | Episode: "The Breeder" |
| 1997 | Die Gang | Stella Tumbrell | Episode: "Das Duell" |
| 1997 | The Burning Zone | Dr. Janice Rhodes | Episode: "Elegy for a Dream" |
| 1997 | Waynehead | Cheetah | Voice, episode: "Rebel Without a Paw" |
| 1997 | The Parent 'Hood | Bernadette | Episode: "Father Wendell" |
| 1997 | The Incredible Hulk | Agent Diana | Voice, episode: "Mission: Incredible" |
| 1997-99 | King of the Hill | Sharona Johnson | Voice, guest role (seasons 1 and 3) |
| 1998 | The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs | Additional Voices | Episode: "Hair/Homework" |
| 1999 | The Jamie Foxx Show | Dr. Kanella | Episode: "Scareder Than a Mug" |
| 1999 | Nash Bridges | Winifred Holt | Episode: "Resurrection" |
| 1999 | Early Edition | Gayle Clark | Episode: "Number One with a Bullet" |
| 1999–present | Futurama | LaBarbara Conrad | Voice, recurring role |
| 2000 | The 10th Kingdom | Blabberwort the Troll | Recurring Cast |
| 2000 | Supermodels | Catwalk | Voice, main role |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Mary | Voice, episode: "Panic on Bathyos" |
| 2000-02 | Any Day Now | Gail Williams | Recurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4 |
| 2001 | The Legend of Tarzan | Naoh | Voice, episode: "Tarzan and the Eagle's Feather" |
| 2001-02 | Heavy Gear: The Animated Series | Sonja Briggs | Voice, recurring role |
| 2002 | Andy Richter Controls the Universe | Jackie | Episode: "We're All the Same, Only Different" |
| 2002-07 | Grim & Evil | Additional Voices | |
| 2003 | Strong Medicine | Detective Wright | Episode: "Risk" |
| 2003 | Ozzy & Drix | Cilia Tyson | Voice, episode: "An Out of Body Experience" |
| 2003 | Girlfriends | Linda Dent | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Static Shock | Brickhouse | Voice, episode: "Army of Darkness" |
| 2004 | Medical Investigation | Dr. Burton | Episode: "Little Girl" |
| 2004 | NYPD Blue | Jocelyn Barker | Episode: "The 3-H Club" |
| 2005-14 | The Boondocks | Additional Voices | |
| 2006-07 | Holly Hobbie & Friends | Carolyn Baker | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Handy Manny | Tanya | Voice, episode: "Musica/Ice Cream Team" |
| 2008-09 | One Tree Hill | Denise Fields | Recurring Cast: Season 6 |
| 2008-12 | The Life & Times of Tim | The Boss' Wife | Voice, guest role (seasons 1-3) |
| 2009-10 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Nurse | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2010 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Lauren's Mom | Recurring Cast: Season 2-3 |
| 2010-12 | The Cleveland Show | Additional Voices | |
| 2011 | Reed Between the Lines | Trishelle | Episode: "Let's Talk About College Boys" |
| 2012 | CSI: Miami | Stacy McCann | Episode: "At Risk" |
| 2012 | Breaking In | Janet Jenkins | Episode: "The Blind Sided" |
| 2012-13 | Days of Our Lives | Dr. Knapp | Regular Cast |
| 2012-13 | Regular Show | Fun Fun Zone Employee, JB | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2013 | The Soul Man | Erica | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2013 | Turbo Fast | Queen Bananica | Voice, episode: "African Queen" |
| 2014 | Castle | Yvonne | Episode: "That '70s Show" |
| 2014 | Survivor's Remorse | Vanessa Miller | Episode: "How to Build a Brand" |
| 2014 | Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories | Agent | Episode: "The Endorsement" |
| 2014-18 | Major Crimes | Patrice Perry | Recurring Cast: Season 3-6 |
| 2015 | Better Call Saul | Judge | Episode: "Hero" |
| 2015 | Sofia the First | Helen Hanshaw | Voice, episode: "Buttercup Amber" |
| 2015 | Rick and Morty | Assimilated Alien #1 | Voice, episode: "Auto Erotic Assimilation" |
| 2016 | Kirby Buckets | Mayor | Episode: "Call of Doodie" |
| 2016 | Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh | Guppa | Voice, episode: "Wrinkly Humans People" |
| 2016-20 | Doc McStuffins | April McStuffins | Voice, recurring role |
| 2017 | Stitchers | Arlene Grant | Episode: "Dreamland" |
| 2017–present | The Simpsons | Bernice Hibbert, Lenora Carter, Additional Voices | |
| 2018 | This Is Us | Rosemary | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | iZombie | Mama "Renegade" Leone | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| 2018 | Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters | Dr. Jones | Voice, episode: "Rise of the Tech Men" |
| 2018 | Bravest Warriors | Jeanette | Voice, recurring role (season 4) |
| 2018-19 | Spirit Riding Free | Fannie Granger | Voice, guest role (seasons 1 and 5) |
| 2018-20 | Curious George | Mrs. Parker | Voice, guest role (seasons 10 and 12) |
| 2018-21 | Apple & Onion | Patty, Cinnamon Bun, Croissant | Voice |
| 2019 | Veronica Mars | Marcia Langdon | Main Cast: Season 4 |
| 2019 | Spirit Riding Free: Pony Tales | Fannie Granger | Voice, episode: "The Healing Tree" |
| 2019-21 | Carmen Sandiego | The Chief/Tamara Fraser | Voice, main role |
| 2019-21 | The Rich and the Ruthless | Beth | Main Cast: Season 3-4 |
| 2020 | Cleopatra in Space | Professor Klabrax V | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy | Fannie Granger | Voice, episode: "Race to the Finish" |
| 2020 | The Boys | Valerie | Episode: "Nothing Like It in the World" |
| 2020-24 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Carol Freeman | Voice, main role |
| 2021 | 9-1-1 | Danvers | Episode: "Survivors" |
| 2021 | HouseBroken | Additional Voices | |
| 2021 | Rick and Morty | - | Voice, episode: "Rick & Morty's Thanksploitation Spectacular" |
| 2021 | Duncanville | - | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021-22 | Karma's World | Ms. Jackie Washington | Voice, recurring role |
| 2021-22 | Star Trek Logs | Captain Carol Freeman | Voice, episode: "Carol Freeman Personal Audio Log 1-3" |
| 2022 | Grey's Anatomy | Jamarah Blake | Recurring cast (season 18) |
| 2022 | The Cuphead Show! | Bedelia/Boo-Boo | Voice, episode: "Dead Broke" |
| 2022 | Interrupting Chicken | Ms. Clara/Mail Lady | Voice, episode: "Where's The Party?/Chicken Out West" |
| 2022-23 | Young Rock | Prime Minister Angela Honig | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2023 | Fired on Mars | Judith | Voice, episode: "The God of War" |
| 2024-present | The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish | Tina Churner | Voice, 6 episodes |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2003 | Gladius | Additional voices |
| 2004 | World of Warcraft | Additional voices |
| 2005 | X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse | Storm |
| 2006 | True Crime: New York City | Additional voices |
| 2006 | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | Storm |
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Additional voices |
| 2008 | The Rise of the Argonauts | Additional voices |
| 2009 | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 | Storm |
| 2017 | Tacoma | Evelyn Victoria St. James |
| 2018 | Fallout 76 | Kesha McDermott, Mayor Barbara, Clara Davis |
| 2020 | World of Warcraft: Shadowlands | Additional voices |

## Album appearances

* Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff, on the song "If You Really Love Him"
* Take 6 – So Much 2 Say, on the interlude "That's The Law"
* D-Nice – Call Me D-Nice, on the song "It's Over"