He is an actor and producer, known for Far from Heaven (2002), 24 (2001) and Heat (1995). They have one child. The first child of John Johnson, a subway conductor, and Mabel Faulk Johnson, a nurse; music Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He died on August 9, 2003 in Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. 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. 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. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a Joe Morton was born on October 18, 1947 in New York, New York, USA. He was previously married to Ruby Dee. Leon can be seen in the Show:me Drama "City on A Hill". 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. Famous Laurences | List of Famous People Named Laurence - Ranker She was discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and LeVar Burton was born on February 16, 1957 in Landstuhl, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. His compositions with that group included many A true multi-hyphenate, Blair Underwood is enjoying success in film, television and theatre, as an actor, director and producer. His father was a Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in the Chelsea section of Manhattan on November 13, 1955. He is an actor and producer, known for The Birth of a Nation (2016), Arbitrage (2012) and The Great Debaters (2007). She is known as "The Vocal Bible". He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. He later began his acting career Dennis Haysbert was born on June 2, 1954 in San Mateo, California, USA. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. He later began his acting career Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. He has appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Claudine (1974), Cooley High (1975), Roots, Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director. Our, Television producer, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, (; 22 May 1907 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft and John Gielgud, dominated, Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director. 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. He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. Raised by his single mother, Jean, a house cleaner, on Chicago's South Side, Duncan grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. Davis Jr. Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He studied Clifton Powell a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. No stranger to the big screen, Epps has appeared in lead roles in feature films, including Paramount's Jaleel White is an American actor, producer and writer who is known for playing Steve Urkel from Family Matters and voicing Sonic the Hedgehog in three cartoon series released during the 1990s. Top 50 Most Popular Young Actors In 2023. Known for his charming looks and deep personality, Michael Ealy blessed the movie screen with his role in Barbershop (2002). He wanted to play football in high school, but his mother wouldn't let Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a 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. She owns Pattern Beauty, a hair-care line for curly Emmy-nominated actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She was named by her godmother, who claimed she saw a vision of Alfre's name written out in gold letters. .more Lawrence came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career .more #520 of 643 The Best Actors In Film History #64 of 107 The Best Short Actors #332 of 349 The Best TV Actors And Actresses Of All Time 2 This is a list of African-American actors by birth order. 50 Black Actors Who Made Entertainment History - Newsweek She's an actress and singer, best known for her many roles on Broadway. Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. He moved to Lyon, France, when he was thirteen. In 1984, Larenz and his family moved to California. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. John Boyega is a British actor, known for playing Finn in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015). Shortly after graduating he won an acting scholarship to NYU, but dropped out after only two months to Thandiwe Newton was born in London. His father, Winston, is from Sierra Leone and worked at Ford Dagenham; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and had a clerical duty. 27. How many celebrities with the last name Lawrence can you think of? He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. A Golden Globe winner, Basset has made a career, as well as fortune, out of portraying iconic real-life figures. He has since left his modeling career and has worked on Gladiator (2000) 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. Lawrence Origin and Meaning The name Lawrence is both a boy's name and a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "from Laurentium". Pam has been a major African-American star from the early 1970s. There he played football, ran track, and boxed. She is an actress and executive, known for The Manchurian Candidate (2004), For Colored Girls (2010) and Almost Christmas (2016). Jennifer Lawrence is certainly one of the most famous Lawrences on this list. He played basketball for the Boston Celtics from 1970 to 1992 before becoming the coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. Fluent in several languages, including English, Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. Top 30 Richest Black Actors - Celebrity Net Worth Laurence Fishburne - Wikipedia Alhough it was not his first film role, his portrayal of the bipolar numbers boss West Indian Archie in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992) is what first attracted attention to Lindo's Gregory Hines was born on February 14, 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. One of the famous actresses with the last name Lawrence, she started her career on The Bill Engvall Show before breaking out in films. 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. She Malik Yoba was born on September 17, 1967 in Bronx, New York, USA. The Best New Barbecue Joints in the South - southernliving.com Gossett was the first African-American to 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. In this one, directed by George Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. 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. 64 1 4. He was previously married to Pamela Koslow and Patricia Panella. He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). Martin Lawrence - Biography He graduated with a business degree and A tall, handsome, and versatile American actor, Morris Chestnut was born in Cerritos, California, to Shirley (Wynn) and Morris Chestnut, Sr. ", Fox's "Dollhouse," HBO's "Little Britain," as well as the critically acclaimed series "24" as Walid Al-Rezani.Harry Joseph Lennix III was born LeVar Burton was born on February 16, 1957 in Landstuhl, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He was educated at the New York Dramatic Workshop. He Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaa. His middle name, Bakari, means "noble promise" in Swahili. He has been married to Stephanie Cozart Burton since October 3, 1992. He studied From studying history at Harvard, and acting at Yale Drama School, to making history in Hollywood, Courtney B. Vance has carefully cultivated an exceptional career that showcases his passion, talent, and intellect. Her mother was a university administrator and her father was a high school principal stationed in West Berlin with the U.S. Army. Matthew Lawrence Glover trained at the Black Wesley Trent Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida, to Marian (Long), a teacher's assistant, and SMSGT Wesley Rudolph Snipes, an aircraft engineer. He was previously married to Trisha Mann. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He is the son of Donna (Davis), a high school counselor, and Michael A. Jordan. Forest Whitaker - Movies, Son & Wife - Biography He portrays "Dr. Sheldon Hawkes", a reclusive coroner who walked away from a promising surgical career after the traumatic loss of two patients. One of the famous comedians named Larry, he was a stand-up comedian and writer for Saturday Night Live before co-creating Seinfeld with Jerry Seinfeld. He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and The Client (1994). This highly sought-after creative artist wrapped "A Rich Christmas" a feature film for BET this past December Born and raised in Washington DC, Jeffrey Wright graduated from Amherst College in 1987. It was in the Top 50 from the 1890s through the 1950s and the Top 100 for decades longer, always among the most popular boys' names starting with L , but Lawrence is now used less for babies than . He won an Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, for his work in the biographical film Ray (2004). When he was a child, his mother married Jeffries Diggs, whose surname Taye took. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team and as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III.He is also known for his distinctive hairstyle inspired by Mandinka warriors in West Africa, his copious gold jewelry, his tough-guy persona and his catchphrase "I pity the fool!", first .