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Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway theatre production of Dreamgirls (1981), Gloria Matthews in the film Waiting to Exhale (1995), and 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. Devine also played Juanita Sims in the film adaptation of For Colored Girls (2010). She is also known for her roles as Stevie Rallen on NBC's A Different World during its first season and for her portrayal Marla Hendricks on the television series Boston Public (2000–2004).
In 1971, Devine graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Public speaking and Drama. In 1976, she received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater from Brandeis University.
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 6-week-long workshops that occurred across a three year period, wherein Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Jennifer Holliday improvised their characters. She also received raves in the 1995 Apollo revival of The Wiz as Glinda the Good Witch of the South. In May 2024, she starred in The Preacher’s Wife, a musical that began its run in Atlanta at The Alliance Theatre and is based on the previous films.
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 film, The Preacher's Wife, her second film with Houston and Hines. She later co-starred opposite Alfre Woodard in Down in the Delta (1998) and Funny Valentines (1999).
She has a cameo performance in the film version of Dreamgirls.
From 2000 to 2004, Devine starred as high school teacher Marla Hendricks on the Fox drama series Boston Public. Devine won three more NAACP Image Awards for her work in the series. She also continued to work in film, playing prominent roles in Urban Legend, , 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 the song "Feeling Good." She also appeared in First Sunday, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Jumping the Broom.
Devine had a recurring role in the Shonda Rhimes drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Richard Webber's first wife, Adele. 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. Devine also won Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Feature Role for Grey's Anatomy in 2012.
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 voiced the character Hallie on the Disney Junior series 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 canceled after two seasons. Devine also played Cynthia Carmichael on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show.. Devine starred on the Netflix series, Family Reunion, with Richard Roundtree and Tia Mowry.
| 1981 | Will | Will's Wife | |
| 1983 | Anna to the Infinite Power | Ms. Everett Benson | |
| 1988 | Little Nikita | Verna McLaughlin | |
| Sticky Fingers | Diane Cooley | ||
| 1990 | Stanley & Iris | Bertha Simmons | |
| 1991 | Caged Fear | Judy | |
| Livin' Large | Nadine Biggs | ||
| 1992 | Class Act | Ms. Brown | |
| 1993 | Amos & Andrew | Ula | |
| 1994 | The Hard Truth | Rose Maxwell | |
| 1995 | Waiting to Exhale | Gloria Matthews | |
| 1996 | The Preacher's Wife | Beverly | |
| 1997 | The Price of Kissing | Jackee Blaine | |
| Hoodlum | Pigfoot Mary | ||
| Lover Girl | Leticia | ||
| 1998 | Love Kills | Sylvia Finkelstein | |
| Down in the Delta | Zenia | ||
| Urban Legend | Reese Wilson | ||
| Operation Splitsville | Principal | ||
| Alyson's Closet | Raul's Mother (voice) | Short | |
| 1999 | Funny Valentines | Dearie B. | |
| The Breaks | Floria | ||
| Lillie | Michelle | ||
| 2000 | Punks | Aretha Stone | |
| Reese Wilson | |||
| What Women Want | Florence "Flo" Glover | ||
| 2001 | Kingdom Come | Marguerite Slocumb | |
| I Am Sam | Margaret Calgrove | ||
| 2002 | Book of Love | Mary Baker | |
| Baby of the Family | Delores Evans | ||
| 2004 | Woman Thou Art Loosed | Cassey Jordan | |
| Crash | Shaniqua Johnson | ||
| 2005 | King's Ransom | Miss Gladys | |
| 2006 | Dirty Laundry | Evelyn | |
| Dreamgirls | Gladys Brooks | ||
| 2007 | Cougar Club | Dolly | |
| This Christmas | Shirley Ann "Ma'Dere" Whitfield | ||
| 2008 | First Sunday | Sister Doris | |
| Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Delta (voice) | ||
| 2009 | Spring Breakdown | Dr. Marguerite Tyson | |
| My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? | Miss Willheima Roberts | ||
| 2010 | Death at a Funeral | Cynthia | |
| Lottery Ticket | Grandma Dorothy Carson | ||
| For Colored Girls | Juanita Sims/Green | ||
| Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Delta (voice) | Video | |
| 2011 | Madea's Big Happy Family | Shirley | |
| Jumping the Broom | Pamela Taylor | ||
| Politics of Love | Shirlee Gupta | ||
| 2012 | In the Hive | Mrs. Inez | |
| 2013 | The Get Away | Ms. Crawford | Short |
| Khumba | Mama V (voice) | ||
| A Very Larry Christmas | Mrs. Claus | ||
| 2014 | Comeback Dad | Malinda | |
| Welcome to Me | Barb Vaughn | ||
| The Sound and the Fury | Dilsey | ||
| You're Not You | Marilyn Jo | ||
| 2015 | Back to School Mom | Meghan Graham | |
| 1440 and Counting | Mrs. Nickel | Short | |
| For the Love of Ruth | Naomi | ||
| 2016 | Norm of the North | Tamecia (voice) | |
| Caged No More | Aggie James | ||
| Grandma’s House | Grandma Margie | ||
| 36 Hour Layover | Mrs. Carey | ||
| 2017 | My Other Home | Mabel Marbury | |
| Naked | Carol | ||
| Violets | Marcy | Short | |
| 2018 | Sierra Burgess Is a Loser | Ms. April Thomson | |
| 2019 | The Trap | Mama Jay | |
| First Day Back | Superintendent Lola Greene | Short | |
| Postmarked | Hattie | Short | |
| 2020 | The Last Starship | Dorothy | Short |
| Spell | Eloise | ||
| Always and Forever | Elda | ||
| The McHenry Trial - Don't Judge a Kid by Their Hoodie | Doris McHenry | Short | |
| 2021 | Queen Bees | Sally Heart | |
| The Starling | Velma | ||
| 2022 | Mack & Rita | Sharon | |
| Irene | |||
| 2023 | A Snowy Day in Oakland | Jeanette | |
| 2024 | Bull Street | Mrs. Big-Gal | |
| Rock the Boat 2 | - | ||
| Lost & Found in Cleveland | Joy Morris |
| 1986 | The Core of the Apple | Herself | Episode: "Manhattan Afrodreams" |
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Cheryl | Episode: "Sirens" |
| A Different World | Stevie Rallen | Main cast (season 1) | |
| 1988 | The Murder of Mary Phagan | Annie Maude Carter | 2 episodes |
| Amen | Lydia Cummings | Episode: "Court of Love" | |
| 1989 | Parent Trap III | Thelma Pardrige | TV movie |
| Heart and Soul | Tonia Harris | TV movie | |
| 1990 | Murphy Brown | Nurse Diana Hawking | Episode: "The Bitch's Back" |
| Sugar and Spice | Loretta Fontaine | Main cast | |
| Cop Rock | Juror Devine | Episode: "Marital Blitz" & "No Noose Is Good Noose" | |
| 1991 | Great Performances | Janine Wills | Episode: "The Colored Museum" |
| Reasonable Doubts | Valerie Hall | Episode: "Hard Bargains" | |
| 1992 | Love & War | Donna | Episode: "For John" |
| 1992–93 | Roc | Cynthia Raine | Recurring cast (season 2) |
| 1993 | Out All Night | Crystal | Episode: "The Way We Were" |
| Family Album | June | Episode: "Salon, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Goodbye" | |
| The American Clock | Irene Mack Shaw | TV movie | |
| 1995 | Picket Fences | Marla Melrose | Episode: "Close Encounters" |
| Ned and Stacey | Mrs. Sally Duncan | Episode: "Reality Check" | |
| 1996 | Miss Mary Johnson | TV movie | |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Tonya Hawkins | Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 1" |
| Promised Land | Tonya Hawkins | Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 2" | |
| Mother (voice) | Episode: "The Golden Goose" | ||
| Clover | Everleen Moore | TV movie | |
| Connie Harper | TV movie | ||
| 1998 | E! Behind the Scenes | Herself | Episode: "Urban Legend" |
| 1999 | Moesha | Gwen "Stephanie" "Steph" Watkins | Episode: "It Takes Two" |
| Clueless | Phyllis Holiday | Episode: "Graduation" | |
| Jackie's Back | Snookie Tate | TV movie | |
| Introducing Dorothy Dandridge | Ruby Dandridge | TV movie | |
| 1999–2001 | The PJs | (voice) | Main cast |
| 2000 | Family Law | Gloria Rivers | Episode: "Playing God" |
| Ally McBeal | Nora Mills | Episode: "I Will Survive" | |
| Freedom Song | Evelyn Walker | TV movie | |
| Best Actress | Connie Travers | TV movie | |
| 2001 | Intimate Portrait | Herself | Episode: "Lela Rochon" |
| Hollywood Squares | Herself/Panelist | Recurring guest | |
| 2000–04 | Boston Public | Marla Hendricks | Main cast |
| 2003 | Pyramid | Herself/Celebrity Contestant | Episode: "Nov 4, 2003" |
| Half & Half | Erika Duke | Episode: "The Big Phat Mouth Episode: Part 1 & 2" | |
| 2004–05 | Wild Card | M. Pearl McGuire | Main cast (season 2) |
| 2005 | Supernatural | Missouri Moseley | Episode: "Home" |
| 2005–06 | Girlfriends | Judge Vashti Jackson | Episode: "Trial and Errors" & "...Ain't Nothing Over There" |
| 2005–13 | Grey's Anatomy | Adele Webber | Recurring cast (season 2-4 & 7-8), guest (season 5-6 & 9) |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | Annabelle Carruthers | Episode: "The Nutcrackers" |
| Life Is Not a Fairy Tale | Addie Collins | TV movie | |
| 2006–07 | Everybody Hates Chris | Maxine | Guest (season 1), Recurring cast (season 2) |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Judge Victoria Thomson | Episode: "Oral Contracts" |
| 2008–09 | Eli Stone | Patti Dellacroix | Main cast |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Chandra Patterson '09 | Episode: "Soul" |
| 2010 | Party Down | Diane Ellison | Episode: "James Ellison Funeral" |
| 2011 | Glee | Sister Mary Constance | Episode: "Original Song" |
| State of Georgia | Honey Dupree | Main cast | |
| 2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Episode: "Snatch Game" |
| Shake It Up | Judge Marsha Elliott | Episode: "Judge It Up" | |
| The Game | Grandma Donna Mack | Episode: "There's No Place Like Home" | |
| The Cleveland Show | Shirley (voice) | Episode: "Mama Drama" | |
| 2012–13 | The Client List | Georgia Cummings-Clemens | Main cast |
| 2012–20 | Doc McStuffins | Hallie (voice) | Main cast |
| 2013 | Teachers | Doris | TV movie |
| 2014 | Psych | Melba Birdson | Episode: "1967: A Psych Odyssey" |
| Sullivan & Son | Rose | Episode: "Hank Goes Black" | |
| Turbo Fast | Lydia | Episode: "Zoo Lander/Balloonatics" | |
| 2014–15 | Sirens | Rosemary St. Claire | Recurring cast (season 1), guest (season 2) |
| 2015 | Being Mary Jane | CeCe Robinson | Recurring cast (season 3) |
| 2015–17 | The Carmichael Show | Cynthia Carmichael | Main cast |
| 2016 | Hollywood Game Night | Herself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Sealed with a Kesha" |
| Nubbin & Friends | Mrs. Sandy Johnson | Episode: "The Letter "A"" | |
| 2017 | The Lost Souls Cafe | Geneva | TV movie |
| Supernatural | Missouri Moseley | Episode: "Patience" | |
| 2018 | Behind the Movement | Jo Ann Robinson | TV movie |
| Jingle Belle | Emory Simons | TV movie | |
| Dear White People | Sorbet | Episode: "Volume 2: Chapter VII" | |
| Living Biblically | Estelle Williams | Episode: "Never Let Loyalty Love You" | |
| Love Is | Rose Marie | Recurring cast | |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Pastor Rosetta Daniels | Episode: "Your Boss Knows You Don't Have Eyebrows" |
| Black-ish | Lynette Mae | Recurring cast (season 6) | |
| A Sweet Christmas Romance | Mrs. Rose | TV movie | |
| A Family Reunion Christmas | Amelia 'M'Dear' McKellan | TV movie | |
| 2019–22 | Family Reunion | Amelia 'M'Dear' McKellan | Main cast |
| 2020 | Cherish the Day | Herself | Episode: "Catharsis" |
| Amelia 'M'Dear' McKellan | |||
| Connecting | Dayleen | Recurring cast | |
| 2020–22 | P-Valley | Earnestine Sayles | Main cast (season 1), recurring cast (season 2) |
| 2021 | Teenage Euthanasia | God (voice) | Episode: "First Date with the Second Coming" |
| Christmas in Harmony | Mama | TV movie | |
| Christmas Déjà Vu | Crystal | TV movie | |
| 2021–23 | The Loud House | Gayle McBride (voice) | Recurring cast (season 5-6), guest (season 7) |
| 2022 | Angela | Main cast (season 2) | |
| Eureka! | Wanda (voice) | Recurring cast | |
| RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Herself/Fabulosity | Episode: "I'm Coming Out: First Time in Drag!" | |
| All I Didn't Want for Christmas | Lorraine | TV movie | |
| 2023 | Days of Our Lives | Angela | 2 episodes |
| Nurse Hallie Hippo (voice) | Recurring cast | ||
| God-ly | Clotho | Episode: "King of the Castle P1" | |
| Young Love | Gigi Young (voice) | Recurring cast | |
| Kingdom Business | Darlene | Recurring cast (season 2) | |
| 2024 | Everybody Still Hates Chris | Maxine (voice) | Episode: "Everybody Still Hates Cheat Codes" |
| Doctor Odyssey | Jill Manafort | Episode: "Quackers" | |
| Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted by Love | Miss Mimi | TV movie | |
| 2004 | "What If" | Ruben Studdard |
| 2015 | King's Quest | Muriel Hobblepot |
| 1977 | Hair | Dionne | Samuel J. Friedman Theatre |
| Langston Hughes | Soloist | AMAS Repertory Theatre | |
| Karma | - | Richard Allen Center | |
| Verandah | Gloria | New Dramatists | |
| Seasons Reasons | Soloists | Henry Street Settlement Playhouse | |
| 1978 | Godsong | Minister | La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club |
| A Broadway Musical | Yenta Lady | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | |
| Miss Truth | Loretta | Apollo Theatre | |
| Bones | - | Circle in the Square Theatre | |
| The Wiz | Glinda | Henry Street Settlement Playhouse | |
| The Blacks | Virtue | Richard Allen Center | |
| 1979 | Comin' Uptown | Young Mary | Winter Garden Theatre |
| 1980 | Lion and the Jewel | Jewel | Lincoln Center |
| Dementos | Precious | New York City Center | |
| 1981 | Dreamgirls | Lorell Robinson | Imperial Theatre |
| 1983 | The Casting of Kevin Christian | - | Shepherd Street Art Gallery |
| 1984 | Gotta Getaway! | Mermaid | Radio City Music Hall |
| 1985 | Long Time Since Yesterday | Janeen Earl-Taylor | Henry Street Settlement Playhouse |
| 1986 | Big Deal | Lilly | Broadway Theatre |
| The Colored Museum | Lala, Wigs, and Model | Public Theaters/Susan Stein Shiva Theater | |
| 1990 | Spunk | Delia | Mark Taper Forum |
| Woman from the Town | Cissy | - | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Cissy | - | |
| The Hot Mikado | Cissy | - | |
| 1991 | Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill | Billie Holiday | Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, then Little Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, 1991 |
| Rabbit Foot | Holly Day | Los Angeles Theatre Center | |
| East Texas Hot Links | Charlesetta | The Met | |
| Rodgers, Hart, Hammerstein Tribute | Soloist | Embassy Theatre | |
| Big Moments on Broadway | Soloist | Kennedy Center Opera House | |
| 1995 | The Wiz | Glinda the Good Witch of the South | Apollo Revival |
| 1995 | Helen Hayes Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical | Hot Mikado | |
| 1996 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Waiting to Exhale | |
| 1997 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | The Preacher's Wife | |
| 2001 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Boston Public | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Freedom Song | ||
| 2002 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Kingdom Come | |
| 2003 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Boston Public | |
| 2003 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Television Series Drama | Boston Public | |
| 2004 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Boston Public | |
| 2004 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Television Series Drama | Boston Public | |
| 2005 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Woman Thou Art Loosed | |
| 2005 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | Woman Thou Art Loosed | |
| 2007 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Life Is Not a Fairy Tale | |
| 2008 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | This Christmas | |
| 2009 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Eli Stone | |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | |
| 2012 | Gracie Allen Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role | Grey's Anatomy | |
| 2012 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | |
| 2012 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | |
| 2012 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | |
| 2013 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | In the Hive | |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | |||
| Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Doc McStuffins | |||
| 2022 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance | Family Reunion |
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