Loretta Devine

Infobox actor

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birthdate = birth date and age|1949|8|21
birthplace = Houston, Texas, US
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academyawards = The Preacher's Wife (1996)|(Woman,Thou Art Loosed (2004)| (Crash) (2005)
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Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is a five-time NAACP Image Awards-winning American actress. Devine is known for her role of teacher Marla Hendricks on the FOX drama "Boston Public". She has a recurring role as Adele Webber on the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" and now plays Patti on the legal drama "Eli Stone".

Biography

Early life

Devine was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Eunice O'Neal (née Toliver), a beautician, and James Devine, a laborer. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/14/Loretta-Devine.html Loretta Devine Biography (1949?-) ] ] Devine graduated from the University of Houston in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama and Brandeis University in 1976 with a MFA in Theater. [ [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018885/bio Loretta Devine Biography - Yahoo! Movies ] ] Devine is a member of The Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Career

Devine appeared in the 1978 flop "A Broadway Musical", which closed after one performance. She captured attention in "Dreamgirls", a Broadway musical loosely based on the history of the Supremes. It premiered on December 20, 1981 and ran for over 1500 performances; it eventually won six Tony awards. Minor roles for Devine followed in films such as "Little Nikita" and "Stanley and Iris". She has a cameo performance in the film version of "Dreamgirls".

She was a repertory character in the play "The Colored Museum" with Vickilyn Reynolds. They 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, dormitory director at fictional Hillman College.

In 1995, she landed a high-profile role as Gloria Matthews in "Waiting to Exhale", joined in the cast by Whitney Houston, Gregory Hines, and Angela Bassett, among others. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award for best supporting actress, as did her next movie, "The Preacher's Wife", her second movie with Houston and Hines.

In 2000, Devine took on the role of impassioned high school teacher Marla Hendricks on Fox's TV drama "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", "", 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 Academy Awards Best Picture winning film "Crash". She also plays Rochelle's mother, Maxine, who's always picking on her, on the sitcom, "Everybody Hates Chris".

In 2007, she appeared in "This Christmas", a Screen Gems production co-starring Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, and Regina King.

Devine plays Patti on "Eli Stone", an ABC television series which began airing in 2008.

Filmography

*"First Sunday" (2008)
*"Eli Stone" (2008-) (TV series)
*"This Christmas" (2007)
*"Dreamgirls" (2006)
*"Life Is Not a Fairy Tale" (2006) (TV)
*"Grey's Anatomy" (2005-present) recurring role (TV series)
*"Supernatural" (2005) (TV series)
*"King's Ransom" (2005)
*"Crash" (2005)
*"Woman Thou Art Loosed" (2004)
*"" (2003) (TV series) (2004–2005)
*"I Am Sam" (2001)
*"Kingdom Come" (2001)
*"Boston Public" (2000-2004) (TV series)
*"What Women Want" (2000)
*"" (2000)
*"Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" (1999) (TV)
*"Funny Valentines" (1999)
*"The PJs" (1999) (TV series)
*" Urban Legend" (1998)
*"Down in the Delta" (1998)
*"Hoodlum" (1997)
*"The Preacher's Wife" (1996)
*"Waiting to Exhale" (1995)
*"Sugar and Spice" (1990)
*"Class Act" (1992)
*"Little Nikita" (1988)
*"A Different World" (1987) (TV series) (1987–1988)
*"Will" (1981)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0222643|name=Loretta Devine