Loretta Devine

Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949)[1] is an American actress and singer, best known for her roles as Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, she had a recurring role as Dormitory Director, Stevie Rallen on NBC’s “A Different World”, Marla Hendricks in the Fox drama series Boston Public, and for 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 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, Hoodlum, I Am Sam, Urban Legend, What Women Want, Kingdom Come, Crash, Woman Thou Art Loosed, Class Act, For Colored Girls, This Christmas, First Sunday, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Jumping the Broom.[2] She also played Cynthia Carmichael on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show.[3][4]

Loretta Devine
Devine in December 2010
Born	August 21, 1949 Houston, Texas, U.S.
Education	University of Houston (1971, BA) Brandeis University (1976, MFA)
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Glenn Marshall ​ (m. 2001)​

Early life

Loretta 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.[1] She grew up in the Acres Homes area of Houston, where her mother was a single mother to six children.[5] She was very active on the pep squad, and performed in talent shows at George Washington Carver High School.[6]

In 1971, Devine graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama.[6] In 1976, she received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater from Brandeis University.[7]

She was initiated into the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Career

Broadway

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.[2]

She rose to stardom in Dreamgirls, a smash 1981 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.[2] She also received raves in the 1995 Apollo revival of The Wiz as Glinda the Good Witch of the South.

Film

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.[8] For her featured role in the low-budget film, Devine earned $500.[8]

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 and continued film successes

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 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 "Feeling Good."

Devine had a recurring role in the Shonda Rhimes drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Richard Webber's wife, Adele.[9] 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.[10] Devine also won Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Feature Role for Grey's Anatomy in 2012.[11] 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.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1981	Will
1983	Anna to the Infinite Power	Ms. Everett Benson
1988	Little Nikita	Verna McLaughlin
1988	Sticky Fingers	Diane Cooley
1989	Heart and Soul	Tonia Harris	Short film
1990	Stanley & Iris	Bertha Simmons
1990	Sugar and Spice	Loretta Fontaine
1990	Cop Rock	Juror Devine
1991	Livin' Large	Nadine Biggs
1992	Caged Fear	Judy Jane
1992	Class Act	Myrna
1993	Amos & Andrew	Ula
1994	The Hard Truth	Rose Maxwell
1995	Waiting to Exhale	Gloria Matthews	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
1996	The Preacher's Wife	Beverly	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
1997	The Price of Kissing	Jackee Blaine
1997	Hoodlum	Pigfoot Mary
1997	Lover Girl	Leticia
1998	Urban Legend	Reese Wilson
1998	Down in the Delta	Zenia
1999	Lillie	Michelle Collins
1999	Operation Splitsville	Principal Edna Fields
1999	Funny Valentines	Dearie B.
1999	The Breaks	Floria
2000	Punks	Aretha Stone
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 Evans
2002	Book of Love	Mary Baker
2003	Zoe Busiek: Wild Card	Marie Bookerson
2004	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
2004	Crash	Shaniqua Johnson	Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress
2005	King's Ransom	Miss Gladys
2006	Dirty Laundry	Evelyn
2006	Dreamgirls	Nina Jackson
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 Tyson
2009	My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?	Miss Roberts
2010	Death at a Funeral	Cynthia
2010	Lottery Ticket	Grandma Dorothy Carson
2010	For Colored Girls	Juanita Sims / Green
2010	Politics of Love	Shirlee Gupta
2011	Jumping the Broom	Pamela Taylor
2011	Madea's Big Happy Family	Shirley
2013	Khumba	Mama V (voice)
2014	Comeback Dad	Malinda
2014	You're Not You	Marilyn Jo
2015	Welcome to Me	Mary The Lawyer
2016	Norm of the North	Tamecia (voice)
2016	Caged No More	Aggie James
2016	Grandma’s House	Grandma Margie
2016	No Regrets original title 36 Hour Layover	Mrs. Carey
2017	My Other Home	Mabel Marbury
2017	Naked	Carol
2018	Sierra Burgess Is a Loser	Ms. April Thomson
2018	Jingle Belle	Emory Simons
2019	The Trap	Mama Jay
2019	A Family Reunion Christmas	M'Dear	Netflix Film
2020	HeadShop	Jeanette Bergason	post-production
2020	Spell	Eloise
TBA	Welcome to Pine Grove!	Sally Heart	Post-production
TBA	The Starling		Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	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
1988	Amen	Lydia Cummings	Episode: "Court of Love"
1989	Parent Trap III	Thelma Pardrige	Television film
1990	Murphy Brown	Nurse Diana Hawking	Episode: "The Bitch's Back"
1991	Great Performances	Janine Wills	Episode: "The Colored Museum"
1991	Reasonable Doubts	Valerie Hall	Episode: "Hard Bargains"
1992–1993	Roc	Cynthia Raine	5 episodes
1993	The American Clock	Irene Mack Shaw	Television film
1995	Picket Fences	Marla Melrose	Episode: "Close Encounters"
1995	Ned and Stacey	Mrs. Sally Duncan	Episode: "Reality Check"
1996	Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault	Miss Mary Johnson	Television film
1997	Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child	The Mother	Episode: "The Golden Goose"
1997	Touched by an Angel	Tonya Hawkins	Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 1"
1997	Promised Land	Tonya Hawkins	Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 2"
1997	Clover	Everleen Moore	Television film
1997	Don King: Only in America	Connie Harper	Television film
1999–2002	The PJs	Muriel Stubbs (voice)	43 episodes
1999	Moesha	Gwen "Stephanie" "Steph" Watkins	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 Duke	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, 2017	Supernatural	Missouri Moseley	2 episodes
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 Rock	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"
2009	Legally Mad	Jeanette Woods	Unaired pilot[13]
2010	Party Down	Diane Ellison	Episode: "James Ellison Funeral"
2011	Glee	Sister Mary Constance	Episode: "Original Song"
2011	State of Georgia	Aunt Honey	12 episodes
2012–2020	Doc McStuffins	Hallie Hippo/Nurse Hattie (voice)	115 episodes
2012	The Game	Grandma Donna 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 Elliott	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	Rosemary St. Claire	3 episodes
2015	Being Mary Jane	CeCe Robinson	6 episodes
2015–2017	The Carmichael Show	Cynthia Carmichael	32 episodes
2016	Dinner in America with Brett Gelman	Herself	TV Special
2018	Dear White People	Sorbet	Episode: "Volume 2: Chapter VII"
2018	Living Biblically	Estelle Williams	Episode: "Never Let Loyalty Love You"
2018	Love Is	Rose Marie	2 episodes
2019–present	Family Reunion	M'Dear	Main cast
2019	A Black Lady Sketch Show	Pastor Rosetta Daniels	Episode: "Your Boss Knows You Don't Have Eyebrows"
2019	Black-ish	Lynette Mae	Episode: "Pops the Question"
2020	PValley	Grandma Ernestine	Episode: 6 & 8
2021	The Loud House	Gayle McBride (voice)	Episode: "Resident Upheaval"

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
• Glinda the Good Witch of the South, The Wiz, 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
• Glinda The Good Witch of The South, The Wiz, Apollo Revival, 1995
• 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

1. "Loretta Devine - Texas Birth Index". FamilySearch. 21 August 1949. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
2. Smiley, Tavis (4 May 2011). "Actress Loretta Devine" (Video interview). Tavis Smiley. PBS. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
3. Wells, Veronica (25 August 2015). "Loretta Devine Talks New Show, Waiting To Exhale & More". MadameNoire. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
4. Raqiyah, Mays (26 August 2015). "Loretta Devine Tackles Topical Comedy on 'The Carmichael Show' [Interview]". Ebony. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
5. Loewenstein, Melinda (19 August 2011). "Emmy Nominee Loretta Devine Reflects on a Divine Career". Backstage. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
6. Kelly, Chris (26 February 2013). "Devine Calling". Modern Luxury - Houston. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
7. 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. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
8. Oxendine, Alece (31 July 2013). "Remembering Jessie Maple And Her Landmark 1981 Feature-Length Film, 'Will'". Indie Wire. indiewire.com. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
9. Braxton, Greg (17 April 2008). "Devine counts many blessings". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
10. "| Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Emmys.com. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
11. "2012 Gracie Awards". thegracies.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
12. "The Client List: canceled, no season three | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
13. Schneider, Michael (2009-05-11). "NBC passing on 'Legally Mad'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-12-28.

External links

• Loretta Devine at IMDb
• Loretta Devine at the Internet Broadway Database
• Loretta Devine at the Internet Off-Broadway Database