LaTanya Richardson Jackson


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, Malcolm X, Sleepless in Seattle, When a Man Loves a Woman, Losing Isaiah, Lone Star, U.S. Marshals, and The Fighting Temptations. Her television credits include 100 Centre Street, Show Me a Hero, Luke Cage, and Rebel.
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Early and personal life

She was born in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. After her daughter's birth, Richardson stopped working regularly for family reasons.

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, Losing Isaiah, Freedomland, and Mother and Child.
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.

Television

On television, she has been credited as her birth name, LaTanya Richardson, from 1989–2013, except for a 2012 episode of Damages.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1989'Doris GilbertEpisode: "Life After Death"
1991Law & OrderLorraineEpisode: "Life Choice"
1992Law & OrderAnne HoustonEpisode: "Sisters of Mercy"
1992'EmilyTV film
1992Frannie's TurnVivianEpisodes: "Pilot", "Frannie and the Kitchen Sink"
1992One Life to LiveRodiTV series
1993Civil WarsVan BeechleyEpisode: "Hit the Road, Jack"
1993Shameful SecretsLouise LevyTV film
1993CheersModeratorEpisode: "Woody Gets an Election"
1994Midnight Run for Your LifeDet. DixonTV film
1994Party of FiveJane GideonEpisode: "Private Lives"
1994Earth 2Alex WentworthEpisode: "A Memory Play"
1995Chicago HopeMrs. ParnettEpisode: "Cutting Edges"
1995NYPD BlueSister CeciliaEpisode: "Heavin' Can Wait"
1996EdnaTV film
1997Homicide: 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 film
1999Judging AmyLena RailsbackEpisode: "Pilot"
1999Once and AgainCounselorEpisode: "Boy Meets Girl"
2000HairstoryTV film
2001Within These WallsMelinda DonovanTV film
2001–2002100 Centre StreetAtallah SimsRecurring role
2003Boston PublicSheilaEpisode: "Chapter 62"
2006The Water Is WideEdnaTV film
2011Harry's LawNoreenEpisode: "In the Ghetto"
2012DamagesJudge Jaclynn EllisEpisode: "You Want to End This Once and for All?";
first TV credit as LaTanya Richardson Jackson
2013Grandma SandsTV film;
last TV credit as LaTanya Richardson
2014–2015Blue BloodsLt. Dee Ann CarverRecurring role, Season 5;
second TV credit as LaTanya Richardson Jackson
2015Show Me a HeroNorma O'NealTV miniseries
2016–2018Luke CageMaybelline "Mama Mabel" StokesEpisodes: "Manifest", "The Creator"
2017RebelDetective Traylynn Jones2 episodes
2017–2023Grey's AnatomyDiane PierceGuest star
2018American MastersNarratorEpisode: "Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart"
2022The Last Movie StarsMaude Brink 3 episodes
2025Criminal MindsCaroline LewisEpisode: "Tara"