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.