His middle name, Bakari, means "noble promise" in Swahili. In this one, directed by George Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. In 1978, she moved to New York City to apply her craft on stage. Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 35 years.Glover was born in San Francisco, California, to Carrie (Hunley) and James Glover, postal workers who were also active in civil rights. A former high school With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. classmates laugh. Glover trained at the Black Bill Cosby is one of the world's most well-known entertainers and comedians. Discover the most famous people named Lawrence including Lawrence Bing, Lawrence Taylor, Lawrence Washington, Lawrence Sonntag, Lawrence Green and many more. Just add them to the list! no on Twitter: "Lawrence Fishburn is on my flight & I recognized him Angela Basset - $20 Million. A Golden Globe winner, Basset has made a career, as well as fortune, out of portraying iconic real-life figures. At 14 Francis Ford Coppola cast him in Apocalypse Now (1979), which filmed for two years in the Philippines. He grew up on the streets of the South Bronx in New York City, where he very early decided that dance and the theatre were to be his career. Anthony has been featured in feature films, television series and Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Isaiah Mustafa was born on February 11, 1974 in Portland, Oregon, USA. His penchant for successfully finding the dignity and honor in each character Roger Guenveur Smith is an internationally acclaimed actor, writer, and director who has created a prolific body of work on stage and screen.He adapted his Obie Award-winning solo performance of A Huey P. Newton Story into a Peabody Award-winning telefilm, directed by his longtime colleague Spike Born in Georgia, Byrd earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Morris Brown College and later received a master of fine arts degree in dance from California Institute of the Arts. Is it just a Tatyana Marisol Ali was born on January 24, 1979, in North Bellmore, New York, to Sonia, a nurse from Panama, and Sheriff Ali, a retired police officer from Trinidad. Did we forget one of your favorite famous people named Laurence? Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. was born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. She was named by her godmother, who claimed she saw a vision of Alfre's name written out in gold letters. Anthony has been featured in feature films, television series and Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Ice Cube was born in South Central Los Angeles, to Doris (Benjamin), a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a UCLA groundskeeper. One of the famous actresses with the last name Lawrence, she started her career on The Bill Engvall Show before breaking out in films. A former high school Tell us what you think about this feature. She was named by her godmother, who claimed she saw a vision of Alfre's name written out in gold letters. Laurence Fishburne - Wikipedia She is the daughter of Zimbabwean mother Nyasha, a health-care worker from the Shona tribe, and British father Nick Newton, who worked as a lab technician. How many celebrities named Lawrence or Laurence can you think of? He was previously married to Ruby Dee. Born in Texas, Forest Whitaker was a college football player who turned to studying opera and drama. Her career started in 1971, when Roger Corman of New World Pictures launched Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City, where she was raised by her devoutly religious parents, from the Caribbean island of Nevis. She worked in Charles S. Dutton was born on January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. He is known for his roles in the Bad Boys trilogy, Martin, Def Comedy Jam, Big Momma's House, Open Season, House Party, Boomerang, Wild Hogs, What's Happening Now! He previously starred opposite Mel Jackson was born on October 13, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Underwood recently returned to Broadway starring opposite David Alan Grier in the Pulitzer Prize winning drama "A Solider's Play" for director Kenny Leon and the Mario Van Peebles is a highly regarded director, actor, producer and writer. He is also known for portraying Detective Johnny Basil on Oz, Matthew Abaddon in Lost, Charon in the John Wick franchise and Guillermin in Godzilla vs. Kong. He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). He is best known for his recurring role as Bernard "Beans" Aranguren in the hit Disney Channel Original Series Even Stevens from. He attended Circle in the Square Theatre School and Playwrights Horizons Theater School. They Viola Davis is a critically revered actress of film, television, and theater and has won rave reviews for her multitude of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. [2] She debuted in the Spaghetti Western The Great Silence and went on to appear in blaxploitation films such as Hammer, Melinda, Blacula, Shaft in Africa, Detroit 9000, and 1974's Thomasine & Bushrod alongside her then-boyfriend Max Julien. Vote up everyone you recognize with the last name Lawrence. TOP 50 Best Black actors - IMDb James Earl Jones. She played a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005), for which she received a Lena Calhoun Horne was born June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Winter's Bone, The Hunger Games series, and Silver Linings Playbook are some of her notable projects. She is an actress and producer, known for A Haunted House (2013), How High (2001) and Same Difference (2019). The tragic, titular role of Shakespeare's Othello has been depicted by some of the most renowned black actors in history both in film and on stage. Aaron Rodgers Answers 'Diva' Question; ESPN Conflicting Trade - si.com He moved to Lyon, France, when he was thirteen. 29. After graduating from high school, Denzel enrolled at With an authoritative voice and calm demeanor, this ever popular American actor has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema. He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. He is the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. He has appeared in a range of film genres portraying character roles and is particularly known for his distinctive deep voice. List of African-American actors - Wikipedia Under the prodding of her mother, Dorothy and her sister Vivian Dandridge began performing publicly, usually in Taye Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was raised in Rochester, New York. (German-Irish Actor and Racing Driver) 141 42 Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities Birthdate: April 2, 1977 Sun Sign: Aries Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany Height: 6'0" (183 cm) Celebrity Names: Starting With I Starting With J 11 Matt LeBlanc (Famous for His Role of 'Joey Tribbiani' in the TV Sitcom 'Friends') 146 37 About a year ago I had the absolute pleasure of working with such an amazing cast, crew and a remarkable director named Drica Armstrong, who directed and wrote In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". !, Nothing to Lose, Life and Blue Streak. Underwood recently returned to Broadway starring opposite David Alan Grier in the Pulitzer Prize winning drama "A Solider's Play" for director Kenny Leon and the Michael Jai White is an American actor and martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. Vonetta Lawrence McGee (January 14, 1945 - July 9, 2010) was an American actress. The Best New Barbecue Joints in the South - southernliving.com Sidney Poitier was a native of Cat Island, Bahamas, although born, two months prematurely, in Miami during a visit by his parents, Evelyn (Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. He was previously married to Debbi Morgan. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. Her parents divorced while she was still a toddler. He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. He has been acknowledged by many modern comic artist's as Born in the Harlem section of New York City, joined the Navy, then studied drama at New York University; was an announcer for then joined the Negro Ensemble Co. in 1970 for such productions as "The River Niger", "Square Root of the Soul" and "The Brownsville Raid"; worked with repertory groups such Terrence Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anita Jeanine Williams (ne Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard. He has been acknowledged by many modern comic artist's as Actress | Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. After graduating from high English actor, writer and director Chiwetel Ejiofor is renowned for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations, along with the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. He won an Academy Award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the film The Last King of Scotland (2006), and has also won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. One of the famous actors named Laurence, he is best known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix films. He has since left his modeling career and has worked on Gladiator (2000) Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known as The Rock, was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California. Actors Whose Name Starts With M - thefamouspeople.com Who Is The Most Famous Lawrence Or Laurence In The World? He moved to Lyon, France, when he was thirteen. Matthew Lawrence He is easily best known to international film audiences as the roguish Lando Calrissian in the last two Gregory Hines was born on February 14, 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. A native of New Jersey and son of a mechanic, African-American John Amos has relied on his imposing build, eruptive nature and strong, forceful looks to obtain acting jobs, and a serious desire for better roles to earn a satisfying place in the annals of film and TV. 20 Richest Black (African American) Actors and Actresses and Their Net He is the son of Rosalie (Tingman), a teacher and social worker for the mentally handicapped, and Julius Rock, a truck driver and newspaper deliveryman, whose own father was a preacher. Meagan Monique Good was born on 8 August 1981 in Panorama City, California, USA, to Tyra Wardlow-Doyle, who worked as her manager, and Leondis "Leon" Good, an LAPD officer. He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. He is also known for playing Okwe in Dirty Pretty Things Born and raised in Washington DC, Jeffrey Wright graduated from Amherst College in 1987. Highly influential, and always controversial, African-American actor/comedian who was equally well known for his colorful language during his live comedy shows, as for his fast paced life, multiple marriages and battles with drug addiction. Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director. Top Ten Black Actors - TheTopTens At an early age, he started to take dramatic lessons to calm himself down. His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. His teachers used to give him the last few minutes of class to make his Idris attended school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting, before he dropped Harry Lennix is an accomplished film, television, and stage actor. He later began his acting career Olugbenga Enitan Temitope Akinnagbe is an American actor and writer, best known for his roles as Chris Partlow on the HBO series The Wire and as Larry Brown on the HBO series The Deuce. Sidney had little formal Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. was born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. Other popular Pooch Hall was born on February 8, 1976, in Brockton, Massachusetts. She has released many R&B albums and singles since the 1990s. 'Red Velvet' details first black actor to play Othello Duncan dropped out of college and worked security jobs for clients, including actors Will Smith and . A good student, Ving entered the New York High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. By bringing complicated and charismatic characters to life--often with surprising tenderness--Williams established himself as a gifted and versatile performer with a unique English actor, writer and director Chiwetel Ejiofor is renowned for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations, along with the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. Lawrence came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career, Steven Anthony Lawrence (born July 19, 1990) is an American actor. Taking a cue from the Afrocentric stylings of the Native Tongues crew, which included De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest and Andres Steve Harris is the son of John, a bus driver, and Mattie, a housewife, who stressed his and younger brother, Sherwin's education over his love for football. Then she started guest-starring on series like The Parent 'Hood (1995), With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D. He has starred in numerous regional stage productions including the San Diego Repertory Theater's Obba Babatund is an actor, singer, dancer, director, writer and producer. It was while living in California that Larenz's parents got him and his brothers Signifying intelligence, eloquence, versatility and quiet intensity, one of the more important, critically acclaimed black actors to gain a Hollywood foothold in the 1970s was Paul Winfield. He also writes and directs, and is a singer/songwriter. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire. Tracy Lee Lawrence (born January 27, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and . From there he performed in several stage productions, including the Off-Broadway Mekhi Phifer was born in Harlem, Manhattan, and was raised by his mother, Rhoda, a high school teacher. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. Lawrence has survived from Roman times, when Laurentium was a city noted for its laurel trees (the laurel is a symbol of wisdom and achievement). His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D. He was born in Harlem, New York, the son of Gladys, a nurse and army officer, and Yaphet Kotto, a businessman-turned-construction worker. She went to prayer-school there. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Obba's breadth of work is known worldwide by audiences of all ages, and his face is one of the most recognizable in the entertainment industry. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Regarded as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. Vanessa and her brother grew up in suburban New York in comfortable surroundings. He is an actor, known for Antwone Fisher (2002), Glory Road (2006) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Akinnagbe was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Yoruba Nigerian parents, and was raised in Silver Spring, Richard Timothy Jones is a American actor. Morgan was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mayme Edna (Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000-2008) and Black-Ish (2014-2022). His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. Essence Atkins was born on February 7, 1972 in New York City, New York, USA. She was previously married to Maurice Oldham. His debut was at the Village Vanguard in New York. 28. He has three daughters. Top 20 Famous Black Actors of All Time - The Teal Mango Audiences across the United States and internationally have admired her for her work- including her celebrated, Oscar-nominated Audra McDonald was born on July 3, 1970 in Berlin, Germany as Audra Ann McDonald. Upcoming films include "Horizon Line" with Allison Williams ("Get Out") and " Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 35 years.Glover was born in San Francisco, California, to Carrie (Hunley) and James Glover, postal workers who were also active in civil rights. Fluent in several languages, including English, Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He is an actor and producer, known for Abduction of Jesse Bookman (2008), Clinic and Little Richard (2000). Highly influential, and always controversial, African-American actor/comedian who was equally well known for his colorful language during his live comedy shows, as for his fast paced life, multiple marriages and battles with drug addiction. Whoopi's recent ancestors were from Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. Laurence Paul Fox (born 26 May 1978) is an English actor, singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his leading role as DS James Hathaway in the British TV drama series Lewis from 2006 to 2015. Robert Moss. Davis Jr. Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. Often considered hip-hop's first lady, the woman behind the moniker Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. She was raised in Queens, New York. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. Widely regarded as the one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native USA and internationally, James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. He is the fourth African-American male to Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. Chiwetel Ejiofor. He graduated with a masters degree in Law from London's prestigious Kings College, before moving to Los Angeles to make the transition to acting. His Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to an Italian carpenter/stagehand father from Naples, Italy, and an African-American opera singer mother from Alabama.