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Lynn Whitfield Biography (1953?-)

Born May 6, 1953 (some sources cite February 15, 1954), in Baton Rouge, LA; daughter of Valerian (a dentist) and Jean (an officer of a finance agency; maiden name, Butler) Smith; married Vantile Whitfield (an artistic director), c.1974 (divorced, c. 1978); married Brian Gibson (a producer, director, and writer), July 4, 1990 (divorced, 1992); children: (second marriage) Grace. Addresses: Agent: William Morris Agency, Inc., 151 South El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2775.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Occupation

Actress

Birth Details

February 15, 1953?

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• Thelma Cleland, Doctor Detroit, Universal, 1983
• Rae Johnson, Silverado, Columbia, 1985
• Tina Alvarado, The Slugger's Wife (also known as Neil Simon's The Slugger's Wife), Columbia, 1985
• Louisa, Jaws: The Revenge (also known as Jaws 4), Universal, 1987
• Sheila Freeman, Dead Aim (also known as Mace), Double Helix, 1990
• Sergeant Ladd, In the Army Now (also known as You're in theArmy Now), Buena Vista, 1994
• Brandi Web, A Thin Line between Love and Hate, New Line Cinema, 1996
• Angie, Gone Fishin', Buena Vista, 1997
• Mrs. Brown, The Planet of Junior Brown (also known as Junior's Groove), Evergreen Entertainment, 1997
• Roz Batiste, Eve's Bayou, Trimark Pictures, 1997
• Dr. Sweikert, Stepmom, TriStar, 1998
• A Time for Dancing, East of Doheny, 2000
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Dr. Cory Banks, Heartbeat (also known as Private Practice and Women's Medical), ABC, 1988-89
• Maggie Mayfield, a recurring role, Equal Justice, ABC, 1990-91
• Barbara Lorenz, The Cosby Mysteries, NBC, 1994
• Miniseries
• Corinne Coles, The Wedding (also known as Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding), ABC, 1998
• Nia Morgan, A Girl Thing, Showtime, 2001
• Movies
• Bobbie Maxwell, The George McKenna Story, CBS, 1986
• Title role, Johnnie Mae Gibson: F.B.I. (also known as Agent Gibson: Undercover FBI, Johnnie Gibson F.B.I., and The Johnnie Gibson Story), CBS, 1986
• Dr. Cory Banks, Heartbeat, ABC, 1988
• Ciel, The Women of Brewster Place, ABC, 1989
• Natala Bell, A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story, CBS, 1991
• Title role, The Josephine Baker Story, HBO, 1991
• Esther Tolbert, Stompin' at the Savoy, CBS, 1992
• Carolyn, Taking the Heat, Showtime, 1993
• Barbara Lorenz, The Cosby Mysteries (also known as Guy Hanks I), NBC, 1994
• Dehlia Johnson, State of Emergency, HBO, 1994
• Bobbie Mallory, Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story, CBS,1994
• Title role, Sophie and the Moonhanger, Lifetime, 1995
• Minnie McGhee, The Color of Courage, USA Network, 1999
• Corrine Burrell, Deep in My Heart, CBS, 1999
• Lori Jackson, Dangerous Evidence: The Lori Jackson Story, Lifetime, 1999
• Jean, "A Love Song for Jean and Ellis," Love Songs, Showtime, 1999
• Specials
• For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide (When the Rainbow Is Enuf), 1982
• The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1991
• The 13th Annual ACE Awards, TNT, 1992
• Episodic
• Jill Thomas, "Chipped Beef," Hill Street Blues, 1981
• Odette Ribaud, "Bought and Paid For," Miami Vice, NBC, 1985
• Jeanne, "Escape Claus," The Fall Guy, 1985
• The New Mike Hammer, CBS, 1986
• Bustin' Loose, syndicated, 1987
• Pollie Ann, "John Henry," Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales and Legends, Showtime, 1987
• "Curtains," St. Elsewhere, 1988
• Angela Page, "The Informer: Parts 1 & 2," Matlock, 1990
• "Zora Is My Name!" American Playhouse, PBS, 1990
• Sarah, "Goin' Overboard: Parts 1 & 2," Martin, Fox, 1997
• Dr. Serena Hall, "Amazing Grace: Part 1," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997
• Stage Appearances
• Owen's Song, D.C. Black Repertory Theatre, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, 1974-75
• Showdown, New Federal Theatre, New York City, 1976
• Leionah, The Great MacDaddy (musical), Theatre de Lys, New York City, 1977
• Georgiane, Tamer of Horses, Tom Bradley Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles, 1986-87
• Also appeared in Changes, D.C. Black Repertory Theatre.
• Major Tours
• Toured in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide (When the Rainbow Is Enuf) and The Great MacDaddy, both U.S. cities.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

• Contemporary Black Biography, 1998. Volume 18, Gale,

Periodicals

• BET Weekend, November, 1997, pp. 8-10.
• Ebony, May, 1999, p. 72.
• Essence, February, 1991, p. 72.
• People Weekly, March 25, 1991, p. 87; February 13, 1995, p. 161.