List of African-American actors
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.
List of actors
John Amos
James Avery
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Chadwick Boseman
Sterling K. Brown
Yvette Nicole Brown
LeVar Burton
Diahann Carroll
Dave Chappelle
Don Cheadle
Bill Cobbs
Bill Cosby
Ice Cube
Keith David
Viola Davis
Ossie Davis
Ruby Dee
Michael Dorn
Michael Clarke Duncan
Cedric the Entertainer
Dave Fennoy
Laurence Fishburne
Jamie Foxx
Morgan Freeman
Danny Glover
Whoopi Goldberg
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Louis Gossett Jr.
Kevin Hart
Steve Harvey
Dennis Haysbert
Ernie Hudson
Samuel L. Jackson
Michael B. Jordan
James Earl Jones
Regina King
Sanaa Lathan
Phil LaMarr
Martin Lawrence
Spike Lee
Tommy Lister Jr.
Bernie Mac
Tim Meadows
Paul Mooney
Tracy Morgan
Charlie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Nichelle Nichols
Khary Payton
Jordan Peele
Richard Pryor
Ving Rhames
Kevin Michael Richardson
Naya Rivera
Craig Robinson
Chris Rock
Richard Roundtree
Jada Pinkett Smith
Will Smith
Wesley Snipes
Chris Tucker
Glynn Turman
Denzel Washington
Carl Weathers
Forest Whitaker
Jaleel White
Fred Williamson
Billy Dee Williams
Michael K. Williams
Oprah Winfrey
Jeffrey Wright
Alfre Woodard
A
Quinton Aaron , actor
Ira Aldridge , actor
Flex Alexander , actor
Khandi Alexander , actress
Ajiona Alexus , actress
Mahershala Ali , actor
Debbie Allen , actress
John Amos , actor
Anthony Anderson , actor
Eddie Anderson , actor
Ismay Andrews , actor
Maya Angelou , actress
Tichina Arnold , actress
Essence Atkins , actress
Sharif Atkins , actor
Patti Austin , singer
James Avery , actor
Margaret Avery , actress
Rochelle Aytes , actress
B
BabyFace , singer
Philip Bailey , singer
Anita Baker , singer
Leslie David Baker , actor
Lloyd Banks , actor
Malcolm Barrett , actor
Fantasia Barrino , actress and singer
Jaylen Barron , actress (half Afro-American, half Mexican)
James Baskett , actor
Angela Bassett , actress
Tyra Banks , actress, model
Michael Beach , actor
Jennifer Beals (African-American father), actress
Louise Beavers , actress
Zazie Beetz (African-American mother), actress[1]
Darryl M. Bell , actor
Jurnee Smollett-Bell (African-American mother), actress[2]
Troian Bellisario (mother is part African-American descent), actress
Paul Benjamin , actor
George Benson , singer
Fred Berry , actor
Halle Berry , actress
Beyoncé , actress and singer
Spencer Bell , actor
B.G. , rapper
Big Daddy Kane , rapper
Big Gipp , rapper
Birdman , rapper
Stephen Bishop , actor
Billy Blanks , actor
Michael Boatman , actor and sitcom comedian
De'Aundre Bonds , actor
Bone Crusher , Hip Hop rapper
Lisa Bonet (African-American father), actress
Tiffany Boone , actress
Chadwick Boseman , actor
Wayne Brady , actor, comedian
Todd Bridges , actor
Steelo Brim actor, comedian
Toni Braxton , singer
Avery Brooks , actor
Danielle Brooks , actress
Golden Brooks , actress
Mehcad Brooks , actor
Richard Brooks , actor
Cocoa Brown , actress
Everett Brown , actor
Jim Brown , actor
Neil Brown Jr. , actor
Rob Brown , actor
Roger Aaron Brown , actor
Sterling K. Brown , actor
Rhyon Nicole Brown , actress
Yvette Nicole Brown , actress
Roscoe Lee Browne , actor
Logan Browning , actress
Joy Bryant , actress
Sharon Bryant , R&B singer
Peabo Bryson , singer
Hannibal Buress , actor and comedian
LeVar Burton , actor
Tony Burton , actor
Busta Rhymes , actor
Trai Byers , actor
C
L. Scott Caldwell , actress
Frances Callier , actress
Cab Calloway , actor
Vanessa Bell Calloway , actress
Nick Cannon , actor
Mariah Carey , (African-American father) actress
Diahann Carroll , actress
Rocky Carroll , actor
Nell Carter , actress
Bernie Casey , actor
Rosalind Cash , actress and singer
Reg E. Cathey , actor
Cedric the Entertainer , actor and comedian
Wyatt Cenac , (African-American Father)
Amanda and Samuel Chambers , early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah
Chance The Rapper , rapper
Ray Charles , actor
Dave Chappelle , actor and comedian
Don Cheadle , actor
Judy Cheeks , singer
Morris Chestnut , actor
Chi-Ali , rapper
Alvin Childress , actor
Chingy , rapper
CL Smooth , actor
Bill Cobbs , actor
Deon Cole , actor
Natalie Cole , actress
Nat King Cole , actor
Olivia Cole , actress
Chad L. Coleman , actor
Gary Coleman , actor, comedian
Monique Coleman , actress
Zendaya Coleman (African-American father), actress and singer[3]
Kim Coles , actress
Mike Colter , actor
Sean Combs , actor
Common , actor
Bill Cosby , actor and comedian
Laverne Cox , transgender actress
Tony Cox , actor
Scatman Crothers , actor
Rupert Crosse , actor
Lavell Crawford , actor and comedian
Rusty Cundieff , actor
Mark Curry , actor
D
D-Nice , actor
Yaya DaCosta , actress
Hugh Dane , actor
Danny Boy , rapper
Stacey Dash (African-American father), actress
Keith David , actor, comedian
Tommy Davidson , actor
Cassi Davis , actor
Charles Michael Davis (half African-American), actor
LaVan Davis , actor
Ossie Davis , actor
Sammy Davis Jr. , actor
Viola Davis , actress
Ruby Dee , actress[4]
Deezer D , actor, rapper
Jude Demorest , actress
Loretta Devine , actress
Daveed Diggs (African-American father), actor
Taye Diggs , actor
Ivan Dixon , actor, director, producer
Tina Dixon , R&B singer, actress and comedian
DJ Kay Gee , rapper
DJ Yella , disc jockey and rapper
DMX , actor, rapper
Nate Dogg , actor
Snoop Dogg , actor
Colman Domingo (African-American mother), actor
Michael Dorn , actor
Omar Dorsey , actor
Doug E. Fresh (Brazilian-African-American sister), beatboxer and rapper
Suzzanne Douglas , actress
Gary Dourdan , actor
Denise Dowse , actress and director
Dr. Dre , actor
Dres , rapper
Ja'Net DuBois , actress
Michael Clarke Duncan , actor
Teala Dunn , actress
Charles S. Dutton , actor
Ava DuVernay , film director
E
F
David Fagen , buffalo soldier, anti-imperialist
Fat Joe , actor
Dave Fennoy , actor
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson , actor
Keith Ferguson , voice actor
Kim Fields , actress
Edwina Findley , actress
Laurence Fishburne , actorr
Jordan Fisher , actor
Roberta Flack , singer
Freddie Foxxx , actor
Thomas Mikal Ford , actor, comedian
Ken Foree , actor
Vivica A. Fox , actress
Jamie Foxx , actor
Redd Foxx , comedian, actor
Jaimee Foxworth , actress
Aretha Franklin , actress
Sheila Frazier , actress
Al Freeman Jr. , actor, director
Jennifer Freeman (African-American mother), actress
Morgan Freeman , actor
G
Tati Gabrielle , actress
Ghostface Killah , rapper
Marla Gibbs , actress
Darrell Britt-Gibson , actor
Tyrese Gibson , actor
Johnny Gill , singer
Seth Gilliam , actor
Lawrence Gilliard Jr. , actor
Clarence Gilyard , actor
Robin Givens , actress
Ron Glass , actor
Roy Glenn , actor
Danny Glover , actor
Donald Glover , actor
Whoopi Goldberg , actress
Cuba Gooding Jr. , actor
Cuba Gooding Sr. , actor
Omar Gooding , actor
Carl Gordon , actor
Louis Gossett Jr. , actor
Robert Gossett , actor
Kat Graham , actress[5]
Larry Graham , singer
Grandmaster Flash , rapper and disc jockey
Grand Puba , rapper
Teresa Graves , actress
Sonequa Martin-Green , actress
Dick Gregory , comedian, actor
David Alan Grier , actor
Pam Grier , actress
Rosey Grier , actor
Eddie Griffin , actor
Lance Gross (African-American mother), actor
Robert Guillaume , actor
Bill Gunn , actor, director
Moses Gunn , actor
Jasmine Guy , actress
GZA , rapper
H
Tiffany Haddish (African-American mother), actress[6]
Arsenio Hall , actor
Pooch Hall , actor
Regina Hall , actress
Vondie Curtis-Hall , actor
Kadeem Hardison , actor, director
Cory Hardrict , actor
Omari Hardwick , actor
Dorian Harewood , actor
Jackee Harry (African-American father), actress
Kevin Hart , actor
Hill Harper , actor
William Jackson Harper , actor and comedian
Steve Harvey , comedian, actor
Corey Hawkins , actor
Dennis Haysbert , actor
Isaac Hayes , actor
Lloyd Haynes , actor
Sherman Hemsley , actor
Brian Tyree Henry , actor
Darrin Henson , actor
Taraji P. Henson , actress
Jillian Hervey , singer, dancer
D'atra Hicks , actress, singer
Taral Hicks , actress, singer
Karim Hill , actor and tap dancer
Gregory Hines , actor
André Holland , actor
Kene Holliday , actor
Robert Hooks , actor
Telma Hopkins , actress and singer
Russell Hornsby , actor
Marques Houston , actor
Whitney Houston , actress
Terrance Howard , actor
Ernie Hudson , actor
Jennifer Hudson , actress
Ruben Santiago-Hudson , actor, playwright, and director
D.L. Hughley , comedian, actor
Paige Hurd (African-American father), actress
I
J
Brandon T. Jackson , actor
Janet Jackson , actress and singer
Jermaine Jackson , actor
La Toya Jackson , actress
Michael Jackson , King of pop and actor
Paris Jackson , actress
Samuel L. Jackson , actor
Skai Jackson , actress
Trevor Jackson , actor
Jackson family , entertainment
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs , actor
Raymond St. Jacques , actor
Gee Gee James , radio and theater actress and singer
Bryton James , actor
Janelle James , comedian, actress, and writer
Ja Rule , rapper
Jay-Z , rapper
Jazze Pha , rapper and Hip Hop producer
Barry Jenkins , director, producer, screenwriter
Larry "Flash" Jenkins , actor, director, producer, screenwriter
Terrence Jenkins , actor
Nadji Jeter , actor
Kristoff St. John , actor
Anne-Marie Johnson , actress
Dwayne Johnson , actor
Rafer Johnson , actor
Ralph Johnson , singer
David Jude Jolicoeur , actor
April Parker Jones , actress
Duane Jones , actor
Irving Jones , comedian and songwriter
Orlando Jones , actor
James Earl Jones , actor
Rashida Jones , actress
Robert Earl Jones , actor and professional boxer
Roy Jones Jr. , actor
Tamala Jones , actress
Michael B. Jordan , actor
Rhoda Jordan , actress
K
Kap G , actor
Jim Kelly , actor
Malcolm David Kelley , actor
R. Kelly , former singer and actor
Germany Kent , print and broadcast journalist, television personality, former beauty queen, actor, businesswoman, producer, philanthropist, and author
Keegan-Michael Key , actor, comedian
Khujo , rapper
Wiz Khalifa , actor
Christel Khalil (African-American mother), actress[7]
Chaka Khan , singer
Kidd Creole , rapper
Killer Mike , rapper
Aja Naomi King , actress
Regina King , actress
Eartha Kitt , actress
Gladys Knight , actress
Jak Knight , actor, comedian and writer
Boris Kodjoe , Austrian-American actor of German and Ghanaian descent
Kool G Rap , rapper
Lenny Kravitz , actor
Zoe Kravitz , actress[8]
KRS-One , actor
L
Patti LaBelle , actress
Phil LaMarr , actor, comedian
Ted Lange , actor
Sanaa Lathan , actress
Jacob Latimore , actor
Martin Lawrence , actor, comedian
Scott Lawrence , actor
Bianca Lawson , actress
Sharon Leal (African-American father), actress
Spike Lee , film director, producer, writer, actor
John Legend , singer, actor, producer
Harry Lennix (African-American mother), actor
Dawnn Lewis (with Caribbean blood), actress
Jenifer Lewis , actress
Kecia Lewis , singer and actress
Phill Lewis , actor, comedian
Sybil Lewis , actress
Tina Lifford , actress
Lil Jon , rapper
Lil Scrappy , Hip hop
Tommy Lister Jr. , actor
LL Cool J , actor
Loni Love , comedienne
Lauren London (African-American mother), actress[9]
Lord Jamar , actor
Darlene Love , actress
Ed Lover , rapper and actor
Ludacris , actor/rapper
M
Anthony Mackie , actor
David Mann , actor
Tamela Mann , actress
Mannie Fresh , Hip Hop producer
John Marriott , actor
Don Marshall , actor
William Marshall , actor, director
Jesse L. Martin , actor
Marsai Martin , actress
Tisha Campbell-Martin , actress
Vincent Mason , disc jockey and actor
Christopher Massey , actor
Kyle Massey , actor
Masta Killa , rapper
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II , actor
Al Matthews , actor
Chi McBride , actor
Darius McCrary , actor and singer
Darryl McDaniels , actor
Shane Paul McGhie , (African-Americans mother), actor
Brian McKnight , singer
Tim Meadows , actor
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (African-American mother), actress and humanitarian, wife of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex [10]
Melle Mel , actor and rapper
Kelvin Mercer , rapper and actor
Method Man , actor
Draya Michele (African-American father), actress[11]
Windell Middlebrooks , actor
Omar Benson Miller , actor
Wentworth Miller , actor
Daryl Mitchell , actor
Jason Mitchell , actor
Monica , actress
Victoria Monét (African-American mother), R&B singer
Paul Mooney , comedian and actor
Juanita Moore , actress
Shemar Moore , actor
Debbi Morgan , actress
Tracy Morgan , actor
Maleah Joi Moon , singer and actress
Phil Moore , actor and TV host
Garrett Morris , comedian, actor
Greg Morris , actor
Lamorne Morris , actor
Joe Morton , actor
Mr. T , actor
Ali Shaheed Muhammad , actor/musician
Charlie Murphy , actor and comedian
Eddie Murphy , actor and comedian
Lou Myers , actor
N
O
P
LaWanda Page , actress
Keke Palmer , actress
John Paris , singer
Angel Parker , actress
Teyonah Parris , actress
Nicole Ari Parker , actress
Paula Patton (African-American father), actress[12]
Allen Payne , actor
Jo Marie Payton , actress
Khary Payton , actor
Melvin Van Peebles , actor, filmmaker
Holly Robinson Peete , actress
Nathan Pelle , actor
Paul Pena , singer-songwriter, guitarist
Tyler Perry , actor, comedian, filmmaker[13]
Pete Rock , disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
Brock Peters , actor
Madison Pettis (African-American father), actress, model[14]
Jordan Peele , actor, comedian
Jay Pharoah , actor
Mekhi Phifer , actor
Wendell Pierce , actor
Glenn Plummer , actor
Taylor Polidore , actress
CCH Pounder (with Caribbean blood), actress
Clifton Powell , actor
Kyla Pratt , actress
Billy Preston , actor
J. A. Preston , actor
Prince , actor
Joan Pringle , actress
Richard Pryor , actor and comedian
Q
R
Issa Rae (African-American mother), actress, comedienne
Raekwon , rapper
Marion Ramsey , actress
Gina Ravera (part African-American descent) actress
Lou Rawls , actor
Gene Anthony Ray , actor
Lance Reddick , actor
Della Reese , actress, singer
Rakim , rapper
Dianne Reeves , singer
Daphne Maxwell Reid , actress and comedian
Tim Reid , actor
Corey Reynolds , actor
James Reynolds , actor
Ving Rhames , actor
Rihanna , singer
Trevante Rhodes , actor
Tequan Richmond , actor
Little Richard , actor
LaTanya Richardson , actress
Kevin Michael Richardson , actor
Sam Richardson , actor and comedian
Lionel Richie , actor, composer, singer
Lauren Ridloff , actress
Naya Rivera (a quarter African-American descent), actress and singer[15]
Leonard Roberts , actor
Paul Robeson , actor
Bumper Robinson , actor
Charlie Robinson , actor
Craig Robinson , actor, comedian
Jimmy Robinson , actor
Leon Robinson , actor
Matt Robinson , actor, producer
Roger Robinson , actor
Smokey Robinson , singer
Chris Rock , actor and comedian
Timmie Rogers , comedian, actor
Roxie Roker , actress
Esther Rolle , actress
Howard Rollins , actor
Anika Noni Rose , actress
Diana Ross , actress and singer
Evan Ross (African-American mother), actor
Tracee Ellis Ross , actress, model, comedian[16]
Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress
Richard Roundtree , actor
RuPaul , actor
Nipsey Russell , comedian
RZA , actor
S
Sadat X , rapper
Zoe Saldana , actress
Isabel Sanford , actress, comedian
Amanda Seales (African American father), actress, comedian
Yara Shahidi (African American mother), actress and Harvard st*Brandon Scott , actorudent[17]
Tupac Shakur , actor, rapper
Shanice , singer
Sherri Shepherd , actress and comedian
Beanie Sigel , rapper
Joseph Simmons , actor
O. J. Simpson , actor
Carly Simon , singer
Sinbad , actor and comedian
John Singleton , director, producer, screenwriter
IronE Singleton , actor
Isaac C. Singleton Jr. , actor
Sisqo , rapper singer
Alexandra Slade , actress
Slick Rick , rapper, actor and beatboxer
Bubba Smith , actor
Brian Michael Smith , actor
Jada Pinkett Smith (African-American father), actress, singer-songwriter[18]
Justice Smith , actor
Jaden Smith , actor
Will Smith , actor and rapper
Willow Smith , actress
Jussie Smollett , actor
J. B. Smoove , actor and comedian
Wesley Snipes , actor
Sonja Sohn (African-American father), actress and director
Jordin Sparks , actress
Danielle Spencer , actress
Octavia Spencer , actress
Bern Nadette Stanis , actress
Woody Strode , actor
Tika Sumpter , actress
Wanda Sykes , actress and comedian
Jessica Szohr , actress
T
Larenz Tate , actor
Meshach Taylor , actor
Nathaniel Taylor , actor
Ron Taylor , actor
The Game , rapper
Lynne Thigpen , actress
Cora Ann Pair Thomas , missionary
Ernest Lee Thomas , actor
Leon Thomas III , actor
Michelle Thomas , actress, comedian
Kenan Thompson , actor, comedian
T.I. , actor
Tone-Loc , rapper, actor
T-Mo , rapper
Tony Todd , actor
Berlinda Tolbert , actress
Tony Yayo , actor
Treach , rapper
Chris Tucker , actor, comedian
Glynn Turman , actor
Tina Turner , actress, singer
Tyler, the Creator , actor
Whitney Tyson , actress, comedian
U
V
W
Jimmie Walker , actor
Bill Walker , actor
Vincent M. Ward , actor
Malcolm-Jamal Warner , actor
Amanda Warren , actress
Dionne Warwick , actress and singer
Denzel Washington , actor, director and producer; winner of three Golden Globe Awards
Isaiah Washington , actor
John David Washington , actor
Kerry Washington (African-American father), actress
Damon Wayans , comedian, actor, writer and producer
Damon Wayans Jr. , actor, comedian
Marlon Wayans , actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer
Shawn Wayans , actor, comedian, writer, producer
Lil Wayne , actor
Carl Weathers , actor
Rutina Wesley , actress
Forest Whitaker , actor
Jaleel White , actor, comedian
Verdine White , singer, bassist
Charles Malik Whitfield , actor
Lynn Whitfield , actress
Whitman Sisters , actresses
Eugene Wilde , singer
Billy Dee Williams , actor
Clarence Williams III , actor
Deniece Williams , singer
Gary Anthony Williams , actor
Hal Williams , actor
Kellie Shanygne Williams , actress
Michael K. Williams , actor
Tyler James Williams , actor
Chris Williams , actor
Vanessa Williams , actress
Fred Williamson , actor
Mykelti Williamson , actor
Larry Wilmore , actor and comedian
Debra Wilson , actress and comedian
Demond Wilson , actor
Flip Wilson , actor and comedian
Nancy Wilson , actress
Reno Wilson , actor and comedian
Theodore Wilson , actor
Yvette Wilson , actress and comedian
Paul Winfield , actor
Oprah Winfrey , actress, media executive[19]
John Witherspoon , actor, comedian
Stevie Wonder , singer
Alfre Woodard , actress
Jeffrey Wright , actor
Samuel E. Wright , actor
Y
See also
References
^ "Zazie Beetz talks Donald Glover's new TV series 'Atlanta' " . www.nylon.com . Retrieved September 6, 2016 .
^ "The Smollett family business: acting and activism" . www.nytimes.com . Retrieved August 27, 2018 .
^ "Zendaya's evolution from disney star to blockbuster darling" . www.thisisinsider.com . Retrieved January 2, 2019 .
^ 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 .
^ Hou, Kathleen (6 May 2016). "Kat Graham on Beauty and Changing the World" . The Cut . Retrieved 2023-01-18 .
^ Akhalbey, Francis (2018-01-26). "Emotional Eritrea homecoming for comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish [Video]" . Face2Face Africa . Retrieved 2023-01-18 .
^ "Y&R star Christel Khalil shares on her immigrant ties" . www.soapcities.com . Retrieved January 30, 2017 .
^ "Zoe Kravitz not restricted by race" . Data Thistle . 2018-12-31. Retrieved 2023-01-18 .
^ "Lauren London Bio" . www.interfaithfamily.com . Retrieved June 21, 2011 .
^ "Meghan Markle: I'm more than an other" . www.elle.com . Retrieved December 29, 2018 .
^ https://theshaderoom.com/celebrity-draya-michele-2/ "Coming from mixed African American/Italian parents, she gained interest in beauty at an early age".
^ "Paula Patton" . www.m.imdb.com . Retrieved September 26, 2018 .[permanent dead link ]
^ 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".
^ "10 things you didn't know about Madison Pettis" . www.tvovermind.com . Retrieved December 29, 2018 .
^ "Glee's Naya Rivera reveals how her mixed-race ethnicity made it tough to land roles" . www.wetpaint.com . Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019 .
^ "Tracie Ellis Ross and Malcolm Jamal-Warner talk read between the lines" . www.hollywoodreporter.com . Retrieved October 11, 2011 .
^ "18, Activist, Harvard-Bound: How Yara Shahidi Became the Face and Brain of Young Hollywood" . The Hollywood Reporter. 8 August 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2020 .
^ https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000586/bio "Her father is of African American descent and her mother is of Afro-Caribbean ancestry". [user-generated source ]
^ "Oprah Winfrey: From poverty to America's first African American billionaire" . www.theguardian.com . Retrieved February 20, 2019 .
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