Actress, singer and activist Jenifer Lewis is the latest star to be inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Lewis, who hails from Kinloch in North St. Louis County, starred as Ruby in the hit sitcom “Black-ish,” as well as movies such as “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “The Preacher’s Wife.” Most recently, she appeared in the Showtime series, “I Love That for You.”
The youngest of seven children, Lewis attended Kinloch High School and Webster University before moving to New York to pursue acting. She made her Broadway debut in a small role in “Eubie” in 1979 before originating the role of Effie in the pre-Broadway workshop of “Dreamgirls.” Lewis moved on to work as a back-up singer for Bette Midler, consequently appearing in Midler’s HBO specials. She has appeared in numerous films over the years, beginning with her role as a singer in “Beaches.” Other movie credits include “Sister Act,” “Poetic Justice” and “Think Like a Man.” She has also appeared in more than 400 television episodes, including recurring roles in “A Different World” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Lewis is the author of “Walking in My Joy: These Streets,” published in 2022 and “The Mother of Black Hollywood,” which became a national bestseller in 2017.
Lewis has been honored for her accomplishments by the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as recognized with an honorary doctorate by her alma mater, Webster University. She is a recipient of the Career Achievement Award from the American Black Film Festival. In 2022, Lewis received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Lewis will be inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame on Saturday, July 13, at 11:30 a.m. She will be accepting her award in person.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which takes place on the Delmar Loop across from the Moonrise Hotel.
The St. Louis Walk of Fame honors notable people from the area who have made significant contributions to American culture. Lewis joins other inductees such as John Goodman, Tina Turner, Maya Angelou, Lou Brock, Chuck Berry, Josephine Baker and Scott Joplin.
