<Li> Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson; inspired by Supremes member Mary Wilson, is a good - natured background singer with the Dreams who falls deeply in love with the married Jimmy Early and becomes his mistress . </Li> <Li> Keith Robinson as C.C. White; inspired by Motown vice president, artist, and songwriter Smokey Robinson, Effie's soft - spoken younger brother C.C. (Clarence Conrad) serves as the main songwriter for first the Dreams and later the entire Rainbow roster . </Li> <Li> Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder" Early (Jimmy); inspired by R&B / soul singers such as James Brown, Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, is a raucous performer on the Rainbow label engaged in an adulterous affair with Dreams member Lorrell . Curtis attempts to repackage Early as a pop - friendly balladeer . Jimmy's stardom fades as the Dreams' stardom rises, and as a result - he falls into depression (which he copes with through drug abuse). Murphy won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film . </Li> <Li> Sharon Leal as Michelle Morris; based upon Supremes member Cindy Birdsong, Curtis' secretary who replaces Effie in the Dreams and begins dating C.C. </Li>

Who is the character jimmy early based on