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.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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
• 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 (half Afro-American, half Mexican)
• Michael Boatman, actor and sitcom comedian
• Beyoncé, actress and singer
• Leslie David Baker, actor
• Tyra Banks, actress, 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 (mother is part African-American descent), actress
• Steelo Brim actor, comedian
• Lloyd Banks, actor
• George Benson, singer
• Michael Beach, actor
• Richard Brooks, actor
• Jennifer Beals (African-American father), actress
• Darryl M. Bell, actor
• Paul Benjamin, actor
• Wayne Brady, actor, comedian
• Todd Bridges, actor
• Fred Berry, actor
• Halle Berry, actress
• Lisa Bonet (African-American father), 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 (African-American mother), actress
• Rhyon Nicole Brown, actress
• Jurnee Smollett-Bell (African-American mother), 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, 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, (African-American father) 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, (African-American Father)
• Zendaya Coleman (African-American father), actress and singer

D

• Deezer D, actor, 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 (African-American father), actor
• Colman Domingo (African-American mother), actor
• Charles Michael Davis (half African-American), actor
• Taye Diggs, actor
• Hugh Dane, actor
• Tommy Davidson, actor
• Keith David, actor, comedian
• Stacey Dash (African-American father), actress
• Doug E. Fresh (Brazilian-African-American sister), beatboxer and rapper
• Viola Davis, actress
• D-Nice, actor
• LaVan Davis, actor
• Cassi Davis, actor
• DMX, actor, rapper
• Gary Dourdan, actor
• Michael Dorn, actor
• Tommy Davidson, actor, 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, comedian
• Fat Joe, actor
• Ken Foree, actor
• Jamie Foxx, actor
• Jaimee Foxworth, actress
• Redd Foxx, comedian, actor
• Roberta Flack, singer
• Al Freeman Jr., actor, director
• Morgan Freeman, actor
• Jennifer Freeman (African-American mother), 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, actor
• Eddie Griffin, actor
• Lance Gross (African-American mother), actor
• Bill Gunn, actor, director
• Moses Gunn, actor
• Jasmine Guy, actress

H

• D'atra Hicks, actress, singer
• Taral Hicks, actress, singer
• Karim Hill, actor and tap dancer
• Steve Harvey, comedian, actor
• Hill Harper, actor
• Corey Hawkins, actor
• D.L. Hughley, comedian, actor
• Dorian Harewood, actor
• Kadeem Hardison, actor, director
• Jackee Harry (African-American father), actress
• Brian Tyree Henry, actor
• Telma Hopkins, actress and singer
• Tiffany Haddish (African-American mother), 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, 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 (African-American father), 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 (African-American father), 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, comedian
• Wiz Khalifa, actor
• Christel Khalil (African-American mother), 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, comedian
• Ted Lange, actor
• Tina Lifford, actress
• Sanaa Lathan, actress
• Jacob Latimore, actor
• Martin Lawrence, actor, comedian
• Scott Lawrence, actor
• Bianca Lawson, actress
• Lauren London (African-American mother), actress
• Sharon Leal (African-American father), actress
• Spike Lee, film director, producer, writer, actor
• John Legend, actor, producer
• Harry Lennix (African-American mother), actor
• Dawnn Lewis, actress
• Phill Lewis, actor, 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, 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, (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
• Melle Mel, actor and rapper
• Kelvin Mercer, rapper and actor
• Method Man, actor
• Draya Michele (African-American father), actress
• 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
• Garrett Morris, comedian, 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, 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 (African-American father), actress
• Jordan Peele, actor, comedian
• Nathan Pelle, actor
• Paul Pena, singer-songwriter, guitarist
• Madison Pettis (African-American father), actress, 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, actress

R

• Issa Rae (African-American mother), actress, 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, 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, comedian
• Jimmy Robinson, actor
• Leon Robinson, actor
• Matt Robinson, actor, producer
• Roger Robinson, actor
• Raekwon, rapper
• Smokey Robinson, singer
• Chris Rock, actor and comedian
• Timmie Rogers, comedian, 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 (African-American mother), actor
• Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, model, comedian
• Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress
• Richard Roundtree, actor
• RuPaul, actor
• Nipsey Russell, comedian
• Trevante Rhodes, actor

S

• Shanice, singer
• Sisqo, rapper singer
• Zoe Saldana, actress
• Amanda Seales (African American father), actress, comedian
• Isabel Sanford, actress, comedian
• Brandon Scott, actor
• Beanie Sigel, rapper
• Yara Shahidi (African American mother), actress and Harvard student
• Tupac Shakur, actor, 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 (African-American father), actress, 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 (African-American father), 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, comedian
• Lynne Thigpen, actress
• David Jude Jolicoeur, actor
• Cora Ann Pair Thomas, missionary
• T-Mo, rapper
• Leon Thomas III, actor
• Treach, rapper
• Michelle Thomas, actress, comedian
• Tony Yayo, actor
• Ernest Lee Thomas, actor
• Kenan Thompson, actor, comedian
• Tony Todd, actor
• Berlinda Tolbert, actress
• Chris Tucker, actor, comedian
• Glynn Turman, actor
• The Game, rapper
• Tina Turner, actress, singer
• Tyler, the Creator, actor

U

• Blair Underwood, actor
• Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian
• Usher, actor, 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 (African-American father), actress
• Marlon Wayans, actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer
• Damon Wayans, comedian, actor, writer and producer
• Damon Wayans Jr., actor, 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, 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, media executive
• Jeffrey Wright, actor
• Samuel E. Wright, actor
• John Witherspoon, actor, comedian
• Alfre Woodard, actress
• Verdine White, singer, bassist

Y

• 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