Dawnn Jewel Lewis (born August 13, 1961) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor on the NBC television sitcom A Different World from the series beginning in 1987 until the end of its fifth season in 1992, in addition to co-writing the opening theme song for the series. Lewis's other notable roles include portraying Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper for its first season (1992–93) and as Cheryl Spade in the 1988 film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Since then, Lewis has appeared in numerous TV series, including other sitcoms, and has also performed on stage.

Filmography

• R.J. Decker — Officer Penmar
• The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish — Tina Churner (voice), Tina Churner / Citizen 3 (voice)
• Fired on Mars — Judith (voice)
• 2023Maggie Simpson in "Rogue Not Quite One" — Additional Voices (voice)
• 2022Blackjack Christmas — Corrine Allen
• 2022For Gunter’s Eyes Only — (voice)
• 2022Minions: The Rise of Gru — Additional Voices (voice)
• The Cuphead Show! — Bedelia / Boo-Boo (voice)
• 2022Welcome to the Club — Ursula / Kaa (voice)
• 2021The Good, the Bart, and the Loki — Ravonna Renslayer (voice)
• 2021Writing Around the Christmas Tree — Sharon Samuels
• 2020Be the Light — Gladys
• 2020Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal — Chief (voice)
• Solar Opposites — Opossum Head / Dock Worker 2 (voice), Val Helsing (voice)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks — Carol Freeman (voice)
• Carmen Sandiego — Chief (voice)
• The Boys — Valerie
• 9-1-1 — Danvers
• Apple & Onion — Patty (voice)
• Craig of the Creek — Brenda (voice)
• 2018Revival! — Cleo
• 2017Bunyan and Babe — Maybelle (voice)
• Legend of Master Legend — Tana
• This Is Us — Rosemary
• Better Call Saul — Judge
• 2015Inside Out — Additional Voices (voice)
• 2015Megachurch Murder — Lucille Williams
• Stitchers — Arlene Grant
• iZombie — Mama Leone
• 2014A Lesson in Romance — Diane
• 2014The Divorce — Yolanda Massey
• Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories — Agent
• 2013Monsters University — Additional Voices (voice)
• Rick and Morty — Additional Voices (voice), Assimilated Alien 1 (voice)
• 2013Second Chances — Maria
• 2013Toy Story of Terror! — Delivery Lady (voice)
• 2012Dino Time — Additional Voices (voice)
• Doc McStuffins — Grandma McStuffins (voice)
• 2012Jennifer — Dr. Fox
• 2012Let It Shine — Gail
• The Soul Man — Erika, Erica
• Breaking In — Janet Jenkins
• 2010Preacher's Kid — Mya
• Regular Show — JB / Fun Fun Zone Employee (voice), Duck Lady / Woman #2 / Woman #3 (voice)
• Castle — Yvonne
• 2009Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder — LaBarbara Conrad / Womens' Prison Warden (voice)
• Glenn Martin, DDS — (voice)
• The Cleveland Show — Mrs. Bailey (voice), Mrs. Bailey /Receptionist (voice)
• The Secret Life of the American Teenager — Lauren's Mom
• 2007Futurama: Bender's Big Score — LaBarbara Conrad (voice)
• 2007Holly Hobbie and Friends: Secret Adventures — Carolyn Baker (voice)
• 2007The Last Sentinel — Angel - Tallis' Rifle (voice)
• 2006Dreamgirls — Melba Early
• 2006Holly Hobbie and Friends: Christmas Wishes — Carolyn Baker (voice)
• 2006The Adventures of Brer Rabbit — Mom (voice)
• Grey's Anatomy — Jamarah Blake
• 2005Spider-Man: The Venom Saga — Detective Terri Lee (voice)
• The Boondocks — Civil Rights Protester (voice), Taeshawndretta Brown (voice)
• CSI: NY — Waitress
• Medical Investigation — Dr. Burton
• Veronica Mars — Marcia Langdon
• 2003Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure — Bessie
• 2003Daredevil vs. Spider-Man — Detective Terri Lee (voice)
• One Tree Hill — Denise Fields
• Andy Richter Controls the Universe
• CSI: Miami — Stacy McCann
• Ozzy & Drix — Cilia Tyson (voice)
• 2002Spider-Man: The Ultimate Villain Showdown — Detective Terri Lee (voice)
• The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy — Grim's Granny
• The Legend of Tarzan — Naoh (voice)
• 2001The Poof Point — Marigold Ballard
• Buzz Lightyear of Star Command — Mary (voice)
• Girlfriends — Linda Dent
• Static Shock — Brickhouse (voice)
• Strong Medicine — Detective Wright
• The 10th Kingdom — Blabberwort the Troll
• Futurama — LaBarbara Conrad (voice), Jackie Anderson (voice), LaBarbara Conrad / Hermes' Mother (voice), LaBarbara Conrad / Influencer (voice), Nurse (voice), Coco Charm / Ensign Zinc (voice), Brainormous (voice)
• 1999The Wood — Woman in Cleaners
• The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs
• 1997Bruno the Kid: The Animated Movie — Di Archer (voice) (archive footage)
• King of the Hill — Sharona Johnson (voice)
• 1997Under Pressure — Sandy Tierra
• Bruno the Kid — Di Archer (voice)
• C Bear and Jamal
• Early Edition — Gayle Clark
• Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm — Sheeva (voice)
• Nash Bridges — Winifred Holt
• 1996The Cherokee Kid — Stagecoach Mary, Love GAng
• The Jamie Foxx Show — Dr. Kanella
• The Steve Harvey Show — Alise Peyton
• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child — Princess Songe (voice)
• 1995Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale — Temba's Sister
• Sliders — Dr. Natalie Sylvius
• The Parent 'Hood
• 1994Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad — Minnie
• Spider-Man — Detective Terri Lee (voice)
• 1993A Cool Like That Christmas — Jarvis (voice)
• 1993Mouse Soup — (Voice)
• Hangin' with Mr. Cooper — Robin Dumars
• 1992Stompin' at the Savoy — Ella Fitzgerald
• Dream On — Rema Hort
• The Simpsons — Bernice Hibbert (voice), Texxon Customer (voice), Bernice Hibbert / Female Firefighter (voice), Mrs. McBride (voice), Daly Night / Etta Pryor (voice), Bernice Hibbert / Naima (voice), Juvenile Court Bailiff (voice), Lenora Carter (voice), Hotshot lawyer (voice), Cannabis Influencer (voice), Flight Attendant (voice), Opal (voice), Party guest (voice), Bernice Hibbert / Pam / Perimenopause: The Musical Singer (voice)
• 1988I'm Gonna Git You Sucka — Cheryl
• A Different World — Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor
• Battle of the Network Stars

Appearances as themselves (8)

• Reunion Road Trip — Self
• The Ready Room — Self
• 2016Celebrating 100 Disney Channel Original Movies — Self
• Celebrity Family Feud — Self - Contestant
• 2010Sinbad: Where U Been? — Self
• Black in the 80s — Self
• The View — Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Self - Guest