Alfre Woodard was born in Oklahoma (Tulsa). Her parents are Constance and Marion H. Woodard, who has 2 more children. Alfre is the youngest of them all. She attended Bishop Kelley High School and later graduated from Boston University, where she studied drama.

Woodard started her career in 70s, more precisely in 1974, on D.C.'s Arena Stage. After that, in 1976, she moved to Los Angeles. Alfre said that she knew that there were low chances that she gets a role in some TV show or a movie due to the fact she was black. However, she had motivation and high self-esteem, so she knew that she will have great success. The first, important role in her career was in 1977 in For Colored Girls. In 1978 she played in Remember My Name.

In 80s, she played in Health, The Sophisticated Gents, Tucker's Witch, Cross Creek (was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress) and Sara (sitcom). In the same decade, she played in: Extremities, L.A. Law and St. Elsewhere.

In the 90s, Alfre Woodard played in: Grand Canyon, Passion Fish, The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, Blue Chips, How to Make an American Quilt and many others. During 2000s, Alfre appeared in: Love & Basketball, What's Cooking, The Singing Detective, The Core, The Forgotten, Something New and etc. In 2010s, Alfre had several important roles. Just some of them are in: Grey's Anatomy, Steel Magnolias, 12 Years a Slave and etc.

In 2014, there was an announced that Alfre Woodard is going to have a role of the first female US president, for the State of Affairs drama. The same year, she was inducted in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. In 2015, we had a chance to see Alfre in So B. It. In addition, Alfre announced that she will appear in a miniseries that will last 4 hours.

Alfre lives in California. She is married to an American writer. Her husband is Roderick Spencer and they have 2 children. Both of them are adopted. Alfre is well-known for charity. She raised up to $9 million to help children in Africa. In addition, Alfre supports LGBT rights and she is a member of the Democratic Party.

In 2015, Alfre participated to a Who Do You Think You Are? Program and she find out that her great-grandfather, Alex Woodard, was a slave in 1840s. After the Civil War, her great-grandfather acquired 80 acres of land and he was able to vote. In 1898, Alex Woodard sold the land and moved to Texas.

The net worth of Alfre Woodard is around $13 million.