Juanita Jennings is an American actress, known for her roles on television. She is known for playing Edna in the TBS sitcom Meet the Browns, Ruby Jones in the Fox drama Star, and Nana Mama in the Prime Video procedural Cross.

Career Jennings won the 1994 CableACE Award for Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries for her role in Laurel Avenue. She guest-starred in many television series, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ellen, Chicago Hope, 7th Heaven, Touched by an Angel, The Practice, Soul Food and Justified. Her stage credits include playing Rose Maxson in South Coast Repertory's production of August Wilson's Fences.

Jennings may best known for her series regular role in the TBS sitcom Meet the Browns as Edna Barnes, which she starred from 2009 to 2011. She had recurring roles in The Division, The Bold and the Beautiful and most notably in the Fox primetime soap opera Star from 2017 to 2019. In 2019, she had a recurring role in the USA Network legal drama Pearson and the Oprah Winfrey Network drama David Makes Man. Starting in 2024, she has appeared as Regina "Nana Mama" Cross in the Prime Video crime drama Cross, based on the novels of James Patterson.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1990 Running Against Time Role Unknown 1991 The Marla Hanson Story Prosecutor Bad Attitudes James' Mother 1992 Basic Instinct Receptionist Condition: Critical Janine 1993 Laurel Avenue Yolanda Arnett-Friedman Jack Reed: Badge of Honor Dr. Laura Wheeler Murder of Innocence Lillian Foster 1994 Out of Darkness Inez On Promised Land Martha Ree Ween Override Role Unknown Short 1997 Spirit Lost Vera 1999 The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads Helen Picker Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her Nurse (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca") 2000 Dancing in September Ms. Taylor What Women Want Kitchen Secretary 2001 Baby Boy Rachel 2003 Runaway Jury Loreen Duke 2004 Something for Nothing Mrs. Lassiter Short 2005 Shackles Bella 2006 Tootie Pie Auntie 2007 Love... & Other 4 Letter Words Gigi Daddy's Little Girls Katheryn 2008 Vacancy 2: The First Cut Doris (video) 2009 Janky Promoters Momma 2010 My Girlfriend's Back Dr. Melinda 2011 Midnight Son Liz 2013 Side Effects Gladys Khumba Zuki

Television Year Title Role Notes1986 St. Elsewhere Role Unknown Episode ”The Equalizer” Hunter Dr. Lena Sims Episode ”The Castro Connection”1990 A Different World Desk Sergeant Episode ”A Camp Fire Story” Lifestories Laverne Williamson Episode ”Steve Burdick” 1991 Matlock Assistant Episode ”The Game Show” 1992–1993 Life Goes On Detective Davis Episodes ”The Whole Truth” and “Incident on “Man1993 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Nurse Episode ”The Baby Comes Out” Crossroads T.A. Pennebaker Episode ”The Nickel Curves” Roc Miss Hawkins Episode ”Shove it Up Your Asprin” 1994 All American Girl Carolyn Episode ”Who’s the Boss”1995 CBS Schoolbreak Special Mrs. Bing Episode ”What About Your Friends” The Client Opal Garrett One Episode: The Burning of Atlanta Beverly Hills, 90210 Mrs. Holcomb Episode ”Fortunate Son”1996 Picket FencesGloria Episode ”The Z Files” Sister, Sister Ms. Dadier Episode “Summer Bummer” Ellen Therapist Episode ”The Bubble Gum Incident”1997 Life's Work Judge Cowan Episode ”Fraud” Sparks Mrs. Clark Episode ”Too Hot Not to Cool Down” Suddenly Susan Ms. Hollins Episode ”Truth and Consequences” Chicago Hope Rebecca Rosen Two Episodes: The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen... by Proxy and All in the Family1998 The Pretender Alice Evans Episode ”Giggolo Jared” Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dr. Wilkinson Episode ”Killed by Death1999 Crusade Lieutenant Carr One Episode: Ruling from the Tomb 7th Heaven Cynthia One Episode: Come Drive with Me2000 City of AngelsMarsha One Episode: Prototype 18 Wheels of Justice Lillian Haybrook One Episode: The Fire Next Time Touched by an Angel Warden Davis One Episode: True Confessions Felicity Pastor Kathy One Episode: And to All a Good Night 2000–2003 The Practice Claire Stevens and Marcia Hodges Two Episodes: Till Death Do Us Part and The Making of a Trial Attorney 2000–2006 ER Mrs. Davis and ICU Doctor Two Episodes: Family Matters and Darfur2001 Judging Amy Elsie One Episode: The Claw Is Our Master Kate BrasherDelores One Episode: Kate That's My Bush! Ms. Clea One Episode: Eenie, Meenie, Miney, MURDER! The GuardianEdna One Episode: Lolita? The District Mrs. Broyles One Episode: To Serve and Protect2002 Frasier Suzy One Episode: The Proposal The Division Dr. Donna Morella Four Episodes: Farewell My Lovelies, Long Day's Journey, Before the Deluge and Sweet Sorrow 2003 Without a Trace Delores One Episode: No Mas 2004 Soul Food Vivian Chadway, Kenny's Mother One Episode: The Son Also Rises 2005–2006 Family Guy Miss Clifton Episodes: Fast Times at Buddy Cianci Jr. High and Saving Private Brian2006 Scrubs Dr. Marston One Episode: My Extra Mile American Dad!Woman One Episode: Helping Handis 2007 The Bold and the Beautiful Dorothy Bascomb Eleven Episodes: 2007–2008 Lincoln Heights Mama Taylor/Momma Taylor Five Episodes: Manchild, Grown Folks' Business, The Old Man and the G, The Vision and Disarmed 2009–2011 Meet the Browns Edna/Edna Barnes Series regular, 140 episodes 2010 Detroit 1-8-7 Sally Elliston One Episode: Nobody's Home/Unknown Soldier2011 Justified Rachel's Mother One Episode: For Blood or Money Torchwood Bisme Katusi One Episode: Escape to L.A. 2013 Shameless Mama KamalaSeason 3, Episode 6: Cascading Failures, Season 3, Episode 7: A Long Way From Home 2015 Major Crimes Amira's Grandma One Episode: Snitch 2017–2019 Star Ruby Recurring Role 2018 Here and Now Gwendolyn Williams One Episode: Wake 2018 Suits Lillian Cook Episode: "Good-Bye" 2018 Detroiters Mrs. Duvet Two Episodes: Happy Birthday Mr. Duvet and Duvet Family Reunion2019PearsonLillian Cook Recurring role, 8 episodes2019David Makes ManMrs. Hertrude Recurring role, 8 episodes2024Cross Regina Cross8 episodes2025WatsonElizabeth Morstan Episode: "A Son in the Oven"

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