Marcella Lowery

Marcella Lowery is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Geoffrey Owens' mother, Francine Tibideaux, on The Cosby Show, Jamal Jenkins' grandmother on Ghostwriter from 1992 to 1995, Anna Eldridge in the 1996 film, The Preacher's Wife and as Principal Karen Noble on the NBC sitcom City Guys.

Early years Lowery graduated from Malverne High School, where she was captain of the varsity girls' basketball team. She saved money that she earned as a babysitter and used it to attend Broadway plays, telling her parents that she was going to basketball practice.

Career Lowery had a recurring role on The Cosby Show as Francine Tibideaux, the mother of Elvin Tibideaux and mother-in-law of Sondra Huxtable, as well as a brief role in What About Bob?. She was also in The Preacher's Wife and guest-starred in four episodes of Law & Order.

Lowery's work in commercials includes portraying Donovan McNabb's mother in Campbell's Chunky Soup commercials. Lowery has also appeared on the commercials for Colonial Penn.

She also played Maybelle in the Off-Broadway premiere of Before It Hits Home.

Lowery's Broadway credits include portraying Sis Laura in The Member of the Wedding (1975) and Louise in Lolita (1981).

Personal life Lowery has a daughter. 1973 Miracle Play Beatie Roscoe Playhouse II Theater, Off-Broadway

1974 data-sort-value="Member of the Wedding, The"|The Member of the Wedding Sis Laura Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway

1975 Welcome to Black River Lou Mae St. Mark's Playhouse, Off-Broadway

1981 Lolita Louise Brooks Atkinson Theater, Broadway

American Renaissance Theater, Off-Off-Broadway

Harold Clurman Theater, Off-Broadway

1989 Ladies Allegro Theatre at St. Clements, Off-Broadway

1990 Sugar Hill Blanca Stromburg-Carlson Theater at St. Peter's Church, New York

1992 Before It Hits Home Maybelle The Public Theater, Off-Broadway

1995 Your Obituary Is A Dance Nella Rae Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky

2002 Voice of Good Hope Barbara Jordan Luna Stage, New Jersey