Loretta Devine was born August 21, 1949 in Houston, Texas, to Eunice O'Neal (née Toliver), a beautician, and James Devine, who worked as a laborer. Loretta grew up in the Acres Home area of Houston and later enrolled at the University of Houston, where she earned a a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama, and later Brandeis University where she earned a MFA in Theater. With many minor roles in television and film, perhaps Loretta is best known for her performance as Gloria Matthews in Waiting to Exhale (1995). Her performance earned her an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress, as did her performance in her next film, The Preacher's Wife (1996).