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






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
 * Darryl M. Bell, actor
 * Jurnee Smollett-Bell (African-American mother), actress
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * Drake, actor
 * 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

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

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, actor
 * 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
 * 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
 * Demetrius Grosse, actor
 * Robert Guillaume, actor
 * Bill Gunn, actor, director
 * Moses Gunn, actor
 * Jasmine Guy, actress
 * GZA, rapper

H

 * Tiffany Haddish (African-American mother), actress
 * Ilfenesh Hadera, actress
 * 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

 * Ice Cube, actor
 * Amber Iman, actor
 * Rex Ingram, actor
 * Inspectah Deck, rapper

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
 * Chaka Khan, singer
 * Kidd Creole, rapper
 * Killer Mike, rapper
 * Aja Naomi King, actress
 * Nika 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * Aaron Moten, actor
 * Mr. T, actor
 * Ali Shaheed Muhammad, actor/musician
 * Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian
 * Eddie Murphy, actor and comedian
 * Lou Myers, actor

N

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

O

 * Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian
 * Shaquille O'Neal, actor
 * Charles Olden, actor
 * Jeffrey Osborne, singer

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
 * 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
 * Pete Rock, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
 * Brock Peters, actor
 * Madison Pettis (African-American father), actress, model
 * 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

 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress
 * Richard Roundtree, actor
 * Andre Royo, 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
 * 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
 * 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

 * Blair Underwood, actor
 * Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian
 * Usher, actor, singer

V

 * Tru Valentino, actor
 * Courtney B. Vance, actor
 * Reginald VelJohnson, actor
 * Ben Vereen, actor, dancer, singer
 * Vin Rock, rapper

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
 * Jahi Di'Allo Winston, actor
 * John Witherspoon, actor, comedian
 * Stevie Wonder, singer
 * Alfre Woodard, actress
 * Jeffrey Wright, actor
 * Samuel E. Wright, actor

Y

 * Cedric Yarbrough, comedian
 * Malik Yoba, actor
 * Yo-Yo, rapper
 * Lee Thompson Young, actor
 * Young Buck, rapper