Bio
Dawnn Lewis is an American actress and singer best known for her television sitcom roles as Jaleesa Vinson Taylor on A Different World (1987-1992) and as Robin Dumars in the first season of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, from 1992-1993.
Along with Bill Cosby and Stu Gardner she co-wrote the theme song for A Different World.
She has filmed guest spots on CSI: Miami, Breaking In and Reed Between the Lines, among many others. She also had recurring roles on The Secret Life of the American Teenager and One Tree Hill.
She was featured in the Warner Bros. feature film The Preachers' Kid and the animated film Futurama: Into the Wild Green yonder. Dawnn also starred in the 2009 NYC City Center Encore's presentation of The Wiz, as Addapearle.
She is on the National Advisory Board of the National Center for Civil & Human Rights and served on the SAG National Board of Directors as well as the SAG Singers Committee.
Dawnn's record label, Morning Jewel Music, released her solo CD Worth Waiting For; the title song is featured in the Disney movie The Poof Point soundtrack, in which she starred.
She gives voice to animated characters for various TV series including The Cleveland Show, The Life of Tim, Futurama, King of the Hill, The Boondocks, The X-Men and Spiderman, to name a few.
Musically, she's recorded with or composed for Everett Harp, Patrice Rushen, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Take 6, Weyman Tisdale, Grover Washington Jr., Quincy Jones and Tom Scott, among others.
Dawnn also finds time to teach master classes mentoring the youth across the country, giving motivational lectures and lending her support to The United Negro College Fund, American Cancer Society, The March of Dimes, Youth Entertainment Studios, the Inner City Games, Campfire Boys and Girls, The United States Conference on AIDS, The K.I.S. Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease, The NBA/WNBA and other important causes.