African American Celebrities

1. 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 ...

2. 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 ...

3. 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...

4. Meagan Good

Actress | Think Like a Man

Meagan Monique Good was born on 8 August 1981 in Panorama City, California, USA, to Tyra Wardlow-Doyle, who worked as her manager, and Leondis "Leon" Good, an LAPD officer. She began appearing on commercials at the age of four. Then she started guest-starring on series like The Parent 'Hood (1995), ...

5. Octavia Spencer

Actress | Hidden Figures

Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, ...

6. Rochelle Aytes

Actress | White Chicks

Rochelle Aytes was born in New York City. She attended LaGuardia High School and graduated with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Dance from SUNY Purchase College Conservatory for Dance in 1998. She is best-known for her role in White Chicks (2004) as Denise Porter; her role in Left 4 Dead 2 (...

7. Donald Glover

Actor | Solo: A Star Wars Story

The multi-talented Donald Glover is a writer, actor, musician, comedian, producer and director, who performs under the stage names Childish Gambino and mcDJ. He was born Donald McKinley Glover at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His mother, Beverly (...

8. 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 ...

9. Timon Kyle Durrett

Actor | Heroes

Timon Kyle Durrett is known for Heroes (2006), New Growth (2021) and Samantha Who? (2007).

10. 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 ...

11. 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 ...

12. Chandra Wilson

Actress | Grey's Anatomy

Houston, Texas native Chandra Wilson began performing in musicals at the age of five with Theatre Under the Stars. She attended Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and later went on to acquire her BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts through which she spent four ...

13. 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 ...

14. 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 ...

15. 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 ...

16. 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 ...

17. 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.

18. 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 ...

19. Lamman Rucker

Actor | Why Did I Get Married?

Born in Pittsburgh, his mother had a dance company (the Pittsburgh Black Theater Dance Ensemble) and his father was a drummer, so entertaining is in his blood. His first acting role was as Martin Luther King in the 4th grade. He was in the drama club in 7th grade and then attended high school at ...

20. 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,...

21. 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...

22. Omar Gooding

Actor | Baby Boy

Gooding is best known for appearing in hit television shows such as Deadwood, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., Family Time, Barbershop, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, Playmakers, Smart Guy, and Wild & Crazy Kids. On the big screen, he received critical acclaim for his role as ...

23. Jussie Smollett

Actor | Empire

Jussie Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Empire (2015), The Mighty Ducks (1992) and B-Boy Blues (2021).

24. Sheryl Lee Ralph

Actress | Oliver & Company

Sheryl Lee Ralph was born December 30, 1956 in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. She is known for her roles in Moesha (1996), Its A Living (1980), and Instant Mom (2013). Her Career Began in the late 1970s. She has been Married to Vincent Hughes since July 30, 2005 a Pennsylvania state senator. She was ...

25. Sheryl Underwood

Actress | Bulworth

Sheryl Underwood was born on October 28, 1963 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Bulworth (1998), I Got the Hook Up (1998) and The Odd Couple (2015). She was previously married to Michael.

26. James Pickens Jr.

Actor | Grey's Anatomy

James Pickens Jr. was born October 26, 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio. While attending college at Bowling Green State University, Pickens began pursuing an interest in acting. He graduated from BGSU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1976. Afterwards, Pickens began work on the stage at the Roundabout Theatre...

27. Charlayne Woodard

Actress | Unbreakable

Charlayne Woodard is a dazzling force in American theater, captivating audiences with her exceptional talent as both an actress and playwright. With two Obie Awards under her belt, and nominations for the highly prestigious Tony and Drama Desk Awards, she has solidified her place as one of the most...

28. Janet Jackson

Soundtrack | Poetic Justice

Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana, to Katherine Jackson (née Katherine Esther Scruse) and Joe Jackson, a musician. She is the youngest of ten children. Before her birth, her brothers formed a band later called The Jackson 5. She lived at home with her sisters, while ...

29. Janet Hubert

Self | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Reunion

Janet Louise Hubert was born in Chicago, IL. She is best known for playing the sassy, witty, outgoing, protective mom on the hit TV sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990).

Janet Hubert spent most of her childhood growing up in Momence, IL. That changed when she won a scholarship to Julliard ...

30. Adina Porter

Actress | American Horror Story

Adina Porter was born and raised in New York City, more specifically, The South Bronx. She is a first generation American; her father was born and spent his youth in Sierra Leone, Africa, while her mother was born in Bermuda. As a young child, Porter entertained her parents by staging plays in the ...

31. 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 ...

32. 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 ...

33. Essence Atkins

Actress | A Haunted House

Essence Atkins was born on February 7, 1972 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for A Haunted House (2013), How High (2001) and Same Difference (2019). She was previously married to Jaime Mendez.

34. Ato Essandoh

Actor | Jason Bourne

Ato Essandoh was born on July 29, 1972 in Schenectady, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Jason Bourne (2016), Garden State (2004) and Blood Diamond (2006).

35. Marc Anthony Samuel

Actor | Savaged

Marc Anthony Samuel was born in Los Angeles, California. He is an actor, known for Avenged (2013), General Hospital (1963) and Say Uncle (2005).

36. 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...

37. 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...

38. 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, ...

39. Terry Crews

Actor | Idiocracy

Terry Crews was born in Flint, Michigan, to Patricia and Terry Crews Sr. He earned an art excellence scholarship to attend Western Michigan University and also earned a full-ride athletic scholarship to play football. Crews was an All-Conference defensive end, and was a major contributor on the ...

40. 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...

41. André 3000

Actor | Four Brothers

André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known as André 3000, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for being a part of southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi.

Benjamin has also acted in films and television series such ...

42. 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).

43. Lark Voorhies

Actress | Saved by the Bell

Lark Voorhies was born on 25 March 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee. She first began acting at the age of two but postponed her acting career until the age of 11, when she appeared on Small Wonder (1985). Lark later starred as Lisa Turtle in Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987), the predecessor to NBC's ...

44. 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. ...

45. 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 ...

46. Arsenio Hall

Actor | Coming to America

Arsenio Hall was born on February 12, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Coming to America (1988), Harlem Nights (1989) and Coming 2 America (2021).

47. Trai Byers

Actor | Empire

Trai Byers was born on July 19, 1983 in Kansas City, Kansas, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Empire (2015), The 24th (2020) and Selma (2014). He has been married to Grace Byers since April 14, 2016. They have one child.

48. Bryshere Y. Gray

Actor | Empire

Bryshere Y. Gray is known for Empire (2015), The New Edition Story (2017) and Canal Street (2018).

49. Gabourey Sidibe

Actress | Precious

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of Precious (2009), was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, is a former special education teacher who gave up her career and became a street performer/singer, while her father, Ibnou Sidibe, is a cab driver....

50. Wesley Snipes

Actor | Blade

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

51. Morgan Freeman

Actor | Driving Miss Daisy

With an authoritative voice and calm demeanor, this ever popular American actor has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema. Morgan was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mayme Edna (Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber. The young Freeman...

52. Sidney Poitier

Actor | In the Heat of the Night

Sidney Poitier was a native of Cat Island, Bahamas, although born, two months prematurely, in Miami during a visit by his parents, Evelyn (Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Sidney had little formal ...

53. 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), ...

54. James Earl Jones

Actor | Rogue One

Widely regarded as the one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native USA and internationally, James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. At an early age, he started to take dramatic lessons to calm himself down. It appeared to work as he has since starred ...

55. Charles S. Dutton

Actor | Gothika

Charles S. Dutton was born on January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien³ (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). He was previously married to Debbi Morgan.

56. Mario Van Peebles

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

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

57. William James Jones

Actor | Executive Decision

Although best known for his role as Tony Wicks (in the 90s) on the NBC hit Saturday morning sitcom California Dreams, William left the entertainment industry in order to fulfill the call on his life to help individuals and couples struggling with mental health issues. William fulfilled a life-long ...

58. 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 ...

59. Renée Elise Goldsberry

Actress | Hamilton

Renee Goldsberry was born in San Jose, California, and raised in both Houston, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a bachelors degree in acting, and went on to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California, where she received her ...

60. Tika Sumpter

Actress | Southside with You

Tika Sumpter was born in New York and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College. Sumpter began her career as model, before she landed the role of "Layla Williamson" in ABC's daytime soap opera, One Life to Live (1968) (2005-2010, 2011).

After she left the soap, Sumpter won a recurring role in the ...

61. 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 ...

62. Tyler Knight

Actor | Manhunters

Tyler Knight, born November 11, 1971, was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame on January 22, 2021. He is the author of the memoir, "Burn My Shadow: A Selective Memory of an X-Rated life" as well as the novel, "Deer Shoots Man (then steals his cigarettes)" He lives in Los Angeles, California.

63. Robert Axel

Actor | Transsexual Gang Bangers 17

64. Tyson Tyler

Actor | UK Hot Jocks

65. Marc Williams

Actor | Black 'N' Blue

66. Diesel Washington

Actor | Folsom Prison

67. Eve

Actress | Barbershop

Eve was born on November 10, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Barbershop (2002), xXx (2002) and Whip It (2009). She has been married to Maximillion Cooper since June 14, 2014. They have one child.

68. 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 ...

69. Darius McCrary

Actor | Family Matters

Darius McCrary is best known for his role as Eddie Winslow on the long-running television series "Family Matters". He began his career in Hollywood at the age of nine and has continued to provide performance excellence in multiple films, television, theater, and music projects.

McCrary has starred ...

70. Anna Maria Horsford

Actress | Minority Report

Anna Maria Horsford was born and raised in Harlem, New York. Her parents immigrated to the United States from the island nation Antigua & Barbuda, in the West Indies (then a British colony), during the 1940s. Anna grew up not really feeling American but not West Indian either, just somewhere in ...

71. 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 ...

72. 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...

73. Kerry Washington

Actress | Scandal

Kerry Washington is an African-American actress, television show producer and film director who is known for her roles in Scandal, Ray, the Tim Story Fantastic Four film series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Confirmation, Django Unchained, Little Fires Everywhere, Cars 3 and The Last King of Scotland. She ...

74. John David Washington

Actor | Tenet

John David Washington is an American actor, producer, and former professional football player. He played college football at Morehouse College and signed with the St. Louis Rams as an Undrafted free agent in 2006. Professionally, Washington spent four years as the running back for the United ...

75. Brandon Scott

Actor | Dead to Me

Brandon Scott was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Dead to Me (2019), This Is Us (2016) and 13 Reasons Why (2017).

76. 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 ...

77. Susan Kelechi Watson

Actress | This Is Us

Susan Kelechi Watson was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for This Is Us (2016), A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) and NCIS (2003).

78. Eris Baker

Actress | This Is Us

Eris Baker was born on August 4, 2005. She is an actress, known for This Is Us (2016), Dispel (2019) and K.C. Undercover (2015).

79. 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 ...

80. Jo Marie Payton

Actress | Family Matters

JoMarie Payton was born in in Albany, Georgia on August 3, 1950. Her father, Driscoll Payton, was a construction worker and mother, Frankie Bell Payton, was a maid. They moved to the Miami suburb of Opa-Locka, Florida in 1950. JoMarie was the second of nine children.

JoMarie's first performance on ...

81. Reginald VelJohnson

Actor | Die Hard

Reginald VelJohnson was born on August 16, 1952 in Queens, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Die Hard (1988), Ghostbusters (1984) and Die Hard 2 (1990).

82. Jaleel White

Actor | Family Matters

Jaleel White is an American actor, producer, and writer who is known for playing Steve Urkel from "Family Matters" and voicing Sonic the Hedgehog in three cartoon series released during the 1990s. He also acted in "Big Fat Liar" starring Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes, "Scooby-Doo", "Guess Who", "...

83. Kellie Shanygne Williams

Actress | Family Matters

Kellie Shanygne Williams was born on March 22, 1976 in Washington, D.C. She started her career as a children's fashion model. She made many appearances on stage (e.g., "Joe Turner's Come and Gone", "The Colored Museum", "Butterfingers Angel", and "Goin' Home") and in TV commercials. She is best ...

84. Jaimee Foxworth

Actress | Family Matters

Jaimee Foxworth was born on December 17, 1979 in Belleville, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Family Matters (1989), Amen (1986) and TV 101 (1988).

85. Telma Hopkins

Actress | Family Matters

Telma Hopkins was born on October 28, 1948 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Family Matters (1989), The Love Guru (2008) and Half & Half (2002). She was previously married to Donald B. Alen.

86. Tammy Townsend

Actress | Sherri

Tammy Townsend is a veteran performer with remarkable versatility and range whose acting and musical talents are showcased in a variety of notable projects.

She is a series regular on the seventh and final season of OWN's acclaimed drama series, "Queen Sugar," from Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker...

87. Judyann Elder

Actress | Seven Pounds

Judyann Elder graduated from Emerson College in Boston as the first recipient of the Carol Burnett Award in the Performing Arts. She began her professional career in New York off-Broadway as a founding member and resident actor with the Tony Award-winning Negro Ensemble Company. She originated ...

88. Venus DeMilo Thomas

Actress | Salute Your Shorts

The question is why director/producer/writer Venus DeMilo Thomas isn't the slightest bit intimidated at the idea of tackling her next documentary film. The answer is Venus DeMilo, actress. "I've been in front of the camera since I was four," laughs Venus, "so even before I became a filmmaker, I was...

89. 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).

90. Rugg Williams

Producer | Millennials

Rugg Williams is an American actor, producer, writer, director, development executive and talent manager. He has enjoyed success in television and film. He is well known to television viewers for his portrayal of "Eugene Glendon" on In the Heat of the Night (1988) for four seasons, playing opposite ...

91. 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 ...

92. Susan Beaubian

Actress | American Crime Story

Susan Beaubian was born on September 7, 1951 in the USA. She is an actress, known for American Crime Story (2016), Norbit (2007) and Numb3rs (2005).

93. T.K. Carter

Actor | The Thing

T.K. Carter was raised just east of Los Angeles, California. He began his stand-up routine at age 12, and, by high school, appeared in Neil Simon's production of "The Odd Couple." He began his professional stand-up routine at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles and has also worked at the Improvisation ...

94. Kevin Daniels

Actor | Not Another Church Movie

Kevin Daniels was born on December 9, 1976 in San Diego, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Not Another Church Movie (2024), Will Trent (2023) and Frasier (2023).

95. Brian Michael Smith

Actor | 9-1-1: Lone Star

Brian Michael Smith was born in Ann Arbor, MI. He is an actor known for roles in 9-1-1 Lone Star, Queen Sugar and The L Word: Generation Q.

After appearances on TV shows such as NBC's Chicago P.D., HBO's Girls, and Showtime's Homeland, Smith rose to prominence for his ground-breaking performances on...

96. Sherri Saum

Actress | Sunset Beach

Sherri Saum was born on October 1, 1974 in Dayton, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Sunset Beach (1997), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) and Finding Home (2003).

97. Tasha Smith

Actress | The Whole Ten Yards

Tasha Smith is a multifaceted actress and director whose work brings style and intensity to the projects she works on, whether in front of or behind the camera. From her roles as "Carol" on Fox's hit drama Empire, "Brenda" in Netflix's Running Out Of Time, to her critically-acclaimed portrayal of ...

98. Kevin Carroll

Actor | Blindspotting

Kevin Carroll was born on September 6, 1969 in Salisbury, North Carolina, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Blindspotting (2018), Being John Malkovich (1999) and Road House (2024).

99. 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 ...

100. Garrett Morris

Actor | Coneheads

Garrett Morris was born on February 1, 1937 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Coneheads (1993), Saturday Night Live (1975) and How High (2001). He has been married to Freda Morris since September 20, 1996.