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.

Born in the 2010s

• Ravi Cabot-Conyers,actor
• Melody Hurd,actress,model and dancer
• Jaidyn Triplett, actress and singer

Born in the 2000s

Halle Bailey,actress and singer

Bailey Bass,actress (African-American father)

Miles Brown (actor),actor

Kyliegh Curran,actress

Priah Ferguson,actress

Skai Jackson,actress

Chandler Kinney,actress

Leah Sava Jeffries,actress

Marsai Martin,actress

Caleb McLaughlin,actor

Jaden Michael,actor

Maleah Joi Moon,actress

Dara Reneé ,actress

Storm Reid,actress

Marcus Scribner,actor

Yara Shahidi,actress and Harvard graduate (African-American mother)

Savannah Lee Smith,actress

Willow Smith,actress

Trinitee Stokes,actress

Lexi Underwood,actress

Quvenzhané Wallis,actress

Keith L. Williams,actor

Jahi Di'Allo Winston,actor

Shahadi Wright Joseph,actress

Sofia Wylie,actress

Born in the 1990s

Jordan Alexander, actress (African-American mother)

Ajiona Alexus ,actress

Chloe Bailey,actress and singer

Madison Bailey,actress

Jaylen Barron,actress (half Mexican, half Afro-American)

Zazie Beetz,actress (African-American mother)

Rhyon Nicole Brown ,actress

Sierra Capri,actress

Chance The Rapper,rapper

Kiersey Clemons,actress

Zendaya Coleman,actress (African-American father)

Dee Dee Davis,actress

Jude Demorest,actress

Teala Dunn,actress

Reign Edwards,actress

Jordan Fisher,actor

Tati Gabrielle,actress

Antonia Gentry,actress

Raven Goodwin,actress

Helena Howard ,actress (African-American father)

Paige Hurd,actress (African-American father)

Paris Jackson,actress

Trevor Jackson (performer),actor

Sarah Jeffery,actress (African-American father)

Nadji Jeter,actor

Malcolm David Kelley,actor

Jak Knight, actor,writer and comedian d.2022

Jacob Latimore,actor

Kiana Ledé,actress and singer

Christopher Massey,actor

Kyle Massey,actor

China Anne Mcclain,actress and singer

Shane Paul McGhie,actor (African-American father)

Parker McKenna Posey,actress

Normani,singer

Brittany O'Grady,actress (African-American mother)

Keke Palmer,actress

Sydney Park (actress),actress (African-American mother)

Madison Pettis,actress(African-American father)

Taylor Polidore,actress

Trevante Rhodes ,actor

Tequan Richmond,actor

Lee Rodriguez,actress and singer (African-American mother)

Kara Royster,actress

Kylee Russell,actress

Alyah Chanelle Scott,actress

Doc Shaw,actor

Alexandra Shipp,actress

Diggy Simmons,actor

Jaz Sinclair,actress

Amandla Stenberg,actress (African-American mother)

Joy Sunday,actress

Chelsea Tavares,actress

Leon Thomas III,actor

Tyler The Creator,actor

Tyler James Williams,actor

Born in the 1980s

Michael B. Jordan

Naya Rivera

• Quinton Aaron, actor
• Lloyd Banks, actor
• Malcolm Barrett, actor
• Fantasia Barrino, actress and singer
• Jurnee Smollett-Bell (African-American mother), actress
• Troian Bellisario(mother is part African-American descent), actress
• Beyoncé, actress and singer
• B.G., rapper
• Ser'Darius Blain, film and television actor
• Tiffany Boone, actress
• Steelo Brim, actor and comedian
• Danielle Brooks, actress
• Mehcad Brooks, actor
• Neil Brown Jr., actor
• Rob Brown, actor
• Logan Browning, actress
• Hannibal Buress, actor and comedian
• Trai Byers, actor
• Nick Cannon, actor
• Chingy, rapper
• Monique Coleman, actress
• Yaya DaCosta, actress
• Charles Michael Davis (half African-American), actor
• Daveed Diggs (African-American father), actor
• Drake, actor
• Edwina Findley, actress
• Jennifer Freeman (African-American mother), actress
• Darrell Britt-Gibson, actor
• Donald Glover, actor
• Elena Goode, actress
• Kat Graham, actress
• Sonequa Martin-Green, actress
• Lance Gross (African-American mother), actor
• Demetrius Grosse, actor
• Ilfenesh Hadera, actress
• William Jackson Harper, actor and comedian
• Corey Hawkins, actor
• Brian Tyree Henry, actor
• Jillian Hervey, singer and dancer
• Marques Houston, actor
• Jennifer Hudson, actress
• Amber Iman, actress
• Brandon T. Jackson, actor
• Bryton James, actor
• Terrence Jenkins, actor
• Michael B. Jordan, actor
• Wiz Khalifa, actor
• Christel Khalil (African-American mother), actress
• Aja Naomi King, actress
• Zoe Kravitz, actress
• Lil Scrappy, rapper
• Lauren London (African-American mother), actress
• Jonathan Majors, actor
• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor
• Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (African-American mother), actress and humanitarian, wife of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
• Draya Michele (African-American father), actress
• Jason Mitchell, actor
• Monica, actress
• Victoria Monét (African-American mother), R&B singer
• Lamorne Morris, actor
• Aaron Moten, actor
• Ashleigh Murray, actress
• Naturi Naughton, actress
• Angel Parker, actress
• Teyonah Parris, actress
• Candice Patton, actress
• Jay Pharoah, actor
• Kyla Pratt, actress
• Issa Rae (African-American mother), actress, comedienne
• Rihanna, singer
• Sam Richardson, actor and comedian
• Amber Riley,actress and singer
• Naya Rivera (a quarter African-American descent), actress and singer (d. 2020)
• Evan Ross (African-American mother), actor
• Amanda Seales (African American father), actress and comedian
• Brian Michael Smith, actor
• Jussie Smollett, actor
• Jordin Sparks, actress
• Tika Sumpter, actress
• Jessica Szohr, actress
• Norman Towns, actor and comedian
• T.I., actor
• Tru Valentino, actor
• Amanda Warren, actress
• John David Washington, actor
• Damon Wayans Jr., actor and comedian
• Lil Wayne, actor
• Erinn Westbrook, actress
• Jessica Williams (actress), actress
• Nafessa Williams, actress
• Lee Thompson Young, actor (d. 2013)
• Young Buck, rapper

Born in the 1970s

Chadwick Boseman

Sterling K. Brown

Yvette Nicole Brown

Dave Chappelle

Kevin Hart

Regina King

Sanaa Lathan

Khary Payton

Jordan Peele

Craig Robinson

Jada Pinkett Smith

Chris Tucker

Jaleel White

• Aaliyah, singer, actress (d. 2001)
• Flex Alexander, actor
• Mahershala Ali, actor
• Anthony Anderson, actor
• Essence Atkins, actress
• Sharif Atkins, actor
• Rochelle Aytes, actress
• Tyra Banks, actress, model
• Lamont Bentley, actor (d. 2005)
• Big Gipp, rapper
• Stephen Bishop, actor
• De'Aundre Bonds, actor
• Bone Crusher, Hip Hop rapper
• Chadwick Boseman, actor (d. 2020)
• Wayne Brady, actor, comedian
• Golden Brooks, actress
• Cocoa Brown, actress
• Sterling K. Brown, actor
• Yvette Nicole Brown, actress
• Joy Bryant, actress
• Busta Rhymes, actor
• Wyatt Cenac, (African-American Father)
• Dave Chappelle, actor and comedian
• Chi-Ali, rapper
• Deon Cole, actor
• Mike Colter, actor
• Common, actor
• Laverne Cox, transgender actress
• D-Nice, actor
• Taye Diggs, actor
• DMX, actor, rapper (d. 2021)
• Snoop Dogg, actor
• Omar Dorsey, actor
• Ava DuVernay, film director
• Michael Ealy, actor
• Nelsan Ellis, actor (d. 2017)
• Mike Epps, comedian and actor
• Omar Epps, actor
• Fat Joe, actor
• Keith Ferguson, voice actor
• Jaimee Foxworth, actress
• Ghostface Killah, rapper
• Tyrese Gibson, actor
• Lawrence Gilliard Jr., actor
• Omar Gooding, actor
• Tiffany Haddish, actress
• Pooch Hall, actor
• Regina Hall, actress
• Cory Hardrict, actor
• Omari Hardwick, actor
• Kevin Hart, actor
• Darrin Henson, actor
• Taraji P. Henson, actress
• Taral Hicks, actress, singer
• Karim Hill, actor and tap dancer
• André Holland, actor
• Russell Hornsby, actor
• Inspectah Deck, rapper
• Janelle James, comedian, actress, and writer
• Ja Rule, rapper
• Barry Jenkins, director, producer, screenwriter
• Dwayne Johnson, actor
• April Parker Jones, actress
• Rashida Jones, actress
• Tamala Jones, actress
• Rhoda Jordan, actress
• Germany Kent, print and broadcast journalist, television personality, former beauty queen, actress, businesswoman, producer, philanthropist, and author
• Keegan-Michael Key, actor, comedian
• Khujo, rapper
• Killer Mike, rapper
• Regina King, actress
• Boris Kodjoe, actor
• Sanaa Lathan, actress
• Bianca Lawson, actress
• Sharon Leal, actress
• John Legend, singer, actor, producer
• Lil Jon, rapper
• Loni Love, comedienne
• Ludacris, actor/rapper
• Anthony Mackie, actor
• Vincent Mason, disc jockey and actor
• Darius McCrary, actor and singer
• Method Man, actor
• Windell Middlebrooks, actor (d. 2015)
• Omar Benson Miller, actor
• Wentworth Miller, actor
• Shemar Moore, actor
• Ali Shaheed Muhammad, actor/musician
• Niecy Nash, actress
• Tariq Nasheed, film producer
• Nelly, rapper
• Brandy Norwood, actress
• Shaquille O'Neal, actor
• Nicole Ari Parker, actress
• Paula Patton (African-American father), actress
• Khary Payton, actor
• Pete Rock, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
• Jordan Peele, actor, comedian
• Mekhi Phifer, actor
• Q-Tip, actor and Hip Hop producer
• Questlove, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
• Queen Latifah, rapper, actress
• Raekwon, rapper
• Corey Reynolds, actor
• Lauren Ridloff, actress
• Leonard Roberts, actor
• Bumper Robinson, actor
• Craig Robinson, actor, comedian
• Anika Noni Rose, actress
• Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, model, comedian
• Zoe Saldana, actress
• Tupac Shakur, actor, rapper (d. 1996)
• Shanice, singer
• Beanie Sigel, rapper
• IronE Singleton, actor
• Sisqo, rapper singer
• Jada Pinkett Smith, actress, singer-songwriter
• Octavia Spencer, actress
• Larenz Tate, actor
• The Game, rapper
• Kenan Thompson, actor, comedian
• T-Mo, rapper
• Tony Yayo, actor
• Treach, rapper
• Chris Tucker, actor, comedian
• Usher, actor, singer
• Vin Rock, rapper
• Vincent M. Ward, actor
• Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor
• Kerry Washington, actress
• Marlon Wayans, actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer
• Shawn Wayans, actor, comedian, writer, producer
• Rutina Wesley, actress
• Jaleel White, actor, comedian
• Charles Malik Whitfield, actor
• Kellie Shanygne Williams, actress
• Cedric Yarbrough, comedian
• Yo-Yo, rapper

Born in the 1960s

Halle Berry

Don Cheadle

Ice Cube

Viola Davis

Cedric the Entertainer

Laurence Fishburne

Jamie Foxx

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Martin Lawrence

Tracy Morgan

Eddie Murphy

Lance Reddick

Chris Rock

Will Smith

Wesley Snipes

Forest Whitaker

Michael K. Williams

Jeffrey Wright

• Tichina Arnold, actress
• Michael Beach, actor
• Jennifer Beals (African-American father), actress
• Darryl M. Bell, actor
• Halle Berry, actress
• Richard Biggs, actor (d. 2004)
• Big Daddy Kane, rapper
• Birdman, rapper
• Sean Blakemore, actor
• Michael Boatman, actor and sitcom comedian
• Lisa Bonet (African-American father), actress
• Andre Braugher, actor (d. 2023)
• Toni Braxton, singer
• Todd Bridges, actor
• Richard Brooks, actor
• Frances Callier, actress
• Mariah Carey, (African-American father) actress
• Rocky Carroll, actor
• Cedric the Entertainer, actor and comedian
• Don Cheadle, actor
• Morris Chestnut, actor
• CL Smooth, rapper
• Chad L. Coleman, actor
• Gary Coleman, actor, comedian (d. 2010)
• Kim Coles, actress
• Sean Combs, actor
• Lavell Crawford, actor and comedian
• Rusty Cundieff, actor
• Mark Curry, actor
• Danny Boy, rapper
• Stacey Dash (African-American father), actress
• Tommy Davidson, actor
• Cassi Davis, actress
• LaVan Davis, actor
• Viola Davis, actress
• Deezer D, actor, rapper (d. 2021)
• DJ Kay Gee, rapper
• DJ Yella, disc jockey and rapper
• Natalie Desselle-Reid, actress (d. 2020)
• Nate Dogg, actor (d. 2011)
• Colman Domingo (African-American mother), actor
• Doug E. Fresh (Brazilian-African-American sister), beatboxer and rapper
• Gary Dourdan, actor
• Dr. Dre, actor
• Dres, rapper
• E-40, actor
• Eric B., actor
• Sonya Eddy, actress (d. 2022)
• Kim Fields, actress
• Laurence Fishburne, actor
• Freddie Foxxx, actor
• Thomas Mikal Ford, actor, comedian (d. 2016)
• Vivica A. Fox, actress
• Jamie Foxx, actor
• Johnny Gill, singer
• Seth Gilliam, actor
• Robin Givens, actress
• Cuba Gooding Jr., actor
• Grand Puba, rapper
• Eddie Griffin, actor
• Jasmine Guy, actress
• GZA, rapper
• Kadeem Hardison, actor, director
• Hill Harper, actor
• D'atra Hicks, actress, singer
• Whitney Houston, actress (d. 2012)
• Terrance Howard, actor
• D.L. Hughley, comedian, actor
• Ice Cube, actor
• Janet Jackson, actress and singer
• Jay-Z, rapper
• Kristoff St. John, actor (d. 2019)
• A.J. Johnson (d. 2021)
• Anne-Marie Johnson, actress
• David Jude Jolicoeur, actor (d. 2023)
• Orlando Jones, actor
• Roy Jones Jr., actor
• R. Kelly, former singer and actor
• Kidd Creole, rapper
• Kool G Rap, rapper
• Lenny Kravitz, actor
• KRS-One, actor
• Phil LaMarr, actor, comedian
• Martin Lawrence, actor, comedian
• Scott Lawrence, actor
• Harry Lennix (African-American mother), actor
• Dawnn Lewis (with Caribbean blood), actress
• Kecia Lewis, singer and actress
• Phill Lewis, actor, comedian
• Tina Lifford, actress
• LL Cool J, actor
• Lord Jamar, actor
• Ed Lover, rapper and actor
• David Mann, actor
• Tamela Mann, actress
• Mannie Fresh, Hip Hop producer
• Jesse L. Martin, actor
• Tisha Campbell-Martin, actress
• Masta Killa, rapper
• Chi McBride, actor
• Darryl McDaniels, actor
• Brian McKnight, singer
• Tim Meadows, actor
• Melle Mel, actor and rapper
• Kelvin Mercer, rapper and actor
• Daryl Mitchell, actor
• Tracy Morgan, actor
• Phil Moore, actor and TV host
• Eddie Murphy, actor and comedian
• Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian (d. 2011)
• John Paris, singer
• Carl Anthony Payne II, actor
• Allen Payne, actor
• Holly Robinson Peete, actress
• Tyler Perry, actor, comedian, filmmaker
• Wendell Pierce, actor
• Glenn Plummer, actor
• Gina Ravera (part African-American descent) actress
• Gene Anthony Ray, actor (d. 2003)
• Lance Reddick, actor (d. 2023)
• Rakim, rapper
• Kevin Michael Richardson, actor
• Leon Robinson, actor
• Chris Rock, actor and comedian
• Andre Royo, actor
• RuPaul, actor
• RZA, actor
• Sadat X, rapper
• Sherri Shepherd, actress and comedian
• Joseph Simmons, actor
• John Singleton, director, producer, screenwriter (d. 2019)
• Isaac C. Singleton Jr., actor
• Slick Rick, rapper, actor and beatboxer
• Will Smith, actor and rapper
• J. B. Smoove, actor and comedian
• Wesley Snipes, actor
• Sonja Sohn (African-American father), actress and director
• Danielle Spencer, actress
• Wanda Sykes, actress and comedian
• Michelle Thomas, actress, comedian
• Tone-Loc, rapper, actor
• Blair Underwood, actor
• Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian
• Courtney B. Vance, actor
• Isaiah Washington, actor
• Damon Wayans, comedian, actor, writer and producer
• Forest Whitaker, actor
• Eugene Wilde, singer
• Gary Anthony Williams, actor
• Michael K. Williams, actor (d. 2021)
• Chris Williams, actor
• Vanessa Williams, actress
• Larry Wilmore, actor and comedian
• Debra Wilson, actress and comedian
• Reno Wilson, actor and comedian
• Yvette Wilson, actress and comedian (d. 2012)
• Jeffrey Wright, actor
• Malik Yoba, actor

Born in the 1950s

Angela Bassett

Michael Clarke Duncan

Whoopi Goldberg

Steve Harvey

Spike Lee

Bernie Mac

Denzel Washington

Oprah Winfrey

• Khandi Alexander, actress
• Debbie Allen, actress
• Patti Austin, singer
• BabyFace, singer
• Philip Bailey, singer
• Anita Baker, singer
• Leslie David Baker, actor
• Angela Bassett, actress
• Fred Berry, actor (d. 2003)
• Billy Blanks, actor
• Sharon Bryant, R&B singer
• Peabo Bryson, singer
• LeVar Burton, actor
• L. Scott Caldwell, actress
• Vanessa Bell Calloway, actress
• Reg E. Cathey, actor (d. 2018)
• Judy Cheeks, singer
• Natalie Cole, actress (d. 2015)
• Tony Cox, actor
• Keith David, actor, comedian
• Michael Dorn, actor
• Suzzanne Douglas, actress (d. 2021)
• Denise Dowse, actress and director (d. 2022)
• Michael Clarke Duncan, actor (d. 2012)
• Charles S. Dutton, actor
• Dave Fennoy, actor
• Clarence Gilyard, actor (d. 2022)
• Whoopi Goldberg, actress
• Robert Gossett, actor
• Grandmaster Flash, rapper and disc jockey
• David Alan Grier, actor
• Arsenio Hall, actor
• Vondie Curtis-Hall, actor
• Kevin Peter Hall, actor (d. 1991)
• Dorian Harewood, actor
• Jackee Harry (African-American father), actress
• Steve Harvey, comedian, actor
• Dennis Haysbert, actor
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson, actor, playwright, and director
• Jermaine Jackson, actor
• La Toya Jackson, actress
• Michael Jackson, King of pop and actor (d. 2009)
• Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, actor
• Larry "Flash" Jenkins, actor, director, producer, screenwriter (d. 2019)
• Ralph Johnson, singer
• Ron Cephas Jones, actor (d. 2023)
• Chaka Khan, singer
• Spike Lee, film director, producer, writer, actor
• Jenifer Lewis, actress
• Tommy Lister Jr., actor (d. 2020)
• Bernie Mac, actor, comedian (d. 2008)
• Debbi Morgan, actress
• Mr. T, actor
• Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian (d. 2017)
• Bill Nunn, actor (d. 2016)
• Jo Marie Payton, actress
• Paul Pena, singer-songwriter, guitarist (d. 2005)
• CCH Pounder (with Caribbean blood), actress
• Clifton Powell, actor
• Prince, actor (d. 2016)
• Dianne Reeves, singer
• Ving Rhames, actor
• Howard Rollins, actor (d. 1996)
• Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress
• Sinbad, actor and comedian
• Bern Nadette Stanis, actress
• Ron Taylor, actor (d. 2002)
• Tony Todd, actor (d. 2024)
• Reginald VelJohnson, actor
• Denzel Washington, actor, director and producer; winner of three Golden Globe Awards
• Verdine White, singer, bassist
• Lynn Whitfield, actress
• Deniece Williams, singer
• Mykelti Williamson, actor
• Oprah Winfrey, actress, media executive
• Stevie Wonder, singer
• Alfre Woodard, actress

Born in the 1940s

Danny Glover

Ernie Hudson

Samuel L. Jackson

Paul Mooney

Richard Pryor

Richard Roundtree

Carl Weathers

• James Avery, actor (d. 2013)
• Margaret Avery, actress
• Taurean Blacque, actor (d. 2022)
• John Beasley, actor (d. 2023)
• George Benson, singer
• Avery Brooks, actor
• Roger Aaron Brown, actor
• Ron Canada, actor and producer
• Nell Carter, actress (d. 2003)
• Olivia Cole, actress (d. 2018)
• Hugh Dane, actor (d. 2018)
• Loretta Devine, actress
• Art Evans, actor (d. 2024)
• Damon Evans, actor
• Mike Evans, actor (d. 2006)
• Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, actor (d. 2019)
• Ken Foree, actor
• Aretha Franklin, actress (d. 2018)
• Sheila Frazier, actress
• Ron Glass, actor (d. 2016)
• Danny Glover, actor
• Cuba Gooding Sr., actor (d. 2017)
• Larry Graham, singer
• Teresa Graves, actress (d. 2002)
• Pam Grier, actress
• Alaina Reed Hall, actress (d. 2009)
• Isaac Hayes, actor (d. 2008)
• Gregory Hines, actor (d. 2003)
• Mike Hodge, actor (d. 2017)
• Kene Holliday, actor
• Telma Hopkins, actress and singer
• Anna Maria Horsford, actress
• Ernie Hudson, actor
• Samuel L. Jackson, actor
• Jim Kelly, actor (d. 2013)
• Gladys Knight, actress
• Patti LaBelle, actress
• Ted Lange, actor
• Darlene Love, actress
• Al Matthews, actor (d. 2018)
• Vonetta McGee, actress (d. 2010)
• Frank McRae, actor (d. 2021)
• Paul Mooney, comedian and actor (d. 2021)
• Joe Morton, actor
• Jeffrey Osborne, singer
• Billy Preston, actor (d. 2006)
• Joan Pringle, actress
• Richard Pryor, actor and comedian (d. 2005)
• Marion Ramsey, actress (d. 2021)
• Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress and comedian
• Tim Reid, actor
• James Reynolds, actor
• LaTanya Richardson, actress
• Lionel Richie, actor, composer, singer
• Charlie Robinson, actor (d. 2021)
• Roger Robinson, actor (d. 2018)
• Smokey Robinson, singer
• Diana Ross, actress and singer
• Richard Roundtree, actor (d. 2023)
• O. J. Simpson, actor (d. 2024)
• Carly Simon, singer
• Bubba Smith, actor (d. 2011)
• Meshach Taylor, actor (d. 2014)
• Lynne Thigpen, actress (d. 2003)
• Ernest Lee Thomas, actor
• Berlinda Tolbert, actress
• Glynn Turman, actor
• Ben Vereen, actor, dancer, singer
• Jimmie Walker, actor
• Dionne Warwick, actress and singer
• Carl Weathers, actor (d. 2024)
• Demond Wilson, actor
• Theodore Wilson, actor (d. 1991)
• John Witherspoon, actor, comedian (d. 2019)
• Samuel E. Wright, actor (d. 2021)

Born in the 1930s

Diahann Carroll

Bill Cosby

Morgan Freeman

Louis Gossett Jr.

James Earl Jones

Nichelle Nichols

Billy Dee Williams

• Mary Alice, actress (d. 2022)
• John Amos, actor (d. 2024)
• Paul Benjamin, actor (d. 2019)
• Johnny Brown, actor (d. 2022)
• Jim Brown, actor (d. 2023)
• Tony Burton, actor (d. 2016)
• Godfrey Cambridge, comedian, actor (d. 1976)
• Diahann Carroll, actress (d. 2019)
• Bernie Casey, actor (d. 2017)
• Rosalind Cash, actress and singer (d. 1995)
• Ray Charles, actor (d. 2004)
• Bill Cobbs, actor (d. 2024)
• Bill Cosby, actor and comedian
• Ivan Dixon, actor, director, producer (d. 2008)
• Robert DoQui, actor (d. 2008)
• Ja'Net DuBois, actress (d. 2020)
• Roberta Flack, singer
• Gloria Foster, actress (d. 2001)
• Al Freeman Jr., actor, director (d. 2012)
• Morgan Freeman, actor
• Marla Gibbs, actress
• Carl Gordon, actor (d. 2010)
• Louis Gossett Jr., actor (d. 2024)
• Dick Gregory, comedian, actor (d. 2017)
• Rosey Grier, actor
• Bill Gunn, actor, director (d. 1989)
• Lloyd Haynes, actor (d. 1986)
• Sherman Hemsley, actor (d. 2012)
• Ellen Holly, actress (d. 2023)
• Robert Hooks, actor
• Raymond St. Jacques, actor (d. 1990)
• Rafer Johnson, actor (d. 2020)
• Duane Jones, actor (d. 1988)
• James Earl Jones, actor (d. 2024)
• Lincoln Kilpatrick, actor (d. 2004)
• Yaphet Kotto, actor (d. 2021)
• Cleavon Little, actor (d. 1992)
• Janet MacLachlan, actress (d. 2010)
• Don Marshall, actor (d. 2016)
• Whitman Mayo, actor (d. 2001)
• Barbara McNair, actress, singer (d. 2007)
• Garrett Morris, comedian, actor
• Greg Morris, actor (d. 1996)
• Roger E. Mosley, actor (d. 2022)
• Lou Myers, actor (d. 2013)
• Nichelle Nichols, actress (d. 2022)
• Ron O'Neal, actor (d. 2004)
• Melvin Van Peebles, actor, filmmaker (d. 2021)
• J. A. Preston, actor
• Thalmus Rasulala, actor (d. 1991)
• Lou Rawls, actor (d. 2006)
• Della Reese, actress, singer (d. 2017)
• Little Richard, actor (d. 2020)
• Matt Robinson, actor, producer (d. 2002)
• Madge Sinclair, actress (d. 1995)
• Nathaniel Taylor, actor (d. 2019)
• Tina Turner, actress, singer (d. 2023)
• Billy Dee Williams, actor
• Clarence Williams III, actor (d. 2021)
• Hal Williams, actor
• Fred Williamson, actor
• Flip Wilson, actor and comedian (d. 1998)
• Nancy Wilson, actress (d. 2018)
• Paul Winfield, actor (d. 2004)

Born in the 1920s

Ruby Dee

• Maya Angelou, actress (d. 2014)
• Harry Belafonte, actor/singer (d. 2023)
• Roscoe Lee Browne, actor (d. 2007)
• Virginia Capers, actor (d. 2004)
• Rupert Crosse, actor (d. 1973)
• Sammy Davis Jr., actor (d. 1990)
• Ruby Dee, actress (d. 2014)
• Redd Foxx, comedian, actor (d. 1991)
• Susie Garrett, actress (d. 2002)
• Robert Guillaume, actor (d. 2017)
• Moses Gunn, actor (d. 1993)
• Bernie Hamilton, actor (d. 2008)
• Julius Harris, actor (d. 2004)
• Eartha Kitt, actress (d. 2008)
• William Marshall, actor, director (d. 2003)
• LaWanda Page, actress (d. 2002)
• Brock Peters, actor (d. 2005)
• Sidney Poitier, actor (d. 2022)
• Roxie Roker, actress (d. 1995)
• Esther Rolle, actress (d. 2004)
• Mel Stewart, actor (d. 2002)
• Cicely Tyson, actress (d. 2021)
• William Warfield, actor (d. 2002)

Born in the 1910s

Ossie Davis

• Nat King Cole, actor (d. 1965)
• Scatman Crothers, actor (d. 1986)
• Ossie Davis, actor (d. 2005)
• Tina Dixon, R&B singer, actress and comedian (d. 2004)
• Roy Glenn, actor (d. 1971)
• Robert Earl Jones, actor and professional boxer (d. 2007)
• Sybil Lewis, actress (d. 1988)
• Juanita Moore, actress (d. 2014)
• Maidie Norman, actress (d. 1998)
• Jimmy Robinson, actor (d. 1967)
• Timmie Rogers, comedian, actor (d. 2006)
• Nipsey Russell, comedian (d. 2005)
• Isabel Sanford, actress, comedian (d. 2004)
• Joe Seneca, actor, singer, and songwriter (d. 1996)
• Woody Strode, actor (d. 1994)
• Clarice Taylor, actress (d. 2011)

Born in the 1900s

• Eddie Anderson, actor (d. 1977)
• James Baskett, actor (d. 1948)
• Louise Beavers, actress (d. 1962)
• Everett Brown, actor (d. 1953)
• Cab Calloway, actor (d. 1994)
• Alvin Childress, actor (d. 1986)
• Gee Gee James, radio and theater actress and singer (d. 1971)
• Canada Lee, professional athlete, musician, and actor (d. 1952)
• Alice Whitman, actress (d. 1968)

Born in the 1890s

• Ismay Andrews, actor (d. ?)
• Rex Ingram, actor (d. 1969)
• John Marriott, actor (d. 1977)
• Charles Olden, actor (d. 1943)
• Paul Robeson, actor (d. 1976)
• Bill Walker, actor (d. 1992)

Born in the 1880s

• Spencer Bell, actor
• Whitman Sisters, actresses

Born in the 19th century

• Ira Aldridge, actor (d. 1867)
• Amanda and Samuel Chambers, early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah (d. 1929)
• David Fagen, buffalo soldier, anti-imperialist (d. ?)
• Irving Jones, comedian and songwriter (d. 1932)
• Cora Ann Pair Thomas, missionary (d. 1952)

See also

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