Jennifer Echols

Acting

Jennifer Echols

Born 25 July 1954 · Houston, Texas, USA · Died 16 July 2018 at 63

Jennifer Echols (25 July 1954, Houston, Texas – 16 July 2018, Sherman Oaks, California) was an American character actress whose career spanned 1995 to 2014. She specialised in small supporting roles — nurses, receptionists, waitresses, secretaries, and similar everyday figures — across over 50 credited appearances in film and television. She is best remembered for Mama Jenny in My Name Is Khan (2010), the Waffle Hut Waitress in The Ladykillers (2004), and Nurse Selma in The Notebook (2004). Her filmography includes: Fathers' Day (1997) (Ed Harris, Laurie Metcalf); Friday After Next (2002) (Ice Cube, Chris Tucker); The Notebook (2004) (Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams); The Ladykillers (2004) (Tom Hanks, Ivan Reinhardt); Down in the Valley (2005) (Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood); 10 Items or Less (2006) (Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello); My Name Is Khan (2010) (Shah Rukh Khan, Katie Cassidy); Small Apartments (2012) (Matt Lucas, Sara Gilbert). TV: ER (2004), Dexter (2006), The Shield (2006), The Mentalist (2012), Southland (2012).

Known for

Highlights

The Notebook2004 · Film · Nurse Selma
Malcolm in the Middle2000 · Series · Book Club Lady
The Mentalist2008 · Series · Principal's Secretary
Dexter2006 · Series · Nurse
My Name Is Khan2010 · Film · Mama Jenny
The Shield2002 · Series · Peaches

Filmography

Movies

20 films

Small Apartments2012 · Film · Psych Center Receptionist
The Home Front2010 · Film · Shandra
My Name Is Khan2010 · Film · Mama Jenny
While the Children Sleep2007 · Film · Nurse
10 Items or Less2006 · Film · Tracey with an 'E'
In The Mix2005 · Film · Big Momma
Back to You & Me2005 · Film · Brenda
Down in the Valley2005 · Film · Rita
Adam & Steve2005 · Film · Triage Nurse
Full Clip2004 · Film · Girlfriend #2
The Notebook2004 · Film · Nurse Selma
Soul Plane2004 · Film · Big Woman (uncredited)
The Ladykillers2004 · Film · Waffle Hut Waitress
The Kiss2003 · Film · Post Mistress
Friday After Next2002 · Film · Church Lady #3
Gaydar2002 · Film · Frankalina
Repli-Kate2002 · Film · Hospital Receptionist
American Tragedy2000 · Film · 1st Black Woman
Ragdoll1999 · Film · Woman Detective
Fathers' Day1997 · Film · Ball Park Vendor

Filmography

Series

13 shows

The Mentalist2008 · Series · Principal's Secretary
Dexter2006 · Series · Nurse
My Name Is Earl2005 · Series · Nurse
Less than Perfect2002 · Series · Cafeteria Worker
The Shield2002 · Series · Peaches
The Division2001 · Series · Mrs. Coombs
Strong Medicine2000 · Series · Myra
Malcolm in the Middle2000 · Series · Book Club Lady
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch1996 · Series · Clerk #1
The Jamie Foxx Show1996 · Series · Traffic School Student #2
Touched by an Angel1994 · Series · Valerie
ER1994 · Series · Estelle
Married... with Children1987 · Series · Gwen