With roots that lead back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a prime figure in forming community theater in her native Baton Rouge. She is of African American and Native American descent, specifically Cherokee. First garnering attention on the stage by studying and performing with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C, she married one of the company's co-founders and pioneers of black theatre, playwright/director/actor 'Vantile Whitfield' in 1990, by whom she has a daughter, Grace. They parted ways in 1992.
Daughter of Valerian Smith
Modeled a Millenium Creation outfit designed by Anand Jon at the NYC 2000 fashion show in Times Square on September 13, 1999.
She has two younger sisters and a younger brother.
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
She is a member of the Links Inc.
Her younger brothers name is Valerian (Pepper) Butler-Smith.
She is of Cherokee descent.
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 38, a daughter Grace Gibson on Augst 2, 1991. Childs is her 2nd husband, Brian Gibson.
Lives in a New York Townhome on Manhattans Upper East Side.
Stepmother of Bellina Logan and designer Lance Vantile Whitfield.
