This Day in Black History: Aug. 21, 1949
Loretta Devine, an African-American actress who has played many roles on stage, television and film, was born on Aug. 21, 1949 in Houston.
The Texas-native found love in performing while in high school and participated in talent shows in high school. She later took up speech and drama as a major at the University of Houston, where she received her bachelor's degree in 1971. In 1976, she received her MFA in theater from Brandeis University.
She became a known face for her portrayal of Lorrell Robinson, a fictional version of the Supremes' member Mary Wilson, in the Broadway play Dreamgirls. The show was a success and won six Tonys.
Devine grew in fame as she starred in a plethora of African-American films over the years including Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife, This Christmas and For Colored Girls. Devine also played the dormitory director in A Different World and roles on other television shows including Everybody Hates Chris and Grey's Anatomy.
According to IMDb.com, Devine will be doing voice-overs for The Doc Files, a Disney Junior television mini-series, and as Mama V in the animated film Khumba to be released later in 2013.
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(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)