LaTanya Richardson Jackson is an American actress. She began her career appearing in off-Broadway productions, before playing supporting roles on television and film. Her performances are credited to her birth name, LaTanya Richardson, from 1989 to 2013.
Richardson has appeared in films including Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Malcolm X (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), Losing Isaiah (1995), Lone Star (1996), U.S. Marshals (1998), and The Fighting Temptations (2003). Her television credits include 100 Centre Street (2001–2002), Show Me a Hero (2015), Luke Cage (2016–2018), and Rebel (2017).
Early and personal life She was born in Atlanta, Georgia on October 12, 1949. While attending Atlanta's historically Black, all-female Spelman College in 1970, she met Samuel L. Jackson, then a student at the historically Black, all-male Morehouse College. She and Jackson married in 1980 and have one child together (b. 1982). After her daughter's birth, Richardson stopped working regularly for family reasons. She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha inducted during the 2026 Boule.
Career Richardson played Paulina Pritchett in the 2003 musical film The Fighting Temptations. She has appeared in four films with her husband, Samuel L. Jackson: Juice (1992), Losing Isaiah (1995), Freedomland (2006), and Mother and Child (2009).
In 2014, Richardson received a Tony Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Play for her performance in the play A Raisin in the Sun, her second appearance on Broadway after her debut in the 2009 revival of Joe Turner's Come and Gone. She appeared in Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway in the 2018–19 season.
From 2017 to 2023, Richardson made regular appearances as Maggie Pierce’s adoptive mother, Diane, on Grey's Anatomy.
In September 2022, Richardson made her directorial debut directing the Broadway revival of August Wilson's play The Piano Lesson at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Filmography On film, she has been credited under her birth name, LaTanya Richardson, from 1991–2009, except for the 2006 film Freedomland.
Film Year Title Role Notes1991Hangin' with the HomeboysCaseworker1991Judge Smith1991Fried Green TomatoesJaneen1992JuiceSteel's Mother1992Malcolm XLorraine1992Lorenzo's OilNurse Ruth1993Sleepless in SeattleHarriet1994ElaineShort film1994When a Man Loves a WomanDr. Gina Mendez1995Losing IsaiahCaroline Jones1996Lone StarPriscilla Worth1997LovedAttorney Rose Jackson1997Julian PoDarlene1998U.S. MarshalsDeputy Marshal Savannah Cooper1998SecretsShort film2003Paulina Pritchett2006FreedomlandMarieFirst film credit as LaTanya Richardson Jackson2007All About UsCousin Bernice2007BlackoutMrs. Thompson2009Mother and ChildCarolLast film credit as LaTanya Richardson2019JuanitaKay-Rita Second (hereafter continuous) film credit as LaTanya Richardson Jackson2023You Hurt My FeelingsSylvia2026DiamondElizabeth
Television On television, she has been credited as her birth name, LaTanya Richardson, from 1989–2013, except for a 2012 episode of Damages.
Year Title Role Notes1989Doris GilbertEpisode: "Life After Death"1991Law & OrderLorraineEpisode: "Life Choice"1992Law & OrderAnne HoustonEpisode: "Sisters of Mercy"1992EmilyTV film1992Frannie's TurnVivianEpisodes: "Pilot", "Frannie and the Kitchen Sink"1992One Life to LiveRodiTV series1993Civil WarsVan BeechleyEpisode: "Hit the Road, Jack"1993Shameful SecretsLouise LevyTV film1993CheersModeratorEpisode: "Woody Gets an Election"1994Midnight Run for Your LifeDet. DixonTV film1994Party of FiveJane GideonEpisode: "Private Lives"1994Earth 2Alex WentworthEpisode: "A Memory Play"1995Chicago HopeMrs. ParnettEpisode: "Cutting Edges"1995NYPD BlueSister CeciliaEpisode: "Heavin' Can Wait"1996EdnaTV film1997Homicide: Life on the StreetLynette ThompsonEpisode: "Betrayal"1998Any Day NowMrs. WalkerEpisode: "Call Him Johnny"1998–1999Ally McBealAttorney Yvette RoseEpisodes: "Story of Love", "Let's Dance"1999Introducing Dorothy DandridgeAuntieTV film1999Judging AmyLena RailsbackEpisode: "Pilot"1999Once and AgainCounselorEpisode: "Boy Meets Girl"2000HairstoryTV film2001Within These WallsMelinda DonovanTV film2001–2002100 Centre StreetAtallah SimsRecurring role (8 episodes)2003Boston PublicSheilaEpisode: "Chapter 62"2006The Water Is WideEdnaTV film2011Harry's LawNoreenEpisode: "In the Ghetto"2012DamagesJudge Jaclynn EllisEpisode: "You Want to End This Once and for All?";first TV credit as LaTanya Richardson Jackson2013Grandma SandsTV film;last TV credit as LaTanya Richardson2014–2015Blue BloodsLt. Dee Ann CarverRecurring role, Season 5;second (hereafter continuous) TV credit as LaTanya Richardson Jackson2015Show Me a HeroNorma O'NealTV miniseries2016–2018Luke CageMaybelline "Mama Mabel" StokesEpisodes: "Manifest", "The Creator"2017RebelDetective Traylynn Jones2 episodes2017–2023Grey's AnatomyDiane PierceGuest star (5 episodes; season 13, 18, and 19)2018American MastersNarratorEpisode: Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart2022The Last Movie StarsMaude Brink (voice)3 episodes2025Criminal MindsCaroline LewisEpisode: "Tara"
Theatre Year Title Role Playwright Venue2009 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Bertha Holly August Wilson Belasco Theatre, Broadway2014 A Raisin in the Sun Lena Younger Lorraine Hansberry Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway2018–2019 To Kill a Mockingbird Calpurnia Aaron Sorkin Shubert Theatre, Broadway2022 The Piano Lesson August Wilson Director; Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway2025 Purpose Claudine Jasper Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Hayes Theater, Broadway
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Project ResultRef. 2010Audie Award Audiobook of the YearNelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktalesrowspan=2 Multi-Voiced Performance2014 Tony Award Best Actress in a Play A Raisin in the Sun 2014 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV Movie The Watsons Go to Birmingham 2016 Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Limited Series Show Me a Hero 2025 Tony Award Best Actress in a Play Purpose
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