Black excellence

1. Robin Givens

Robin Simone Givens was born on November 27, 1964 in New York City, to Ruth (Newby) and Reuben Givens. Her father left his family when Robin was a young girl, and she seldom saw him after that. Robin's mother raised her and her younger sister in Westchester, Connecticut. Her mother (once linked to ...

2. Reginald Hudlin

Producer | Marshall

Reginald Hudlin was born on December 15, 1961 in Centerville, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Marshall (2017), House Party (1990) and Django Unchained (2012). He has been married to Chrisette Suter since November 30, 2002. They have two children.

3. 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 ...

4. Halle Berry

Actress | Catwoman

Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Oakwood, Ohio to Judith Ann Berry (née Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse & Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Her father was African-American and her mother is of mostly English and German descent. ...

5. 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 ...

6. 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...

7. 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...

8. Lynn Whitfield

Actress | Madea's Family Reunion

With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a ...

9. Keith David

Actor | The Princess and the Frog

Keith David is a classically trained actor, winning 3 Emmys out of 6 nominations as well as being nominated for a Tony award. He starred in the recently concluded TV series "Greenleaf" for Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. Upcoming films include "Horizon Line" with Allison Williams ("Get Out") and "...

10. Aydrea Walden

Animation_department | Trolls

Aydrea Walden was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She is a writer and actress, known for Trolls (2016), How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022).

11. Ashanti

Actress | Coach Carter

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas is an African-American R&B singer and actress from Glen Cove, New York. She acted in films and shows such as The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, Resident Evil: Extinction, Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die, Bride and Prejudice, Malcolm X and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has ...

12. Vivica A. Fox

Actress | Independence Day

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 ...

13. Eva Marcille

Actress | The Young and the Restless

Eva Marcille was born on October 30, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for The Young and the Restless (1973), I Think I Love My Wife (2007) and Smallville (2001). She was previously married to Michael Sterling.

14. Mel B

Actress | Spice World

Born on May 29, 1975 in Leeds, England, Melanie Brown became a member of Spice Girls in 1994. Their three albums sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and they had nine singles at number 1 in the UK.

"Hot" was her first solo album, released on 9th October 2000. It entered the UK charts at #28. ...

15. Ne-Yo

Actor | Battle: Los Angeles

Ne-Yo was born on October 18, 1982 in Camden, Arkansas, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Battle Los Angeles (2011), Red Tails (2012) and The Princess and the Frog (2009). He has been married to Crystal Smith since February 20, 2016. They have three children.

16. Terrence Green

Actor | Step Up: High Water

After 10 years of performing as a dancer, Terrence Green is ready to take his talents to a new platform. Many of his fans know him for his incredible dance moves and his funny skits on social media under the name RawSwagger. However, very few are aware of his humble beginnings.

Born and raised in ...

17. Dawn Wilkinson

Director | Power Book II: Ghost

Dawn Wilkinson is an award-winning director and screenwriter born in Montreal and raised in Toronto. She is an alumni of the 'Norman Jewison' Canadian Film Centre and a graduate of the University of Toronto.

Wilkinson combined comedy, fantasy and scathing social satire in her visually stylized short...

18. Debbie Allen

Producer | Fame

Deborah Kaye Allen was born in Houston, Texas, to African-American parents, Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. As a child, Debbie, her older brother, Andrew (called Tex), and her older sister, actress Phylicia Rashad, lived in Mexico to ...

19. Rob Hardy

Director | Trois

Rob Hardy, who is a recent nominee of the HBO Director to Watch Award, broke into network television with his January 2007 directorial debut of the Emmy Award winning show ER. Soon after, Black Enterprise Magazine listed him among the Top 40 Entertainers under 40 for the year 2008. Since recently ...

20. Michael Schultz

Director | Cooley High

Michael Schultz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Cooley High (1975), Car Wash (1976) and Krush Groove (1985). He has been married to Lauren Jones since December 6, 1965. They have two children.

21. Camrus Johnson

Actor | Quiz Lady

Camrus Johnson was born on December 22, 1994 in Kingsland, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Quiz Lady (2023), Batwoman (2019) and Real Love (2023).

22. Meagan Tandy

Actress | Piranha 3DD

Meagan Tandy was born on May 3, 1985 in Fremont, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Piranha 3DD (2012), Unstoppable (2010) and Teen Wolf (2011).

23. Javicia Leslie

Actress | Batwoman

Javicia Leslie was born in Augsburg, Germany. She moved to Maryland at a young age and was raised in Upper Marlboro near Washington, DC. Her first stream of work began as the lead for the television film, Killer Coach. Javicia has continued to work ties with series such as MacGyver, Chef Julian, ...

24. Nick Creegan

Actor | Law & Order: Organized Crime

Nick Creegan was born and raised in White Plains, N.Y. and he is currently a series regular as Marquis Jet on the DC Universe's Batwoman. 10/10/21

He is best known for his major recurring role on NBC's hit Law and Order spin-off, Organized Crime as Richie Wheatley; the son of Mob boss Richard ...

25. Nathan Owens

Actor | 9-1-1: Lone Star

Nathan Owens, who is from the San Francisco Bay area of California, was born on March 9, 1984. He began his career with modeling. He has appeared in several issues of GQ and in many commercial/print campaigns for the Gap, Polo, Izod and Sperry. He has the distinction of being the second ...

26. Sudz Sutherland

Director | Love, Sex and Eating the Bones

Sudz works on both sides of the fence as a freelance writer and director for TV dramas and feature films. He has directed episodes for Netflix's Ginny and Georgia, CW's Superman and Lois, and CBC's For The Record. Sudz's feature film, Home Again, won the prestigious PAFF BAFTA Festival Choice Award...

27. David Ramsey

Actor | Arrow

David Ramsey stars as former United States Army Special Forces soldier, John Diggle, on the CW's People's Choice Award winning show "Arrow," based on the DC Comics superhero.

Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg, "Arrow" follows presumed-dead billionaire playboy Oliver ...

28. Zoë Kravitz

Actress | The Batman

Zoë Kravitz has captivated audiences in diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films, notable independent releases and blockbuster franchises including The Batman, Mad Max and Fantastic Beasts, as well as the celebrated EMMY® Award-winning series Big Little Lies.

Following her role both ...

29. Byron Bowers

Actor | Honey Boy

Described by LA Weekly as "A Comic Who's got Big Ideas and Big Plans to go Big Places," Byron Bowers is a stand-up comedian and actor that was named by LA Weekly as a "Comedy Act to Watch". He was also featured as a New Face at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.

Byron recently made his...

30. Pepi Sonuga

Actress | Queens

Pepi Sonuga is one to watch on both the big and small screen. The Nigerian-American actress was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of 10 to begin pursuing a career in entertainment. At 15 years old, she won the title of Miss Jr. Teen Los Angeles in a local ...

31. 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 ...

32. Crystle Roberson Dorsey

Director | The Gilded Age

Born in Germany to U.S. military parents, Crystle's love for film sparked in high school while working at a camera shop in Macon, Georgia where she converted 16mm home movies onto video tape. A storyteller since childhood, Roberson has been an award winning writer since elementary school. Today ...

33. Benny Boom

Director | Next Day Air

Benny Boom is known for Next Day Air (2009), The Equalizer (2021) and Chicago P.D. (2014).

34. Stacey Muhammad

Director | The Best Man: The Final Chapters

New Orleans native Stacey Muhammad is a visionary filmmaker and episodic director who has captivated audiences with her compelling storytelling and distinctive style. With a passion for exploring the human experience and shedding light on important social issues, Stacey's work stands at the ...

35. Daniel Willis

Director | Chicago Fire

Daniel Willis is director and writer who draws on his experience growing up on Chicago's south side. He is a 2017 Sony Pictures Television Directing Fellow and 2017-2018 Film Independent Project Involve Directing Fellow. His short films and television projects have screened at festivals around the ...

36. Mamoudou N'Diaye

Writer | Queens

Mamoudou N'Diaye is a Mauritanian-American comedian, writer, and actor, known for his sociopolitical stand-up. He was an actor and performer on A Legitimate Television Show (2016) and performed in both Blissful Thinking (2017) and Projecting (2017). He was a correspondent for the news media ...

37. Kyra Jones

Writer | Queens

Kyra Jones is known for Queens (2021), Woke (2020) and The Right Swipe (2019).

38. Method Man

Actor | How High

Award-winning actor, producer, musician, and entrepreneur Cliff "Method Man" Smith, has been forging an extraordinary and unparalleled path across all mediums since he first entered the scene 30 years ago.

Smith currently stars as 'Attorney Davis MacLean' opposite Mary J. Blige in the worldwide hit ...

39. Raven-Symoné

Actress | That's So Raven

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman was born on December 10, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Ossining, New York to Lydia Louise Pearman (née Gaulden) & Christopher Blaize Pearman. While they lived there, Raven signed with the Ford Modeling Agency, who sent her out on an audition for a movie called...

40. Rondell Sheridan

Actor | Cory in the House

Rondell Sheridan was born on August 15, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Cory in the House (2007), That's So Raven (2003) and Another Assembly (2014).

41. Michael Carrington

Writer | Motown Magic

Michael Carrington is known for Motown Magic (2018), That's So Raven (2003) and The Simpsons (1989).

42. Carla Banks-Waddles

Producer | Bel-Air

A native Detroiter, Carla Banks Waddles has been working as a television writer in Los Angeles since 2000. She has written and produced such TV shows as For Your Love (Warner Bros.), That's So Raven (Disney), Half & Half (UPN), The Bill Engvall Show (TBS), Sonny With A Chance (Disney), Let's Stay ...

43. Leonard R. Garner Jr.

Assistant_director | The Blues Brothers

Leonard R. Garner Jr. is known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Rules of Engagement (2007) and Girlfriends (2000).

44. 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 ...

45. Kyla Pratt

Actress | One on One

Kyla Pratt was born on September 16, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for One on One (2001), Recovery Road (2016) and Love & Basketball (2000).

46. Lorraine Toussaint

Actress | Hudson Hawk

SAG Award and Critics Choice Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Lorraine Toussaint shocked audiences on the smash hit Netflix original series "Orange is the New Black" as the viciously seductive inmate Vee. Toussaint's thrilling performance has won her glowing reviews from ...

47. 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 ...

48. Tracee Ellis Ross

Producer | The Hair Tales

Tracee Joy Silberstein known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress, singer, television host, producer and director. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000-2008) and Black-Ish (2014-2022). She owns Pattern Beauty, a hair-care line for curly ...

49. Marcus Scribner

Actor | Black·ish

Marcus Scribner landed his first series regular role at the age of 13 on ABC's hit comedy "Black-ish" starring as Andre Jr opposite Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. Since its premiere in September 2014, the series has gone on to receive both critical acclaim and awards recognition year after...

50. Marsai Martin

Actress | Little

Rising star Marsai Martin, at just 18-years-old, is already on course to be a whirlwind sensation. At the age of five she landed her first national commercial and shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, she was cast as Diane Johnson on the ABC Emmy-nominated hit comedy Black-ish (2014). Alongside ...

51. Miles Brown

Actor | Black·ish

Miles Brown is a 18 year old actor, executive producer, dancer, and rapper from Oxnard, California who plays "Jack Johnson" on the hit ABC show "Black-ish". He is the youngest on the Jr.NBA council board as the official Jr. NBA/NBA correspondent. He has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, ...

52. 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 ...

53. Aisha Dee

Actress | The Bold Type

Aisha Dee was born to a biracial family in Gold Coast, Australia. Her career began in 2008 when she got the role of Desi Biggins during Season 3 of "The Saddle Club". She is best friends with her former "Saddle Club" co-stars Victoria Campbell, Lauren Dixon, Ariel Kaplan, Connor Jessup, and Marny ...

54. Tia Mowry

Actress | Sister, Sister

Tia Mowry was born on July 6, 1978 in Gelnhausen, Hesse, Germany. She is an actress and producer, known for Sister, Sister (1994), The Hot Chick (2002) and The Game (2006). She was previously married to Cory Hardrict.

55. Tamera Mowry-Housley

Actress | Sister, Sister

Tamera Darvette Mowry was born on July 6, 1978, two minutes before her twin sister, Tia Mowry, in Gelnhausen, Hesse, Germany, to Darlene Mowry and Tim Mowry, who was serving in the U.S. Army at the time of her birth and later became a custody officer/jailer with the City of Glendale Police ...

56. Alexis Fields

Actress | The Secret World of Alex Mack

Alexis Fields is an American actress who has appeared in shows and movies such as Roc (1994), Kenan and Kel (1996-2000), Sister, Sister (1994-1999), Moesha (1996-2001), Jacked (2001), Hangin with Mr. Copper (1992-1997), The Parent Hood (1995-1999), and Somebody Help me in 2007. Her acting career ...

57. Bianca Lawson

Actress | Save the Last Dance

Bianca Lawson was born on March 20, 1979 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Save the Last Dance (2001), The Feast of All Saints (2001) and Rogue (2013).

58. Tim Reid

Actor | WKRP in Cincinnati

Gaining fame on TV first, he was born Timothy Lee Reid on December 19, 1944, in Norfolk and raised in Chesapeake, Virginia. Coming from a troubled, impoverished childhood, he straightened out his life enough to attend Norfolk State College (now University) and graduate with a business ...

59. Lauren London

Actress | ATL

Lauren London first appeared in the film, ATL, opposite actor and recording artist, Tip "TI" Harris. Due to London's breakout success in ATL, she received an offer to star in the film, This Christmas, with Loretta Devine, Idris Elba and Regina King. Her next film role was in the teen romantic ...

60. 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 ...

61. Jay Ellis

Actor | Insecure

Jay Ellis is a television and film actor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Born in Sumter, South Carolina, Ellis spent the majority of his childhood traveling with his military family. His father completed over 15 years of service in the Air Force while his mother was an accomplished finance ...

62. Bumper Robinson

Actor | Enemy Mine

Larry C. Robinson II is an American actor known for voicing Damas from Jak 3, Cyborg from Justice League Doom, Dwight Conrad from Futurama, Clarence The So Fine, Bumblebee and Blitzwing from Transformers Animated, Falcon from Avengers Assemble and the Chipmunks from Brother Bear. He is married to ...

63. Arnold Pinnock

Actor | The Incredible Hulk

Arnold Pinnock was born on December 10, 1967 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for The Incredible Hulk (2008), The Porter (2022) and Exit Wounds (2001).

64. Loretta Devine

Actress | Crash

Equally at home on stage and on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television.

Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original "Dreamgirls" in Michael Bennett's classic ...

65. Alfons Adetuyi

Producer | Love Jacked

Alfons Adetuyi is an award-winning producer and director creating successful cross-cultural films and television series.

Alfons recently directed the award-winning rom-com LOVE JACKED featuring a formidable ensemble cast of Amber Stevens West (HAPPY TOGETHER), Shamier Anderson (ACROSS THE LINE), ...

66. Rhonda Baraka

Writer | Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For

Rhonda F. Baraka is a Canadian Screen Awards-winning writer and an NAACP-nominated director with more than 20 produced television movies to her credit.

Her recent works include directing A CHRISTMAS SPARK, starring Jane Seymour and her Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman co-star Joe Lando; writing and ...

67. Toni Braxton

Soundtrack | The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure

Toni Braxton was born on October 7, 1966 in Severn, Maryland, USA. She is a music artist and producer, known for The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (2012), Boomerang (1992) and Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (2016). She was previously married to Keri Lewis.

68. Lisa Berry

Actress | Supernatural

Lisa Berry is a dedicated actress with classical training and has had the honour of performing a diverse range of roles, from the immortal works of Shakespeare to the captivating narratives of Suzanne-Lori Parks. Throughout her career, Lisa has enjoyed working with esteemed repertory theatre ...

69. Jada Pinkett Smith

Actress | The Matrix Revolutions

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Robsol Grant Pinkett, Jr., a contractor, and 'Gammy' Adrienne 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 ...

70. 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 ...

71. Beyoncé

Soundtrack | Dreamgirls

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas. Her mom, Tina Knowles designs their glittering costumes & her dad, Mathew Knowles manages Destiny's Child. Solange, her sister (they're 4 years apart) has released her debut album. She dances with her big sister during DC-3 ...

72. 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...

73. 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 ...

74. Jennifer Hudson

Soundtrack | Dreamgirls

Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (née Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example ...

75. Anika Noni Rose

Actress | The Princess and the Frog

Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose recently finished filming the lead role of the pilot episode Beast Mode (TBS / Macro), which is based on life of legendary boxing trainer Ann Wolfe. Anika is also serving as Co-Executive Producer.

In 2018, Anika starred in the title role of 'Carmen Jones' in John ...

76. Sharon Leal

Actress | Dreamgirls

Sharon Leal is a military brat. She was born in Tucson, Arizona. Sharon then moved with her parents to the Philippines, till she was 6 years old. She went to prayer-school there. Then, her parents packed up to move back to the US and settled in Fresno, California. Her mother, Angelita, who is ...

77. Garcelle Beauvais

Actress | Spider-Man: Homecoming

Named one of People Magazine's highly coveted 50 Most Beautiful in 2014, Haitian-born actress Garcelle Beauvais immigrated to the United States at the age of seven with her mother and sisters, and has since charmed audiences with her dramatic and comedic abilities. A seasoned actress, Garcelle ...

78. Nia Long

Actress | The Best Man

Stunning pop culture icon, Hollywood leading lady and three-time NAACP award winner Nia Long returns to the big screen this fall in the highly anticipated Universal Pictures sequel The Best Man Holiday (in theaters November 15th) where she reunites with original castmates Taye Diggs ("Private ...

79. 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 ...

80. La La Anthony

Actress | Power

La La Anthony is an actress and producer, known for her roles in Think Like a Man (2012) and Think Like a Man Too (2014), in which she starred alongside Kevin Hart and Taraji P. Henson, Spike Lee's Chi-Raq (2015), and television shows Unforgettable on A&E with Poppy Montgomery and Starz' hit show ...

81. Kenya Barris

Writer | Black·ish

Kenya Barris was born on August 9, 1974 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Black-ish (2014), #BlackAF (2020) and You People (2023). He has been married to Rainbow Barris since December 3, 1999. They have six children.

82. Issa Rae

Producer | Insecure

Jo-Issa Rae Diop credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to develop her YouTube channel, which features various short films, web...

83. Oprah Winfrey

Producer | The Oprah Winfrey Show

Oprah Gail Winfrey , often known simply as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history and ...

84. Chloe Bailey

Actress | Praise This

Chloe Bailey was born on July 1, 1998 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Praise This (2023), Last Holiday (2006) and A Wrinkle in Time (2018).

85. 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 ...

86. Jeffrey Wright

Actor | The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun

Born and raised in Washington DC, Jeffrey Wright graduated from Amherst College in 1987. Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. Shortly after graduating he won an acting scholarship to NYU, but dropped out after only two months to ...

87. Sterling K. Brown

Actor | Black Panther

The Emmy Award-winning actor stars in NBC's Emmy and Golden Globe nominated drama series This Is Us (2016). For his role as Randall Pearson, Brown won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, as well as a Golden Globe, becoming the first African-American actor to win his category in ...

88. Cord Jefferson

Writer | American Fiction

Cord Jefferson was born on January 26, 1982 in Tucson, Arizona, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for American Fiction (2023), The Good Place (2016) and Watchmen (2019).

89. Regina Hall

Actress | Girls Trip

Regina Hall was born December 12, 1970 in Washington, D.C., to Ruby, a teacher, and Odie Hall, a contractor. She graduated from Fordham University in 1992, and went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from New York University before shifting to an acting career. In 1997 at age 26, she began ...

90. 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 ...

91. Tiffany Haddish

Actress | Girls Trip

Tiffany Sara Cornilia Haddish is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2018, and The Hollywood Reporter listed her among the 100 most powerful people in entertainment in both 2018 and 2019.

After ...

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. Mike Colter

Actor | Luke Cage

Mike was born to Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Lee Colter Sr. He attended Benedict College where he was mentored and groomed his drama professor Scott Blanks. After transferring to the University of South Carolina where he attained a B.A. degree in theater, Mike went on to study at Mason Gross School of the ...

94. Donna Biscoe

Actress | The Fundamentals of Caring

Donna Biscoe was born on September 30, 1955 in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for The Fundamentals of Caring (2016), One Missed Call (2008) and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014).

95. Malcolm D. Lee

Director | Girls Trip

Malcolm D. Lee was born on January 11, 1970 in the USA. He is a writer and director, known for Girls Trip (2017), The Best Man (1999) and The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022). He has been married to Camilla Banks since 2000. They have three children.

96. 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), ...

97. Jessie T. Usher

Actor | The Boys

Jessie was born in a leap year on 2/29/92. He leap his way through school earning academic excellence from elementary to college as a top honor student. He graduated high school as class salutatorian before moving straight to the Dean's List in college, studying culinary arts and earning the honor ...

98. Alexandra Shipp

Actress | X-Men: Apocalypse

Alexandra Shipp is known for her role as the iconic mohawked super heroine 'Storm' in Twentieth Century Fox's X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), directed by Bryan Singer. Shipp plays a younger version of 'Storm' (originally played by Halle Berry). Determined to make the mutant character her own, she ...

99. Robbie Jones

Actor | Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor

Robbie Jones was born on September 25, 1977 in California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013), Hellcats (2010) and Hurricane Season (2009).

100. Tim Story

Director | Fantastic Four

Timothy Kevin Story was born on March 13, 1970 in Los Angeles, California. Attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California with jazz pianist Eric Reed and actresses Regina King and Nia Long. Graduated from USC film school.