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Kenya Barris

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Kenya Barris
Barris at the Peabody Award in 2016
Born (1974-08-09) August 9, 1974 (age 50)
Inglewood, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materClark Atlanta University
Occupation(s)Television producer, screenwriter
Notable workBlack-ish
Girls Trip
Spouse
Dr Rainbow Barris
​
​
(m. 1999; div. 2019)​
Children6

Kenya Barris (born August 9, 1974) is an American television writer and producer.

Early life and education

Barris was born in Inglewood, California,[1] and is an alumnus of Clark Atlanta University.[2][3]

Career

Barris has created numerous television shows, including the critically acclaimed Black-ish. The award-winning series has also two spin-offs, Grown-ish and Mixed-ish. He was a writer for The Game and Soul Food.[4][3][5] Barris co created and produced America's Next Top Model with Tyra Banks.[4] He penned the film Girls Trip. He co produced the 2019 film, Little.[6] He co wrote the screenplay for the 2019 theatrical release, Shaft.

In May 2019, it was announced that Barris will make his acting debut in a series developed by himself and ordered by Netflix. Titled #BlackAF, it will co star Rashida Jones.[7][8]

Awards

In 2019, Black-ish won several NAACP Image Awards. It was named best comedy series and Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson took acting honors. Black-ish was the winner of the Entertainment and Children's Peabody Award in 2016.[9] Barris and Black-ish also won the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.[10]

Barris was nominated for the same award in 2018. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2016, a Gold Derby Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television Comedy in 2016, and a PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy Black-ish in 2014.[11] In 2016, Barris won the Rod Serling Award for Advancing Social Justice Through Popular Media.[12]

In 2018, he donated $1 million to Clark Atlanta University, and was granted an honorary doctorate in humane letters.[13]

Personal life

He was married to Rania "Rainbow" Barris, an anesthesiologist and the inspiration behind Tracee Ellis Ross' character on Black-ish, but, on August 9, 2019, he filed for divorce.[14]

They have six children.

References

  1. ^ "Film Bio: Kenya Barris - The Talk - Race in America - PBS". 10 January 2017.
  2. ^ "You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes : Kenya Barris Returns".
  3. ^ a b "Kenya Barris On 'Black-ish' And What Kids Lose When They Grow Up With More".
  4. ^ a b Nussbaum, Emily (April 25, 2016). "In Living Color" – via The New Yorker.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 21, 2015). "'black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris Inks Overall Deal With ABC Studios".
  6. ^ Harriot, Michael (January 9, 2019). "#BlackGirlMagic: Black-ish Star Marsai Martin Set to Become Youngest Executive Producer in Hollywood History". The Grapevine. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Andreeva, Nellie (2019-05-10). "Kenya Barris & Rashida Jones To Star In Barris' First Netflix Series 'Black Excellence'". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  8. ^ Rico, Klaritza (2020-03-19). "TV News Roundup: Showtime Releases 'Billions' Season 5 Trailer". Variety. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  9. ^ "75th Annual Entertainment & Children's Programming Winners". Peabody Awards. Peabody Awards. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  10. ^ "48th NAACP Image Awards". 48th NAACP Image Awards. NAACP Image Awards. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Kenya Barris Awards". IMDB. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  12. ^ Lewis, Dave. "Creator of 'black-ish' Kenya Barris to receive the 2016 Rod Serling Award". ENTERTAINMENT/TELEVISION. L.A. Times.
  13. ^ "Blackish creator to give million-ish to Clark Atlanta University in Grown-ish gift". AJC. AJC.
  14. ^ Uwumarogie, Victoria (2019-08-12). "Black-ish Creator Kenya Barris Files For Divorce From Wife — And Inspo Behind "Rainbow" — After 20 Years Together". MadameNoire. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
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