<Ul> <Li> Charles Malik Whitfield as Otis Williams , founder and leader of Otis Williams & the Distants and later The Temptations . He conflicts with some of his group mates , particularly David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks , over group leadership . Otis Williams is the only original member of The Temptations who is still living , and still performs with the group . <Ul> <Li> Tina Lifford as Hazel , Otis ' mother . </Li> <Li> Harold Surratt as Edgar , Otis ' stepfather . </Li> <Li> Gina Ravera as Josephine ( née Rogers ) , Otis ' wife during the 1960s and the mother of their son Lamont . </Li> <Li> Stevland Parks as Lamont , Otis and Josephine 's son ( portrayed at age 12 ) </Li> <Li> Chrystal Bates as Mrs. Rogers , Josephine 's mother . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> D.B. Woodside as Melvin `` Blue '' Franklin , Otis ' best friend , and a member of both Otis Williams & the Distants and The Temptations for over four decades . Shy and soft - spoken , he secretly struggles with arthritis over the years . Outside of founding member Otis Williams , Franklin was the only member of the Temptations who did not quit the group or be fired during his tenure ; Franklin died in 1995 . <Ul> <Li> Jenifer Lewis as `` Mama Rose , '' Melvin 's mother . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Terron Brooks as Eddie `` Cornbread '' Kendricks , a member of The Primes and The Temptations ' original first tenor / falsetto and co-lead singer . After quitting the group in 1971 , Eddie becomes a solo singer and later joins forces with fellow ex-Temptation David Ruffin . Kendricks died of lung cancer in 1992 ( this event is not portrayed in the miniseries , but is referenced near the end of Part Two ) . </Li> <Li> Christian Payton as Paul Williams , a member of The Primes and the Temptations ' original lead singer , who succumbs to alcoholism and poor health , forcing his retirement from the act in 1971 . <Ul> <Li> Rhonda Ross Kendrick as Maxine , Paul 's wife </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Leon as David Ruffin , The Temptations ' lead singer from 1964 to 1968 , whose ego leads the others to force him out of the group . Ruffin died of a drug overdose in 1991 . <Ul> <Li> Lamman Rucker as Jimmy Ruffin , David 's older brother and a Motown performer . </Li> <Li> Nyjah Moore as Tammi Terrell , David 's girlfriend and a Motown performer . </Li> </Ul> </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> Charles Malik Whitfield as Otis Williams , founder and leader of Otis Williams & the Distants and later The Temptations . He conflicts with some of his group mates , particularly David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks , over group leadership . Otis Williams is the only original member of The Temptations who is still living , and still performs with the group . <Ul> <Li> Tina Lifford as Hazel , Otis ' mother . </Li> <Li> Harold Surratt as Edgar , Otis ' stepfather . </Li> <Li> Gina Ravera as Josephine ( née Rogers ) , Otis ' wife during the 1960s and the mother of their son Lamont . </Li> <Li> Stevland Parks as Lamont , Otis and Josephine 's son ( portrayed at age 12 ) </Li> <Li> Chrystal Bates as Mrs. Rogers , Josephine 's mother . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> D.B. Woodside as Melvin `` Blue '' Franklin , Otis ' best friend , and a member of both Otis Williams & the Distants and The Temptations for over four decades . Shy and soft - spoken , he secretly struggles with arthritis over the years . Outside of founding member Otis Williams , Franklin was the only member of the Temptations who did not quit the group or be fired during his tenure ; Franklin died in 1995 . <Ul> <Li> Jenifer Lewis as `` Mama Rose , '' Melvin 's mother . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Terron Brooks as Eddie `` Cornbread '' Kendricks , a member of The Primes and The Temptations ' original first tenor / falsetto and co-lead singer . After quitting the group in 1971 , Eddie becomes a solo singer and later joins forces with fellow ex-Temptation David Ruffin . Kendricks died of lung cancer in 1992 ( this event is not portrayed in the miniseries , but is referenced near the end of Part Two ) . </Li> <Li> Christian Payton as Paul Williams , a member of The Primes and the Temptations ' original lead singer , who succumbs to alcoholism and poor health , forcing his retirement from the act in 1971 . <Ul> <Li> Rhonda Ross Kendrick as Maxine , Paul 's wife </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Leon as David Ruffin , The Temptations ' lead singer from 1964 to 1968 , whose ego leads the others to force him out of the group . Ruffin died of a drug overdose in 1991 . <Ul> <Li> Lamman Rucker as Jimmy Ruffin , David 's older brother and a Motown performer . </Li> <Li> Nyjah Moore as Tammi Terrell , David 's girlfriend and a Motown performer . </Li> </Ul> </Li> </Ul>
who played otis williams in the movie the temptations
who played otis williams in the movie the temptations
Charles Malik Whitfield
Charles Malik Whitfield