Actor and comedian Kenan Thompson was born on May 10, 1978, to Fletcher and Elizabeth Ann Thompson in Columbus, Ohio. When he was nine months old, his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia. At age five, his mother enrolled him in acting classes. Thompson’s first acting … Read MoreKenan Thompson (1978- )
Sultry, soulful vocalist, lyricist, composer, actor, and activist Oleta Adams was born in Seattle, Washington, on May 4, 1953, and began piano lessons at seven. When she was 11, her family moved to Yakima, Washington, where she sang in the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church choir, … Read MoreOleta Adams (1953- )
Christopher Julius “Chris” Rock is an actor and stand-up comedian. Rock, the eldest of seven children, was born on February 7, 1965, to Rosalie and Julius Rock in Andrews, South Carolina. His family moved to New York City, New York when he was a child. … Read MoreChris Rock (1965- )
Film and television actress Gina Torres was born on April 25, 1969 in Manhattan, New York and grew up in the Bronx. Torres attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in the city, where her principal instrument was a … Read MoreGina Torres (1969- )
Actress Lorraine Toussaint was born and reared in Trinidad & Tobago on April 4, 1960, to Janet Beane, an educator. Information regarding her father is not available. Toussaint, however, was reared in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in … Read MoreLorraine Toussaint (1960- )
Actor, producer Nia Long of Trinidadian heritage, was born Nitara Carlynn Long on October 30, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York, to Talita Gillman Long, an educator, and printmaker, and Doughtry Long, an educator, and poet. However, she was reared in Los Angeles, California. She has … Read MoreNia Long (1970- )
Rapper, emcee Positive K, was born on August 9, 1967, in the Bronx, New York, as Darryl Gibson. He was originally a member of the rap group, Five-Percent Nation and then he joined the rap group Almighty God Committee from Queens, rapping under pseudonym Positive … Read MorePositive K (1967- )
Historian, thespian, activist Georgette M. Norman was born on January 27, 1946, in Montgomery, Alabama, to George Maggie Norman, a real estate broker from Hope Hull, Alabama, and Juliet Graham Norman, who taught at W.B. Paterson Elementary School and was from Montgomery. Georgette’s early education … Read MoreGeorgette M. Norman (1946- )
RuPaul Andre Charles is an actor, model, singer, and drag queen, who is best known by his first name, RuPaul. Charles was born on November 17, 1960, in San Diego, California. His father, Irving Andrew Charles, and his mother, Ernestine (Fontenette) Charles, divorced when he … Read MoreRuPaul Andre Charles (1960- )
Michael Kenneth Williams was an American actor who was best known for playing the role of Omar Little in the HBO hit TV series The Wire. Williams was born on November 22, 1966 to a Bahamian mother, Paula Williams and an American father, Booker T. … Read MoreMichael Kenneth Williams (1966-2021)
