Actor/Poets

1. Daniel Radcliffe

Actor | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989 in Fulham, London, England, to casting agent Marcia Gresham (née Jacobson) and literary agent Alan Radcliffe. His father is from a Northern Irish Protestant background, while his mother was born in South Africa, to a Jewish family (from Lithuania, ...

2. Ruby Dee

Actress | American Gangster

Ruby Dee was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist. She is best known for originating the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun (1961).

She also starred in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Cat People (1982), ...

3. Yasiin Bey

Soundtrack | The Italian Job

Regarded as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. Taking a cue from the Afrocentric stylings of the Native Tongues crew, which included De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest and Andres ...

4. Pauley Perrette

Actress | NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Pauley Perrette is known to millions around the world as Abby Sciuto, the brilliant but offbeat forensic scientist on CBS's NCIS (2003). Her additional credits include appearances on such shows as Almost Famous (2000), The Ring (2002), 24 (2001), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), Murder One (...

5. Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Actor | The Cosby Show

Emmy-nominated actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was named after Malcolm X and legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal.

Warner first rose to national prominence by starring on the celebrated and long-running classic television series "The Cosby Show." His ...

6. Kit Harington

Actor | Game of Thrones

Kit Harington was born Christopher Catesby Harington in Acton, London, to Deborah Jane (Catesby), a former playwright, and David Richard Harington, a businessman. His mother named him after 16th-century British playwright and poet Christopher Marlowe, whose first name was shortened to Kit, a name ...

7. Amber Tamblyn

Actress | The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Amber Rose Tamblyn was born May 14, 1983 in Santa Monica, California. Amber caught an agent's eye at the age of ten after a performance in "Pippi Longstocking". She has appeared in Live Nude Girls (1995) and Johnny Mysto: Boy Wizard (1997). In addition, her most popular role has been the role of "...

8. Carlos Andrés Gómez

Actor | Inside Man

Carlos Andrés Gómez was born on December 23, 1981 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for Inside Man (2006), The L Word (2004) and The Third Month Termination (2014).

9. Lauryn Hill

Soundtrack | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Lauryn Hill, a native of South Orange, New Jersey, first came to attention with the multi-talented Fugees. Their first album, "Blunted On Reality", went virtually unnoticed by the public; their real breakthrough came with the sophomore album, "The Score", which featured "Killing Me Softly". That ...

10. Erykah Badu

Actress | The Cider House Rules

Erykah Badu was born on February 26, 1971 in Dallas, Texas, USA. She is a music artist and actress, known for The Cider House Rules (1999), Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) and What Men Want (2019).

11. Michael Madsen

Actor | Reservoir Dogs

Michael Madsen is an enigmatic force in the entertainment industry, widely regarded as one of the most intense and compelling actors of our time. With an electrifying presence both on and off the screen, Madsen has captivated audiences worldwide with his mesmerizing performances, making an ...

12. Maya Angelou

Actress | Poetic Justice

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She was an actress and writer, known for Poetic Justice (1993), Madea's Family Reunion (2006) and How to Make an American Quilt (1995). She was married to Paul Du Feu, Vusumzi Linda Make and Enistasious (Tosh) Angelos. She died on ...

13. Viggo Mortensen

Actor | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Since his screen debut as a young Amish farmer in Peter Weir's Witness (1985), Viggo Mortensen's career has been marked by a steady string of well-rounded performances.

Mortensen was born in New York City, to Grace Gamble (Atkinson) and Viggo Peter Mortensen, Sr. His father was Danish, his mother ...

14. Jill Scott

Actress | Why Did I Get Married?

Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actor are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before having the #1 album in the country with "The Light of The Sun", performing at The White House, being named People Magazine's Top TV ...

15. 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...

16. Nafeesa Monroe

Actress | Gridiron Gang

Nafeesa Monroe was born in Northern California to a father of African-American and Haitian descent and a mother of German and Irish decent. Raised primarily by her mother in the largely white neighborhood of Palo Alto, California, Nafeesa's ethnicity and self-identity were constantly challenged. ...

17. Ye

Soundtrack | The Great Gatsby

Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer. His musical career has been marked by dramatic changes in styles, incorporating an eclectic range of influences including soul, baroque pop, electro, indie rock, ...

18. Yazmin Monet Watkins

Actress | Grand Crew

Yazmin Monet Watkins is known for Grand Crew (2021), Thistles and Thorns (2019) and Obama's Other Daughters (2019).

19. Cedric The Entertainer

Actor | Barbershop

Cedric the Entertainer is an African-American comedian and actor known for being one of the Original Kings of Comedy. He is also known for his roles in the Barbershop trilogy, the Madagascar trilogy, The Steve Harvey Show, Ice Age, Planes, The Soul Man and The Neighborhood. He has had three ...

20. Hélène Cardona

Actress | Chocolat

Hélène Cardona is an international actress & writer born in Paris and raised all over Europe. A graduate of the Sorbonne and AADA (New York), she has worked extensively in film & television and is known for Chocolat (2000), The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014), Star Trek: Discovery (2017), Dawn of the ...

21. Wyclef Jean

Soundtrack | Hotel Rwanda

Wyclef Jean is a Haitian rapper, singer-songwriter, musician and actor.

He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees. Jean has won three Grammy Awards for his musical work.

On August 5, 2010, Jean filed for candidacy in the 2010 Haitian presidential election. The ...

22. Judy Prescott

Actress | Say Anything...

Judy Prescott is an American actress who has performed many roles on stage and screen. Some recent work includes: Grey's Anatomy, Cold Case, True Blood, and the films Islander and Hit and Runway. She is the author of the book, Searching For Cecy: Reflections on Alzheimer's. In addition to writing, ...

23. Common

Actor | John Wick: Chapter 2

First known as a rapper who became one of the more prominent voices in hip-hop's new millennium renaissance, Common later transitioned into acting. He was born in Chicago, and is the son of educator Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines and Lonnie Lynn, an ABA basketball player turned youth counselor.

On October 6,...

24. Maya Massar

Actress | The Cabin in the Woods

Born in Boston, MA, USA, Maya Massar is an actress, known for The Uninvited (2009), The Cabin in the Woods (2011) and Caprica (2009). Once married to writer/director/producer David Massar, the couple were amicably divorced in 2014; they remain best friends and continue to support each other's ...

25. Dante Basco

Actor | Hook

Dante Basco was born on August 29, 1975 in Pittsburg, California as Dante Roman Titus Basco. He's an American actor & producer. He's best known as the voice actor for Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) & Jake Long in American Dragon: Jake Long (2005). He's also known for his roles in ...

26. Semhar Tadesse

Actress | Ladies Like Us: The Rise of Neighborhood Watch

Semhar Tadesse is known for Ladies Like Us: The Rise of Neighborhood Watch (2015), Fitty Smallz: Hamburger Fries & Shake (2014) and DTLA the Musical Drama! (2010).

27. DMX

Soundtrack | Exit Wounds

Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 - April 9, 2021), known by his stage name DMX ("Dark Man X"), was an American rapper and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling 251,000 copies...

28. Grace Dunham

Actress | Tiny Furniture

Grace Dunham was born on January 28, 1992 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for Tiny Furniture (2010), Creative Nonfiction (2009) and My Art (2016).

29. Leonard Nimoy

Actor | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Leonard Simon Nimoy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Dora (Spinner) and Max Nimoy, who owned a barbershop. His parents were Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. Raised in a tenement and acting in community theaters since age eight, Nimoy did not make his Hollywood debut until he was 20, with a bit ...

30. Pleasant Gehman

Charlie Wilson's War

Pleasant Gehman is a true Renaissance woman whose career includes acting, dancing, writing, painting and singing. As internationally acclaimed dance star Princess Farhana she performs belly dance and retro-style classic burlesque globally. She is known for her high-concept, innovative performances,...

31. Mike Epps

Actor | Resident Evil: Apocalypse

Mike Epps was born on November 18, 1970 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Friday After Next (2002) and The Hangover (2009). He has been married to Kyra Robinson Epps since June 23, 2019. They have two children. He was previously ...

32. Mary Alexandra Stiefvater

Actress | Supergator

Mary Alexandra Stiefvater was born in Chico, California and grew up in Stockton, where she was first introduced to theater and dance at a young age. Educated at The University of California at Los Angeles, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater, she also studied French cinema and ...

33. Anthony Mondal

Actor | Sabrina

Anthony Mondal is known for Sabrina (1995), Strangers with Candy (1999) and Mr. Friendly Cone (2004).

34. Vanna Bonta

Actress | Beauty and the Beast

Vanna Bonta is an American writer and actress known for her cameo as the superhero's mother (Zed's queen) in the fantasy classic The Beastmaster (1982), and for her work on Beauty and the Beast (1991), An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991), and The Universe (2007). She grew up in Bangkok, ...

35. James Franco

Actor | Spring Breakers

Known for his breakthrough starring role on Freaks and Geeks (1999), James Franco was born April 19, 1978 in Palo Alto, California, to Betsy Franco, a writer, artist, and actress, and Douglas Eugene "Doug" Franco, who ran a Silicon Valley business. His mother is Jewish and his father was of ...

36. Jewel

Soundtrack | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Jewel was born on May 23, 1974 in Payson, Utah, USA. She is a music artist and actress, known for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Ride with the Devil (1999) and Clueless (1995). She was previously married to Ty Murray.

37. S.A. Griffin

Actor | Air

S.A. Griffin was born on March 16, 1954 in San Antonio, Texas, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Air (2009), Pale Rider (1985) and Let It Ride (1989). He has been married to Lorraine Perrotta since September 9, 2000. He was previously married to Grish Griffin and Nala Northington.

38. Ally Sheedy

Actress | WarGames

Ally Sheedy was born in New York City, to Charlotte (Baum), a press agent and writer, and John J. Sheedy, Jr., an advertising executive. She is of Russian Jewish (mother) and Irish and German (father) descent. While at New York's Bank Street School, twelve-year-old Ally Sheedy wrote about a ...

39. Pete Doherty

Soundtrack | Children of Men

Pete Doherty was born on March 12, 1979 in Hexham, Northumberland, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Children of Men (2006), Confession of a Child of the Century (2012) and 22 Bullets (2010). He has been married to Katia de Vidas since September 30, 2021. They have one child.

40. Emmanuelle Riva

Actress | Hiroshima mon amour

An only child, Emmanuelle was born Paulette Germaine Riva in Cheniménil, but eventually grew up in Remiremont. Her mother, Jeanne Fernande Nourdin, was a seamstress. Her father, René Alfred "Alfredo" Riva, was a sign writer. Her paternal grandfather was Italian. She dreamed of becoming an actress ...

41. Takeshi Kitano

Actor | Zatôichi

Takeshi Kitano originally studied to become an engineer, but was thrown out of school for rebellious behavior. He learned comedy, singing and dancing from famed comedian Senzaburô Fukami. Working as a lift boy on a nightclub with such features as comic sketches and striptease dancing, Kitano saw ...

42. Alicia Keys

Soundtrack | The Secret Life of Bees

Alicia Keys was born in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, to Terria Joseph (née Teresa M. Augello), a paralegal who was also an occasional actress, and Craig Cook, a flight attendant. Her father is African-American and her mother, who is Caucasian, is of Italian and English/Irish/Scottish ancestry. Alicia...

43. Victor Spinetti

Actor | A Hard Day's Night

Comic eccentric and gifted raconteur Victor Spinetti was born in Wales on September 2, 1929, the son of Giuseppe Spinetti and Lily (Watson) Spinetti. Educated at Monmouth School, he was initially interested in a teaching degree but turned to acting instead and studied for the stage at the College ...

44. James Avery

Actor | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Although known as the uncle/patriarch and judge "Philip Banks" on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990), James Avery was a classically trained actor and scholar. A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, he joined the US Navy after graduating high school and served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. Upon...

45. Dave Chappelle

Writer | Chappelle's Show

Dave Chappelle's career started while he was in high school at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC where he studied theatre arts. At the age of 14, he began performing stand-up comedy in nightclubs. Shortly after graduation, he moved to New York City where he quickly established ...