Dawnn Lewis Biography
Dawnn Lewis is an American actress, singer, voice actress and songwriter. Lewis well known from Taylor for her role as Jaleesa Vinson on the NBC television sitcom.
It was a Different World from the series beginning in 1987 until the end of its fifth season in 1992. She also co–wrote the theme song. Lewis also had roles including portraying Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper. She played the role in its first season between 1992 and 1993. In the 1988 film as Cheryl Spade, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. Lewis has appeared in numerous TV series since then, including other sitcoms and has also performed on stage.
Dawnn Lewis Age
Lewis born in August 13, 1961 is 57 years of age as of 2018.
Dawnn Lewis Husband
Lewis tied the knot and swapped vows in the presence of their small family with former NBA player Johnny Newman in 2004 but the two divorced in 2006.
Dawnn Lewis Net Worth
Dawnn Lewis has an estimated net worth of $4 million.
Dawnn Lewis Early Life And Education
Dawnn Lewis was born to Carl and Joyce Lewis, in Brooklyn, New York City. The parents are of African-American and Guyanese descent. At the age of four, Lewis began singing and acting at eleven. At the age of 16, Lewis graduated from the High School of Music and Art in New York City.
It is now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. At the University of Miami, Lewis majored in musical theatre with a minor in journalism there after graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree, cum laude, in 1982.
Dawnn Lewis Photo
Dawnn Lewis Career
A Different World (1987–1992)
From 1987 until 1992, Lewis appeared for the first five of the six-season run as Jaleesa Vinson. She later appeared as Vinson–Taylor. Together with Bill Cosby and Stu Gardner, Lewis co-wrote the theme song to A Different World and co-performed the song for the first season. Just like Chuck Cunningham of Happy Days, In A Different World, Lewis character was married to another of the main characters on the show.
Her character disappeared from A Different World without explanation. Lewis appeared in a special week-long segment of A Different World called the Hillman College Reunion. It aired on Nick At Nite along with Lisa Bonet, Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer and Sinbad. Lewis was paired with Dallas a 1978 TV series star Ken Kercheval on her Super Password appearance in 1988, not any of her co-stars.
Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (1992–1993)
Lewis began starring in ABC’s Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper alongside Mark Curry and Holly Robinson in September 1992. Lewis role as Robin Dumars, Mark’s childhood best friend and roommate saw her appear in 20 of the 22 episodes of the first season. Together with Mr. Cooper, Lewis left A Different World to star in Hangin’ hence did not appear on the two shows concurrently. Along with R&B quartet En Vogue Lewis and Holly Robinson, performed the theme song for season one of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.
The show producers decided to scale back on the updated version of the 1970s ABC sitcom Three’s Company concept sometime before the end of season one. The producers decided to change the direction of the show and Lewis left the show after the conclusion of the first season. Replacing her character with a mother and child; Mark’s cousin Geneva Lee portrayed by Saundra Quarterman and her daughter Nicole portrayed by Raven-Symoné.
Other work
In Peter Schneider’s Sister Act the Musical, Lewis portrayed Deloris Van Cartier which opened at the Pasadena Playhouse on October 24, 2006. Lewis has voiced in three games including Storm of the X-Men. Most recently Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. She voiced the female Shokan (Sheeva) in Mortal Kombat. She also voiced Granny Grim on The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy in Defenders of the Realm. Lewis has also done voice work as La Barbara in Futurama, Detective Terri Lee on Spider-Man.
The Animated Series, villainess Di Archer on Bruno the Kid. Additionally, she voiced the character, ‘Sharona’ on “King of the Hill.” and The Boondocks. Lewis played and co-starred in two Disney Channel Original Movies, The Poof Point as Marigold Ballord, and as Gail De Barge in Let It Shine. Blabberwort the Troll in the five-episode NBC miniseries The 10th Kingdom in 2000.
2006–present
Lewis starred as Melba Early in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls in 2006. Worth Waiting For is a debut CD by Lewis released, in 2006. She most recently played Addaperle in The Wiz with New York City Center’s Encores! Lewis played Denise Fields on One Tree Hill In 2009. Lewis played a minor recurring role as Lauren’s mother in The Secret Life of the American Teenager in 2010. Lewis voiced Malora in Strange Frame in 2012.
In 2012–2013, She also appeared as Dr. Knapp on Days of Our Lives. She has recurring role on Major Crimes as Patrice, a love interest for Lt. Provenza, whom he met during a case as of 2015. In that same year, Lewis also voiced Ruby’s mother Helen Hanshaw in 2015 in one episode of Sofia The First.Lewis was cast in Disney Junior’s animated series Doc McStuffins in March 2016, as the voice of Grandma McStuffins. Lewis provided the voice of Maybelle Mundy in the film Bunyan and Babe in 2017.
Lewis began voicing Fannie Granger on Dream Works’s Spirit Riding Free, in 2018 and in 2019 began voicing The Chief on Netflix’s animated Carmen Sandiego.
Dawnn Lewis Movies And TV Shows
Movies
- In Toy Story Of Terror, she played a Delivery Lady.
- She appeared in The Legend of Master Legend.
- She appeared in Pilot in 2017.
- In Hero in 2015.
- In Dream girls, she played Melba in early 2006.
TV Shows
- She appeared in Chain Reaction in 2014.
- She appeared in Party Foul in 2014.
- The Blind Sided she played Janet Jenkins in 2012.
- In Let It Shine she played Gail De Barge.
- In Let’s Talk About College Boys played Trishelle in 2011.
- In Sex and the Biddy she played Mrs. Bailey/Receptionist in 2011.
- In The 3-H Club, she played Jocelyn in 2004.
- In Little Girl, she played Dr. Francie Burton in 2004.
- Viva Las Vegas in 2003.
- In Baby Makes Four, she played Linda in 2003.
- In Risk, she played Detective Wright in 2003.
- In We’re All the Same, Only Different, she played Jackie in 2002.
- Call Him Macaroni in 2002.
- It’s Not Just a Word in 2001.
- Tick, Tick, Tick in 2001.
- Number One with a Bullet in 1999 as Gayle Cummings.
- Scareder than a Mug in 1999.
Dawnn Lewis Album Appearances
- Vanessa Williams- The Right Stuff, on the song “If You Really Love Him”
- Take 6- So Much 2 Say, on the interlude “That’s The Law”
- D-Nice- Call Me D-Nice, on the song “It’s Over”
Dawnn Lewis Facebook
Dawnn Lewis Twitter
Dawnn Lewis Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Look out for Police Chief Marcia Langdon on the #hulu revival of #VeronicaMars 👮🏾♀️🎬 @slaverat @paulkarmiryan @midohamadaofficial #DawnnLewis