Loretta Devine biography, children, married, net worth, movies

<< Back

Edit Mode: Loretta Devine

Email *

If we need to contact you, we will contact you on this email.

Full Name *

Your name please so that we can credit your work.

Main Text *

Loretta Devine was born on August 21, 1949, in Houston, Texas. Her mother, Eunice O'Neal, worked as a beautician, while her father, James Devine, was employed primarily as a laborer. She was raised in the Acres Homes area of Houston and has since become a celebrated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans">African-American</a> actress and singer known for her powerful performances and vocal talent.

<h2>Education</h2>

Devine pursued higher education at the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama in 1971. Furthering her passion for the performing arts, she enrolled at Brandeis University in 1976 and received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater. During her academic journey, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, specifically the Epsilon Lambda chapter.

<h2>Broadway Beginnings and Early Screen Roles</h2>

Devine’s professional acting debut came in the 1978 Broadway production A Broadway Musical, although it closed after only one performance. Despite its brief run, this experience marked the start of her enduring career. She gained significant attention for her performance as Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls, which became a major success and played a pivotal role in boosting her career.

Throughout the 1980s, Devine appeared in various film and television projects in supporting roles. Her early screen credits include appearances in Little Nikita, Stanley & Iris, and The Colored Museum. She made her television debut in the hit series A Different World and later starred in the short-lived sitcom Sugar and Spice.

<h2>Breakthrough in Film and Critical Recognition</h2>

Devine's breakthrough film role came in 1995 with the adaptation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_McMillan">Terry McMillan</a>’s novel, Waiting to Exhale. Her portrayal of Gloria Matthews, alongside <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston">Whitney Houston</a> and <a href="/biography/angela-bassett">Angela Bassett</a>, won her the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. She followed this success with another Image Award win for her role in The Preacher’s Wife (1996).

In 1998, she starred opposite <a href="/biography/alfre-woodard">Alfre Woodard</a> in Down in the Delta, and a year later appeared in Funny Valentines. She continued to earn praise for her versatility and emotional depth on screen.

[page-break]

<h2>Major Television Roles and Continued Success</h2>

Between 2000 and 2004, Devine gained wider recognition for her portrayal of high school teacher Marla Hendricks in the Fox television drama Boston Public. Her performance garnered three additional NAACP Image Awards, further solidifying her place as a formidable talent on television.

Her film credits during this time include roles in Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut, and I Am Sam. In 2004, she received both an NAACP Image Award nomination and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her work in Woman Thou Art Loosed. The following year, she appeared in the Oscar-winning film Crash, and in 2007 she starred in the holiday ensemble film This Christmas.

In 2008, Devine joined the cast of the ABC comedy-drama series Eli Stone. Her television work continued with a recurring role in Grey’s Anatomy, created by <a href="/biography/shonda-rhimes">Shonda Rhimes</a>, where she delivered an acclaimed performance that further expanded her fan base.

<h2>Activism Through Storytelling: For Colored Girls and Beyond</h2>

In 2010, Devine appeared in <a href="/biography/tyler-perry">Tyler Perry</a>’s For Colored Girls, a powerful film adaptation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntozake_Shange">Ntozake Shange</a>’s choreopoem that addressed critical issues such as domestic violence, abortion, abandonment, and substance abuse. The film showcased her ability to bring depth and emotion to socially relevant themes and remains one of her most moving performances.

<h2>Awards and Recognition</h2>

Loretta Devine has been honored numerous times for her contributions to film and television. In 2011, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Grey’s Anatomy. She received another Emmy nomination in 2012 and won the Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series the same year.

<h2>Personal Life and Legacy</h2>

Loretta Devine was first married to musician Lamar Tyler in 1973, and they had a son named James, who is also an actor. The couple later separated. In 2011, she married Glen Marshall, although they do not have children together.

With a career spanning over four decades in both film and television, Devine has amassed a net worth estimated at approximately $8 million. She is praised not only for her compelling performances but also for her warm presence and distinctive soft-spoken voice. Her resilience and dedication have made her a respected figure and a role model in the entertainment industry, particularly among young <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans">African-American</a> artists.

Source *

Source you received the information from. eg. personal experiences, acquaintances, web-links, etc

Comment *

Briefly describe the changes you made.

Warning! All fields are required. Empty fields won't allow the form to be submitted and your changes will be lost.
Once the changes are submitted they cannot be edited again until your submission is reviewed.