View Profile
✓
Actor
Alfre Woodard
Active Hollywood & American Film, Television & Stage
- FromTulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Based inSanta Monica, California, USA
- Age73 years
- Active1974–Present
- Updated
Alfre Woodard – Biography
Alfre Woodard – Full Information
- Full Name: Alfre Woodard
- Popular Name: Alfre Woodard
- Nickname: Alfre
- Profession: Actress, Producer, Political Activist
- Known For: Oscar-nominated performance as Geechee in Cross Creek (1983), her role as Lily Sloane in Star Trek: First Contact (1996), starring as Mistress Harriet Shaw in 12 Years a Slave (192013), playing Mariah Dillard in Marvel’s Luke Cage, and her 4-time Primetime Emmy Award-winning television career.
- Date of Birth: November 8, 1952
- Age: 73 years (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
- Current Residence: Santa Monica, California, USA
- Profession Category: Actor / Hollywood & International Screen Star
Physical Appearance
- Height: 5 ft 3.5 in (161 cm) approx.
- Weight: 60 kg (132 lbs) approx.
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Black / Dark Brown
Family Member Name
- Father: Alvan Nathaniel Woodard (Construction Contractor & Interior Designer)
- Mother: Constance Woodard (Homemaker)
- Aunt: N/A
- Siblings: 2 older siblings
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Roderick Spencer (m. 1983)
- Children: Mavis Spencer (Daughter), Duncan Spencer (Son)
Education Details:
- Primary / Secondary School: Bishop Kelley High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- College / University: Boston University, School for the Arts
- Qualification: BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Drama (Cum Laude, 1974)
Career Highlight
| Year | Career Highlight |
| 1978 | Feature film debut in Remember My Name |
| 1983 | Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Cross Creek |
| 1984 | Won 1st Primetime Emmy Award for Hill Street Blues |
| 1987 | Won Primetime Emmy Award for L.A. Law and starred as Winnie Mandela in Mandela |
| 1992 | Critically acclaimed performance in John Sayles’ Passion Fish (Golden Globe Nominated) |
| 1994 | Starred as Carolyn Carmichael in Spike Lee’s Crooklyn |
| 1996 | Iconic performance as Lily Sloane in Star Trek: First Contact and Judge Shoat in Primal Fear |
| 1997 | Won Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for title role in Miss Evers’ Boys |
| 2000 | Starred in Love & Basketball and voiced Plio in Disney’s Dinosaur |
| 2005 | Joined ABC’s Desperate Housewives as Betty Applewhite (Emmy Nominated) |
| 2013 | Featured in Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning historical drama 12 Years a Slave |
| 2016 | Starred as villainous politician Mariah Dillard in Marvel’s Luke Cage |
| 2019 | Critical acclaim for lead role in Clemency and voiced Sarabi in Disney’s The Lion King |
| 2022 | Starred alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in The Gray Man |
| 2024 | Starred in comedy feature Summer Camp |
Awards List
| Year | Award Name | Category | Film / Show | Result |
| 1984 | Academy Awards (Oscars) | Best Supporting Actress | Cross Creek | Nominated |
| 1984 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Hill Street Blues | Won |
| 1987 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series | L.A. Law | Won |
| 1993 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | Passion Fish | Won |
| 1993 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Passion Fish | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special | The Piano Lesson | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special | Miss Evers’ Boys | Won |
| 1998 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | Miss Evers’ Boys | Won |
| 1998 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie/Miniseries | Miss Evers’ Boys | Won |
| 2003 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | The Practice | Won |
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Desperate Housewives | Won |
| 2006 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Desperate Housewives | Nominated |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | Steel Magnolias | Nominated |
| 2014 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | 12 Years a Slave | Nominated |
| 2020 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Lead | Clemency | Nominated |
| 2020 | Gotham Independent Film Awards | Best Actress | Clemency | Nominated |
At a Glance
20
Awards
90
Popularity Score
95
Trending
Moderate
Controversy Index
95%
Profile Complete
Social Reach
About Alfre Woodard
What is Alfre Woodard's most famous movie role?
She is widely celebrated for her Oscar-nominated role in Cross Creek (1983), playing Lily Sloane in Star Trek: First Contact (1996), and her powerful performance in 12 Years a Slave (2013).
How many Emmy Awards has Alfre Woodard won?
She has won 4 Primetime Emmy Awards out of an astounding 18 total nominations, making her one of the most nominated actors in Emmy history
Who is Alfre Woodard married to?
She has been married to writer and producer Roderick Spencer since 1983.
Did Alfre Woodard star in Marvel projects?
Yes, she portrayed the major villain Mariah Dillard (Stokes) in Marvel's Luke Cage series on Netflix, and also had a brief appearance as Miriam Sharpe in Captain America: Civil War (2016).
What degree does Alfre Woodard hold?
She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Drama from Boston University in 1974.
How would you rate this celebrity?
Share your opinion to help other fans discover new talent.
