Lynn Whitfield, born Lynn Butler-Smith on February 15, 1953, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is an accomplished American actress and producer.

She is the eldest of four children and comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts, with her father being a dentist and community theater figure, and her mother a founding member of the Baton Rouge chapter of The Links Incorporated.

Her love for movies was nurtured by her maternal grandmother, who exposed her to them from a young age. By the age of five, Lynn had decided she wanted to be in movies.

Her journey in the entertainment industry began with her studies at Howard University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She first gained attention on stage with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C., and later moved to New York to perform in off-Broadway productions.

Her breakthrough came in 1977 when she toured the United States, Australia, and London's West End in the production of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf" alongside Alfre Woodard. In the 1980s, she made her professional screen debut in the NBC serial drama "Hill Street Blues" and went on to appear in several TV shows and movies, including "Doctor Detroit" (1983), "Silverado" (1985), and "Jaws: The Revenge" (1987).

Her career reached new heights in 1991 when she starred as Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical film "The Josephine Baker Story," earning her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and a Golden Globe nomination.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, she continued to take on leading roles in made-for-television movies and theatrical films, such as "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" (1996), "Eve's Bayou" (1997), "Stepmom" (1998), and "Madea's Family Reunion" (2006).

From 2016 to 2020, she starred as Lady Mae Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network series "Greenleaf," for which she won critical acclaim and garnered two NAACP Image Awards and a Gracie Award.

Her personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. She was married to playwright/director/actor Vantile Whitfield from 1974 to 1978 and later to director Brian Gibson from 1990 to 1992. She has one daughter, Grace Ginson, born in 1991.

She is known for her active presence on social media, where she shares glimpses of her life and career with her followers.

With a net worth estimated to be over $3 million, Lynn Whitfield continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. Her dedication to her craft and her ability to bring depth and authenticity to her roles have made her a beloved actress and a true icon in Hollywood.