Early life

Whitfield was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the daughter of Jean (née Butler), an officer of a finance agency, and Valerian Smith, a dentist. The eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a prime figure in forming community theater in her native Baton Rouge. First garnering attention on the stage by studying and performing with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C, she married one of the company's co-founders and pioneers of black theatre, playwright/director/actor Vantile Whitfield in 1974. She eventually moved to New York and appeared off-Broadway in such shows as The Great Macdaddy and Showdown before earning acclaim in the 1977 Los Angeles production of the landmark play 'for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf' co-starring alongside Alfre Woodard.

Career

1980s

Whitfield made her professional screen debut in the NBC critically acclaimed serial drama, Hill Street Blues as Jill Thomas in 1981. In 1983, she appeared in the comedy film Doctor Detroit (1983), playing the supporting role of Thelma Cleland. She later co-starred in films The Slugger's Wife, Silverado, and Jaws: The Revenge. She also starred in the television films The George McKenna Story opposite Denzel Washington, Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI as a title character, and in the ABC miniseries The Women of Brewster Place alongside Oprah Winfrey and Cicely Tyson. She also was regular cast member in the short-lived 1988 ABC female-driven medical drama series, HeartBeat alongside Kate Mulgrew, Laura Johnson, and Gail Strickland.

1990s

Whitfield achieved wide recognition in the title role of The Josephine Baker Story (1991), portraying the American who became a Folies Bergère star, a French Resistance fighter during World War II, and a civil rights activist. The HBO biopic required her to age from 18 to 68. She In a highly publicized casting call, Whitfield was chosen over hundreds of women. In the movie, she appeared nude on-screen. In a his review, Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly said: "Whitfield is exceptionally good as the legendary singer-dancer who came to prominence in the ’20s for her throaty singing and her notorious "banana dance" — a wiggly little number executed while wearing nothing except a skirt of real bananas." Whitfield won an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her role, and said this gave her "the greatest sense of accomplishment and realization of my vision. It absolutely called upon everything I thought I could do at that point." She also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film nomination and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

After her breakthrough as Josephine Baker, Whitfield had the recurring role in the ABC legal drama Equal Justice, appearing opposite Joe Morton. She continued her career, starring in the made for television movies, include A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story (1991); Stompin' at the Savoy (1992) with Vanessa L. Williams, Jasmine Guy, and Vanessa Bell Calloway; Taking the Heat (1993) with Tony Goldwyn; State of Emergency (1994) with Joe Mantegna; Sophie and the Moonhanger (1996); The Wedding (1998) as a Halle Berry's mother; The Color of Courage (1998) alongside Linda Hamilton; and Deep in My Heart (1999) opposite Anne Bancroft. She also had the series regular role on the short-lived NBC detective series The Cosby Mysteries from 1994 to 1995, and later guest starred on Martin and Touched by an Angel.

In 1996, Whitfield was cast as a female lead opposite Martin Lawrence in the dark romantic comedy film, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. At the time of filming, Lawrence was 12 years younger than Whitfield, who was then 42. The film grossed over $35 million against a budget of $8 million. In 1997, she co-starred opposite Danny Glover and Rosanna Arquette in the comedy film Gone Fishin', appeared in the supporting role in the Canadian drama The Planet of Junior Brown, and played the mother of Jurnee Smollett's title character in the critically acclaimed independent drama Eve's Bayou. In 1998, Whitfield had supporting role of oncologist in the comedy-drama film, Stepmom.

2000s and 2010s

In 2000s, Whitfield had many supporting roles on television and film. She co-starred in the Chris Rock's comedy film, Head of State (2003), and Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion (2006). Whitfield also appeared in The Women (2008), The Rebound (2009) and Mama, I Want to Sing (2011), and had many roles in a low-profile B-Movies. She also starred as Dorthea Garibaldi in both Disney Channel films The Cheetah Girls and The Cheetah Girls 2.

On television, Whitfield had the recurring roles on Boston Public and Without a Trace in 2000s. From 2014 to 2015, she appeared in the ABC legal drama, How to Get Away with Murder as villainous Mary Walker. She also had the recurring role on Hit the Floor, and appeared as a April's (Rochelle Aytes) abusive mother on Mistresses.

In 2015, Whitfield was cast in series regular role of main villain in the Oprah Winfrey Network original scripted drama series Greenleaf about unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family and their sprawling Memphis megachurch. Whitfield plays the leading role of Lady Mae Greenleaf, the imperious Minister's wife and power and money hungry matriarch of the family. The series also stars Keith David, Merle Dandridge, Kim Hawthorne and Oprah Winfrey.

Personal life

Whitfield was married two times. Her first husband was Vantile Whitfield from 1974 to 1978. From 1990 to 1992, she was married to director Brian Gibson. They had a daughter named Grace Gibson and divorced in 1992.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1983	Doctor Detroit	Thelma Cleland
1985	Slugger's Wife, TheThe Slugger's Wife	Tina Alvarado
1985	Silverado	Rae Johnson
1987	Dead Aim	Sheila Freeman
1987	Jaws: The Revenge	Louisa
1994	In the Army Now	Sgt. Ladd
1996	Thin Line Between Love and Hate, AA Thin Line Between Love and Hate	Brandi Web
1997	Gone Fishin'	Angie
1997	Planet of Junior Brown, TheThe Planet of Junior Brown	Mrs. Brown
1997	Eve's Bayou	Roz Batiste
1998	Stepmom	Dr. P. Sweikert
2000	Time for Dancing, AA Time for Dancing	Linda Derricks
2003	Head of State	Debra Lassiter
2006	Madea's Family Reunion	Victoria Breaux
2006	Confessions	Dr. Page
2008	Kings of the Evening	Gracie
2008	Women, TheThe Women	Glenda Hill
2011	Mama, I Want to Sing!	Lillian Winter
2011	Rebound, TheThe Rebound	Laura
2011	All Things Fall Apart	Bee
2012	Battlefield America	Ms. Parker
2012	Redemption of a Dog	Francine
2012	Training to Be A Superhero	MiMi Jakes	Short film
2013	Lonely Boy	Dr. Christine Nolan
2013	24 Hour Love	Cynthia	Direct-to-video
2013	King's Faith	Vanessa	Direct-to-video
2013	Act Like You Love Me	Harriett	Direct-to-video
2013	Someone to Love	Sophia Brent
2013	The Last Letter	Lorraine	Direct-to-video
2014	Blood Lines	Vivian	Direct-to-video
2014	30 Days in Atlanta	Immigration Lawyer
2014	Take the Spotlight
2014	Lap Dance	Momma Pearl	Direct-to-video
2015	Solace	Irene
2015	For All Eyes Always	Sydney Greenstreet
2015	Curve Ball	Dr. Layne
2015	The North Star	Miss Grace
2016	Prayer Never Fails	Loral Hess

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1981	Hill Street Blues	Jill Thomas	Episodes: "Chipped Beef", "Fecund Hand Rose", and "Can World War III Be an Attitude?"
1982	For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf	Woman in the bath	American Playhouse episode
1983	Matt Houston	Val	Episode: "The Centerfold Murders"
1983-1985	This Is the Life	Norma	Episodes: "Certain Arrangements" and "How Shall We Then Live?"
1985	Cagney & Lacey	Eleanor Taggart	Episodes: "Who Says It's Fair: Part 1" and "Who Says It's Fair: Part 2"
1985	Miami Vice	Odette Ribaud	Episode: "Bought and Paid For"
1985	Fall Guy, TheThe Fall Guy	Jeanne	Episode: "Escape Claus"
1986	Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI	Johnnie Mae Gibson	Television film
1986	The George McKenna Story	Bobbie Maxwell	Television film
1986	New Mike Hammer, TheThe New Mike Hammer	Della Marvel	Episode: "Harlem Nocturne"
1986	Tall Tales & Legends	Pollie Ann	Episode: "John Henry"
1988	St. Elsewhere	Annie Callan	Episode: "Curtains"
1988	HeartBeat	Dr. Cory Banks	Series regular, 18 episodes
1989	Women of Brewster Place, TheThe Women of Brewster Place	Lucielia "Ciel" Turner	Miniseries
1990	Zora Is My Name		American Playhouse episode
1990	Matlock	Angela Page	Episodes: "The Informer: Part 1" and "The Informer: Part 2"
1991	Trials of Rosie O'Neill, TheThe Trials of Rosie O'Neill		Episode: "Domestic Silence"
1991	Equal Justice	Maggie Mayfield	5 episodes
1991	Josephine Baker Story, TheThe Josephine Baker Story	Josephine Baker	Television film
1991	Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story, AA Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story	Natala	Television film
1992	Stompin' at the Savoy	Esther	Television film
1993	Taking the Heat	Carolyn Hunter	Television film
1994	State of Emergency	Dehlia Johnson	Television film
1994	Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story	Bobbie Mallory	Television film
1994-1995	Cosby Mysteries, TheThe Cosby Mysteries	Barbara Lorenz	Series regular, 20 episodes
1996	Sophie & the Moonhanger	Sophie	Television film
1997	Martin	Ellen	Episodes: "Goin' Overboard: Part 1" and "Goin' Overboard: Part 2"
1997	Touched by an Angel	Dr. Serena Hall	Episodes: "Amazing Grace: Part 1" and "Amazing Grace: Part 2"
1998	Wedding, TheThe Wedding	Corinne Coles	Television film
1999	Color of Courage, TheThe Color of Courage	Minnie McGhee	Television film
1999	Deep in My Heart	Corinne Burrell	Television film
1999	Dangerous Evidence: The Lori Jackson Story	Lori Jackson	Television film
1999	Love Songs	Jean Simpson	Television film
2001	Girl Thing, AA Girl Thing	Nia Morgan	Television film
2001	Boston Public	Louanna Harper	3 episodes
2002-2006	Without a Trace	Paula Van Doren	6 episodes
2003	Cheetah Girls, TheThe Cheetah Girls	Dorothea Garibaldi	Television film
2004	Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story	Barbara Becnel	Television film
2004	Strong Medicine	Dr. Marshall	Episode: "Race for a Cure"
2006	Cheetah Girls 2, TheThe Cheetah Girls 2	Dorothea Garibaldi	Television film
2006	Shark	Anita Astin	Episode: "Pilot"
2011	FlashForward	Anastasia Markham	Episode: "White to Play"
2012	Somebody's Child	Constance	Television film
2012	Prodigy Bully	Angela Washington	Television film
2013	The Dempsey Sisters	Olivia Norman	Television film
2014	Hit the Floor	Vanessa Howard	Episode: "Shattered Glass"
2014	For the Love of Lockwood	Madame Mabry	Television film
2014	My Other Mother	Mary Jo	Television film
2014 - 2015	How to Get Away with Murder	Mary Walker	3 episodes
2015	Fear Files	Madame Mabry	Television film
2015	Chasing Life	Karen Callahan	2 episodes
2015	Mistresses	Marjorie	Episode: "The Best Laid Plans"
2016	Greenleaf	Lady Mae Greenleaf	Series regular

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Title	Result
1991	Emmy Awards	"Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special"	Josephine Baker Story, TheThe Josephine Baker Story	Won
1992	Golden Globe Awards	"Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV"	Josephine Baker Story, TheThe Josephine Baker Story	Nominated
1993	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie"	Josephine Baker Story, TheThe Josephine Baker Story	Won
1998	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture"	Eve's Bayou	Nominated
1998	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series"	Touched by an Angel	Won
1999	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series"	Wedding, TheThe Wedding	Nominated
2000	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie/Miniseries/Dramatic Special"	Dangerous Evidence: The Lori Jackson Story	Nominated
2000	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special"	Planet of Junior Brown, TheThe Planet of Junior Brown	Won
2000	Black Reel Awards	"Network/Cable - Best Actress"	Love Songs	Nominated
2004	Black Reel Awards	"Television: Best Supporting Actress"	Cheetah Girls, TheThe Cheetah Girls	Nominated
2004	BET Comedy Awards	"Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie"	Head of State	Nominated
2004	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program"	Cheetah Girls, TheThe Cheetah Girls	Nominated
2004	NAMIC Vision Awards	"Best Dramatic Performance"	Cheetah Girls, TheThe Cheetah Girls	Nominated
2005	Black Reel Awards	"Best Actress, Network/Cable Television"	Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story	Won
2005	NAACP Image Awards	"Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special"	Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story	Won
2006	Black Movie Awards	"Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role"	Madea's Family Reunion	Nominated

[ Source: Wikipedia ]