Set It Off 1996 premiere

1. Vivica A. Fox

Vivica A. Fox was born in South Bend, Indiana, on July 30, 1964, and is the daughter of Everlyena, a pharmaceutical technician, and William Fox, a private school administrator. She is of Native American and African-American descent and is proud of her heritage. She is a graduate of Arlington High ...

2. Jada Pinkett Smith

Actress | The Matrix Revolutions

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Robsol Grant Pinkett, Jr., a contractor, and Adrienne 'Gammy' Banfield Norris, a nurse. They divorced after only a few months of marriage. Her father is of African-American descent and her mother is of Afro-Caribbean ancestry (from ...

3. Will Smith

Producer | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has enjoyed success in television, film, and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". Smith has been nominated for five Golden ...

4. Blair Underwood

Actor | Deep Impact

A true multi-hyphenate, Blair Underwood is enjoying success in film, television and theatre, as an actor, director and producer. Underwood recently returned to Broadway starring opposite David Alan Grier in the Pulitzer Prize winning drama "A Solider's Play" for director Kenny Leon and the ...

5. Queen Latifah

Actress | Chicago

Often considered hip-hop's first lady, the woman behind the moniker Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Rita (Bray), a teacher, and Lancelot Owens Sr. She came from a police family-both her father and her older brother were ...

6. Kimberly Elise

Actress | Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Kimberly Elise was born on April 17, 1967 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress and executive, known for Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), The Manchurian Candidate (2004) and John Q (2002). She was previously married to Maurice Oldham.

7. John C. McGinley

Actor | Scrubs

John C. McGinley's path to stardom is a story that reads like a classic Hollywood script. While an understudy in New York in the Circle-In-The-Square production of John Patrick Shanley's "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea," he was spotted by director Oliver Stone and soon after was cast in "Platoon," the...

8. F. Gary Gray

Director | Set It Off

Felix Gary Gray is an African-American music video director, film producer and film director from New York City known for directing films such as Friday, Men in Black: International, Be Cool, The Fate of the Furious, Set It Off, The Negotiator, Straight Outta Compton and The Italian Job. He ...

9. Wesley Snipes

Actor | Blade

Wesley Trent Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida, to Marian (Long), a teacher's assistant, and SMSGT Wesley Rudolph Snipes, an aircraft engineer. He grew up on the streets of the South Bronx in New York City, where he very early decided that dance and the theatre were to be his career. He attended ...

10. Magic Johnson

Producer | Obsessed

Magic Johnson was born on August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Obsessed (2009), Dead Tone (2007) and Hair Show (2004). He has been married to Cookie Johnson since September 14, 1991. They have two children.

11. Snoop Dogg

Actor | Training Day

Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, media personality, entrepreneur, and actor.

His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre and featured on Dre's solo debut, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's solo debut album, The Chronic. He has since sold over 23 ...

12. Warren G

Soundtrack | Bad Boys

Warren G was born on November 10, 1970 in Long Beach, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Bad Boys (1995), Big Momma's House (2000) and Above the Rim (1994). He is married to Tennille Griffin. They have four children.

13. Sinbad

Actor | Jingle All the Way

Sinbad was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan to two parents, Louise and the Baptist Rev. Dr. Donald Beckley Adkins and was then known as David Adkins. He is primarily known as an actor and somewhat a writer and proved his comedic acting style in House Guest (1994), Jingle All the Way (1996), First ...

14. Coolio

Soundtrack | Dangerous Minds

With over 17 million records sold worldwide, Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum recording artist Coolio is an artist known around the world as a musical and cooking master of extraordinary reinvention. Growing up during the time of tremendous change in Compton, Calif., Coolio fed on struggle ...

15. John Singleton

Writer | Boyz n the Hood

Son of Danny Singleton, a mortgage broker, and Sheila Ward, a pharmaceutical company sales executive, and raised in separate households by his unmarried parents, John Singleton attended the Film Writing Program at USC, after graduating from high school in 1986. While studying there, he won three ...

16. Quincy Jones

Producer | The Color Purple

Considered to be one of the greatest minds in music and television history, Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. was born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Sarah Frances (Wells), a bank executive, and Quincy Delight Jones, Sr., a carpenter.

Jones found his love for music while he was ...

17. Ice Cube

Soundtrack | Friday

Ice Cube was born in South Central Los Angeles, to Doris (Benjamin), a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a UCLA groundskeeper. He first came to public notice as a singer and songwriter with the controversial and influential band N.W.A. His compositions with that group included many ...

18. Mario Van Peebles

Actor | How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass

Mario Van Peebles is a highly regarded director, actor, producer and writer. His directorial skills can be seen in the retelling of the epic mini-series "Roots" starring Forest Whitaker and Matthew Goode. Van Peebles has directed award-winning shows such as the recent hit "Empire" and "The Last ...

19. Jamie Foxx

Actor | Collateral

Jamie Foxx is an American actor, singer and comedian. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, for his work in the biographical film Ray (2004). The same year, he was nominated for the Academy...

20. Damon Wayans Jr.

Actor | Big Hero 6

Damon Wayans Jr. was born at his grandmother's home in Vermont, in November 1982, and was raised in Los Angeles. He is the son of Lisa Thorner and actor Damon Wayans.

He made his film debut at age 11 in the 1994 film "Blank Man" playing the role of young Kevin. Later, Damon pursued his early passion...

21. Damon Wayans

Writer | My Wife and Kids

A tall (6'2"), sly, cueball-domed comedian of film and television satire, Damon Wayans hit outrageous 90's TV stardom playing various wise guys and streetwise slick characters on older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans' landmark, black-oriented TV sketch comedy In Living Color (1990). The show was pretty...

22. Keenen Ivory Wayans

Writer | White Chicks

The trail-blazing linchpin of a sprawling family dynasty of comic entertainers, it was multi-talented writer/director/producer Keenen Ivory Wayans (born June 8, 1958, in New York City) who led the familial pack and was the first to achieve national prominence when he successfully created, launched,...

23. Shawn Wayans

Actor | White Chicks

Shawn Mathis Wayans is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Along with his brother Marlon Wayans, he wrote and starred in The WB's sitcom The Wayans Bros.(1995-1999) and in the comedy films Don't Be a Menace (1996), Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004), Little...

24. Marlon Wayans

Actor | White Chicks

Marlon Wayans is an American actor, writer and comedian. He is known for playing Tyrone C. Love in Requiem for a Dream, Shorty Meeks from Scary Movie, Marcus Anthony Copeland II from White Chicks and Thunder from Marmaduke. He played Drake Winston/Robin in deleted scenes of Batman Returns and ...

25. Dwayne Wayans

Soundtrack | Domino

Dwayne Wayans was born on July 20, 1956 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a composer, known for Domino (2005), Little Man (2006) and Dance Flick (2009).

26. Daphne Wayans

Producer | Dying Laughing

When asked to describe herself, Daphne Wayans will tell you she's her children's mom - their happiness her calling, their well-being her mission, their pain her own, and their love her life. Her focus on family is impossible to overstate and immeasurably unyielding. She is a mother. And she ...

27. Kim Wayans

Actress | In Living Color

Kim Wayans was born on October 16, 1961 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for In Living Color (1990), My Wife and Kids (2000) and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996). She is married to Kevin Knotts.

28. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Soundtrack | Small Soldiers

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is known for Small Soldiers (1998), Pineapple Express (2008) and Lady Bird (2017).

29. Brandy Norwood

Actress | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

Brandy Norwood is an African-American singer-songwriter and actress from McComb, Mississippi. She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. She has released many R&B albums and singles since the 1990s. She is known as "The Vocal Bible". She gave birth to a daughter named ...

30. Ray J

Actor | Mars Attacks!

Ray J was born on January 17, 1981 in McComb, Mississippi, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Mars Attacks! (1996), Set It Off (1996) and Black Sash (2003). He was previously married to Princess Love Norwood.

31. Tyson Beckford

Actor | Into the Blue

Tyson Beckford was born on December 19, 1970 in The Bronx, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Into the Blue (2005), Biker Boyz (2003) and Zoolander (2001).

32. Kim Coles

Actress | Living Single

Kim Coles was born on January 11, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Living Single (1993), Frasier (1993) and The Geena Davis Show (2000). She was previously married to Reggie Mckiver and Aton Edwards.

33. Erika Alexander

Actress | Get Out

Erika Alexander is beloved for the iconic acting roles of Maxine Shaw (Living Single), Detective Latoya (Get Out), Perenna (Black Lightning), and Linda Diggs (Wutang: An American Saga). Erika wears many hats, including actress, trailblazing activist, entrepreneur, creator, producer, and director --...

34. Terrence 'T.C.' Carson

Actor | Final Destination 2

T.C. Carson was born and raised in Chicago. He was always encouraged by his family to pursue his dream of becoming a professional performer. He started by performing in many plays and musicals such as "The Wiz", "Dreamgirls" and "Ain't Misbehavin". His stage work earned him awards and credit.

35. John Henton

Actor | The Hughleys

John Henton was born on November 23, 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Hughleys (1998), Living Single (1993) and One on One (2001).

36. Mel Jackson

Actor | Abduction of Jesse Bookman

Mel Jackson was born on October 13, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Abduction of Jesse Bookman (2008), Clinic (2023) and Little Richard (2000).

37. Kim Fields

Actress | The Facts of Life

Kim Fields was born on May 12, 1969 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and director, known for The Facts of Life (1979), Living Single (1993) and What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012). She has been married to Christopher Morgan since July 23, 2007. They have two children. She ...

38. Elvira Wayans

Writer | My Wife and Kids

Elvira Wayans is known for My Wife and Kids (2000).

39. Michael Wayans

Actor | Blankman

Michael Wayans was born on March 28, 1985 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Blankman (1994), Dance Flick (2009) and My Wife and Kids (2000).

40. Cara Mia Wayans

Actress | Blankman

Cara Mia Wayans was born on April 18, 1987 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Blankman (1994), Dance Flick (2009) and My Wife and Kids (2000).

41. Kyla Wayans

Actress | My Wife and Kids

Kyla Wayans was born in 1991. She is an actress, known for My Wife and Kids (2000).

42. Diedra Wayans

Producer | A Polished Soul

Diedra Wayans is known for A Polished Soul (2022), Roxi Blews and Dr Julian Wright Show.

43. Craig Wayans

Producer | My Wife and Kids

Craig Wayans is known for My Wife and Kids (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001) and Dance Flick (2009).

44. Summer Wayans

Actress | Pea Pod

Summer Wayans is known for Pea Pod (2018), Just Eats with Chef JJ (2019) and Switched! (2003).

45. Gregg Wayans

Actor | None of the Above

Gregg Wayans was born in Los Angeles, Ca and raised in Diamond Bar, Ca by his parents Diedra Wayans and Greg Benson Sr. His mother Diedra is the eldest sister to her Brothers Keenen, Damon, Marlon, Shawn and sister Kim Wayans of the iconic entertainment "Wayans family". After early hopes of an ...