Alfre Woodard
Biography
Alfre Ette Woodard (born November 8, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She has been nominated for an Academy Award and Grammy Award, 12 times for Emmy Awards (winning four), and has also won a Golden Globe and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. She is known for her role in films such as Cross Creek, Miss Firecracker, Grand Canyon, Passion Fish, Primal Fear, Star Trek: First Contact, Miss Evers' Boys, K-PAX, Radio, Take the Lead and The Family That Preys.
Known For
TV
Grey's Anatomy
Justine Campbell
2005
TV
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
TV
The Daily Show
Self
1996
TV
Frasier
Edna (voice)
1993
TV
Desperate Housewives
Betty Applewhite
2004
TV
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
2022
TV
True Blood
Ruby Jean Reynolds
2008
TV
American Experience
Narrator (voice)
1988
TV
The Practice
Denise Freeman
1997
TV
L.A. Law
Adrianne Moore
1986
TV
St. Elsewhere
Roxanne Turner
1982
TV
Private Practice
Dee Bennett
2007
TV
Hill Street Blues
1981
TV
See
Paris
2019
TV
Homicide: Life on the Street
Dr. Roxanne Turner
1993
TV
The Oscars
Self
1953
TV
The Last Ship
Amy Granderson
2014
TV
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014
TV
The Wild Thornberrys
Medicine Woman (voice)
1998
TV
Empire
Renee
2015
Filmography
2026TVThe Boroughsas Judy2025TVThe Last Frontieras Jacqueline Bradford2025FilmThe Inquisitoras Narration2025TVNumber One on the Call Sheetas Self2024FilmSalem's Lotas Dr. Cody2024FilmSummer Campas Mary2024TVMonsieur Spadeas Virginia Dell2024FilmThe Book of Clarenceas Mother Mary2023FilmWeatheringas Mum2023FilmSpace Oddityas Dr. Olsen2023TVMarvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosauras Mimi (voice)2022TVThe Jennifer Hudson Showas Self2022FilmThe Gray Manas Margaret Cahill2021FilmMiss Alma Thomas: A Life in Coloras Alma Thomas (voice)2021FilmFatherhoodas Marian2021FilmDreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Streetas Mary Parrish (voice)2020TVThe Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehartas Self2020TVStar Trek: Lower Decksas Lilly Sloane (voice)2020FilmThe Making of Clemencyas Herself2019FilmClemencyas Warden Bernadine Williams2019TVSeeas Paris2019FilmThe Lion Kingas Sarabi (voice)2019FilmNo Small Matteras Narrator (voice)2019FilmThe Lion King: Can You Feel The Love Tonight with Robin Roberts2019FilmJuanitaas Juanita2018FilmSaint Judyas Judge Benton2017FilmBurning Sandsas Professor Hughes2017TVA Series of Unfortunate Eventsas Aunt Josephine2016FilmMaya Angelou: And Still I Riseas Self2016TVMarvel's Luke Cageas Mariah Dillard2016FilmSo B. Itas Bernadette2016FilmCaptain America: Civil Waras Miriam2015FilmMississippi Grindas Sam2015FilmMary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Bandas Mary Lou Williams (voice)2015FilmKnuckleheadas Sheila2015FilmA Path Appearsas Self2015TVEmpireas Renee2014TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self2014TVState of Affairsas President Constance Payton2014FilmAnnabelleas Evelyn2014FilmNelson Mandela Redrawnas Self2014TVThe Last Shipas Amy Granderson2013Film12 Years a Slaveas Mistress Shaw2013FilmThe Dooras E2012FilmSteel Magnoliasas Ouiser2011TVWomen, War & Peaceas Narrator (voice)2010TVMemphis Beatas Lieutenant Tanya Rice2010TVWho Do You Think You Are?as Self2010FilmBlack Pantheras Dondi Reece2010TVBlack Pantheras Dondi Reece (voice)2009TVThree Riversas Dr. Sophia Jordan2009TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest2008FilmMedal of Honoras Narrator2008TVMy Own Worst Enemyas Mavis Heller2008FilmReach for Meas Evelyn2008FilmTyler Perry's The Family That Preysas Alice Pratt2008TVTrue Bloodas Ruby Jean Reynolds2008FilmAmerican Violetas Alma Roberts2008FilmHenry Box Brown2007FilmPictures of Hollis Woodsas Edna Reilly2007TVPrivate Practiceas Dee Bennett2007FilmNefertiti and the Lost Dynastyas Self - Narrator2006TVClass of 30002006TVRachael Rayas Self - Guest2006TVThe Megan Mullally Showas Self - Guest2006FilmKing Leopold's Ghostas Ilanga (voice)2006FilmTake the Leadas Augustine James2006FilmThe Water Is Wideas Mrs. Brown2006FilmSomething Newas Joyce McQueen2005FilmBeauty Shopas Ms. Josephine2005TVGrey's Anatomyas Justine Campbell2004TVDesperate Housewivesas Betty Applewhite2004FilmThe Forgottenas Det. Anne Pope2003FilmRadioas Principal Daniels2003FilmThe Singing Detectiveas Chief of Staff2003FilmA Wrinkle in Timeas Mrs. Whatsit2003FilmThe Coreas Stickley2003FilmNat Turner: A Troublesome Propertyas Narrator2003FilmUnchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives2002FilmThe Wild Thornberrys Movieas Akela (Cheetah Mother) (voice)2002FilmSearching for Debra Wingeras Self2001FilmK-PAXas Claudia Villars2001FilmThe Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnieas Medicine Woman (voice)2001FilmDisney's American Legends2000FilmHoliday Heartas Wanda Dean2000FilmHalf Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parksas Narrator2000FilmLost Soulsas Dr. Allen2000TVStatic Shockas Jean Hawkins (voice)2000FilmThe Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Storyas Mary Parrish (voice)2000FilmJohn Henryas Polly / Narrator (voice)2000FilmDinosauras Plio (voice)2000FilmLove & Basketballas Camille Wright2000FilmWhat's Cooking?as Audrey Williams2000FilmEleanor Rooseveltas Narrator (voice)1999FilmMumfordas Lily1999FilmFunny Valentinesas Joyce May1999FilmThe Wishing Treeas Clara1999FilmThe Underground Railroad1998FilmDown in the Deltaas Loretta Sinclair1998TVThe Wild Thornberrysas Medicine Woman (voice)1997FilmSeven Candles For Kwanzaaas Narrator1997FilmThe Brave Little Toaster to the Rescueas Maisie (voice)1997FilmCadillac Desert: Water and the Transformation of Natureas Narrator (voice)1997TVThe Practiceas Denise Freeman1997FilmFollow Me Homeas Evey1997FilmMiss Evers' Boysas Eunice Evers, R.N.1997FilmThe Member of the Weddingas Berenice Sadie Brown1996FilmStar Trek: First Contactas Lily Sloane1996FilmA Step Toward Tomorrowas Dr. Sadlin1996TVThe Daily Showas Self1996FilmSpecial Report: Journey to Marsas Tamara O'Neil1996FilmPrimal Fearas Shoat1996TVGulliver's Travelsas Queen of Brobdingnag1995FilmHow to Make an American Quiltas Marianna1995TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Childas Winsome (voice)1995FilmThe Piano Lessonas Berniece Charles1994FilmCrooklynas Carolyn Carmichael1994FilmAliens for Breakfastas Mrs. Marks1994FilmBlue Chipsas Lavada McRae1994FilmMalcolm X: Make It Plainas Narrator1993FilmBopha!as Rosie Mangena1993TVFrasieras Edna (voice)1993FilmHeart and Soulsas Penny Washington1993TVHomicide: Life on the Streetas Dr. Roxanne Turner1992FilmPassion Fishas Chantelle1992FilmRich in Loveas Rhody Poole1992FilmThe Gun in Betty Lou's Handbagas Ann1992TVHBO First Lookas Self1991FilmGrand Canyonas Jane1990FilmBlue Bayouas Jessica Filley1989FilmA Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Storyas Mary Thomas1989FilmMiss Firecrackeras Popeye Jackson1988FilmScroogedas Grace Cooley1988TVAmerican Experienceas Narrator (voice)1988FilmThe Child Saveras Andrea Crawford1987FilmMandelaas Winnie Mandela1986FilmUnnatural Causesas Maude DeVictor1986FilmL.A. Law: Pilotas Adrianne Moore1986TVL.A. Lawas Adrianne Moore1986FilmExtremitiesas Patricia1985FilmPuss in Bootsas Princess Lovinia1985TVSaraas Rozalyn Dupree1985FilmWords by Heartas Claudie Sills1984FilmBlack Hollywoodas Self1984FilmSweet Revengeas Vicki Teague1984TVWonderWorksas Claudie Sills1984FilmGo Tell It on the Mountainas Esther1984FilmThe Killing Flooras Mattie1983FilmCross Creekas Geechee1983TVReading Rainbowas Self - Narrator (voice)1982TVSt. Elsewhereas Roxanne Turner1982TVTucker's Witchas Marcia Fulbright1982TVFaerie Tale Theatreas Self - Guest1982FilmPrecious Bloodas Narrator1982FilmFor Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enufas Woman who lost her stuff1982FilmThe Ambush Murdersas Karisha Ellsworth1981TVThe Sophisticated Gentsas Evelyn Evers1981TVHill Street Blues1980FilmHealtHas Sally Benbow1980TVPalmerstown, U.S.A.1979FilmFreedom Roadas Katie1978TVThe White Shadowas Sandra Wilcox1978FilmThe Trial of the Mokeas Lucy Smith1978FilmRemember My Nameas Rita1977TVWhat Really Happened to the Class of '65?1953TVThe Oscarsas Self1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Mrs. Brown—FilmHate to See You Go—FilmPlaying for Your Heart: The Making of “Love & Basketball”as Self—FilmThe Thing That Hurts