List of African-American actors

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Part of a series on

African Americans

History

|  Periods

* Timeline
* Atlantic slave trade
* Abolitionism in the United States
* Slavery in the colonial history of the US
* Revolutionary War
* Antebellum period
* Slavery and military history during the Civil War
* Reconstruction era
* Politicians
* Juneteenth
* Civil rights movement (1865–1896)
* Jim Crow era (1896–1954)
* Civil rights movement (1954–1968)
* Black power movement
* Post–civil rights era

Aspects

* Agriculture history
* Black Belt in the American South
* Business history
* Military history
* Treatment of the enslaved

Migrations

* Great Migration
* Second Great Migration
* New Great Migration

Culture

|  Lifeways

* Dance
* Family structure
* Film
* Folktales
* Music
* Musical theater
* Names
* Neighborhoods
* Newspapers
* Soul food

Schools

* Education during the slave period in the US
* Education of freed people during the Civil War
* History of African-American education, after the Civil War
* Historically black colleges and universities
* Fraternities

Academic study

* Studies
* Art
* Literature

Celebrations

* Martin Luther King Jr. Day
* Black History Month
* Juneteenth
* Kwanzaa

Economic class

* African-American businesses
* Middle class
* Upper class
* Billionaires

Symbols and ideas

* African-American beauty
* Black is beautiful
* Black pride
* African-American hair
* Good hair
* Stepping
* "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
* Self-determination

Religion

|  Institutions

* Black church

Theologies

* Black theology
* Womanist theology

Non-Christian groups

* Hoodoo
* Black Hebrew Israelites
* African-American Jews
* African-American Muslims
* Nation of Islam
* Louisiana Voodoo
* African Diaspora Religions

Politics

|  Organizations

* Congressional Black Caucus
* Joint Center
* National Black Caucus of State Legislators
* National Conference of Black Mayors

Ideologies

* Afrocentrism
* Anarchism
* Back-to-Africa movement
* Black power
* Capitalism
* Conservatism
* Garveyism
* Leftism
* Liberalism
* Nationalism
* Pan-Africanism
* Patriotism
* Populism
* Radicalism
* Socialism

Civic/economic groups

|  Organizations

* Association for the Study of African
American Life and History
* Black conductors
* NAACP
* National Black Chamber of Commerce
* National Council of Negro Women
* National Pan-Hellenic Council
* National Urban League
* TransAfrica
* UNCF

Sports

* Negro league baseball

Athletic associations and conferences

* Central (CIAA)
* HBCU (HBCUAC)
* Mid-Eastern (MEAC)
* Southern (SIAC)
* Southwestern (SWAC)

Sub-communities

|  Multiethnic

* African-American Jews
* Afro-Puerto Ricans
* Alabama Creole people
* Black Indians
* Black Seminoles
* Mascogos
* Blaxicans
* Brass Ankles
* Creoles of color
* Dominickers
* Freedmen
* Great Dismal Swamp maroons
* Louisiana Creoles
* Melungeon
* Carmel
* Redbone

Specific ancestries

* Americo-Liberians
* Creek Freedmen
* Gullah
* Merikins
* Nova Scotians
* Samaná Americans
* Sierra Leone Creole

Sexual orientation

* LGBT community

Dialects and languages

|  English dialects

* African-American English
* African-American Vernacular English
* Liberian English
* Samaná English
* Tutnese

Languages and other dialects

* Gullah
* Afro-Seminole Creole
* Negro Dutch
* Black American Sign Language

Population

|  US states

* Alabama
* Arkansas
* California
* Florida
* Georgia
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Louisiana
* Maryland
* Mississippi
* Nebraska
* New York
* North Carolina
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Virginia

US cities

* Black mecca
* List of neighborhoods
* Atlanta
* Baltimore
* Boston
* Chicago
* Dallas-Fort Worth
* Davenport
* Detroit
* Houston
* Jacksonville
* Kentucky
* Lexington
* Los Angeles
* New York City
* Omaha
* Philadelphia
* San Antonio
* San Francisco

Historic places

* District of Columbia
* Florida
* Georgia
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Omaha, Nebraska
* North Carolina
* South Carolina
* Texas
* West Virginia

Population count

* US states and territories
* US metropolitan areas
* US cities
* US communities
* Places by plurality of population

Diaspora

* Africa
* Canada
* France
* Ghana
* Israel
* Liberia
* Nova Scotia
* Sierra Leone

Prejudice

|  Racism

* Black genocide
* Race and ethnicity in the US census
* Racism against Black Americans
* Reparations for slavery
* School segregation in the US
* Unarmed African Americans killed by police officers

Stereotypes and media depictions

* Blackface
* Criminal stereotypes
* Hollywood
* Magical Negro
* Minstrel show

* United States portal
* Category
* Index

* v
* t
* e

This is a list of African-American actors by alphabetical order.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article and/or references showing the person is African American and a notable actor. The list is organized chronologically, grouping actors by the surnames.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

## Born in the 2010s

[edit]

* Blue Ivy Carter, voice actress and singer
* Ravi Cabot-Conyers, actor
* Melody Hurd, actress, dancer, and model
* Jaidyn Triplett, actress and singer
* North West (musician) , voice actress, rapper and singer

## Born in the 2000s

[edit]

* Halle Bailey, actress and singer
* Bailey Bass, actress (African-American father)
* Iman Benson, actress
* Asante Blackk , actor
* Marissa Bode, actress
* Miles Brown, actor
* Seth Carr, actor
* Lonnie Chavis, actor
* Chloe Coleman, actress (African-American father)
* Kyliegh Curran, actress
* Jonathan Daviss, actor
* Priah Ferguson, actress
* Demetrius Flenory Jr., actor
* Benjamin Flores Jr., actor and rapper
* Jalyn Hall, actor
* Caleel Harris, actor
* Alex R. Hibbert, actor
* Arica Himmel, actress
* Skai Jackson, actress
* Chosen Jacobs, actor and singer
* Chandler Kinney, actress
* Leah Sava Jeffries, actress
* Calah Lane, actress
* Adrian Lyles, actor and musician
* Marsai Martin, actress
* JD McCrary, actor and singer
* Caleb McLaughlin, actor
* Jaden Michael, actor
* Maleah Joi Moon, actress
* Michael Rainey Jr., actor
* Dara Reneé, actress
* Storm Reid, actress
* Ruth Righi, actress
* Marcus Scribner, actor
* Sayeed Shahidi, actor
* Yara Shahidi, actress and Harvard graduate (African-American mother)
* Savannah Lee Smith, actress
* Willow Smith, actress
* Trinitee Stokes, actress
* Daniella Taylor, actress
* Myles Truitt, actor
* Lexi Underwood, actress
* Quvenzhané Wallis, actress
* Keith L. Williams, actor
* Jahi Di'Allo Winston, actor
* Shahadi Wright Joseph, actress
* Sofia Wylie, actress
* Dallas Dupree Young, actor

## Born in the 1990s

[edit]

* Jordan Alexander, actress
* Ajiona Alexus, actress
* Chloe Bailey, actress and singer
* Madison Bailey, actress
* Jabari Banks, actor
* Jaylen Barron, actress (African-American father)
* Zazie Beetz, actress
* Rhyon Nicole Brown, actress
* Jasmin Savoy Brown, actress
* Jordan Calloway, actor
* Sierra Capri, actress
* Chance The Rapper, rapper
* Kiersey Clemons, actress
* Zendaya Coleman, actress (African-American father)
* Dexter Darden, actor
* Aisha Dee, actress (African-American father)
* Dee Dee Davis, actress
* Ariana DeBose, actress
* Teala Dunn, actress
* Reign Edwards, actress
* Roshon Fegan, actor
* Jordan Fisher, actor
* Rome Flynn, actor
* Tati Gabrielle, actress
* Antonia Gentry, actress
* Raven Goodwin, actress
* Carlacia Grant, actress
* Brett Gray, actor
* Bryshere Gray, actor
* Imani Hakim, actress
* Kelvin Harrison Jr., actor
* Helena Howard, actress (African-American father)
* Paige Hurd, actress (African-American father)
* O'Shea Jackson Jr., actor and rapper
* Paris Jackson, actress (African-American father)
* Trevor Jackson, actor
* Carlon Jeffery, actor and rapper
* Sarah Jeffery, actress
* Nadji Jeter, actor
* Coco Jones actress and singer
* Malcolm David Kelley, actor
* Jak Knight, actor, writer, and comedian
* Jacob Latimore, actor
* Kiana Ledé, actress and singer (African-American father)
* Denny Love, actor
* Christopher Massey, actor
* Kyle Massey, actor
* Miranda Rae Mayo, actress
* China Anne Mcclain, actress and singer
* Shane Paul McGhie, actor
* Parker McKenna Posey, actress
* Aeriel Miranda, actress
* Laci Mosley actress and comedian
* Kiara Muhammad, actress
* Normani, singer
* Brittany O'Grady, actress (African-American mother)
* Keke Palmer, actress
* Serayah (actress) , actress
* Sydney Park, actress (African-American mother)
* Madison Pettis, actress (African-American father)
* Solea Pfeiffer, actress (African-American mother)
* Taylor Polidore, actress
* Nathaniel Potvin, actor
* Keith Powers, actor
* Trevante Rhodes, actor
* Tequan Richmond, actor
* Lee Rodriguez, actress and singer
* Kara Royster, actress
* Kylee Russell, actress
* Alyah Chanelle Scott, actress
* Doc Shaw, actor
* Alexandra Shipp, actress (African-American father)
* Diggy Simmons, actor
* Jaz Sinclair, actress
* Paulina Singer, actress (African-American father)
* Algee Smith, actor
* Jaden Smith, actor and singer
* Lakeith Stanfield, actor
* Amandla Stenberg, actress (African-American mother)
* Coy Stewart, actor
* Joy Sunday, actress
* Chelsea Tavares, actress
* Leon Thomas III, actor
* Tyler The Creator, actor
* Tyler James Williams, actor
* Tyrel Jackson Williams, actor

## Born in the 1980s

[edit]

Michael B. Jordan Naya Rivera

* Quinton Aaron, actor
* Lloyd Banks, actor
* Malcolm Barrett, actor
* Fantasia Barrino, actress and singer
* Jurnee Smollett-Bell, actress
* Beyoncé, actress and singer
* B.G., rapper
* Ser'Darius Blain, film and television actor
* Tiffany Boone, actress
* Steelo Brim, actor and comedian
* Danielle Brooks, actress
* Mehcad Brooks, actor
* Neil Brown Jr., actor
* Rob Brown, actor
* Logan Browning, actress
* Quinta Brunson, actress, producer, writer and comedian
* Hannibal Buress, actor and comedian
* Trai Byers, actor
* Nick Cannon, actor
* Chingy, rapper
* Tanya Chisholm, actress and dancer
* Monique Coleman, actress
* Yaya DaCosta, actress
* Charles Michael Davis, actor
* Daveed Diggs, actor
* Drake, actor
* Edwina Findley, actress
* Jennifer Freeman, actress
* Darrell Britt-Gibson, actor
* Donald Glover, actor
* Reagan Gomez-Preston, actress writer, and producer (African-American father)
* Meagan Good, actress
* Elena Goode, actress
* Kat Graham, actress and singer
* Shalita Grant, actress
* Sonequa Martin-Green, actress
* Lance Gross, actor (African-American mother)
* Demetrius Grosse, actor
* Ilfenesh Hadera, actress
* William Jackson Harper, actor and comedian
* Corey Hawkins, actor
* Brian Tyree Henry, actor
* Jillian Hervey, singer and dancer
* Marques Houston, actor
* Jennifer Hudson, actress
* Amber Iman, actress
* Brandon T. Jackson, actor
* Bryton James, actor
* Terrence Jenkins, actor
* Michael B. Jordan, actor
* Wiz Khalifa, actor
* Christel Khalil, actress (African-American mother)
* Aja Naomi King, actress
* Zoe Kravitz, actress and filmmaker
* Lil Scrappy, rapper
* Lauren London, actress (African-American mother)
* Jonathan Majors, actor
* Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor
* Kelly McCreary, actress
* Jason Mitchell, actor
* Monica, actress
* Victoria Monét, R&B singer (African-American mother)
* Lamorne Morris, actor
* Aaron Moten, actor
* George McMichael Moyer, actor
* Ashleigh Murray, actress
* Naturi Naughton, actress
* Angel Parker, actress
* Teyonah Parris, actress
* Candice Patton, actress
* Jay Pharoah, actor
* Kyla Pratt, actress
* Issa Rae, actress (African-American mother)
* Emmy Raver-Lampman, actress
* Rihanna, singer
* Sam Richardson, actor and comedian
* Amber Riley, actress and singer
* Naya Rivera, actress, singer and model (d. 2020)
* Evan Ross, actor and musician (African-American mother)
* Kelly Rowland actress and singer
* Amanda Seales, actress (African-American father)
* Gabourey Sidibe, actress
* Brian Michael Smith, actor
* Jussie Smollett, actor
* Jordin Sparks, actress
* Tika Sumpter, actress
* Raven-Symoné, actress, singer and director
* Jessica Szohr, actress
* Tessa Thompson, actress
* Norman Towns, actor, comedian, and producer
* T.I., actor
* Tru Valentino, actor
* Amanda Warren, actress
* John David Washington, actor
* Damon Wayans Jr., actor and comedian
* Lil Wayne, actor
* Erinn Westbrook, actress
* Samira Wiley, actress
* Jessica Williams, actress
* Nafessa Williams, actress
* Lee Thompson Young, actor
* Young Buck, rapper

## Born in the 1970s

[edit]

Chadwick Boseman Sterling K. Brown Yvette Nicole Brown Dave Chappelle Kevin Hart Regina King Sanaa Lathan Khary Payton Jordan Peele Craig Robinson Jada Pinkett Smith Chris Tucker Jaleel White

* Aaliyah, singer, actress (d. 2001)
* Flex Alexander, actor
* Mahershala Ali, actor
* Anthony Anderson, actor
* Essence Atkins, actress
* Sharif Atkins, actor
* Rochelle Aytes, actress
* Tyra Banks, actress, model
* Lamont Bentley, actor (d. 2005)
* Big Gipp, rapper
* Stephen Bishop, actor
* De'Aundre Bonds, actor
* Bone Crusher, Hip Hop rapper
* Chadwick Boseman, actor (d. 2020)
* Wayne Brady, actor, comedian
* Golden Brooks, actress
* Cocoa Brown, actress
* Sterling K. Brown, actor
* Yvette Nicole Brown, actress
* Joy Bryant, actress
* Busta Rhymes, actor
* Wyatt Cenac, (African-American Father)
* Dave Chappelle, actor and comedian
* Chi-Ali, rapper
* Deon Cole, actor
* Mike Colter, actor
* Common, actor
* Laverne Cox, transgender actress
* D-Nice, actor
* Merle Dandridge, actress (African-American father)
* Taye Diggs, actor
* DMX, actor, rapper (d. 2021)
* Snoop Dogg, actor
* Omar Dorsey, actor
* Ava DuVernay, film director
* Michael Ealy, actor
* Nelsan Ellis, actor (d. 2017)
* Mike Epps, comedian and actor
* Omar Epps, actor
* Fat Joe, actor
* Keith Ferguson, voice actor
* Jaimee Foxworth, actress
* Ghostface Killah, rapper
* Tyrese Gibson, actor
* Lawrence Gilliard Jr., actor
* Omar Gooding, actor
* Tiffany Haddish, actress[1]
* Pooch Hall, actor
* Regina Hall, actress
* Cory Hardrict, actor
* Omari Hardwick, actor
* Kevin Hart, actor
* Darrin Henson, actor
* Taraji P. Henson, actress
* Taral Hicks, actress, singer
* Dulé Hill, actor and tap dancer
* André Holland, actor
* Russell Hornsby, actor
* Inspectah Deck, rapper
* Janelle James, comedian, actress, and writer
* Ja Rule, rapper
* Barry Jenkins, director, producer, screenwriter
* Dwayne Johnson, actor
* April Parker Jones, actress
* Rashida Jones, actress
* Tamala Jones, actress
* Rhoda Jordan, actress
* Germany Kent, print and broadcast journalist, television personality, former beauty queen, actress, businesswoman, producer, philanthropist, and author
* Keegan-Michael Key, actor, comedian
* Khujo, rapper
* Killer Mike, rapper
* Regina King, actress
* Boris Kodjoe, actor
* Sanaa Lathan, actress
* Bianca Lawson, actress
* Sharon Leal, actress ( biological father was African-American )
* John Legend, singer, actor, producer
* Lil Jon, rapper
* Loni Love, comedienne
* Ludacris, actor/rapper
* Anthony Mackie, actor
* Vincent Mason, disc jockey and actor
* Darius McCrary, actor and singer
* Method Man, actor
* Windell Middlebrooks, actor (d. 2015)
* Omar Benson Miller, actor
* Wentworth Miller, actor
* Kel Mitchell, actor, comedian
* Shemar Moore, actor
* Ali Shaheed Muhammad, actor/musician
* Niecy Nash, actress
* Tariq Nasheed, film producer
* Nelly, rapper
* Brandy Norwood, actress
* Shaquille O'Neal, actor
* Nicole Ari Parker, actress
* Paula Patton (African-American father), actress[2]
* Khary Payton, actor
* Pete Rock, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
* Jordan Peele, actor, comedian
* Mekhi Phifer, actor
* Q-Tip, actor and Hip Hop producer
* Questlove, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
* Queen Latifah, rapper, actress
* Raekwon, rapper
* Corey Reynolds, actor
* Lauren Ridloff, actress
* Leonard Roberts, actor
* Bumper Robinson, actor
* Craig Robinson, actor, comedian
* Anika Noni Rose, actress
* Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, model, comedian[3]
* Zoe Saldana, actress
* Sherri Saum, actress (African-American father)
* Tupac Shakur, actor, rapper (d. 1996)
* Shanice, singer
* Beanie Sigel, rapper
* IronE Singleton, actor
* Sisqo, rapper singer
* Jada Pinkett Smith, actress, singer-songwriter[4]
* Octavia Spencer, actress
* Larenz Tate, actor
* The Game, rapper
* Charlize Theron, actress
* Kenan Thompson, actor, comedian
* T-Mo, rapper
* Tony Yayo, actor
* Treach, rapper
* Chris Tucker, actor, comedian
* Usher, actor, singer
* Vin Rock, rapper
* Vincent M. Ward, actor
* Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor (d. 2025)
* Kerry Washington, actress
* Marlon Wayans, actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer
* Shawn Wayans, actor, comedian, writer, producer
* Rutina Wesley, actress
* Jaleel White, actor, comedian
* Charles Malik Whitfield, actor
* Kellie Shanygne Williams, actress
* Cedric Yarbrough, comedian
* Yo-Yo, rapper
* Bokeem Woodbine, actor

## Born in the 1960s

[edit]

Halle Berry Don Cheadle Ice Cube Viola Davis Cedric the Entertainer Laurence Fishburne Jamie Foxx Cuba Gooding Jr. Martin Lawrence Tracy Morgan Eddie Murphy Lance Reddick Chris Rock Will Smith Wesley Snipes Forest Whitaker Michael K. Williams Jeffrey Wright

* Tichina Arnold, actress
* Michael Beach, actor
* Jennifer Beals (African-American father), actress
* Darryl M. Bell, actor
* Halle Berry, actress
* Richard Biggs, actor (d. 2004)
* Big Daddy Kane, rapper
* Birdman, rapper
* Sean Blakemore, actor
* Michael Boatman, actor and sitcom comedian
* Lisa Bonet (African-American father), actress
* Andre Braugher, actor (d. 2023)
* Toni Braxton, singer
* Todd Bridges, actor
* Richard Brooks, actor
* Frances Callier, actress
* Mariah Carey, (African-American father) actress
* Rocky Carroll, actor
* Cedric the Entertainer, actor and comedian
* Don Cheadle, actor
* Morris Chestnut, actor
* CL Smooth, rapper
* Chad L. Coleman, actor
* Gary Coleman, actor, comedian (d. 2010)
* Kim Coles, actress
* Sean Combs, actor
* Lavell Crawford, actor and comedian
* Rusty Cundieff, actor
* Mark Curry, actor
* Danny Boy, rapper
* Stacey Dash (African-American father), actress
* Tommy Davidson, actor
* Cassi Davis, actress
* LaVan Davis, actor
* Viola Davis, actress
* Deezer D, actor, rapper (d. 2021)
* DJ Kay Gee, rapper
* DJ Yella, disc jockey and rapper
* Natalie Desselle-Reid, actress (d. 2020)
* Nate Dogg, actor (d. 2011)
* Colman Domingo (African-American mother), actor
* Doug E. Fresh (Brazilian-African-American sister), beatboxer and rapper
* Gary Dourdan, actor
* Dr. Dre, actor
* Dres, rapper
* E-40, actor
* Eric B., actor
* Sonya Eddy, actress (d. 2022)
* Kim Fields, actress
* Laurence Fishburne, actor
* Freddie Foxxx, actor
* Thomas Mikal Ford, actor, comedian (d. 2016)
* Vivica A. Fox, actress
* Jamie Foxx, actor
* Johnny Gill, singer
* Seth Gilliam, actor
* Robin Givens, actress
* Cuba Gooding Jr., actor
* Grand Puba, rapper
* Eddie Griffin, actor
* Jasmine Guy, actress
* GZA, rapper
* Kadeem Hardison, actor, director
* Hill Harper, actor
* D'atra Hicks, actress, singer
* Whitney Houston, actress (d. 2012)
* Terrance Howard, actor
* D.L. Hughley, comedian, actor
* Ice Cube, actor
* Janet Jackson, actress and singer
* Jay-Z, rapper
* Kristoff St. John, actor (d. 2019)
* A.J. Johnson (d. 2021)
* Anne-Marie Johnson, actress
* David Jude Jolicoeur, actor (d. 2023)
* Orlando Jones, actor
* Roy Jones Jr., actor
* R. Kelly, former singer and actor
* Kidd Creole, rapper
* Kool G Rap, rapper
* Lenny Kravitz, actor
* KRS-One, actor
* Phil LaMarr, actor, comedian
* Martin Lawrence, actor, comedian
* Scott Lawrence, actor
* Harry Lennix (African-American mother), actor
* Dawnn Lewis (with Caribbean blood), actress
* Kecia Lewis, singer and actress
* Phill Lewis, actor, comedian
* Tina Lifford, actress
* LL Cool J, actor
* Lord Jamar, actor
* Ed Lover, rapper and actor
* David Mann, actor
* Tamela Mann, actress
* Mannie Fresh, Hip Hop producer
* Jesse L. Martin, actor
* Tisha Campbell-Martin, actress
* Masta Killa, rapper
* Chi McBride, actor
* Darryl McDaniels, actor
* Brian McKnight, singer
* Tim Meadows, actor
* Melle Mel, actor and rapper
* Kelvin Mercer, rapper and actor
* Daryl Mitchell, actor
* Tracy Morgan, actor
* Phil Moore, actor and TV host
* Eddie Murphy, actor and comedian
* Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian (d. 2011)
* John Paris, singer
* Carl Anthony Payne II, actor
* Allen Payne, actor
* Holly Robinson Peete, actress
* Tyler Perry, actor, comedian, filmmaker[5]
* Wendell Pierce, actor
* Glenn Plummer, actor
* Gina Ravera (part African-American descent) actress
* Gene Anthony Ray, actor (d. 2003)
* Lance Reddick, actor (d. 2023)
* Rakim, rapper
* Kevin Michael Richardson, actor
* Leon Robinson, actor
* Chris Rock, actor and comedian
* Andre Royo, actor
* RuPaul, actor
* RZA, actor
* Sadat X, rapper
* Sherri Shepherd, actress and comedian
* Joseph Simmons, actor
* John Singleton, director, producer, screenwriter (d. 2019)
* Isaac C. Singleton Jr., actor
* Slick Rick, rapper, actor and beatboxer
* Will Smith, actor and rapper
* J. B. Smoove, actor and comedian
* Wesley Snipes, actor
* Sonja Sohn (African-American father), actress and director
* Danielle Spencer, actress
* Wanda Sykes, actress and comedian
* Michelle Thomas, actress, comedian
* Tone-Loc, rapper, actor
* Blair Underwood, actor
* Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian
* Courtney B. Vance, actor
* Isaiah Washington, actor
* Damon Wayans, comedian, actor, writer and producer
* Forest Whitaker, actor
* Eugene Wilde, singer
* Gary Anthony Williams, actor
* Michael K. Williams, actor (d. 2021)
* Chris Williams, actor
* Vanessa Williams, actress
* Larry Wilmore, actor and comedian
* Debra Wilson, actress and comedian
* Reno Wilson, actor and comedian
* Yvette Wilson, actress and comedian (d. 2012)
* Jeffrey Wright, actor
* Malik Yoba, actor

## Born in the 1950s

[edit]

Angela Bassett Michael Clarke Duncan Whoopi Goldberg Steve Harvey Spike Lee Bernie Mac Denzel Washington Oprah Winfrey

* Khandi Alexander, actress
* Debbie Allen, actress
* Patti Austin, singer
* BabyFace, singer
* Philip Bailey, singer
* Anita Baker, singer
* Leslie David Baker, actor
* Angela Bassett, actress
* Fred Berry, actor (d. 2003)
* Billy Blanks, actor
* Sharon Bryant, R&B singer
* Peabo Bryson, singer
* LeVar Burton, actor
* L. Scott Caldwell, actress
* Vanessa Bell Calloway, actress
* Reg E. Cathey, actor (d. 2018)
* Judy Cheeks, singer
* Natalie Cole, actress (d. 2015)
* Tony Cox, actor
* Keith David, actor, comedian
* Michael Dorn, actor
* Suzzanne Douglas, actress (d. 2021)
* Denise Dowse, actress and director (d. 2022)
* Michael Clarke Duncan, actor (d. 2012)
* Charles S. Dutton, actor
* Giancarlo Esposito (Italian and African American heritage), actor
* Dave Fennoy, actor
* Clarence Gilyard, actor (d. 2022)
* Whoopi Goldberg, actress
* Robert Gossett, actor
* Grandmaster Flash, rapper and disc jockey
* David Alan Grier, actor
* Arsenio Hall, actor
* Vondie Curtis-Hall, actor
* Kevin Peter Hall, actor (d. 1991)
* Dorian Harewood, actor
* Jackee Harry (African-American father), actress
* Steve Harvey, comedian, actor
* Dennis Haysbert, actor
* Ruben Santiago-Hudson, actor, playwright, and director
* Jermaine Jackson, actor
* La Toya Jackson, actress
* Michael Jackson, King of pop and actor (d. 2009)
* Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, actor
* Larry "Flash" Jenkins, actor, director, producer, screenwriter (d. 2019)
* Ralph Johnson, singer
* Ron Cephas Jones, actor (d. 2023)
* Chaka Khan, singer
* Spike Lee, film director, producer, writer, actor
* Jenifer Lewis, actress
* Tommy Lister Jr., actor (d. 2020)
* Bernie Mac, actor, comedian (d. 2008)
* Debbi Morgan, actress
* Mr. T, actor
* Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian (d. 2017)
* Bill Nunn, actor (d. 2016)
* Jo Marie Payton, actress
* Paul Pena, singer-songwriter, guitarist (d. 2005)
* CCH Pounder (with Caribbean blood), actress
* Clifton Powell, actor
* Prince, actor (d. 2016)
* Dianne Reeves, singer
* Ving Rhames, actor
* Howard Rollins, actor (d. 1996)
* Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress
* Sinbad, actor and comedian
* Bern Nadette Stanis, actress
* Ron Taylor, actor (d. 2002)
* Tony Todd, actor (d. 2024)
* Reginald VelJohnson, actor
* Denzel Washington, actor, director and producer; winner of three Golden Globe Awards
* Verdine White, singer, bassist
* Lynn Whitfield, actress
* Deniece Williams, singer
* Mykelti Williamson, actor
* Oprah Winfrey, actress, media executive[6]
* Stevie Wonder, singer
* Alfre Woodard, actress

## Born in the 1940s

[edit]

Danny Glover Ernie Hudson Samuel L. Jackson Paul Mooney Richard Pryor Richard Roundtree Carl Weathers

* James Avery, actor (d. 2013)
* Margaret Avery, actress
* Taurean Blacque, actor (d. 2022)
* John Beasley, actor (d. 2023)
* George Benson, singer
* Avery Brooks, actor
* Roger Aaron Brown, actor
* Ron Canada, actor and producer
* Nell Carter, actress (d. 2003)
* Olivia Cole, actress (d. 2018)
* Hugh Dane, actor (d. 2018)
* Loretta Devine, actress
* Art Evans, actor (d. 2024)
* Damon Evans, actor
* Mike Evans, actor (d. 2006)
* Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, actor (d. 2019)
* Ken Foree, actor
* Aretha Franklin, actress (d. 2018)
* Sheila Frazier, actress
* Ron Glass, actor (d. 2016)
* Danny Glover, actor
* Cuba Gooding Sr., actor (d. 2017)
* Larry Graham, singer
* Teresa Graves, actress (d. 2002)
* Pam Grier, actress
* Alaina Reed Hall, actress (d. 2009)
* Isaac Hayes, actor (d. 2008)
* Gregory Hines, actor (d. 2003)
* Mike Hodge, actor (d. 2017)
* Kene Holliday, actor
* Telma Hopkins, actress and singer
* Anna Maria Horsford, actress
* Ernie Hudson, actor
* Samuel L. Jackson, actor
* Jim Kelly, actor (d. 2013)
* Gladys Knight, actress
* Patti LaBelle, actress
* Ted Lange, actor
* Darlene Love, actress
* Al Matthews, actor (d. 2018)
* Vonetta McGee, actress (d. 2010)
* Frank McRae, actor (d. 2021)
* Paul Mooney, actor and comedian (d. 2021)
* Joe Morton, actor
* Jeffrey Osborne, singer
* Billy Preston, actor (d. 2006)
* Joan Pringle, actress
* Richard Pryor, actor and comedian (d. 2005)
* Marion Ramsey, actress (d. 2021)
* Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress and comedian
* Tim Reid, actor
* James Reynolds, actor
* LaTanya Richardson, actress
* Lionel Richie, actor, composer, and singer
* Charlie Robinson, actor (d. 2021)
* Roger Robinson, actor (d. 2018)
* Smokey Robinson, singer
* Diana Ross, actress and singer
* Richard Roundtree, actor (d. 2023)
* O. J. Simpson, actor (d. 2024)
* Carly Simon, singer
* Bubba Smith, actor (d. 2011)
* Meshach Taylor, actor (d. 2014)
* Lynne Thigpen, actress (d. 2003)
* Ernest Lee Thomas, actor
* Berlinda Tolbert, actress
* Glynn Turman, actor
* Ben Vereen, actor, dancer, and singer
* Jimmie Walker, actor
* Dionne Warwick, actress and singer
* Carl Weathers, actor (d. 2024)
* Demond Wilson, actor
* Theodore Wilson, actor (d. 1991)
* John Witherspoon, actor and comedian (d. 2019)
* Samuel E. Wright, actor (d. 2021)

## Born in the 1930s

[edit]

Diahann Carroll Bill Cosby Morgan Freeman Louis Gossett Jr. James Earl Jones Nichelle Nichols Billy Dee Williams

* Mary Alice, actress (d. 2022)
* John Amos, actor (d. 2024)
* Paul Benjamin, actor (d. 2019)
* Johnny Brown, actor (d. 2022)
* Jim Brown, actor (d. 2023)
* Tony Burton, actor (d. 2016)
* Godfrey Cambridge, comedian and actor (d. 1976)
* Diahann Carroll, actress (d. 2019)
* Bernie Casey, actor (d. 2017)
* Rosalind Cash, actress and singer (d. 1995)
* Ray Charles, actor (d. 2004)
* Bill Cobbs, actor (d. 2024)
* Bill Cosby, actor and comedian
* Ivan Dixon, actor, director, and producer (d. 2008)
* Robert DoQui, actor (d. 2008)
* Ja'Net DuBois, actress (d. 2020)
* Roberta Flack, singer (d. 2025)
* Gloria Foster, actress (d. 2001)
* Al Freeman Jr., actor and director (d. 2012)
* Morgan Freeman, actor
* Marla Gibbs, actress
* Carl Gordon, actor (d. 2010)
* Louis Gossett Jr., actor (d. 2024)
* Dick Gregory, actor and comedian (d. 2017)
* Rosey Grier, actor
* Bill Gunn, actor and director (d. 1989)
* Lloyd Haynes, actor (d. 1986)
* Sherman Hemsley, actor (d. 2012)
* Ellen Holly, actress (d. 2023)
* Robert Hooks, actor
* Raymond St. Jacques, actor (d. 1990)
* Rafer Johnson, actor (d. 2020)
* Duane Jones, actor (d. 1988)
* James Earl Jones, actor (d. 2024)
* Lincoln Kilpatrick, actor (d. 2004)
* Yaphet Kotto, actor (d. 2021)
* Cleavon Little, actor (d. 1992)
* Janet MacLachlan, actress (d. 2010)
* Don Marshall, actor (d. 2016)
* Whitman Mayo, actor (d. 2001)
* Barbara McNair, actress and singer (d. 2007)
* Garrett Morris, actor and comedian
* Greg Morris, actor (d. 1996)
* Roger E. Mosley, actor (d. 2022)
* Lou Myers, actor (d. 2013)
* Nichelle Nichols, actress (d. 2022)
* Ron O'Neal, actor (d. 2004)
* Melvin Van Peebles, actor and filmmaker (d. 2021)
* J. A. Preston, actor
* Thalmus Rasulala, actor (d. 1991)
* Lou Rawls, actor (d. 2006)
* Della Reese, actress, singer (d. 2017)
* Little Richard, actor (d. 2020)
* Matt Robinson, actor and producer (d. 2002)
* Madge Sinclair, actress (d. 1995)
* Nathaniel Taylor, actor (d. 2019)
* Tina Turner, actress and singer (d. 2023)
* Billy Dee Williams, actor
* Clarence Williams III, actor (d. 2021)
* Hal Williams, actor
* Fred Williamson, actor
* Flip Wilson, actor and comedian (d. 1998)
* Nancy Wilson, actress (d. 2018)
* Paul Winfield, actor (d. 2004)

## Born in the 1920s

[edit]

Ruby Dee

* Maya Angelou, actress (d. 2014)
* Harry Belafonte, actor and singer (d. 2023)
* Roscoe Lee Browne, actor (d. 2007)
* Virginia Capers, actor (d. 2004)
* Rupert Crosse, actor (d. 1973)
* Sammy Davis Jr., actor (d. 1990)
* Ruby Dee, actress (d. 2014)[7]
* Redd Foxx, comedian, actor (d. 1991)
* Susie Garrett, actress (d. 2002)
* Robert Guillaume, actor (d. 2017)
* Moses Gunn, actor (d. 1993)
* Bernie Hamilton, actor (d. 2008)
* Julius Harris, actor (d. 2004)
* Eartha Kitt, actress (d. 2008)
* William Marshall, actor and director (d. 2003)
* LaWanda Page, actress (d. 2002)
* Brock Peters, actor (d. 2005)
* Sidney Poitier, actor (d. 2022)
* Roxie Roker, actress (d. 1995)
* Esther Rolle, actress (d. 2004)
* Mel Stewart, actor (d. 2002)
* Cicely Tyson, actress (d. 2021)
* William Warfield, actor (d. 2002)

## Born in the 1910s

[edit]

Ossie Davis

* Nat King Cole, actor (d. 1965)
* Scatman Crothers, actor (d. 1986)
* Ossie Davis, actor (d. 2005)
* Tina Dixon, R&B singer, actress and comedian (d. 2004)
* Roy Glenn, actor (d. 1971)
* Robert Earl Jones, actor and professional boxer (d. 2007)
* Sybil Lewis, actress (d. 1988)
* Juanita Moore, actress (d. 2014)
* Maidie Norman, actress (d. 1998)
* Jimmy Robinson, actor (d. 1967)
* Timmie Rogers, comedian, actor (d. 2006)
* Nipsey Russell, comedian (d. 2005)
* Isabel Sanford, actress, comedian (d. 2004)
* Joe Seneca, actor, singer, and songwriter (d. 1996)
* Woody Strode, actor (d. 1994)
* Clarice Taylor, actress (d. 2011)

## Born in the 1900s

[edit]

* Eddie Anderson, actor (d. 1977)
* James Baskett, actor (d. 1948)
* Louise Beavers, actress (d. 1962)
* Everett Brown, actor (d. 1953)
* Cab Calloway, actor (d. 1994)
* Alvin Childress, actor (d. 1986)
* Gee Gee James, radio and theater actress and singer (d. 1971)
* Canada Lee, professional athlete, musician, and actor (d. 1952)
* Alice Whitman, actress (d. 1968)

## Born in the 1890s

[edit]

* Ismay Andrews, actor (d. ?)
* Rex Ingram, actor (d. 1969)
* John Marriott, actor (d. 1977)
* Charles Olden, actor (d. 1943)
* Paul Robeson, actor (d. 1976)
* Bill Walker, actor (d. 1992)
* Blue Washington, actor (d. 1970)

## Born in the 1880s

[edit]

* Spencer Bell, actor (d. 1935)
* Whitman Sisters, actresses
* Oscar Smith, actor (d. 1956)

## Born in the 19th century

[edit]

* Ira Aldridge, actor (d. 1867)
* Amanda and Samuel Chambers, early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah (d. 1929)
* David Fagen, buffalo soldier, anti-imperialist (d. ?)
* Irving Jones, comedian and songwriter (d. 1932)
* Cora Ann Pair Thomas, missionary (d. 1952)

## See also

[edit]

* United States portal
* Biography portal
* Film portal
* Lists portal
* Television portal
* Theatre portal

* Lists of actors
* List of former African-American child actors
* Lists of African Americans

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Akhalbey, Francis (January 26, 2018). "Emotional Eritrea homecoming for comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish [Video]". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
2. ^ "Paula Patton". www.m.imdb.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.[permanent dead link]
3. ^ "Tracie Ellis Ross and Malcolm Jamal-Warner talk read between the lines". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
4. ^ https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000586/bio [user-generated source]
5. ^ https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture/471716-tyler-perry-just-opened-a-massive-film-studio-in "The star becomes the first African American to own a major film production facility".
6. ^ "Oprah Winfrey: From poverty to America's first African American billionaire". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
7. ^ Halzack, Sarah (June 13, 2014). "Ruby Dee: Actress and activist who fought civil rights and broke through racial barriers on Broadway in films, and on TV". The Independent UK. Retrieved February 6, 2020.

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