Renee Lawless-Orsini (born November 30, 1960) is an American actress and singer. She is currently starring as the bitter and distant matriarch, Katheryn Cryer, in the OWN drama series The Haves and the Have Nots.

Lawless was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and moved with her family to Jacksonville in at age 9 and graduated from Sandalwood High School, Stetson University, and University of Cincinnati - College-Conservatory of Music. As of mid 1990's she appeared primary on stage productions, like national touring of Beauty and the Beast, and Wicked.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]