Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls (1981), Muriel Stubbs in the Fox/The WB series, The PJs (1999-2001), Hallie in the Disney Junior series, Doc McStuffins (2012-2022), Amelia "M'Dear" McKellan in the Netflix series, Family Reunion (2019-2022), Gloria Matthews in the film Waiting to Exhale (1995), and her recurring role as Adele Webber on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Devine also played Juanita Sims in the film adaptation of For Colored Girls (2010). She is also known for her roles as Stevie Rallen on NBC's A Different World during its first season and for her portrayal Marla Hendricks on the television series Boston Public (2000–2004).

Early life Loretta Devine was born in Houston, Texas, on August 21, 1949 to James Devine and Eunice (Toliver). She grew up in the Acres Homes area of Houston, where her mother was a single mother to six children. She was very active on the pep squad, and performed in talent shows at George Washington Carver High School.

In 1971, Devine graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama. In 1976, she received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater from Brandeis University.

Career Stage work Devine has worked extensively on Broadway. Her Broadway debut was in the 1977 revival of Hair, which played 43 performances at the Biltmore Theatre. The following year, Devine appeared in a musical called A Broadway Musical, which closed after 14 previews and only one performance on December 21, 1978. She captured attention in her third Broadway show, called Comin' Uptown, a Harlem-set musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, featuring Gregory Hines.

She rose to stardom in Dreamgirls, a smash 1981 Broadway musical loosely based on the history of The Supremes, in which she originated the role of Lorrell Robinson, a fictional character based on Mary Wilson. The story of Dreamgirls was created during 6-week-long workshops that occurred across a three year period, wherein Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Jennifer Holliday improvised their characters.

She received rave reviews in the 1995 Apollo revival of The Wiz as Glinda the Good Witch of the South. In May 2024, she starred in The Preacher’s Wife, a musical that began its run in Atlanta at The Alliance Theatre and is based on the previous films.

Film While rehearsing for Dreamgirls in 1981, Devine was cast in Jessie Maple's Will, the first independent feature-length film directed by an African-American woman. For her featured role in the low-budget film, Devine earned $500. Minor roles for Devine followed in films such as Little Nikita and Stanley & Iris.

In 1995, she landed a major role as Gloria Matthews in Waiting to Exhale, opposite Whitney Houston, Gregory Hines, and Angela Bassett. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, as did her next film, The Preacher's Wife, her second film with Houston and Hines. She later co-starred opposite Alfre Woodard in Down in the Delta (1998) and Funny Valentines (1999).

She has a cameo performance in the film version of Dreamgirls.

Television and continued film successes Devine played roles as a repertory character in the play The Colored Museum with Vickilyn Reynolds. Devine and Reynolds both went on to play sisters in the short-lived TV series Sugar and Spice. During the period between the play and the series, Devine appeared in the first season of the TV series A Different World as Stevie Rallen, a dormitory director at the fictional Hillman College.

From 2000 to 2004, Devine starred as high school teacher Marla Hendricks on the Fox drama series Boston Public. Devine won three more NAACP Image Awards for her work in the series. She also continued to work in film, playing prominent roles in Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut, and I Am Sam. Devine earned yet another Image Award nomination and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her work in the 2004 film Woman Thou Art Loosed. She also appeared in the 2005 film Crash.

In 2007, she appeared in This Christmas, and in the next year had a series regular role on the ABC comedy-drama Eli Stone. Devine also was part of the ensemble casts of two Tyler Perry-directed films For Colored Girls and Madea's Big Happy Family. In 2008, she was featured prominently on George Michael's remake of the song "Feeling Good." She also appeared in First Sunday, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Jumping the Broom.

Devine had a recurring role in the Shonda Rhimes drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Richard Webber's first wife, Adele. In 2011 she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance. She was nominated for a second time for her performance in 2012. Devine also won Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Feature Role for Grey's Anatomy in 2012.

In 2011, she also starred on the short-lived ABC Family comedy State of Georgia. In 2012, she was part of Being Mary Jane cast. She also voiced the character Hallie on the Disney Junior series Doc McStuffins. Later that year she began starring in the Lifetime series The Client List, playing the role of Georgia Cummings, the owner of the massage parlor where the lead character Riley Parks works. The series was canceled after two seasons. Devine also played Cynthia Carmichael on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show.. Devine starred on the Netflix series, Family Reunion, with Richard Roundtree and Tia Mowry-Hardrict.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1981 Will Will's Wife 1983 Anna to the Infinite Power Ms. Everett Benson 1988 Little Nikita Verna McLaughlin Sticky Fingers Diane Cooley 1990 Stanley & Iris Bertha Simmons 1991 Caged Fear Judy Livin' Large Nadine Biggs 1992 Class Act Ms. Brown 1993 Amos & Andrew Ula 1994 The Hard Truth Rose Maxwell 1995 Waiting to Exhale Gloria Matthews 1996 The Preacher's Wife Beverly 1997 The Price of Kissing Jackee Blaine Hoodlum Pigfoot Mary Lover Girl Leticia 1998 Love Kills Sylvia Finkelstein Down in the Delta Zenia Urban Legend Reese Wilson Operation Splitsville Principal Alyson's Closet Raul's Mother (voice) Short 1999 Funny Valentines Dearie B. The Breaks Floria Lillie Michelle 2000 Punks Aretha Stone Urban Legends: Final Cut Reese Wilson What Women Want Florence "Flo" Glover 2001 Kingdom Come Marguerite Slocumb I Am Sam Margaret Calgrove 2002 Book of Love Mary Baker Baby of the Family Delores Evans 2004 Woman Thou Art Loosed Cassey Jordan Crash Shaniqua Johnson 2005 King's Ransom Miss Gladys 2006 Dirty Laundry Evelyn Dreamgirls Gladys Brooks 2007 Cougar Club Dolly This Christmas Shirley Ann "Ma'Dere" Whitfield 2008 First Sunday Sister Doris Beverly Hills Chihuahua Delta (voice) 2009 Spring Breakdown Dr. Marguerite Tyson My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? Miss Willheima Roberts 2010 Death at a Funeral Cynthia Lottery Ticket Grandma Dorothy Carson For Colored Girls Juanita Sims/Green Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 Delta (voice) Video 2011 Madea's Big Happy Family Shirley Jumping the Broom Pamela Taylor Politics of Love Shirlee Gupta 2012 In the Hive Mrs. Inez 2013 The Get Away Ms. Crawford Short Khumba Mama V (voice) A Very Larry Christmas Mrs. Claus 2014 Comeback Dad Malinda Welcome to Me Barb Vaughn The Sound and the Fury Dilsey You're Not You Marilyn Jo 2015 Back to School Mom Meghan Graham 1440 and Counting Mrs. Nickel Short For the Love of Ruth Naomi 2016 Norm of the North Tamecia (voice) Caged No More Aggie James Grandma’s House Grandma Margie 36 Hour Layover Mrs. Carey 2017 My Other Home Mabel Marbury Naked Carol Violets Marcy Short 2018 Sierra Burgess Is a Loser Ms. April Thomson 2019 The Trap Mama Jay First Day Back Superintendent Lola Greene Short Postmarked Hattie Short 2020 The Last Starship Dorothy Short Spell Eloise Always and Forever Elda The McHenry Trial - Don't Judge a Kid by Their Hoodie Doris McHenry Short 2021 Queen Bees Sally Heart The Starling Velma 2022 Mack & Rita Sharon Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Irene 2023 A Snowy Day in Oakland Jeanette 2024 Bull Street Mrs. Big-Gal Rock the Boat 2 - Lost & Found in Cleveland Joy Morris

Television