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With a career that spans over 40 years, Loretta Devine is a true icon. In honor of her 74th birthday, we are looking back at her incredible career from Dreamgirl to one of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood.

Photo By Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

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Forever Devine - In case you didn't know, Loretta Devine is one of the original Dreamgirls. Here she's pictured with actor Sylvester Stallone and co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph backstage after a performance of the critically-acclaimed Broadway musical. (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

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Hillman! - In 1987, Loretta Devine was the original director of Gilbert Hall on the hit-show A Different World. (Photo: NBC)

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We Were All "Waiting To Exhale" - Arguably the movie that took her career into the stratosphere was 1995's Waiting To Exhale, directed by Forest Whitaker. Ms. Devine as Gloria was cinematic gold. (Photo: Frank Trapper/Sygma/Corbis)

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Mr. Loretta Was A Gangstar - Remember that time when Loretta Devine starred in one of our favorite films "Urban Legend" way back in 1998. (Photo: WENN.com)

Photo By Photo: WENN.com

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From 2000 to 2004, Ms. Devine killed it as Marla Hendricks in Boston Public. She won three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.

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One Of Our Favorite Christmas Movies - In 2007, Loretta Devine starred in out of our favorite holiday movies, "This Christmas," as Ma'Dere Whitfield. Since then, she has appeared in many Christmas films, including last year's All I Didn't Want for Christmas. (Photo: WENN.com)

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She Was Our Favorite Patient - In 2010, Loretta Devine was our favorite patient to help care for on Grey's Anatomy. The guest role earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. (Photo: ABC)

Photo By Photo: ABC

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Meet Mama Carmichael - From 2015 to 2017, Jerrod Carmichael reinvented "Good Times" without the laugh track and gave us "The Carmichael Show," where Loretta Devine stars as Cynthia Carmichael. (Photo: Ben Cohen/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

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Devine Meets P-Valley - Loretta Devine continued reinventing herself as Ernestine Sayles in the massively successful P-Valley. (Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for STARZ)

Photo By (Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for STARZ)

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Family Affair - From 2019 to 2022, Devine starred in the hit Netflix show Family Reunion as Amelia 'M'Dear' McKellan. The role earned her three NAACP Image Award nominations.