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Lynn Whitfield Biography

Birth Name:Lynn Butler-Smith

Birth Place:Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

Profession Actress, Producer

Fast Facts

Received the 2013 Pan African Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award
Graduated from Howard University with a degree in fine arts
Is the mother of actress Grace Gibson
Became interested in acting at a young age after watching movies with her grandmother
Started out acting in off-Broadway productions
Quote: "It is good to be your brother's keeper․ It's good to come outside of our own safety zone sometimes and make an effort to do something else to be more altruistic to really try and do something for somebody else․"
Quote: "[On picking roles] "I think dimensions are so important to characters․ If I can add to the story, layering the story—laying the character—looks like I can score in it․ Do something that will be memorable․""

Awards

1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: winner
1992CableACE-Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1993Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie: winner
1994Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie: winner
1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1998Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2000Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Actress: nominated
2000Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie/Miniseries/Dramatic Special: nominated
2000Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: winner
2004BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie: nominated
2004Black Reel-Television: Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2004Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program: nominated
2004Vision Award-Best Dramatic Performance: nominated
2005Black Reel-Best Actress, Network/Cable Television: winner
2005Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2005Acting and Activism Award-: winner
2006Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2013Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female: nominated
2017Gracie-Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series: winner
2017Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2018Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2018Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2019Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2020Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2021Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner