Black Actors
by d_osborn | created - 29 Sep 2014 | updated - 23 Dec 2015 | Public
1. Louis Cordice
Actor | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Louis Cordice is known for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011).
2. Eka Darville
Actor | Jessica Jones
Eka Darville was born on April 11, 1989 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. He is an actor, known for Jessica Jones (2015), Her Smell (2018) and The Sapphires (2012).
3. Denzel Washington
Actor | Fences
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. was born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. After graduating from high school, Denzel enrolled at ...
4. Eugene Byrd
Actor | Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid
Eugene Byrd was born on August 28, 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004), Sleepers (1996) and Dead Man (1995).
5. Chris Brown
Actor | Takers
Christopher Maurice Brown is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. According to Billboard, Brown is one of the most successful R&B singers of his generation, having often been referred to by many contemporaries as the "King of R&B". His musical style has been defined as polyhedral, ...
6. Tip 'T.I.' Harris
Actor | Ant-Man
T.I. was born Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. on September 25, 1980, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Violeta Morgan and Clifford "Buddy" Harris, Sr. He is also known as T.I.P. and "Rubberband Man". T.I. is from the streets of Westside Bankhead Zone 1 in Atlanta. His original stage name, T.I.P., it stems from ...
7. Columbus Short
Actor | The Losers
Born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 19, 1982, Columbus Keith Short, Jr., started entertaining at the age of three, by putting on shows for his folks' enjoyment. Whether impersonating relatives, dancing or just making people laugh, everyone sensed something special about the boy. Fortunately,...
8. Brandon T. Jackson
Actor | Tropic Thunder
Brandon Timothy Jackson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Beverly Yvonne (Bozeman) and Wayne Timothy Jackson. His parents are both pastors, and his maternal grandfather was a Pentecostal child preacher. He credits his sense of humor to both his father and his life straddling the ...
9. Shad Moss
Actor | The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Shad Gregory Moss was born on March 9, 1987 in Columbus, Ohio to Teresa Rena (Jones) and Alfonso Preston Moss. When Shad was five, he started his rap career using the nickname "Kid Gangsta." One year later, he took front stage during "The Chronic Tour" and impressed rapper Snoop Dogg, who later ...
10. Morris Chestnut
Actor | Kick-Ass 2
A tall, handsome, and versatile American actor, Morris Chestnut was born in Cerritos, California, to Shirley (Wynn) and Morris Chestnut, Sr. He first came to be recognized by moviegoers starring as Ricky in Boyz n the Hood (1991), a role where he played a high school running back using his football...
11. Tyrese Gibson
Actor | Baby Boy
Tyrese Darnell Gibson was born December 30, 1978 in Watts, Los Angeles, California, where he was raised. He is an R&B singer, songwriter, actor, author, television producer and model. He is well known for his actor role as Roman Pearce in the The Fast and Furious movie franchise. Other popular ...
12. Boris Kodjoe
Actor | Resident Evil: Retribution
Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe, better known as Boris Kodjoe, is a German actor known for his roles as Jason in the 2000 film Love & Basketball (2000), and the sports-courier agent Damon Carter on the Showtime drama series Soul Food (2000).
Kodjoe was born in Vienna, Austria, the ...
13. 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,...
14. 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...
15. Romeo Miller
Actor | Honey
Romeo Miller was born on August 19, 1989 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Honey (2003), Romeo! (2003) and Scooby-Doo (2002).
16. Michael Jai White
Actor | Black Dynamite
Michael Jai White is an American actor and martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. White ...
17. Rob Brown
Actor | Finding Forrester
Rob Brown was born in Harlem and raised in Brooklyn, New York. A natural who never studied acting and who had no professional acting experience, made his acting and motion picture debut in Finding Forrester (2000). Rob celebrated his 16th birthday just before the start of production. He is a ...
18. Derek Luke
Actor | Antwone Fisher
Derek Luke was born on April 24, 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor, known for Antwone Fisher (2002), Glory Road (2006) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. They have one child.
19. Mehcad Brooks
Actor | Desperate Housewives
From bringing dynamic characters to life on screen to producing and writing films, award winning actor Mehcad Brooks has become known in the entertainment industry for his raw and refined talent, charisma, and moving presence. This year, Mehcad can be seen starring as Jackson 'Jax' Briggs, a ...
20. Pooch Hall
Actor | The Game
Pooch Hall was born on February 8, 1976, in Brockton, Massachusetts. There he played football, ran track, and boxed. Pooch won the Southern New England golden gloves in 1994. He started acting at the age of 21. He started in commercials and then made his debut in the film Lift (2001), playing ...
21. Evan Ross
Actor | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
Evan Ross was born on August 26, 1988 in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) and ATL (2006). He has been married to Ashlee Simpson since August 30, 2014. They have two children.
22. Brian White
Art_department | John Carter
Brian White is known for John Carter (2012), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and Prometheus (2012).
23. Darrin Dewitt Henson
Actor | Tekken
Biography April 2019
Darrin Henson is a three-time award-nominated actor , one-time award-nominated author and MTV choreography award-winner. Henson won the coveted MTV choreography award for NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye."
Henson can be seen in such films as The Express in the role of Jim Brown, Tekken in ...
24. Hosea Chanchez
Actor | The Game
Chanchez was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and spent the majority of his childhood in Atlanta. He was raised by a loving family who recognized his talents and encouraged him to pursue his dreams. From the moment he sang along to his grandmother's records, Chanchez displayed an inherent knack for ...
25. Laz Alonso
Actor | Avatar
Chosen as one of Variety's "Top Ten Actors to Watch" and part of the new breed of leading men in Hollywood, Laz Alonso is starring in Amazon Prime's series THE BOYS. He can also be seen playing opposite Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba in their new series LA'S FINEST. He previously starred opposite...
26. Kevin Hart
Actor | Ride Along
Kevin Darnell Hart is an African-American comedian and actor who is known for his roles in the Jumanji sequels including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), Undeclared (2001), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Think Like a Man (2012), Ride Along (2014), The Secret Life of ...
27. Shemar Moore
Actor | Criminal Minds
Shemar Franklin Moore (born April 20, 1970) is an American actor and former fashion model. His notable roles are that of Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 2005, Derek Morgan on CBS's Criminal Minds from 2005 to 2016, and as the third permanent host of Soul Train from 1999 ...
28. Anthony Mackie
Actor | The Hurt Locker
Anthony Mackie is an American actor. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Martha (Gordon) and Willie Mackie, Sr., who owned a business, Mackie Roofing. Anthony has been featured in feature films, television series and Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, ...
29. 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 ...
30. Corbin Bleu
Actor | High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Cobin Bleu was born Corbin Bleu Reivers on February 21, 1989 in Brooklyn, New York City, to Martha (Callari) and David Reivers, an actor. His mother is of Italian descent and his father is Jamaican.
Corbin began appearing in television commercials at the age two, for products such as Life cereal, ...
31. Leon
Actor | Cool Runnings
2022 is shaping up to be another breakout year for Leon! Leon is starring in the action movie "A Day to Die" opposite Bruce Willis and Frank Grillo in theaters March 2022. Leon can be seen in the Show:me Drama "City on A Hill". In 2020 Leon starred in Hallmark's #1 movie of the year, "Time for Us ...
32. 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...
33. 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 ...
34. Jensen Atwood
Actor | The Wrong Housesitter
Jensen Atwood - played love interest to Oscar® Winner Halle Berry in Oprah Winfrey's Their Eyes Were Watching God, while working alongside the legendary and Academy Award® nominated Ruby Dee, as the unforgettable Johnny Taylor.
Historically Atwood, played a series regular in two groundbreaking ...
35. Omari Hardwick
Actor | Kick-Ass
Omari Latif Hardwick was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Joyce (Johnson) and Clifford Hardwick III, and grew up in Decatur, GA. His parents gave him a name to set a precedent, "Omari" meaning "most high," and "Latif" meaning "gentle." He shares, "I in no way believe that I am the highest or most high...
36. Darryl Stephens
Actor | B Positive
Darryl Stephens was born on March 7, 1974 in Pasadena, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for B Positive (2020), From Zero to I Love You (2019) and Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008).
37. Isaiah Mustafa
Actor | It Chapter Two
Isaiah Mustafa was born on February 11, 1974 in Portland, Oregon, USA. He is an actor and director, known for It Chapter Two (2019), Shadowhunters (2016) and Horrible Bosses (2011). He has been married to Lisa Mitchell since May 26, 2018.
38. Rockmond Dunbar
Actor | Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Rockmond Dunbar was born on January 11, 1973 in Berkeley, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Sons of Anarchy (2008) and The Family That Preys (2008). He has been married to Maya Dunbar since June 8, 2013. They have two children. He was previously ...
39. LL Cool J
Actor | Deep Blue Sea
L.L. Cool J was born James Todd Smith in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr.
Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. After they recovered from their ...
40. Duane Martin
Actor | Scream 2
Duane Martin is a triple threat in Hollywood and has proven himself as a true maverick with a career that expands beyond Hollywood. Not only do his good looks and impeccable comedic timing earn him respect in the acting arena, but he is an accomplished writer and producer.
Duane was last seen ...
41. Nick Cannon
Actor | Drumline
Nicholas Scott Cannon is an American television host, rapper, actor, and comedian. Cannon began in television as a teenager on "All That" before going on to host "The Nick Cannon Show", 'Wild 'n Out", 'America's Got Talent", 'Lip Sync Battle Shorties", and "The Masked Singer." He acted in the films...
42. Seth Gilliam
Actor | The Walking Dead
Seth Gilliam was born on November 5, 1968 in New York, USA. He is an actor, known for The Walking Dead (2010), The Wire (2002) and Courage Under Fire (1996). He has been married to Leah C. Gardiner since August 24, 2005. They have one child.
43. Rick Fox
Actor | Shameless
Born in Toronto, Rick Fox moved to the Bahamas when he was very young. His father is Afro-Bahamian, and his mother, who is Canadian, is of Italian and Scottish descent. Rick went to Warsaw Indiana high school as an exchange student and played basketball there. A complaint was filed about his ...
44. J.D. Williams
Actor | Pootie Tang
J.D. Williams was born on May 22, 1978 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor, known for Pootie Tang (2001), The Kill Point (2007) and Oz (1997).
45. Chad Johnson
Actor | American Reunion
Chad Johnson was born on January 9, 1978 in Miami, Florida, USA. He is an actor, known for American Reunion (2012), Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015) and The Rookie: CTU (2007). He was previously married to Evelyn Lozada.
46. Brandon Fobbs
Brandon Fobbs is known for Day Shift (2022), Unhinged (2020) and The Realest Audition Ever (2012).
47. Nate Parker
Actor | The Birth of a Nation
Nate Parker was born on November 18, 1979 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Birth of a Nation (2016), Arbitrage (2012) and Non-Stop (2014). He has been married to Sarah DiSanto since 2007. They have four children.
48. Texas Battle
Actor | Death Valley
As the song states, "The Stars at Night are big and bright ... Deep in the Heart of Texas!" That's what Texas Battle has: heart. A heart and desire for acting.
Texas stars in the feature, WRONG PLACE, opposite Bruce Willis and Ashley Greene, in the role of 'Captain East.' Other recent roles include ...
49. Antwon Tanner
Actor | Coach Carter
Antwon Tanner was born on April 14, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Coach Carter (2005), Never Die Alone (2004) and Chase (2010).
50. Tristan Mack Wilds
Actor | The Secret Life of Bees
Tristan Wilds was born in Staten Island, New York. In 2005, at the age of 15, Tristan made his television debut as AJ in the mini-series Miracle Boys. After that, he took his talents to a different venue and tried his hand in theater. He worked with Phylicia Rashad and the Roundabout Theater ...
51. Idris Elba
Actor | Beasts of No Nation
An only child, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born and raised in London, England. His father, Winston, is from Sierra Leone and worked at Ford Dagenham; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and had a clerical duty. Idris attended school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting, before he dropped...
52. Djimon Hounsou
Actor | Blood Diamond
Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He moved to Lyon, France, when he was 13. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. He has since left his modeling career and has worked on Gladiator (2000) by ...
53. Wood Harris
Actor | Remember the Titans
Harris was born Sherwin David Harris in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Mattie Harris. However, he works under his nickname, "Wood". Attended New York University Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School. Has performed in many films and various stage productions including plays by August Wilson, ...
54. Travis Winfrey
Director | Neville and Costello
Travis Winfrey was recently selected to attended The Sundance Directors Lab and is currently writing and producing Independent Films and Television projects.
He's appeared on numerous television shows in recent years, including "Pretty Little Liars", "Being Mary Jane", "Single Ladies", "Dexter," "...
55. 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 ...
56. 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...
57. Lance Gross
Actor | House of Payne
Lance Gross was born on July 8, 1981 in Oakland, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for House of Payne (2006), Sleepy Hollow (2013) and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013). He has been married to Rebecca Mamie Jefferson since May 23, 2015. They have two children.
58. 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).
59. Taye Diggs
Actor | House on Haunted Hill
Taye Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was raised in Rochester, New York. He is the son of Marcia (Berry), a teacher and actress, and Andre Young, a visual artist. When he was a child, his mother married Jeffries Diggs, whose surname Taye took. He received a BFA degree in musical theater ...
60. Michael Ealy
Actor | Barbershop
Known for his charming looks and deep personality, Michael Ealy blessed the movie screen with his role in Barbershop (2002). When he left Silver Spring, Maryland, with a degree in English, he headed off to New York. From there he performed in several stage productions, including the Off-Broadway ...
61. Cory Hardrict
Actor | American Sniper
Cory Hardrict was born on November 9, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for American Sniper (2014), Brotherly Love (2015) and November Criminals (2017). He was previously married to Tia Mowry.
62. Cuba Gooding Jr.
Actor | Jerry Maguire
Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. His father, Cuba Gooding, was the lead vocalist for the R&B group The Main Ingredient, which had a hit with the song "Everybody Plays The Fool". His ...
63. Lee Thompson Young
Actor | Friday Night Lights
Lee Thompson Young was born as the son of Velma Love and Tommy Scott Young. When he was in second grade his parents split up and he went to live with his mother. At age ten, he portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King in a play called "A Night of Stars and Dreams". That's when Lee decided he wanted to be ...
64. Tequan Richmond
Actor | Blue Caprice
Tequan (Tuh-kwon) Richmond arrived in Los Angeles from his hometown of Burlington, North Carolina nearly two decades ago and he certainly hasn't sat idle since planting his feet in Los Angeles soil.
He has appeared in a national Spalding basketball commercial with then Boston Celtic's Paul Pierce, ...
65. Blake Young-Fountain
Actor | Grown·ish
Blake grew up in both St. Louis, Missouri and Norwalk, Connecticut where both of his parents, both of whom were in the fashion industry, supported his acting career. After graduating high school with a 4.0 GPA, Blake returned back to the east coast where he attended New York University Tisch School...
66. Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
Actor | American Horror Story
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman (pronounced "beau-yer") is most recognizable for his portrayal of ambitious producer Jay in the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Lifetime series UNREAL, which will return for its third season February 26. That same day, Bowyer-Chapman will launch and host an episodic ...
67. Gary LeRoi Gray
Actor | Slappy and the Stinkers
Gary LeRoi Gray was born on February 12, 1987 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Slappy and the Stinkers (1998), Bring It on: All or Nothing (2006) and Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008).
68. Samuel L. Jackson
Actor | Pulp Fiction
Samuel L. Jackson is an American producer and highly prolific actor, having appeared in over 100 films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000), Formula 51 (2001), Black Snake Moan (2006), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999-2005), ...
69. Dwayne Johnson
Actor | Black Adam
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known as The Rock, was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California. He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). His father, from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, is black (of Black Nova ...
70. Henry Simmons
Actor | Cherish the Day
Henry Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut, one of three children to Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons, Sr., an IRS agent. One of his sisters is his twin. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire. He graduated with a business degree and ...
71. Omar Epps
Actor | House M.D.
Omar Epps is an American actor, starring on the ABC drama Resurrection (2013).
Epps was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised by his mother, Bonnie Maria Epps, an elementary school principal. No stranger to the big screen, Epps has appeared in lead roles in feature films, including Paramount's ...
72. D.B. Woodside
Actor | Lucifer
David Bryan Woodside (born July 25, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as the bass singer Melvin Franklin in The Temptations, Robin Wood in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Malcolm Franks in Single Ladies, Dr. Joseph Prestridge in Parenthood, the angel Amenadiel in ...
73. Eddie Murphy
Actor | The Nutty Professor
Edward Regan Murphy was born April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, to Lillian Lynch (born: Lillian Laney), a telephone operator, and Charles Edward Murphy, a transit police officer who was also an amateur comedian and actor. After his father died, his mother married Vernon Lynch, a foreman at a ...
74. Malik Yoba
Actor | Cool Runnings
Malik Yoba was born on September 17, 1967 in Bronx, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Cool Runnings (1993), New York Undercover (1994) and Cop Land (1997). He has been married to Cat Wilson since December 21, 2003. He was previously married to Trisha Mann.
75. Mekhi Phifer
Actor | ER
Mekhi Phifer was born in Harlem, Manhattan, and was raised by his mother, Rhoda, a high school teacher. Phifer's acting career began when he auditioned at an open casting call for director Spike Lee's Clockers (1995) and was selected for the leading role. Working alongside Harvey Keitel and Delroy ...
76. Martin Lawrence
Actor | Martin
Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an African-American comedian, producer, writer, director and actor. He is known for his roles in the Bad Boys trilogy, Martin, Def Comedy Jam, Big Momma's House, Open Season, House Party, Boomerang, Wild Hogs, What's Happening Now!!, Nothing to Lose, Life and Blue ...
77. 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 ...
78. 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 ...
79. Tyler Perry
Writer | Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Perry was born and raised in New Orleans, to Willie Maxine (Campbell) and Emmitt Perry, Sr. His mother was a church-goer and took Perry along with her once a week. His father was a carpenter and they had a very strained and abusive relationship, which led Perry to suffer from depression as a ...
80. Hill Harper
Actor | CSI: NY
Hill Harper, an accomplished film, television and stage actor, stars in the hit CBS drama series, CSI: NY (2004). He portrays "Dr. Sheldon Hawkes", a reclusive coroner who walked away from a promising surgical career after the traumatic loss of two patients. This February, he will star in the HBO ...
81. Jason George
Actor | Fallen
Jason George was born on February 9, 1972 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Fallen (1998), Sunset Beach (1997) and Breaking In (2018). He has been married to Vandana Khanna since July 10, 1999. They have three children.
82. Danny Glover
Actor | Lethal Weapon
Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 35 years.
Glover was born in San Francisco, California, to Carrie (Hunley) and James Glover, postal workers who were also active in civil rights. Glover trained at the Black ...
83. Jesse L. Martin
Actor | Rent
Jesse Martin was born Jesse Lamont Watkins in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountain range. His mother, Virginia Price, was a college career counselor. His father, Jesse Reed Watkins, was a truck driver. His parents divorced when he was very young. His mother then moved his family to Buffalo, New York. He ...
84. Don Cheadle
Actor | Crash
Donald Frank Cheadle was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 29, 1964. His childhood found him moving from city to city with his family: mother Bettye (née North), a teacher; father Donald Frank Cheadle Sr., a clinical psychologist; sister Cindy; and brother Colin. After graduating from high...
85. Coby Bell
Actor | Burn Notice
Coby Bell was born on May 11, 1975 in Orange County, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Burn Notice (2007), Third Watch (1999) and The Gifted (2017). He has been married to Aviss Pinkney-Bell since June 9, 2001. They have four children.
86. Keith Hamilton Cobb
Actor | Andromeda
Keith Hamilton Cobb Graduated Sleepy Hollow High School and Westchester Community College. As well as New York University Tisch School of the Arts. He attended Circle in the Square Theatre School and Playwrights Horizons Theater School. His hobbies are writing, photography & renovating home. He ...
87. Colin Salmon
Actor | Resident Evil
Colin Salmon is one of Britain's most renowned actors. With a bold voice and posture, Colin makes his characters a favorite among audiences for every role he plays. He made his feature debut as Sgt. Robert Oswald in the British mega-hit mini-series Prime Suspect 2 (1992), which gave him much ...
88. Terrence Howard
Actor | Crash
Terrence Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anita Jeanine Williams (née Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. His love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his great-grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. He later began his acting career ...
89. Gbenga Akinnagbe
Actor | The Taking of Pelham 123
Olugbenga Enitan Temitope Akinnagbe is an American actor and writer, best known for his roles as Chris Partlow on the HBO series The Wire and as Larry Brown on the HBO series The Deuce. Akinnagbe was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Yoruba Nigerian parents, and was raised in Silver Spring, ...
90. Richard T. Jones
Actor | Event Horizon
Richard Timothy Jones is a American actor. He has worked extensively in both film and television productions since the early 1990s. His television roles include Ally McBeal (1997), Judging Amy (1998-2005), CSI: Miami (2006), Girlfriends (2007), Grey's Anatomy (2010), Hawaii Five-0 (2011-2014), ...
91. Glynn Turman
Actor | Super 8
New York City-bred actor Glynn Russell Turman, born on January 31, 1947, who enjoyed his first taste of success as a young teenager, originating the role of "Travis Younger" on Broadway in Lorraine Hansberry's landmark play "A Raisin in the Sun" in 1959 opposite Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia ...
92. Larenz Tate
Actor | Crash
Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. His brothers are actors Larron Tate and Lahmard J. Tate. In 1984, Larenz and his family moved to California. It was while living in California that Larenz's parents got him and his brothers ...
93. Kristoff St. John
Actor | The Young and the Restless
Kristoff made his television debut at age 8 in the sit-com series "That's My Mama." Now, 39 years later, he is one of the stars on CBS's "Young and The Restless," the number one rated drama for the past 25 years on daytime television, playing the popular character of Neil Winters. Is it just a ...
94. Chris Rock
Actor | Top Five
Christopher Julius Rock was born in Andrews, South Carolina and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of Rosalie (Tingman), a teacher and social worker for the mentally handicapped, and Julius Rock, a truck driver and newspaper deliveryman, whose own father was a preacher.
...
95. Allen Payne
Actor | New Jack City
Allen Payne was born on July 7, 1968 in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for New Jack City (1991), The Perfect Storm (2000) and Vampire in Brooklyn (1995).
96. Laurence Fishburne
Actor | The Matrix
Critically hailed for his forceful, militant, authoritative figures and one of Hollywood's most talented and versatile performers, Laurence (John) Fishburne III has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a number of NAACP Image honors.
Born in Augusta, Georgia on July 30, 1961, to Hattie ...
97. Anthony Anderson
Actor | The Departed
Anthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian and game show host who is known for playing Louis Booker from Kangaroo Jack, Glen Whitmann from Transformers, Ray Ray from The Proud Family and Antwon Mitchell from The Shield. He also acted in Blackish, Hoodwinked, The Departed, Agent Cody Banks 2 ...
98. Tyler James Williams
Actor | Dear White People
Tyler James Williams is an American actor, most recognizable for having played the title character of the Chris Rock-inspired sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (2005) and songwriter Cyrus DeBarge in the Disney Channel movie Let It Shine (2012). He became known for playing the lead role in the show ...
99. Trevor Jackson
Actor | Superfly
Trevor Jackson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. He is an actor and director, known for SuperFly (2018), Grown-ish (2018) and Burning Sands (2017).
100. Flex Alexander
Actor | Snakes on a Plane
Flex Alexander was born on April 15, 1970 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Snakes on a Plane (2006), One on One (2001) and The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007). He has been married to Shanice since February 14, 2000. They have two children.
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