Devine, Loretta 1949-

PERSONAL

Born August 21, 1949, in Houston, TX; daughter of James (a laborer) and Eunice (a beautician; maiden name, O'Neal) Devine. Education: University of Houston, B.A., speech and drama education, 1971; Brandeis University, M.F.A., theatre arts, 1976; studied acting with Ed Koven and improvisation with Gary Austin. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Baptist.

Addresses:

Agent—Innovative Artists, 1505 Tenth St., Santa Monica, CA 90401. Manager—Essential Talent Management, 6565 Sunset Blvd., Suite 415, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

Career:

Actress, singer, and director. Appeared in advertisements. Julia C. Hester House, youth program director and activity coordinator, 1971-72, founder of Hester House Players and Hester House Dancers, 1971; Black Arts Center, Houston, TX, director of theater department, 1972-74; Ethnic Arts Center Players, founder, 1972-74; Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, instructor in English, 1974-76; Texas Southern University, instructor, summer, 1974; Harvard University, instructor, summers, 1975-76.

Member:

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Awards, Honors:

Citizen Advocates for Justice Award, 1984; Image Award nomination, best actress, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1988, Certificate of Recognition, Hollywood DramaLogue, 1988, and Hollywood DramaLogue Critics Award, best ensemble performance, 1989, all for The Colored Museum; Image Award, best actress, 1990, for Woman from the Town; San Diego Critics Circle Award nomination, best actress, 1990, for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill; DramaLogue Award, acting, and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, best featured performance, both 1991, for The Rabbit Foot; Image Award, outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture, 1996, for Waiting to Exhale; Image Award, outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture, 1997, for The Preacher's Wife; Image Award nomination, outstanding performance in a youth or children's series/special, 1999, for One Day; Black Reel Award nomination, network/cable—best supporting actress, 2000, for Funny Valentines; Image Award nomination, outstanding actress in a television movie, miniseries, or dramatic special, 2001, for Freedom Song; Image Award nominations, outstanding supporting actress in a drama series, 2001 and 2002, Image awards, outstanding supporting actress in a drama series, 2003 and 2004, and Golden Satellite Award nominations, best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, drama, International Press Academy, 2003 and 2004, all for Boston Public; Image Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture, 2002, for Kingdom Come; Independent Spirit Award nomination, best supporting female, Independent Feature Project/West, and Image Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture, both 2005, for Woman Thou Art Loosed; Black Movie Award nomination, outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting role, 2005, and Black Reel Award (with others), best ensemble, 2006, both for Crash; Image Award nomination, outstanding actress in a television movie, miniseries, or dramatic special, 2007, for Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Dionne, Hair (musical; also known as Hair—Revival), Biltmore Theatre, New York City, 1977.

Gloria, Verandah, New Dramatists, New York City, 1977.

Title role, Karma, Richard Allen Center, New York City, 1977.

Minister, Godsong (musical), La Mama Etc., New York City, 1977.

Soloist, Langston Hughes, AMAS Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1977.

Soloist, Seasons Reasons, Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, New York City, 1977.

Loretta, Miss Truth, Apollo Theatre, New York City, 1978.

Ms. Dabney, Mahalia, Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, 1978.

Stan's lady and ensemble member, A Broadway Musical (musical), Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Theatre of the Riverside Church, New York City, 1978.

Virtue, The Blacks, Richard Allen Center, 1978.

Bones, Circle in the Square, New York City, 1978.

Young Mary, Comin' Uptown (musical), Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1979.

Jewel, Lion and the Jewel, Lincoln Center, New York City, 1980.

Precious, Dementos, City Center, New York City, 1980.

Lorell Robinson, Dreamgirls (musical), Imperial Theatre, New York City, beginning 1981.

The Casting of Kevin Christian, Shepherd Street Art Gallery, 1983.

Mermaid, Gotta Getaway!, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1984.

Janeen Earl-Taylor, Long Time Since Yesterday, Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, New Federal Theatre, New York City, 1985.

Lilly, Big Deal (musical), Broadway Theatre, New York City, 1986.

Lala, Wigs, and model, The Colored Museum, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theater, Susan Stein Shiva Theater, New York City, 1986-87, and produced elsewhere.

Cissy, Woman from the Town, 1990.

Delia, Spunk, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1990.

Hot Mikado (musical), c. 1990.

Billie Holiday, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (solo show), Old Globe, San Diego, CA, 1990, then Little Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, 1991.

Charlesetta, East Texas Hot Links (one-act), The Met, Los Angeles, 1991.

Holly Day, The Rabbit Foot, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles, 1991.

Soloist, Big Moments on Broadway, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Opera House, Washington, DC, 1991.

Soloist, Rodgers, Hart, Hammerstein Tribute, Embassy Theatre, 1991.

Charlesetta, East Texas Hot Links (one-act), New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp Public Theater, Anspacher Theater, New York City, 1994.

Also appeared in other productions, including A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Stage Director:

El Majj Malik, Black Arts Center, Houston, TX, 1972.

Who's Got His Own, Black Arts Center, 1972.

Black Cycle, Black Arts Center, 1973.

The Warning: A Theme for Linda, Black Arts Center, 1973.

Black Girl, Black Arts Center, 1974.

Nigger's Still Your First Name, Black Arts Center, 1974.

Shoes, Black Arts Center, 1974.

Film Appearances:

Will, 20 West, 1981.

Ms. Benson (a schoolteacher), Anna to the Infinite Power (also known as Anna—voiman riivaama, Annas Geheimnis, and Salaperaeiset systerit), 1983.

Verna McLaughlin, Little Nikita (also known as The Sleepers, Espias sin identidad, Espios sem rosto, Kasvottomat vakoojat, Maly Nikita, Nikita, spie senza volto, O pequeno Nikita, and Spioner i familjen), Columbia, 1987.

Bertha, Stanley and Iris, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1988.

Diane, Sticky Fingers, Spectrafilm, 1988.

Blade's mother, Class Act (also known as Dos caraduras y un plan, Koko koulun rap-pari, and Uma dupla de classe), Warner Bros., 1991.

Nadine Biggs, Livin' Large! (also known as The Tapes of Dexter Jackson), Samuel Goldwyn, 1991.

Judy, Caged Fear (also known as Hotel Oklahoma, Innocent Young People, Jail Force, and Oklahoma Hotel), EAE, 1992.

Ula, Amos & Andrew (also known as Amos & Andrew—Zwei fast perfekte Chaoten, Amos es Andrew bilincsben, Amos et Andrew, Atrapen al ladron. Al blanco o al negro?, Companheiros a forca, Filarakia gia desimo, Kaikkien kidnappausten kingi, and Nao chame a policia!), Columbia, 1993.

Gloria Matthews, Waiting to Exhale (also known as Az igazira varva, Bir oh desem, Czekajac na milosc, Donne, Esperando un respiro, Falando de amor, 4 mulheres apaixonadas, Haalla Andan, Haku paeaellae, Ou sont les hommes?, Venus dans la vierge, and Warten auf Mr. Right), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1995.

Beverly, The Preacher's Wife (also known as Ask melegi, Dragoste de inger, Espirito do desejo, La femme du pasteur, La femme du predicateur, La mujer del predicador, Rakastuin enkeliin, Rendezvous mit einem Engel, and Uno sguardo dal cielo), Buena Vista, 1996.

Coco, Lover Girl (also known as Lover Girls), Bedford Entertainment, 1997.

Jackee, The Price of Kissing, Price of Kissing, 1997.

Pigfoot Mary, Hoodlum (also known as Gangster, Harlem, N.Y.C., Hoods, Hampones (Hoodlum), Homens perigosos, Kvodo Shel Gangster, Les seigneurs de Harlem, Os reis do sub-mundo, and Truand), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1997.

Reese Wilson, Urban Legend (also known as Mixed Culture, Rule, Urban Legends, Agada eronit, Duestere Legenden, Legende urbaine, Leggende metropolitane, Lenda urbana, Leyenda urbana, Leyendas urbanas, Mitos urbanos, Moerdande legender, Remsegek koenyve, Urban legend—kauhutarinoita, and Urbane legende), TriStar, 1998.

Sylvia Finkelstein, Love Kills (also known as Tappavat tunteet), Trident Releasing, 1998.

Voice of Raul's mother, Alyson's Closet (short film), Trackster Pictures, 1998.

Zenia, Down in the Delta (also known as Daroma La'Delta, Dem Laanga vaegen hem, Der Sommer, der alles veraenderte, Hem till Mississippi, Juuret Deltan sydaemessae, Juuret maalla, La reliquia, La vida en el sur, Loin d'ici, and Ressurreicao), Miramax, 1998.

Floria, The Breaks, Artisan Entertainment, 1999.

Michelle, Lillie, Universal, 1999.

Principal, Operation Splitsville, Cineville, Inc., 1999.

Flo the doorwoman, What Women Want (also known as Ce que femme veut, Ce que veulent les femmes, Ce-si doresc femeile?, Det kvinner vil ha, Do que as mulheres gostam, En que piensan las mujeres, Lo que ellas quieren, Mi kell a noenek?, Mitae nainen haluaa, O que as mulheres querem, Vad kvinnor vill ha, and Was Frauen wollen), Paramount, 2000.

Health counselor, Punks, e2 Filmworks, 2000.

Marguerite Slocumb, Kingdom Come (also known as El reino que se viene, Mejor en el cielo, Tjocka slaekten, Um ritual do barulho, Um ritual muito louco, and Venga il tuo regno), Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2000.

Reese Wilson, Urban Legends: Final Cut (also known as Rule 2, Urban Legend Final Cut, Urban Legends: Final Cut, Urban Legend 2, Urban Legend 2: The Final Cut, Duestere Legenden 2-Final Cut, Legendes urbaines: La suite, Legendes urbaines 2, Lendas urbanas 2, Lenda urbana 2, Leyendas urbanas: Corte final, Leyendas urbanas 2, Leyenda urbana 2, Mitos urbanos 2, Moerdande legender 2, Urban Legends—Kauhutarinoita 2, and Urban Legend 2: Coup de grace), Columbia, 2000.

Delores, Baby of the Family, DownSouth Filmworks, 2001.

Margaret Calgrove, I Am Sam (also known as A Nevem Sam, I Am Sam—A forca do amor, Ich bin Sam, Je suis Sam, Leccion de amor, Mi chiamo Sam, Mi nombre es Sam, Minae olen Sam, Sam je suis Sam, Uma licao de amor, and Yo soy Sam), New Line Cinema, 2001.

Herself, The Script (short film), 2002.

Cassey Jordan, Woman Thou Art Loosed, Magnolia Pictures, 2004.

Miss Gladys, King's Ransom, New Line Cinema, 2005.

Shaniqua Johnson, Crash (also known as Collision, L.A. Crash, Alto impacto, Crash—Alto impacto, Crash—Contatto fisico, Crash—No limite, Fatalna nesreca, Uetkoezesek, and Vidas cruzadas), Lions Fate Films, 2005.

Jazz singer, Dreamgirls (musical; also known as Drama, Devojke iz snova, Rueya kizlar, Sonadoras, and Sonadoras—Dreamgirls), DreamWorks, 2006.

Dolly, Cougar Club, Open Sky Entertainment, 2007.

Evelyn, Dirty Laundry, Codeblack Entertainment, 2007.

Ma Dear, This Christmas, Screen Gems, 2007.

Dr. Racine Marguerite, Spring Breakdown, Warner Bros., 2008.

Herself, Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (documentary; also known as B.G.A. 2 and Broadway: The Golden Age Two), Second Act Productions, c. 2008.

First Sunday, Screen Gems, c. 2008.

Television Appearances; Series:

Stevie Rallen, A Different World, NBC, 1987-88.

Aunt Loretta Fontaine, Sugar and Spice, CBS, 1990.

Ellie, Simple Folks, CBS, beginning 1992.

Mo'Nique, UPN, 1999-2000.

Voice of Muriel Stubbs, The PJs (animated; also known as PJs: The Projects, Hausmeister Stubbs, and Les Stubbs), Fox, 1999-2000, The WB, 2000-2001.

Marla Hendricks, Boston Public, Fox, 2000-2005.

M. (Matilda) Pearl McGuire, Wild Card (also known as Zoe Busiek: Wild Card), Lifetime, 2004-2005.

Adele Webber, Grey's Anatomy (also known as Complications, Procedure, Surgeons, Under the Knife, and Grey's Anatomy—Die jungen Aerzte), ABC, 2005—.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Anne Maude Carter, The Murder of Mary Phagan, NBC, 1988.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Thelma, "Parent Trap III" (also known as "Ein Zwilling kommt selten allein," "Foeraeldrafaellan III," and "O novio das gemeas"), The Magical World of Disney (also known as Disneyland, Disneylandia, The Disney Sunday Movie, Disney's Wonderful World, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, and The Wonderful World of Disney), NBC, 1989.

Irene, "The American Clock" (also known as "Arthur Miller's ‘The American Clock,’" "A maquina americana," "Die Stunde der Wahrheit," "El reloq americano," "Musta maanantai," and "O fim do sonho americano"), TNT Screenworks, TNT, 1993.

Nichols's secretary, The Hard Truth (also known as Golpe final, The Hard Truth—Gnadenlose Enthuellung, Mortelle verite, Uno sporco affare, and Voie sans issue), 1994.

Miss Mary, Rebound: The Legend of Earl the Goat Manigault (also known as Rebound and L'etoile de Harlem), HBO, 1996.

Connie Harper, Don King: Only in America (also known as Don King: O dono dos ringues, Don King—O rei do boxe, Don King—Seulement en Amerique, and Don King—Una storia tutta americana), HBO, 1997.

Everleen, Clover, 1997.

Dearie B., Funny Valentines (also known as En compania de Daerit B. and Minha nova vida), Black Entertainment Television, 1999.

Ruby Dandridge, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (also known as Face of an Angel), HBO, 1999.

Snookie Tate, Jackie's Back! (also known as Jackie's Back: Portrait of a Diva), Lifetime, 1999.

Connie Travers, Best Actress (also known as La mejor actriz), E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Evelyn Walker, Freedom Song (also known as Freiheitsmarsch), TNT, 2000.

Interviewer, Book of Love (also known as Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs), Black Entertainment Television, c. 2002.

Addie Collins, Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story (also known as La historia de Fantasia Barrino), Lifetime, 2006.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Janine, "The Colored Museum," Great Performances, PBS, 1991.

One Day, 1998.

Judge, Iron Chef USA: Showdown in Las Vegas, UPN, 2001.

Herself, The Fourth Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest, syndicated, 2001.

Presenter, Women Rock!, Lifetime, 2004.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The 39th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1985.

Performer, The 42nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1988.

The 27th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1996.

Presenter, The 28th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1997.

Presenter, The 30th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1999.

The 2000 Essence Awards, Fox, 2000.

Presenter, The 33rd NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 2002.

Herself, The 34th NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 2003.

The 20th Annual IFP Independent Spirit Awards, Independent Film Channel and Bravo, 2005.

Cast presenter, The 2006 Black Movie Awards—A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present & Future, TNT, 2006.

Presenter, The 2007 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Independent Film Channel, 2007.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Lyndia Cummings, "Court of Love," Amen, NBC, 1988.

Juror, "Marital Blitz," Cop Rock (musical), ABC, 1990.

Nurse Hawking, "The Bitch's Back," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1990.

Nurse Tilda Barclay, "The Wilding," Stat, Disney Channel, 1991.

Valerie Hall, "Hard Bargains," Reasonable Doubts, NBC, 1991.

Cynthia, "Rock Throws Joey Out," Roc (also known as Roc Live), Fox, 1992.

Cynthia, "You Don't Send Me No Flowers," Roc (also known as Roc Live), Fox, 1993.

June, "Salon, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Goodbye," Family Album, CBS, 1993.

Marla Melrose, "Close Encounters," Picket Fences, CBS, 1995.

Mrs. Duncan, "Reality Check," Ned and Stacey, Fox, 1995.

Voice of mother, "The Golden Goose," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), HBO, 1995.

Tonya Hawkins, "Amazing Grace" (crossover episode with Touched by an Angel), Promised Land (also known as Home of the Brave), CBS, 1997.

Tonya Hawkins, "Amazing Grace" (crossover episode with Promised Land), Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997.

Sean's mother, "Graduation," Clueless (also known as Clueless—Die wichtigen Dinge des Lebens, Clueless—Huolettomat, and Ni idea!), UPN, 1999.

Steph, "It Takes Two," Moesha, UPN, 1999.

Gloria Rivers, "Playing God," Family Law, CBS, 2000.

Nora Mills, "I Will Survive," Ally McBeal, Fox, 2000.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Lela Rochon, Lifetime, 2001.

Cherisse, "Positive," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2002.

Herself, Headliners & Legends: Denzel Washington, MSNBC, 2002.

Erika, "The Big Phat Mouth Episode: Parts 1 & 2," Half & Half, UPN, 2003.

Herself, Pyramid, syndicated, 2003.

Judge Vashti Jackson, "Trial and Errors," Girlfriends, UPN, 2005.

Missouri Moseley, "Home," Supernatural (also known as Sobrenatural), The WB, 2005.

Herself, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (also known as The Late Late Show), CBS, 2005.

Annabelle Carruthers, "The Nutcrackers," Boston Legal (also known as Fleet Street, The Practice: Fleet Street, and The Untitled Practice), ABC, 2006.

Judge Vashti Jackson, "Ain't Nothing over There," Girlfriends, UPN, 2006.

Judge Vashti Jackson, "Party over Here," Girlfriends, UPN, 2006.

Herself, "The Making of ‘Dreamgirls,’" HBO First Look, HBO, 2006.

Maxine (Chris's grandmother), "Everybody Hates Funerals, " Everybody Hates Chris (also known as Alle hassen Chris and Todo el mundo odia a Chris), UPN, 2006.

Maxine (Chris's grandmother), "Everybody Hates Dirty Jokes," Everybody Hates Chris (also known as Alle hassen Chris and Todo el mundo odia a Chris), The CW, 2007.

Maxine (Chris's grandmother), "Everybody Hates Math," Everybody Hates Chris (also known as Alle hassen Chris and Todo el mundo odia a Chris), The CW, 2007.

Appeared in other programs, including an appearance as a cult leader in Linc's, Showtime; and an appearance as Crystal in Out All Night, NBC.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Cheryl Kelly, "Sirens," CBS Summer Playhouse, CBS, 1987.

Stevie Rallen, A Different World, NBC, 1987.

Tonia Harris, Heart and Soul, ABC, 1989.

Aunt Charlotte, In the House, NBC, 1991.

Valerie Hall, Reasonable Doubts, NBC, 1991.

Patti, Eli Stone, ABC, 2007.

Appeared in other pilots, including an appearance as Rosie, Cold Shoulder, CBS; and in a pilot for The WB.

RECORDINGS

Albums; with Others:

Dreamgirls 1982 original Broadway cast recording), Decca, 1982.

Audiobooks:

Inspired by … The Bible Experience, the New Testament, Zondervan, 2006.

Inspired by … The Bible Experience, the Old Testament, Zondervan, 2007.

Inspired by … The Bible Experience, the complete Bible, Zondervan, 2007.

Music Videos:

Ruben Studdard, "What If," c. 2004.

WRITINGS

Teleplays; Pilots:

Some sources state that Devine wrote the unsold television pilot Managing the Hunks.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 24, Gale Group, 2000.

Periodicals:

Essence, April, 2001, p. 75.