Coco. Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, NC, one of four children of Gwendolyn Sylvia (Samuels), a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier Jr., an Air Force mechanic. In the fall of 2020, she starred in J.J. Abrams, Jordan Peele and Misha Green's critically acclaimed drama for HBO, "Lovecraft Country." She has lived most of her life in New York and Los Angeles; in L.A., she attended Reseda High School and Celluloid Actor's Studio. Equally at home on stage and on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television.Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original "Dreamgirls" in Michael Bennett's classic After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). She is known as "The Vocal Bible". Claim to fame: Author, lawyer, and the first Black FLOTUS of the United States. By McKenzie Jean-Philippe Feb 10, 2022 McKenzie Jean-Philippe Editorial Assistant McKenzie Jean-Philippe is the editorial assistant at OprahMag.com covering pop culture, TV, movies, celebrity, and lifestyle. And in 2019 she launched her very own haircare line, Pattern Beauty. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Sidney Poitier's mother in the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. The "Butterfly" stage name, which does describe her Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste is an English actress. 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 Mo'Nique received a standing ovation when she stepped on stage for the first time in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, giving her confidence to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. Dave Benett Hussey Louis roux Ngozi Fulani Richard Curtis Robert Hayward. She has a Three time Primetime Emmy Nominee. About Olivia Cole was born on November 26, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Beharie also played Ernie Davis' girlfriend in the movie The Express (2008). From legends like Debbie Allen to younger performers like Keke Palmer, here are 23 black stars that have lit up the "Great White Way" over the years: Taye Diggs hedwigonbway Verified 50.6K followers View profile An out-of-wedlock child, Eartha Kitt was born in the cotton fields of South Carolina. Why shes extraordinary: Known to her loyal fanbase as Queen B, Knowles-Carter is arguably one of the best entertainers of our time. She would not acquire a significant role on stage until 1955, when she appeared in the off-Broadway show "Take A Giant Step" convincingly portraying an 84-year-old grandmother without using theatrical makeup. First time multiple African-American actresses received Best Actress nominations for a movie-Lady Sings the Blues. Whoopi's recent ancestors were from Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. 1. She is an Emmy-winning television host and multiple award-winning voice actor for Archer (2009).Aisha's feature directorial debut, Axis (2017), was shot in just seven days on Bianca Lawson was born on March 20, 1979 in Los Angeles, California, USA. An ever-growing list of black actresses. But aside from her incredibly popular music, Lizzo is known for her advocacy and her dedication to practicing body positivity and self-love. She's also the bestselling author of Becoming and a podcaster. Why shes extraordinary: At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Douglas became the first woman of color to win the title of Individual All-Around Champion in artistic gymnastics. Vanessa Lynne Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, Greenburgh, New York and raised in Millwood, New Castle, New York to Helen Williams & Milton Williams, both music teachers. -Carmen Jones. African-American child actresses (26 P) Pages in category "African-American actresses" The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 1,112 total. -Crash SistersInc. What are some names of famous child black male actors? She has been married to Alan Ferguson since November 16, 2014. She made her screen debut with a leading role in the critically acclaimed independent film The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995) and went on to appear in Boogie Nights (1997), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. She and Jackson have one Kyla Pratt was born on September 16, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA. -Ghost (Academy-Award Winning Performance) Her upcoming projects include My Last Day Without Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaa. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a Actress | Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City, where she was raised by her devoutly religious parents, from the Caribbean island of Nevis. She is a recipient of the Tuskegee . In 1962, Ethel Waters became the first black actress to be nominated for an Emmy. Extensive professional and Community Theatre background, working Demetria Dyan McKinney (born August 27, 1979) is an American actress and singer. Vanessa Morgan Actress | Riverdale They have one child. Pam has been a major African-American star from the early 1970s. Throughout the pandemic, Rihanna and her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) have been working to help marginalized communities that have been affected . She is best known for originating the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun (1961).She also starred in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Cat People (1982), six Primetime Emmy nominations one win. INFORMATION Due to London's breakout success in ATL, she received an offer to star in the film, This Christmas, with Loretta Devine, Idris Elba and Regina King. Golden Globe winner and was nominated three other times. Stunning pop culture icon, Hollywood leading lady and three-time NAACP award winner Nia Long returns to the big screen this fall in the highly anticipated Universal Pictures sequel The Best Man Holiday (in theaters November 15th) where she reunites with original castmates Taye Diggs ("Private Lena Calhoun Horne was born June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. She made numerous guest appearances on TV, including a stint as a supporting cast member on The Carol Burnett Show (1967). She died on May 30, 2011 in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. They have four children. Contact Clarice Taylor was born on September 20, 1917 in Buckingham County, Virginia, USA. Claim to fame: Athlete, track-and-field star, Why shes extraordinary: In 2019, track star and four-time Olympian Allyson Felix broke Usain Bolts record for the most-ever gold medals won at the world championships. She was named by her godmother, who claimed she saw a vision of Alfre's name written out in gold letters. She is an actress, known for East of Hollywood (2015), Baywatch (1989) and Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995). Keegan-Michael Key is of Black, Polish, and Belgian Flemish heritage. Sometimes, being a famous rock star isn't enough to steal the show. Phylicia Rashad was born in Houston, Texas to African-American parents Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. Ruby Dee was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist. She is an actress, known for A Madea Family Funeral (2019), Madea's Big Happy Family (2011) and House of Payne (2006). 11 February 1971 'A black actor who's bad is acceptable, but a black actor who's good makes the whites nervous'. -For Colored Girls 34 Famous Women Of Proud African And Latina Heritage . Shes the first female gymnast to win three World all-around titles in a row; the most decorated American gymnast with 32 total World and Olympic medals; and shes won the most World Championship medals by a woman gymnast in history (25), including 19 gold. She certainly had the looks, enthusiasm, Diana Sands was born on August 22, 1934 in New York City, New York, USA. She has released many R&B albums and singles since the 1990s. Celebrity couples such as Chrissy Teigen and John Legend and Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg know this experience too, which is why they've opened up about the ups and downs of being in. She was previously married to Jay Tucker and Don Nash. Claim to fame: Director, producer, screenwriter. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Editors Note: This story was originally published on June 7, 2019, EVENTS African-American actress for over five decades, performing on stage, radio, television, and in film; co-founder of Harlem's American Negro Theater. She has been married to Grahame Pratt since October 16, 1965. Her parents separated when she was a year old, and she was brought up by her mother An out-of-wedlock child, Eartha Kitt was born in the cotton fields of South Carolina. Then she started guest-starring on series like The Parent 'Hood (1995), Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. Jalen Hill, 22 Source:Getty 7. Paige Hurd is a well-known actress born and raised on 20th July 1992, in Dallas, Texas. August 14, 1966 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 Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, MO, in 1906 to Carrie McDonald, a laundress, and Eddie Carson, a musician. African American actress Juanita Moore entered films in the early 1950s, a time in which few black people were given an opportunity to act in major studio films. After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). She has been married to Jessica Betts since August 29, 2020. She was an actress, known for Cleopatra Jones (1973), Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975) and Chained Heat (1983). Zo Kravitz is a well-known actress, singer, and fashion model from the United States. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law & Regina King was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gloria, a special education teacher, and Thomas King, an electrician. A native of Michigan, S. Epatha Merkerson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Wayne State University. 50 names 1. Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of Precious (2009), was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York. She was previously married to Robb Vallier. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA. Suzzanne Douglas, actress, 64. During her youth she was fully immersed in the entertainment industry and learned early on that she wanted a career in the Arts. Debbi Morgan moved to New York City when she was three months old. 6. She was the first Black woman to win the honor in a dramatic lead role. Beah Richards left her native Vicksburg, Mississippi, for New York City in 1950. Some are fairly obviousof course Gisele Bndchen and Brooke Shields are tall, though we never realized quite how tall they really arebut we didn't realize how statuesque Mandy Moore is. Won two Primetime Emmy awards nominated a total of five times. Her white father, Jerry, is an entrepreneur. She first danced for the public on the streets of St. Louis for nickels and dimes. And dont worry: We'll be updating this list regularly. Under the prodding of her mother, Dorothy and her sister Vivian Dandridge began performing publicly, usually in Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Bedford, Ohio to Judith Ann (Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse, and Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Although filmgoers may be able to trace her back only to that once-in-a-lifetime part, Margaret has been a talented player on the large and Tell us what you think about this feature. October 31, 1896 September 1, 1977 This is the top 50 Black Actresses of All Time. She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. Zarinah Reed is known for Snowfall (2017) and Insecure (2016). Cindy Herron was born on September 26, 1961 in San Francisco, California, USA. She is also an Academy Award winner and has been in a countless number of our favorite films. Claim to fame: Actress, singer, talk show host. Her career started in 1971, when Roger Corman of New World Pictures launched Beah Richards left her native Vicksburg, Mississippi, for New York City in 1950. Her father Joseph was a minister and her mother was named Ella Mae. She moved onto TV roles, receiving a Peabody Two time Emmy award winner.Ms. Most of her characters are enriched with positive attributes -- strength, confidence, integrity, strong-mindedness -- and it is a testament to the abilities of this four-time Emmy nominated actress that she continues on such a high plane Claudia McNeil was born on August 13, 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She played Angie Baxter. She is the daughter of Rita (Bray), a teacher, and Lancelot Owens Sr. She came from a police family-both her father and her older brother were Eve was born on November 10, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. -The Pursuit of Happyness Her mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson designs their glittering costumes & her dad, Mathew Knowles manages Destiny's Child. June 3, 1906 April 12, 1975 34 of Michelle Obamas Most Inspiring Quotes, The 55 Best Black Movies on Netflix Right Now, 14 Black Inventors That Changed American Life, 20 Black Christmas Movies for the Best Holiday, 10 bell hooks Books to Read in Your Lifetime, 30 Black TV Shows to Binge-Watch This Year, 40 Famous Black Women Who Are Leaving Their Mark on History, Kent Dayton / Harvard Public Health Magazine, McKenzie Jean-Philippe is the editorial assistant at. Shar has been acting since she was three and enrolled in the Al Erika Ringor was born on December 23, 1974 in Inglewood, California, USA. Claim to fame: Screenwriter, producer, actress. She has appeared in various plays, including "Golden Boy" with Sammy Davis Jr. and Louis Gossett Jr., and "A Raisin in the Sun". Her upcoming projects include My Last Day Without 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. She is the youngest of ten children. She is also a New York Times bestselling author and signed a three year, multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix in 2019. She has also racked up countless firsts: the first Black woman to win the Best Directing Award at Sundance in 2012; the first Black woman to get a Best Director Golden Globe nomination; the first woman of color to direct an Oscar-nominated Best Picture film; and the first woman to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million domestically. Tyson is also the oldest actress to win a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress (2013) for her role in the play The Trip to Bountiful. Halle Berry gave an emotional acceptance speech after becoming the first African American actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress, 2002, for her performance in Monsters Ball. Why shes extraordinary: In the wake of Harvey Weinstein being revealed as a serial sexual abuser in 2017, Burkes activist group Me Too became #MeToo. She was raised in Queens, New York. Let's be clear, that was in no means something to make black women think we need nor have to . Usher and Grace Miguel: 2018 The singer and Miguel started dating in 2009, shortly following Usher's previous divorce from first wife, Tameka Foster. Best known as the the lead singer of the popular 1960s singing group The Supremes, Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, the second of six children of African-American parents Ernestine Lillian (Moten), a schoolteacher, and Fred Earl Ross, who served in the First African-American actress to receive an Academy Award nomination for a debut film performance. Kara Brock was born on March 29th in Long Beach, California, USA as Kara Denean Brock. She then played a superhero in the movie X-Men: First Class, which helped her get nominated for a . Whoopi Goldberg Actress | Ghost Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in the Chelsea section of Manhattan on November 13, 1955. -The Manchurian Candidate. She worked in First black actress to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the "No one raised me, " she recollected, "I just ran wild." With over 50 film and television Sharisse Jackson was born on August 31, 1976 in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Costa Mesa, California. She is married to Vernon L. Bolling. This highly sought-after creative artist wrapped "A Rich Christmas" a feature film for BET this past December Dorothy Jean Dandridge was born on November 9, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Ruby Dandridge (ne Ruby Jean Butler), an entertainer, and Cyril H. Dandridge, a cabinet maker and minister. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS She is an actress and director, known for Bring It on: All or Nothing (2006), Johnson Family Vacation (2004) and Solange: Almeda (2019). Her mentor, Whitney Houston, selected her to play Cinderella in the Rodgers and Hammersteins television version of the classic (1997), and she has since been credited as the first black actress to play Cinderella. -Sister Act -Columbiana She has been married to Tariq Walker since January 2020. In 1959 she With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. Maria Howell is known for Hidden Figures (2016), Saints & Sinners (2016) and Devious Maids (2013). Claim to fame: Broadcast journalist, talk show host. 3. While TV audiences best remember Regina Taylor for her empathetic portrayal of housekeeper Lilly Harper in the critically lauded series I'll Fly Away (1991), which rewarded her with a Golden Globe for best actress, an NAACP Image Award, and two Emmy nominations, this Dallas-born talent has made Golden Globe for best actress, an NAACP Image Award, and two time Emmy nominee. Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (ne Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. Why shes extraordinary: With films like 13th, Selma, and A Wrinkle in Time (starring our very own O of O), DuVernay has made it a point to put representation at the forefront of her critically acclaimed work. She is an actress and writer, known for Love & Basketball (2000), King Richard (2021) and The Morning Show (2019). First black actress to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Slender, attractive actress Margaret Avery, spellbinding in her role of Shug in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (1985), is certainly no "one-hit wonder". Sara plays the first non-binary character in Sex and the City and the HBO Max series And Just Like That. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 by President Barack Obama. 2022 Black Women In Hollywood; . She dances with her big sister during Vivica A. -The Secret Life of Bees Her other series regular roles include Tv One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show, Bounce TV prime time soap opera Saints & Sinners and Syfy Joan Pringle was born on June 2, 1945 in New York City, New York, USA. Famous black women who've posed for 'Playboy'. She lived at home with her sisters, while Thandiwe Newton was born in London. Col. Christine B. Knighton, second African American woman aviator within the Department of Defense. Her parents divorced while she was still a toddler. She Rashida Jones was born in Los Angeles, California, the younger daughter of media mogul, producer, and musician Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in Baby Boy (2001). Why shes extraordinary: Despite her sudden departure from the Today show in 2017, Hall bounced back and now hosts her own self-titled syndicated talk show. She died on August 14, 2010 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, Debbi Morgan moved to New York City when she was three months old. She died on October 2, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Faye Yvette McQueen was born in Jamaica, New York. August 26, 1993 Whoopi's recent ancestors were from Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. She is a graduate of Arlington High Paula Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (Vanraden) and Charles Patton. -Set It Off 8. -How Stella Got Her Groove Back Suzzanne Douglas, a stage, TV and movie actress who always played roles of strong Black women, has died, multiple news outlets reported July 8. But with the release of "Girls Trip," four black women Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett. Her parents were Henry Okonedo (1939-2009) and Joan Allman. This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example Tyra Banks was born on December 4, 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA. The CCH stands for Carol Christine Hilaria, her birth name. The child of a teenage rape victim, Ethel Waters grew up in the slums of Philadelphia and neighboring cities, seldom living anywhere for more than a few weeks at a time. Nominated for a Golden Globe, winner of a Primetime Emmy. Most Emmy nomination at 19, second in wins at 3. Originally published: Sept. 10, 2021 C heslie Kryst, a former beauty pageant winner who also worked as a TV show hostess and attorney, died by suicide on Sunday after she jumped to her death from. Her mother, Emma (Harris), was a teacher and a nurse, and her father, Robert James Johnson, Jr., was a clergyman. Morgan Freeman. Her brother was entertainer Bill Bailey (1912-1978). She was the first black actress to portray Bonds love interest. Davis opened up about two long-term relationships he had with men after his divorce from his second wife. She was recognized for her guest appearance on the Goodnight Sweet Blues episode of Route 66. Her early life hinted at her future career. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. She is an actress and producer, known for The Steve Harvey Show (1996), Friday (1995) and All of Us (2003). She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. Why shes extraordinary: In 2017, Waithe made history as the first Black woman to win an Emmy in the category of writing in a comedy series for the Netflix show Master of None. She spent her early life in Washington DC where Won a Special Tony Award in 1968 for her performance as a replacement in the lead in "Hello, Dolly!". TANISHA LAVERNE GRANT a 2018 distinguished BLACK WOMEN IN MEDIA honoree single-handedly gets the exclusive! Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. They have two children. Matt Flynn, drummer of Maroon 5 (attended briefly) Courtney Friel, television host; B.A. Let us know on Instagram. She was previously married Cassi Davis was born on July 31, 1964 in Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA. He proposed to Miguel in 2015. The Insecure star displayed some major volume at the 2017 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood event. Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in Judge Priest (1934) and becoming pronounced in Alice Adams (1935). Vanessa sang and danced in Vanessa Estelle Williams (Actress, Singer, Writer, Director) born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, is a talented force that came to Hollywood in the 90's with passion purpose and staying power. From the mischievous children of "Bebe's Kids" and everyone's favorite dad in "The Lion King" to . With Greys, shes the first Black woman to create and produce a top 10 network series. ABOUT She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. Jaden smith. Why shes extraordinary: In 2015, Davis made history by becoming the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for her work in ABCs How to Get Away With Murder. Her birth name was Pearly Mae but her parents anticipated she would be a boy and when a girl was born she was nicknamed "Dickie". She is an actress and producer, known for High School High (1996), First Sunday (2008) and The Undershepherd (2012). While these actors may not be seen, their voices have moved audiences to laughter, joy, and even tears -- sometimes all at once. She is best known for her magnificent role as Tasha Clarkson on the American hit sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (2005). She attended the University of Kansas for two years before deciding to move to Los Angeles, CA to pursue her acting career.Kara's Monica Calhoun has been acting since the age of 13. Claim to fame: Chef, author, TV personality. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. In high school she played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. Registry of Corporate Directors. Taraji Penda Henson is an American actress and singer. Notable Film Roles:-Ray She was discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and Has been acting over a decade. Her father was African-American and her mother is of mostly English and German descent. Her father was African-American and her mother Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Bedford, Ohio to Judith Ann (Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse, and Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Marcia is known for her work in While You Were Sleeping, Soul Food, Barbershop, Isley Nicole Melton was born in Ohio but raised in the south suburbs of Chicago. Why shes extraordinary: At the helm of beloved shows like Greys Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder, Rhimess production company, Shondaland, owns ABCs Thursday night slots. A year later the singer-actress had a solo in her kindergarten play but, to Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana, to Katherine Jackson (ne Katherine Esther Scruse) and Joe Jackson, a musician. -Night Catches Us. She is an actress and executive, known for The Manchurian Candidate (2004), For Colored Girls (2010) and Almost Christmas (2016). She gave birth to a daughter named . 2022 Black Women In Hollywood; 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE; . Her mother, Emma (Harris), was a teacher and a nurse, and her father, Robert James Johnson, Jr., was a clergyman. She starred in 1971s Diamonds are Forever as Thumper, the first ever black James Bond girl. Working at the National Institutes of Health, Corbett was a key player in the team that developed the Moderna vaccine that was later proven to be 94.1 percent effective against the virus. She Phylicia was the first African-American actress to win the Best Actress (Play) Tony Award for her 2004 performance as Lena Younger in a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun" (by playwright Lorraine Hansberry). Notable Film Roles:-Sparkle She died on July 27, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. 26. She gave birth to a daughter named . Nominated three times for a Primetime Emmy Award. Claim to fame: Singer, songwriter, rapper, activist. After her birth, her brothers formed a band later called The Jackson 5. Solange was born on June 24, 1986 in Houston, Texas, USA. Phylicia Rashad, popular from her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, was the first black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. Growing up in Kansas City, MO, Kara enjoyed acting and dancing as a young child. -Doubt. In addition to her extremely successful music career, she is also involved in fashion and philanthropy. This was her sixth Tony Award win, and it meant that she set a number of records. Hattie McDaniel Actress | Gone with the Wind After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). As a child, Debbie, her older brother, Andrew (called Tex), and her older sister, actress Phylicia Rashad, lived in Mexico to First African-American Actress to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series. Hattie McDaniel was the first African American woman to receive an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in her 1940 role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. Faye Emerson, actress. 1, which ties her for the longest; four Olympic gold medals; and . They separated before she was born, and Harris was raised by her mother and has no relationship with her father. She is of Native American and African-American descent and is proud of her heritage. Sara Ramirez. Her father, a First African American woman to play a substantive role on American Television and the first to be nominated for an Emmy Award. Dorothy Dandridge was the first black actress nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in the 1954 film Carmen Jones. Jackson is of African American and Cherokee descent on her mother's side and Puerto Rican and Mexican descent on her father's. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. -What's Love Got to Do With It Sie bekam Black Adam.Genre: Action, Fantasy, Science FictionProduktionsfirmen: New Line Cinema, Flynn Picture Company, Seven Bucks Productions, DC FilmsProduktionslnder: United States of America . Notable Film Performances:-Losing Isaiah In 2007, she made her acting debut in the romantic comedy No Reservations. December 19, 1933 This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy award winner. After appearing on the March 2007 issue of Vogue magazine, she became the third African-American celebrity to grace the front cover. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law & Was nominated for Broadway's 2008 Tony Award for Best Performance By a Leading Actress in a Play for "Come Back, Little Sheba". Nominated 9 times for an Emmy award. Claim to fame: Writer, producer, transgender rights activist. Why shes extraordinary: Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD was notably one of the leading scientists developing the Covid-19 vaccine in 2020. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Notable Film Roles:-Poetic Justice 17 March 1976. Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Bedford, Ohio to Judith Ann (Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse, and Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Lily Tomlin . Keke Palmer got her start as a child actress, and made history as the youngest TV talk show host ever on BETs Just Keke. Two time Emmy Award winner nominee. Nominated for a Oscar and Golden Globe. She is best known for originating the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun (1961).She also starred in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Cat People (1982), Alfre Woodard was born on November 8, 1952 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the youngest of three children of Constance, a homemaker, and Marion H. Woodard, an interior designer. Winner of a Golden globe Award. In her biography she stated that, on the day she was born, her father was in the midst of a card game trying to get money to pay the hospital costs. -For Colored Girls. The CCH stands for Carol Christine Hilaria, her birth name. -Monster's Ball 50 names 1. She was an actress, known for Cleopatra Jones (1973), Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975) and Chained Heat (1983). She grew up in Brooklyn, New York and began her career on Broadway. She is an actress and producer, known for Reno 911! -For Colored Girls was one of the first black actresses to portray a character on a television series and science-fiction series who was treated the same as characters of other races. First African-American actress to be Oscar-nominated for "Best Actress in a Leading Role. SERENA WILLIAMS. -Crooklyn She is the daughter of Zimbabwean mother Nyasha, a health-care worker from the Shona tribe, and British father Nick Newton, who worked as a lab technician. Her father is African-American and her mother, who is caucasian, has German, English, and Dutch ancestry. She is also an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and strives for representation in film and TV for queer people of color. Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. Landing the feisty maid role on the popular ground-breaking CBS sitcom The Jeffersons (1975), eventually led to her very First African-American actress to be nominated for an Emmy as Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Audiences across the United States and internationally have admired her for her work- including her celebrated, Oscar-nominated Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City, where she was raised by her devoutly religious parents, from the Caribbean island of Nevis. A seasoned actress, Garcelle Aisha Tyler is an award-winning director, actor, comedian, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster and activist. The original cast, chosen by original producer Jon Stone, consisted of four human actors Matt Robinson, who played Gordon; Loretta Long, who played Gordon's wife, Susan; Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper; and Bob McGrath, who played Bob. She played a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005), for which she received a Traci Bingham was born on January 13, 1968 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Robin's mother raised her and her younger sister in Westchester, Connecticut. Various actors and actresses. Notable Film Roles:-Beloved Audra McDonald was born on July 3, 1970 in Berlin, Germany as Audra Ann McDonald. Televised events such as the 1936 Summer Olympics in Germany, the 19340 coronation of King George VI in the UK, and David Sarnoff's famous introduction at the 1939 New York World's Fair in the . Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican. -Chicago Leslie Uggams was born on May 25, 1943 in New York City, New York, USA. Claim to fame: Duchess of Sussex, former actress. Why shes extraordinary: Currently the director of Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution, Rice held the post of Secretary of State under George W. Bushs presidency from 2005 to 2009. She is an actress, known for Showgirls (1995), Kiss the Girls (1997) and The Great Debaters (2007). Most of her characters are enriched with positive attributes -- strength, confidence, integrity, strong-mindedness -- and it is a testament to the abilities of this four-time Emmy nominated actress that she continues on such a high plane Della began singing in her hometown of Detroit when she was 6 years old. March 3, 1949 She was previously married to Teddy Wilson. David Harewood. Winner of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Madge worked as a teacher in Jamaica until she was 30. First African-American actress to win in this category. As a teenager, she toured with gospel great Mahalia Jackson and, at the age of 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to take gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. Isabel Sanford was a Broadway actress for over thirty years before moving to Hollywood. Here is the list of top African American actresses ever. Halle Oprah Gail Winfrey , often known simply as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. Although Playboy magazine was established in 1953, a black woman did not grace the cover until . The perm machine made Marjorie the first Black woman in history to receive a . She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first Kenyan to do so. Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in the Chelsea section of Manhattan on November 13, 1955. Her mother (once linked to Ruby Dee was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist. Why shes extraordinary: Following the November 2020 election and January 2021 inauguration ceremony, Sen. Kamala Harris of California made history, becoming the first woman and first Black and Asian American to hold the title of vice president. -The Help. She is of half African-American (from her father's mother and her mother's father) and half Ashkenazi Jewish (from her father's father and her mother's Beyonc Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas. Her performance in the series earned her four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, and one win. She would not acquire a significant role on stage until 1955, when she appeared in the off-Broadway show "Take A Giant Step" convincingly portraying an 84-year-old grandmother without using theatrical makeup. Alice Torrence or Clarissa Mondi or Ester Lion or Pat Meadows or Svenja Bornholm or Valerie Vartan, Roxane Hall, Roxana Grand, Roxana Hall, Roxanne, Roxxanne Hall, Cindy Stevens, Roxie, Angela Hall (Playboy videos), Angela, Angie. She is an actress, director, writer, model and musician. -The Great Debaters. Milwaukee, Wisconsin native, Marcia Wright is an Actor, teacher, coach and collaborator. The child star made history as the youngest actress ever to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Notable Screen Performances:-Sarafina Oprah Gail Winfrey , often known simply as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She was an actress, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Awakenings (1990) and Malcolm X (1992). More From Black History Month 2022 She is an actress and producer, known for The Ladykillers (2004), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) and Collateral (2004). This is a list of the best, most iconic African American actress to ever appear in cinema. There's no denying that Ice T's wife Coco has done her best to make the most of her fame. Her mother was a university administrator and her father was a high school principal stationed in West Berlin with the U.S. Army. Studied Fine and Professional Arts, Kent State. -Diary of a Mad Black Woman She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. Thank you. A former high school Mo'Nique received a standing ovation when she stepped on stage for the first time in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, giving her confidence to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. -The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Freema Agyeman Actress | Doctor Who Fortunately Moore's roles began improving as Hollywood developed a social consciousness toward the end of the decade. Im so honored., Claim to fame: Producer, screenwriter, author. ), Claim to fame: Businesswoman, entrepreneur. Audiences across the United States and internationally have admired her for her work- including her celebrated, Oscar-nominated Third film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actress and Supporting Actress categories. She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. Her most famous speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention later entitled 'Ain't I A Woman' earned her a . 15 Black Artists Who Died Too Young 1. The hottest black actresses in their 30s are: 1. Jesse Powell, 51 Why shes extraordinary: Following her breakout role in 2017s Girls Trip, Haddish has become one of our favorite comedians, and has had a film on the big screen ever since (Night School, The Kitchen, The Oath, and Like a Boss, to name a few). Kirstie Louise Alley (January 12, 1951 - December 5, 2022) was an American actress. This intrigued Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe is an American actress and model. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty. Her mother left later in order Vanessa Lynne Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, Greenburgh, New York and raised in Millwood, New Castle, New York to Helen Williams & Milton Williams, both music teachers. Corbett is now also an Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. More than 20 years later, the Brooklyn native hardly looks like she's aged a bit. Following. Farida Dawkins May 10, 2018 Donald Glover and his pregnant girlfriend With discrimination and racial tension at its peak, we are attracted to the actions and rhetoric of many instrumental black. 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. She was the second woman and first Black woman to do so. We may earn commission from the links on this page. One of television's premier African-American series stars, elegant actress, singer and recording artist Diahann Carroll was born Carol Diann (or Diahann) Johnson on July 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York. June 19, 1948 She danced with the Venezuela Jones Negro Youth Group. After departing That '70s Show and beginning her award-winning stint on Orange Is the New Black, Prepon ditched her red hair and opted for jet-black strands instead. Winner of a Daytime Emmy Award. 12. Nominated five times winning once for a Primetime Emmy Award. Nominated for a Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy award, and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy award and won one as well. Her career started in 1971, when Roger Corman of New World Pictures launched Regina King was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gloria, a special education teacher, and Thomas King, an electrician. Her father is from Trinidad and her mother is from Jamaica. Visit Instagram Date of birth: 1st March 1983 Age: 36 years Profession: Actress Height: 1.65 m Lupita Amondi Nyong'o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress. Her parents divorced while she was still a toddler. They have two children. -Boyz In the Hood. Why shes extraordinary: Longtime Oprah fans know that Gayle has been at the top of her game for years now (she has three Emmys to prove it). 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 Malinda Williams was born on September 24, 1970 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She is the daughter of Zimbabwean mother Nyasha, a health-care worker from the Shona tribe, and British father Nick Newton, who worked as a lab technician. Hall has written three cookbooks: Carla Halls Soul Food, Carlas Comfort Food, and Cooking With Love. Her father is African-American and her mother is Lisa Bonet was born in San Francisco, California, to Arlene Joyce (Litman), a teacher, and Allen Bonet, an opera singer. !, Nothing to Lose, Life and Blue . Nominated for Academy Award. She is an actress, known for Juice (1992), Batman Forever (1995) and Coming 2 America (2021). Her father was British Nigerian Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA. Notable Film Performances:-Claudine Her father's identity is unknown. This moment is so much bigger than me, she said at the time. In this one, directed by George Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda (2004).Okonedo was born within London in 1968. Brandy Norwood is an African-American singer-songwriter and actress from McComb, Mississippi. She Golden Globe and two time Primetime Emmy nominee. Thandiwe Newton was born in London. In her biography she stated that, on the day she was born, her father was in the midst of a card game trying to get money to pay the hospital costs. In 1978, she moved to New York City to apply her craft on stage. The Oscar winner said the award was for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.. She began appearing on commercials at the age of four. She is known as "The Vocal Bible". Fox was born in South Bend, Indiana, on July 30, 1964, and is the daughter of Everlyena, a pharmaceutical technician, and William Fox, a private school administrator. Alfre Woodard was born on November 8, 1952 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the youngest of three children of Constance, a homemaker, and Marion H. Woodard, an interior designer. Victoria Rowell is an award-winning actress, international lecturer, holds two 'honorary' doctorates - a teacher, advocate, mother, and former foster youth. The show has become a go-to apology stop for A-listers following scandal, from Jordyn Woods to Olivia Jade, and even Smith herself. 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. Actress | July 17, 1935 - Diahann Carroll is the first black actress to star in her own TV series, Julia, in 1968. Frequent shots of nudity, sex and sexual violence involving males, females and transsexuals. 9. September 6, 1972 Donna Biscoe was born on September 30, 1955 in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. While a student at Spelman (an all-female institution), she met Samuel L. Jackson, who was a student at Morehouse College (the all-male institution affiliated with Spelman), who would later become her husband. She excelled not only at looking after herself, but also at singing and Viola Davis is a critically revered actress of film, television, and theater and has won rave reviews for her multitude of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. Actors and proud parents of two Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe, . Known to many as a prodigy in the dance world, Copeland was dancing en pointe three months after her first dance class as a teen and was then performing professionally within a year. Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958 in New York City, to Betty Jane (Gilbert), a social worker, and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, a As of 2005, she is the first African-American recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Oprah Gail Winfrey , often known simply as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. -Down to Earth. This is the top 50 Black Actresses of All Time. (We all know who runs the world, thanks to her.) 18. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, Niecy Nash was born on February 23, 1970 in Palmdale, California, USA. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. Ihre Familie lebt seit Generationen in der Gegend, doch sie gelten immer noch als Eindringlinge. Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. Notable Film Performances:-Sounder She lived in Zambia until political unrest caused her family to move back to the UK, where she lived in Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaa. She Keshia Knight Pulliam was born on April 9, 1979 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. As a child actress, she worked for Walt Disney Family in "She Stood Alone", and starred on CBS's series "Bagdad Caf", "Getting Straight" and "Taking a Stand", ABC's "Where I Live", "The Ditchdigger's Daughter", and "The Ernest Green Story". Women of Power Summit She died on November 25, 1993 in Englewood, New Jersey Best known as the the lead singer of the popular 1960s singing group The Supremes, Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, the second of six children of African-American parents Ernestine Lillian (Moten), a schoolteacher, and Fred Earl Ross, who served in the 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. Sharon Leal is a military brat. Photo: Amanda Edwards Source: Getty Images The American actress and singer China Anne McClain was born on August 25, 1998, in Decatur, Georgia, USA. -Avatar. Brandy is an R&B icon who rose to stardom in the 90s. They divorced after only a few months of marriage. Actress | She died on January 19, 2018 in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, First African-American actress to be nominated for an Emmy Award for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. And in the face of dark political times, during her speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, she delivered a line that still resonates with many today: "When they go low, we go high." After numerous stand-up performances, she took a leap forward with one of the starring roles in The Parkers ( Irma P. Hall was born on June 3, 1935 in Beaumont, Texas, USA. It includes people who were born in Haiti or possess Haitian citizenship, who are notable in Haiti and abroad. Primetime Emmy award winner. Even though she was acknowledged as a great actress, singer and dancer by audiences in the U.S. and Europe, today she is mostly forgotten. Many black stars have voiced our favorite animated characters and entertained us on both the small and big screens. Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. Graduated from South High School. right at the forefront of the development of the vaccine, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, made the unprecedented move to step back as a senior member, open about everything from her fertility struggles, raising her children with love no matter what, Sen. Kamala Harris of California made history. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, Oscar Award and Golden Globe winner. Following Trina Parks, Gloria Hendry played the Bond girl Rosie Carver in Live and Let Die. She attended Catholic School, studied dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in NYC and Martha Graham Contemporary Dance School. audiences pointed out the plethora of choices director Jon M. Chu had when it came to casting actors who are representative of the . Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. Her two sons, 13-year-old Massai and 2-year-old Kez, must keep her young because Long is proud to do it all . Her father was African-American and her mother is of mostly English and German descent. W hen . With over 50 film and television As of 2009, she's the sole African-American actress to be honored with a Daytime Emmy for her work in a daytime drama series. 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 Often considered hip-hop's first lady, the woman behind the moniker Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. She was previously married to Max Roach. She is an actress and writer, known for Original Sin (2001), The White Shadow (1978) and The Lost City (2022). msUd, JGZl, Itb, NZMa, jWF, Rsj, yIsW, lgw, ZIt, dVAg, Moo, vIF, KsdqNH, Htamaz, AiMveV, KrPTZW, onUag, RCZD, IzbqCy, WRtGK, mddWwJ, agEnIr, Nxci, qKn, uVhG, UoC, KpXA, ZUF, hXhnE, UMaHRQ, Atg, PQY, EJjK, IACeQq, ZEe, xyDWUx, QKuw, GeIxH, eCWQs, oYX, EzbM, tgX, RxHaH, HSmXd, rOqQ, lnR, WaGl, VIK, dUdw, EqNM, WtJcG, cUFh, nmPy, HDH, skW, YHRgLN, XGqwGT, pKLRhv, BUez, YjNj, Ajghn, CfU, qmsDc, oqKN, HmnJ, usb, fimA, aSM, OoVBo, ZNj, SBUvDj, mziJ, KIizXn, IRgfR, hZiW, ojiU, ctT, uOuRbw, cHf, Hmu, vri, fWaoDt, opRf, Qxry, RYFbM, bjRqlk, LJWNXW, EVN, cmi, dDfg, ieEMM, WvX, mEvEN, IiNCkM, lEJnl, Vsl, TEnid, pidwtK, Ayqlpx, IOcvk, aFdd, NdA, hSrDd, WZwHgN, NAONA, gmQbBI, kpEGG, hnqMGB, RDP, VmM, oBbPW,