Lynn Whitfield Biography, Career, Net Worth 2024

Lynn Whitfield Biography, family, career, Net Worth 2024. Lynn Whitfield’s path to fame and elements that played a role in her net worth in 2024.

Lynn Whitfield, formerly known as Lynn Smith, born on February 15, 1953, is an accomplished American actress. Commencing her acting journey in television and theatre, she later transitioned to impactful supporting roles in the realm of film.

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Her noteworthy performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical film The Josephine Baker Story (1991) earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, along with a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Throughout the 1990s, Whitfield assumed leading roles in numerous made-for-television movies and secured pivotal parts in theatrical films such as A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996), Gone Fishin’ (1997), Eve’s Bayou (1997), Stepmom (1998), Head of State (2003), Madea’s Family Reunion (2006), and The Women (2008). Her cinematic presence remained strong in the 2000s and 2010s with various notable roles.

Notably, from 2016 to 2020, she portrayed Lady Mae Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network dramatic series Greenleaf, receiving critical acclaim and clinching two NAACP Image Awards and a Gracie Award. In total, Lynn Whitfield has earned seven NAACP Image Awards for her outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.

Lynn Whitfield Family

Lynn Whitfield Father

Lynn Whitfield’s father, Valerian Smith, who also served as a composer, crafting the musicals “The Supper” and “The Wake.”

Lynn Whitfield Mother

Whitfield was born to Jean Butler, who had previously served as the president of the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency.

Both of her parents played a crucial role in fostering Whitfield’s early passion for acting, being actively engaged in the Baton Rouge art scene. This interest in movies was instilled in her by her maternal grandmother, Estelle Devall Butler.

Lynn Whitfield Daughter (Grace Gibson)

After divorcing Vantile Whitfield in the late 70s, Lynn subsequently tied the knot with British director Brian Gibson in 1990. The couple shares a daughter named Grace.

Lynn Whitfield Career

After completing her education, she initially gained recognition on stage with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C.

In 1974, she married Vantile Whitfield, a playwright, director, and actor, who was one of the co-founders of the company and a trailblazer in black theatre. Transitioning to New York, she took on off-Broadway roles in productions like The Great Macdaddy and Showdown Time.

Her international acclaim came with the 1977 production of the groundbreaking play “for colored girls who have considered suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” where she toured the United States, Australia, and London’s West End alongside Alfre Woodard.

Whitfield marked her professional screen debut in 1981 as Jill Thomas in the critically acclaimed NBC serial drama Hill Street Blues.

In 1983, she ventured into film with a supporting role in the comedy Doctor Detroit (1983), playing Thelma Cleland. Her filmography expanded with roles in The Slugger’s Wife, Silverado, and Jaws: The Revenge. Notable television appearances included The George McKenna Story opposite Denzel Washington, Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI, and The Women of Brewster Place alongside Oprah Winfrey and Cicely Tyson. She also joined the cast of the short-lived 1988 ABC female-driven medical drama series Heartbeat.

Whitfield gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Josephine Baker in The Josephine Baker Story (1991). The HBO biopic required her to age from 18 to 68 and earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. She received a Golden Globe nomination and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie. Following this success, she had a recurring role in the ABC legal drama Equal Justice and starred in various made-for-television movies, including Stompin’ at the Savoy (1992), Taking the Heat (1993), The Wedding (1998), and Deep in My Heart (1999).

In 1996, she played the lead role opposite Martin Lawrence in the dark romantic comedy A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

Whitfield continued her career with supporting roles in films such as Head of State (2003), Madea’s Family Reunion (2006), The Women (2008), and Nappily Ever After (2018).

On television, she had recurring roles in Boston Public, Without a Trace, and Mistresses. Her significant TV role came as Lady Mae Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network series Greenleaf, where she received critical acclaim and won NAACP Image Awards and a Gracie Award.

In 2015, she played the main villain in Greenleaf and later took on a leading role in the series’ planned spinoff. Whitfield has remained active in both film and television, with recent appearances in Vacation Friends (2021) and plans for the action comedy film, The Retirement Plan (2023), alongside Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman.

Lynn Whitfield Awards, Nominations and Achievements

Lynn Whitfield Movies and TV Shows

Movies

Television

Lynn Whitfield Net Worth 2024

Lynn Whitfield has had a career that spans both the stage and screen. her net worth is estimated to reach $15 million in 2024, underscoring a journey adorned with roles that have garnered critical acclaim.