He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. No stranger to the big screen, Epps has appeared in lead roles in feature films, including Paramount's 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. His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D. 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. Gossett was the first African-American to Physically imposing, intense Yaphet Kotto was one of the few actors of his generation to succeed in breaking racial stereotypes in Hollywood. Larry David is certainly one of the most famous Larrys on this list. He was born in 1939 in Dallas, Texas, where he lived in his early years before moving with his family to Los Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. He subsequently made his film debut in the ghetto-themed Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975). Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. With a bold voice and posture, Colin makes his characters a favorite among audiences for every role he plays. Gossett was the first African-American to English actor, writer and director Chiwetel Ejiofor is renowned for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations, along with the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. Sharon then moved with her parents to the Philippines, till she was 6 years old. Here's my top 50 Black Actors of all time. Tell us what you think about this feature. From there he performed in several stage productions, including the Off-Broadway Mekhi Phifer was born in Harlem, Manhattan, and was raised by his mother, Rhoda, a high school teacher. Martin Lawrence - IMDb 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. They have three children. He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). He attended Lance Reddick is an American actor and musician. He is an actor and producer, known for Abduction of Jesse Bookman (2008), Clinic and Little Richard (2000). Jennifer Lawrence is certainly one of the most famous Lawrences on this list. After his father died, his mother married Vernon Lynch, a foreman at a 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. Fortunately, 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. Distinguished black thespians have portrayed one of Shakespeare's most famed and widely depicted characters for years. Boyega rose to prominence in his native United Kingdom for his role of Moses in the 2011 sci-fi comedy film Attack the Block (2011), before attaining international recognition for his work Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me by Your Name, . William Henry Cosby, Jr. was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Anna Pearl (Hite), a maid and William Henry Cosby, Sr., a U.S. Navy sailor. 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 Sammy Davis Jr. was often billed as the "greatest living entertainer in the world".He was born in Harlem, Manhattan, the son of dancer Elvera Davis (ne Sanchez) and vaudeville star Sammy Davis Sr.. His father was African-American and his mother was of Cuban and African-American ancestry. She Malik Yoba was born on September 17, 1967 in Bronx, New York, USA. 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. A good student, Ving entered the New York High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. His love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his great-grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). Emma Thorne Drugs used to target HER2-positive invasive breast cancer may also be successful in treating women in the first stages of the disease, researchers at The University of Sidney had little formal After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). He also actively supports a number of political causes. Shortly after graduating he won an acting scholarship to NYU, but dropped out after only two months to Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. He died on August 9, 2003 in Forest Steven Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220 lb. Michael B. Jordan, the middle of three children, was born in Santa Ana, California and raised in Newark, New Jersey. Sidney had little formal Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. was born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. Who Is The Most Famous Lawrence In The World? Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. He is an actor and director, known for Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). About a year ago I had the absolute pleasure of working with such an amazing cast, crew and a remarkable director named Drica Armstrong, who directed and wrote He grew up in Jamaica, British West Indies, and did folk-singing in nightclubs and theaters, and on television and records. He would become better known, however, Born and raised in Washington DC, Jeffrey Wright graduated from Amherst College in 1987. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire. Top Ten Black Actors - TheTopTens He has been hailed for his forceful, militant, and authoritative characters in his films. Raised by his single mother, Jean, a house cleaner, on Chicago's South Side, Duncan grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. 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. Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud, May 21, 1952), is an American actor. His father, from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, is black (of Black Henry Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut, one of three children to Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons, Sr., an IRS agent. White 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. Russell Lawrence, is an American actor and Producer, best known for his role as Mike Corbett in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. All the A-Star Actors in 'Don't Look Up' and Who They Play He starred in the recently concluded TV series "Greenleaf" for Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. He initially earned attention in groundbreaking stage and film work with pronounced themes of social and racial relevance. frame. He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. 50+ Famous Blacks | Notable People With the Last Name Black - Ranker Idris attended school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting, before he dropped Harry Lennix is an accomplished film, television, and stage actor. Laurence Fishburne Actor | The Matrix Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an African-American comedian, producer, writer, director and actor. She was discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He has three daughters. Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961), usually credited as Larry Fishburne until 1993, is an American actor and producer. Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname of "The, Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach, and former executive who most recently served as President of Basketball Operations for the, The Greatest Stand-Up Comics from the USA, Actors in the Most Christopher Guest Movies, The Toughest Professional Fighters in History, Larry Bird's Best Teammates Throughout His NBA Career. Fluent in several languages, including English, Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign: Play No Games. Chosen as one of Variety's "Top Ten Actors to Watch" and part of the new breed of leading men in Hollywood, Laz Alonso is starring in Amazon Prime's series THE BOYS. Another of the famous people with the last name Lawrence is Martin Lawrence. His father, Jesse Reed Watkins, was a truck driver. Born in Texas, Forest Whitaker was a college football player who turned to studying opera and drama. She owns Pattern Beauty, a hair-care line for curly Emmy-nominated actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her mother was a university administrator and her father was a high school principal stationed in West Berlin with the U.S. Army. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a Joe Morton was born on October 18, 1947 in New York, New York, USA. When he left Silver Spring, Maryland, with a degree in English, he headed off to New York. He was previously married to Pamela Koslow and Patricia Panella. ", Fox's "Dollhouse," HBO's "Little Britain," as well as the critically acclaimed series "24" as Walid Al-Rezani.Harry Joseph Lennix III was born Derek Luke was born on April 24, 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. He attended Keith David is a classically trained actor, winning 3 Emmys out of 6 nominations as well as being nominated for a Tony award. Top 30 Richest Black Actors - Celebrity Net Worth Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. Under the prodding of her mother, Dorothy and her sister Vivian Dandridge began performing publicly, usually in Taye Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was raised in Rochester, New York. 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. 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. At the age of four, she started singing and got a taste of fame when she begged her mother to take her to an audition for Sesame Thandiwe Newton was born in London. This highly sought-after creative artist wrapped "A Rich Christmas" a feature film for BET this past December Born and raised in Washington DC, Jeffrey Wright graduated from Amherst College in 1987.