List of African-American actors facts for kids

This article is a list of famous African-American actors. These are people who have acted in movies, TV shows, or plays and are well-known for their work. The list is organized in alphabetical order by their last names, making it easy to find your favorite stars!

Famous African-American Actors

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
• 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

• Anita Baker, singer
• Jaylen Barron, actress (her background is half African-American, half Mexican)
• Michael Boatman, actor and comedian
• Beyoncé, actress and singer
• Leslie David Baker, actor
• Tyra Banks, actress and model
• Spencer Bell, actor
• B.G., rapper
• Peabo Bryson, singer
• Louise Beavers, actress
• Birdman, rapper
• Everett Brown, actor
• Jim Brown, actor
• Malcolm Barrett, actor
• Philip Bailey, singer
• Toni Braxton, singer
• James Baskett, actor
• Roscoe Lee Browne, actor
• Avery Brooks, actor
• LeVar Burton, actor
• Tony Burton, actor
• Fantasia Barrino, actress and singer
• Angela Bassett, actress
• Troian Bellisario (her mother is partly African-American), actress
• Steelo Brim actor and comedian
• Lloyd Banks, actor
• George Benson, singer
• Michael Beach, actor
• Richard Brooks, actor
• Jennifer Beals (her father was African-American), actress
• Darryl M. Bell, actor
• Paul Benjamin, actor
• Wayne Brady, actor and comedian
• Todd Bridges, actor
• Fred Berry, actor
• Halle Berry, actress
• Lisa Bonet (her father was African-American), actress
• Stephen Bishop, actor
• Billy Blanks, actor
• Golden Brooks, actress
• Busta Rhymes, actor
• De'Aundre Bonds, actor
• Joy Bryant, actress
• Chadwick Boseman, actor
• Sterling K. Brown, actor
• Mehcad Brooks, actor
• Neil Brown Jr., actor
• Logan Browning, actress
• Trai Byers, actor
• Danielle Brooks, actress
• Cocoa Brown, actress
• Rob Brown, actor
• Zazie Beetz (her mother is African-American), actress
• Rhyon Nicole Brown, actress
• Jurnee Smollett-Bell (her mother is African-American), actress
• Big Daddy Kane, rapper
• Yvette Nicole Brown, actress
• Big Gipp, rapper
• Roger Aaron Brown, actor
• Hannibal Buress, actor and comedian
• BabyFace, singer
• Sharon Bryant, R&B singer
• Bone Crusher, Hip Hop rapper

C

• Judy Cheeks, singer
• Nick Cannon, actor
• CL Smooth, actor
• Nell Carter, actress
• Amanda and Samuel Chambers, early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah
• Bill Cobbs, actor
• Bill Cosby, actor
• Common, actor
• Deon Cole, actor
• Natalie Cole, actress
• Nat King Cole, actor
• Olivia Cole, actress
• Chad L. Coleman, actor
• Gary Coleman, actor and comedian
• Monique Coleman, actress
• Mike Colter, actor
• Sean Combs, actor
• Alvin Childress, actor
• L. Scott Caldwell, actress
• Cab Calloway, actor
• Vanessa Bell Calloway, actress
• Scatman Crothers, actor
• Rupert Crosse, actor
• Mariah Carey, (her father was African-American) actress
• Diahann Carroll, actress
• Rocky Carroll, actor
• Bernie Casey, actor
• Rosalind Cash, actress and singer
• Reg E. Cathey, actor
• Ray Charles, actor
• Dave Chappelle, actor and comedian
• Don Cheadle, actor
• Bill Cosby, actor and comedian
• Laverne Cox, transgender actress
• Tony Cox, actor
• Rusty Cundieff, actor
• Mark Curry, actor
• Lavell Crawford, actor and comedian
• Chi-Ali, rapper
• Kim Coles, actress
• Ice Cube, actor
• Morris Chestnut, actor
• Chingy, rapper
• Frances Callier, actress
• Wyatt Cenac, (his father was African-American)
• Zendaya Coleman (her father was African-American), actress and singer

D

• Deezer D, actor and rapper
• Dr. Dre, actor
• Jude Demorest, actress
• Dres, rapper
• DJ Yella, disc jockey and rapper
• Ava DuVernay, film director
• Danny Boy, rapper
• Darryl McDaniels, actor
• DJ Kay Gee, rapper
• Teala Dunn, actress
• Yaya DaCosta, actress
• Daveed Diggs (his father was African-American), actor
• Colman Domingo (his mother is African-American), actor
• Charles Michael Davis (half African-American), actor
• Taye Diggs, actor
• Hugh Dane, actor
• Tommy Davidson, actor
• Keith David, actor and comedian
• Stacey Dash (her father was African-American), actress
• Doug E. Fresh (his sister is Brazilian-African-American), beatboxer and rapper
• Viola Davis, actress
• D-Nice, actor
• LaVan Davis, actor
• Cassi Davis, actor
• DMX, actor and rapper
• Gary Dourdan, actor
• Michael Dorn, actor
• Tommy Davidson, actor and comedian
• Omar Dorsey, actor
• Nate Dogg, actor
• Snoop Dogg, actor
• Michael Clarke Duncan, actor
• Suzzanne Douglas, actress
• Denise Dowse, actress and director
• Ja'Net DuBois, actress
• Charles S. Dutton, actor
• Loretta Devine, actress
• Ivan Dixon, actor, director, producer
• Ruby Dee, actress
• Ossie Davis, actor
• Sammy Davis Jr., actor

E

• Michael Ealy, actor
• Nelsan Ellis, actor
• Cedric the Entertainer, actor and comedian
• Mike Epps, comedian and actor
• Omar Epps, actor
• E-40, actor
• Art Evans, actor
• Eric B., actor
• Damon Evans, actor
• Mike Evans, actor

F

• David Fagen, buffalo soldier, anti-imperialist
• Dave Fennoy, actor
• Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, actor
• Jordan Fisher, actor
• Edwina Findley, actress
• Laurence Fishburne, actor
• Freddie Foxxx, actor
• Thomas Mikal Ford, actor and comedian
• Fat Joe, actor
• Ken Foree, actor
• Jamie Foxx, actor
• Jaimee Foxworth, actress
• Redd Foxx, comedian and actor
• Roberta Flack, singer
• Al Freeman Jr., actor and director
• Morgan Freeman, actor
• Jennifer Freeman (her mother is African-American), actress
• Aretha Franklin, actress
• Sheila Frazier, actress
• Kim Fields, actress
• Vivica A. Fox, actress

G

• Larry Graham, singer
• Johnny Gill, singer
• Roy Glenn, actor
• Robert Guillaume, actor
• Ron Glass, actor
• Grandmaster Flash, rapper and disc jockey
• Marla Gibbs, actress
• Tyrese Gibson, actor
• Seth Gilliam, actor
• Lawrence Gilliard Jr., actor
• Clarence Gilyard, actor
• Robin Givens, actress
• Danny Glover, actor
• Donald Glover, actor
• Cuba Gooding Jr., actor
• Cuba Gooding Sr., actor
• Omar Gooding, actor
• Whoopi Goldberg, actress
• Grand Puba, rapper
• Carl Gordon, actor
• GZA, rapper
• Louis Gossett Jr., actor
• Ghostface Killah, rapper
• Robert Gossett, actor
• Kat Graham, actress
• Sonequa Martin-Green, actress
• David Alan Grier, actor
• Pam Grier, actress
• Rosey Grier, actor
• Teresa Graves, actress
• Dick Gregory, comedian and actor
• Eddie Griffin, actor
• Lance Gross (his mother is African-American), actor
• Bill Gunn, actor and director
• Moses Gunn, actor
• Jasmine Guy, actress

H

• D'atra Hicks, actress and singer
• Taral Hicks, actress and singer
• Karim Hill, actor and tap dancer
• Steve Harvey, comedian and actor
• Hill Harper, actor
• Corey Hawkins, actor
• D.L. Hughley, comedian and actor
• Dorian Harewood, actor
• Kadeem Hardison, actor and director
• Jackee Harry (her father was African-American), actress
• Brian Tyree Henry, actor
• Telma Hopkins, actress and singer
• Tiffany Haddish (her mother is African-American), actress
• Cory Hardrict, actor
• Kene Holliday, actor
• André Holland, actor
• Kevin Hart, actor
• Arsenio Hall, actor
• Pooch Hall, actor
• Regina Hall, actress
• Vondie Curtis-Hall, actor
• Sherman Hemsley, actor
• Darrin Henson, actor
• Jillian Hervey, singer and dancer
• Taraji P. Henson, actress
• Russell Hornsby, actor
• Omari Hardwick, actor
• Terrance Howard, actor
• Dennis Haysbert, actor
• Isaac Hayes, actor
• Lloyd Haynes, actor
• William Jackson Harper, actor and comedian
• Robert Hooks, actor
• Gregory Hines, actor
• Marques Houston, actor
• Whitney Houston, actress
• Paige Hurd (her father was African-American), actress
• Ernie Hudson, actor
• Jennifer Hudson, actress
• Dennis Haysbert, actor

I

• Rex Ingram, actor
• Inspectah Deck, rapper
• Ida B. Wells, author

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
• Michael B. Jordan, actor
• Skai Jackson, actress
• Trevor Jackson, actor
• Jackson family, entertainment
• Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, actor
• Ralph Johnson, singer
• Raymond St. Jacques, actor
• Jazze Pha, rapper and Hip Hop producer
• Bryton James, actor
• Jay-Z, rapper
• Roy Jones Jr., actor
• Duane Jones, actor
• Rashida Jones, actress
• Tamala Jones, actress
• Ja Rule, rapper
• April Parker Jones, actress
• Anne-Marie Johnson, actress
• Dwayne Johnson, actor
• Rafer Johnson, actor
• Irving Jones, comedian and songwriter
• Orlando Jones, actor
• James Earl Jones, actor
• Nadji Jeter, actor
• Barry Jenkins, director, producer, screenwriter
• Larry "Flash" Jenkins, actor, director, producer, screenwriter
• Terrence Jenkins, actor
• Anne-Marie Johnson (her father was African-American), actress
• Kristoff St. John, actor
• LL Cool J, actor

K

• Chaka Khan, singer
• R. Kelly, former singer and actor
• Jim Kelly, actor
• Khujo, rapper
• Malcolm David Kelley, actor
• Killer Mike, rapper
• Keegan-Michael Key, actor and comedian
• Wiz Khalifa, actor
• Christel Khalil (her mother is African-American), actress
• Kool G Rap, rapper
• Aja Naomi King, actress
• Regina King, actress
• Kap G, actor
• Eartha Kitt, actress
• KRS-One, actor
• Gladys Knight, actress
• Jak Knight, actor, comedian and writer
• The Kidd Creole, rapper
• Boris Kodjoe, Austrian-American actor of German and Ghanaian descent
• Lenny Kravitz, actor
• Zoe Kravitz, actress

L

• Patti LaBelle, actress
• Phil LaMarr, actor and comedian
• Ted Lange, actor
• Tina Lifford, actress
• Sanaa Lathan, actress
• Jacob Latimore, actor
• Martin Lawrence, actor and comedian
• Scott Lawrence, actor
• Bianca Lawson, actress
• Lauren London (her mother is African-American), actress
• Sharon Leal (her father was African-American), actress
• Spike Lee, film director, producer, writer, actor
• John Legend, actor and producer
• Harry Lennix (his mother is African-American), actor
• Dawnn Lewis, actress
• Phill Lewis, actor and comedian
• Jenifer Lewis, actress
• Tommy Lister Jr., actor
• Darlene Love, actress
• Loni Love, comedienne
• Lord Jamar, actor
• Ludacris, actor
• Lil Jon, rapper
• Ed Lover, rapper and actor

M

• Anthony Mackie, actor
• Method Man, actor
• David Mann, actor
• Tamela Mann, actress
• Mannie Fresh, Hip Hop producer
• John Marriott, actor
• Don Marshall, actor
• William Marshall, actor and 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
• Shane Paul McGhie, (his mother is African-American), actor
• Brian McKnight, singer
• Tim Meadows, actor
• Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (her mother is African-American), actress and humanitarian, wife of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
• Melle Mel, actor and rapper
• Kelvin Mercer, rapper and actor
• Method Man, actor
• Draya Michele (her father was African-American), actress
• Windell Middlebrooks, actor
• Omar Benson Miller, actor
• Wentworth Miller, actor
• Daryl Mitchell, actor
• Jason Mitchell, actor
• Monica, actress
• Victoria Monét(her mother is African-American), R&B singer
• Paul Mooney, comedian and actor
• Juanita Moore, actress
• Shemar Moore, actor
• Debbi Morgan, actress
• Tracy Morgan, actor
• Garrett Morris, comedian and actor
• Greg Morris, actor
• Lamorne Morris, actor
• Joe Morton, actor
• Phil Moore, actor and TV host
• Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian
• Eddie Murphy, actor and comedian
• Ali Shaheed Muhammad, actor
• Lou Myers, actor

N

• Niecy Nash, actress
• Tariq Nasheed, film producer
• Naturi Naughton, actress
• Nichelle Nichols, actress
• Nelly, rapper
• Maidie Norman, actress
• Normani, singer
• Brandy Norwood, actress
• Bill Nunn, actor

O

• Jeffrey Osborne, singer
• Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian
• Shaquille O'Neal, actor

P

• LaWanda Page, actress
• Keke Palmer, actress
• John Paris, singer
• Kyla Pratt, actress
• Allen Payne, actor
• Jo Marie Payton, actress
• Pete Rock, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
• Tyler Perry, actor, comedian, filmmaker
• Melvin Van Peebles, actor and filmmaker
• Holly Robinson Peete, actress
• Brock Peters, actor
• Jo Marie Payton, actress
• Khary Payton, actor
• Angel Parker, actress
• Nicole Ari Parker, actress
• Teyonah Parris, actress
• Paula Patton (her father was African-American), actress
• Jordan Peele, actor and comedian
• Nathan Pelle, actor
• Paul Pena, singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Madison Pettis (her father was African-American), actress and model
• Wendell Pierce, actor
• Jay Pharoah, actor
• Glenn Plummer, actor
• Clifton Powell, actor
• Kyla Pratt, actress
• Billy Preston, actor
• J. A. Preston, actor
• Prince, actor
• Joan Pringle, actress
• Richard Pryor, actor and comedian
• Mekhi Phifer, actor

Q

• Q-Tip, actor and Hip Hop producer
• Questlove, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
• Queen Latifah, rapper and actress

R

• Issa Rae (her mother is African-American), actress and comedienne
• Dianne Reeves, singer
• Marion Ramsey, actress
• Gina Ravera (part African-American descent) actress
• Lou Rawls, actor
• Gene Anthony Ray, actor
• Lance Reddick, actor
• Della Reese, actress and singer
• Rakim, rapper
• Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress and comedian
• Chance The Rapper, rapper
• Tim Reid, actor
• Corey Reynolds, actor
• James Reynolds, actor
• Ving Rhames, actor
• Rihanna, singer
• Naya Rivera (a quarter African-American descent), actress and singer
• 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
• Leonard Roberts, actor
• Paul Robeson, actor
• Bumper Robinson, actor
• Charlie Robinson, actor
• Craig Robinson, actor and comedian
• Jimmy Robinson, actor
• Leon Robinson, actor
• Matt Robinson, actor and producer
• Roger Robinson, actor
• Raekwon, rapper
• Smokey Robinson, singer
• Chris Rock, actor and comedian
• Timmie Rogers, comedian and actor
• RZA, actor
• Roxie Roker, actress
• Joseph Simmons, actor
• Esther Rolle, actress
• Howard Rollins, actor
• Anika Noni Rose, actress
• Diana Ross, actress and singer
• Evan Ross (his mother is African-American), actor
• Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, model, comedian
• Victoria Rowell (her father was African-American), actress
• Richard Roundtree, actor
• RuPaul, actor
• Nipsey Russell, comedian
• Trevante Rhodes, actor

S

• Shanice, singer
• Sisqo, rapper singer
• Zoe Saldana, actress
• Amanda Seales (her father was African-American), actress and comedian
• Isabel Sanford, actress and comedian
• Brandon Scott, actor
• Beanie Sigel, rapper
• Yara Shahidi (her mother is African-American), actress and Harvard student
• Tupac Shakur, actor and rapper
• Sherri Shepherd, actress and comedian
• O. J. Simpson, actor
• Sadat X, rapper
• Sinbad, actor and comedian
• John Singleton, director, producer, screenwriter
• IronE Singleton, actor
• Isaac C. Singleton Jr., actor
• Alexandra Slade, actress
• Slick Rick, rapper, actor and beatboxer
• Bubba Smith, actor
• Brian Michael Smith, actor
• Jada Pinkett Smith (her father was African-American), actress and singer-songwriter
• 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 (her father was African-American), actress and director
• Jordin Sparks, actress
• Octavia Spencer, actress
• Bern Nadette Stanis, actress
• Woody Strode, actor
• Tika Sumpter, actress
• Wanda Sykes, actress and comedian
• Jessica Szohr, actress
• Carly Simon, singer
• Lil Scrappy: Hip hop

T

• Larenz Tate, actor
• Mr. T, actor
• Meshach Taylor, actor
• T.I., actor
• Nathaniel Taylor, actor
• Ron Taylor, actor
• Whitney Tyson, actress and comedian
• Lynne Thigpen, actress
• David Jude Jolicoeur, actor
• Cora Ann Pair Thomas, missionary
• T-Mo, rapper
• Tone-Loc, rapper and actor
• Leon Thomas III, actor
• Treach, rapper
• Michelle Thomas, actress and comedian
• Tony Yayo, actor
• Ernest Lee Thomas, actor
• Kenan Thompson, actor and comedian
• Tony Todd, actor
• Berlinda Tolbert, actress
• Chris Tucker, actor and comedian
• Glynn Turman, actor
• The Game, rapper
• Tina Turner, actress and singer
• Tyler, the Creator, actor

U

• Blair Underwood, actor
• Sheryl Underwood, actress and comedian
• Usher, actor and singer

V

• Courtney B. Vance, actor
• Ben Vereen, actor, dancer, singer
• Vin Rock, rapper
• Reginald VelJohnson, actor

W

• Eugene Wilde, singer
• Jimmie Walker, actor
• Bill Walker, actor
• Stevie Wonder, singer
• Vincent M. Ward, actor
• Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor
• 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 (her father was African-American), actress
• Marlon Wayans, actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer
• Damon Wayans, comedian, actor, writer and producer
• Damon Wayans Jr., actor and comedian
• Shawn Wayans, actor, comedian, writer, producer
• Lil Wayne, actor
• Carl Weathers, actor
• Forest Whitaker, actor
• Charles Malik Whitfield, actor
• Lynn Whitfield, actress
• Jaleel White, actor and comedian
• Billy Dee Williams, actor
• Deniece Williams, singer
• Clarence Williams III, actor
• 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
• Rutina Wesley, actress
• 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 and media executive
• Jeffrey Wright, actor
• Samuel E. Wright, actor
• John Witherspoon, actor and comedian
• Alfre Woodard, actress
• Verdine White, singer and bassist

Y

• Cedric Yarbrough, comedian
• Yo-Yo, rapper
• Lee Thompson Young, actor
• Young Buck, rapper

See also

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

Images for kids

• 

  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