ILOSM fam,’ make some noise if you remember actress, Dawnn Lewis. We mainly have throwback memories of her from her role as “Jaleesa Vinson”- the ‘mature, responsible’ college student on A Different World. As we watched her do her thing on that sitcom every week -from 1987 up until A Different World’s fifth season- her character suddenly disappeared without explanation, when she eloped with “Colonel Bradford Taylor” (played by Glenn Turman).
“Jaleesa’s” 1992 disappearance was actually due to the much fatter check Dawnn was offered to star in the Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper sitcom, where she played “Robin Dumars,” alongside actors, Mark Curry and Holly Robinson-Peete. Dawnn was no dummy, so she did what she had to do for her financial well being and said ‘Peace out’ to Bill Cosby’s Different World creation.
Fast forward to the years that followed, up until now, and many have not seen Dawnn Lewis much on television, nor big screen, with the exception of a few appearances on various TV shows and films, like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka back in the day. But y’all have gots to see her now though…and what she’s been up to…
Aging Like Fine Wine At 59…
Just because we haven’t seen Dawnn Lewis as often lately, does not mean ol’ girl hasn’t been working. Turns out, she is doing a lot these days and while she’s at it, she’s also out here making 59 look like the new 39 and we’re not mad at that at all. Here’s a recent photo of her now…
As y’all can see, Dawnn still looks like “Jaleesa” from her college role days. Not sure which fountain of youth this queen has discovered, but wherever it is, we want the directions to it ASAP!
In addition to the Different World legend aging backwards, like “Benjamin Button,” she has not slowed down with her career. Instead, she’s spent much of it behind the cameras, yet her presence was still felt on-screen.
Her Career Is Still Poppin’…
Her Voice-Over Work…
Lewis has become a known voice over actress. She voiced the following characters: “Storm” in the X-Men games and in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2; “Granny Grim” in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy; “Shokan (Sheeva)” in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm; “LaBarbara” in Futurama; “Detective Terri Lee” in Spider-Man:The Animated Series; “Di Archer” in Bruno the Kid, several characters on the show, The Boondocks; “Sharona” on King of the Hill; and most recently, she’s voiced the roles of “Fannie Granger” in DreamWorks’s Spirit Riding Free (2018), and “The Chief” on Netflix’s 2019 animated Carmen Sandiego.
Her most recent voice-over role has garnered a few awards. Dawnn began starring as the voice of “Captain Carol Freeman” in the animated series, Star Trek: Lower Decks. Check out what she shared about being nominated for the NAACP Image Awards for that role:
Her Other Acting Roles…
In January 2021, Dawnn Lewis joined the cast of the Fox network drama, Blood Relatives:
D. Lewis – “So excited to be apart of the Blood Relative cast!”
Dawnn Lewis’ Personal Life & Past Marriage To NBA Star, Johnny Newman…
Lewis has been married once and it was a bit rocky. She married now-retired NBA basketball player, Johnny Newman (pictured above, left), in 2004. They divorced by 2006- the following year after Dawnn was reportedly hospitalized from a domestic violence altercation between them. At the time, she said Johnny ‘grabbed her by the throat, threatened to kill her and dragged her down a set of stairs by her legs.’
Happily Single
These days, Dawnn Lewis unmarried and livin’ it up with her homegirls, such as singer/songwriter, Siedah Garett…
And cuttin’ up in dance challenges against her friend/comedian, Sinbad…
