Lynn Whitfield

In 1979, Lynn signed with Columbia Pictures through a talent development program. She made her film debut in "Doctor Detroit" (1983) and appeared in several notable films, including "Silverado" (1985), "The Slugger's Wife" (1985), "Jaws: The Revenge" (1987), and "Dead Aim" (1987). However, television brought her the most recognition, with roles in series like "Hill Street Blues," "Heartbeat," and "Equal Justice." Her early TV highlights included "The George McKenna Story" (1986) opposite Denzel Washington, "Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI" (1986), and Oprah Winfrey's "The Women of Brewster Place" (1989).

The peak of her career came with the HBO biopic "The Josephine Baker Story" (1991), where she portrayed the legendary entertainer from age 18 to 68, winning an Emmy for her performance. She also earned an NAACP Image Award for "Stompin' at the Savoy" (1992). In the late 1990s, she starred in "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" (1996) with Martin Lawrence and "Gone Fishin'" (1997) with Danny Glover, and she drew on her Louisiana heritage in "Eve's Bayou" (1997). She continued with roles in "Sophie & the Moonhanger" (1996) and "The Wedding" (1998).

In the 2000s and beyond, Lynn remained active in film and television. Her film credits include "Head of State" (2003), "Madea's Family Reunion" (2006), "The Women" (2008), "Mama I Want to Sing" (2011), "All Things Fall Apart" (2011), and "King's Faith" (2013). On TV, she appeared in shows such as "Boston Public," "Without a Trace," "How to Get Away with Murder," and "Mistresses," and played Lady Belle Greenleaf in the drama series "Greenleaf" (2016). She has been married twice and has one daughter, Grace. She has lived in a New York townhome on the Upper East Side and belongs to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links Inc.