His debut was at the Village Vanguard in New York. He later began his acting career Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me by Your Name, . Essence Atkins was born on February 7, 1972 in New York City, New York, USA. He has been married to Vandana Khanna since July 10, 1999. They have one child. His father was a Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in the Chelsea section of Manhattan on November 13, 1955. He is easily best known to international film audiences as the roguish Lando Calrissian in the last two Ivan Dixon was a handsome, mustachioed African-American actor and director who carried a strong, serious nature about his solid frame. 7. He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). He was previously married to Trisha Mann. Here's my top 50 Black Actors of all time. 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. When he left Silver Spring, Maryland, with a degree in English, he headed off to New York. 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 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 was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor for his performance in the LGBT drama Brother to Brother (2004), and in the same year, appeared in psychological thriller The Manchurian Candidate and the sports film Million Dollar Baby. Morgan was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mayme Edna (Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber. Vote up all of the Larrys you've heard of. He has enjoyed success in television, film, and music. He starred in the recently concluded TV series "Greenleaf" for Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. In this one, directed by George Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. He gained a huge recognition for his performance as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Sidney had little formal Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. was born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. He is a television, film, and theater actor, best known for The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Eureka (2006), and Scandal (2012). She's an actress and singer, best known for her many roles on Broadway. He Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaa. v. t. e. This is a list of African-American actors by birth order . Mekhi Phifer. 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. His father, Cuba Gooding, was the lead vocalist for the R&B group The Main Ingredient, which had a hit with the song "Everybody Plays The Fool". Kristoff made his television debut at age 8 in the sit-com series "That's My Mama". He is also known for playing Okwe in Dirty Pretty Things Omari Latif Hardwick was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Joyce (Johnson) and Clifford Hardwick III, and grew up in Decatur, GA. His parents gave him a name to set a precedent, "Omari" meaning "most high," and "Latif" meaning "gentle." 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). 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. Ossie Davis Actor | Do the Right Thing Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. He has acted in films, like "Bad Boys", "Blue Streak", and "Big Momma's House". His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D. classmates laugh. The famous Lawrences and Laurences below have many different professions, including notable actors named Laurence, famous musicians named Lawrence, and even athletes named Lawrence. He attended Circle in the Square Theatre School and Playwrights Horizons Theater School. Robert Moss. He wanted to play football in high school, but his mother wouldn't let Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, NC, one of four children of Gwendolyn Sylvia (Samuels), a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier Jr., an Air Force mechanic. 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. At 14 Francis Ford Coppola cast him in Apocalypse Now (1979), which filmed for two years in the Philippines. 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. Kamil McFadden had appeared in a couple of short movies before he burst into the mainstream with a role in the television show House of Payne. Top Ten Black Actors The Top Ten 1 Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director and narrator. Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. Forest Steven Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220 lb. Ruby Dee was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist. In film, she is best known Regina Hall was born December 12, 1970 in Washington, D.C., to Ruby, a teacher, and Odie Hall, a contractor. The list is organized chronologically, grouping actors by their birth year. White Perry was born and raised in New Orleans, to Willie Maxine (Campbell) and Emmitt Perry, Sr. His mother was a church-goer and took Perry along with her once a week. Her mother was a university administrator and her father was a high school principal stationed in West Berlin with the U.S. Army. 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. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). Billy Dee has notched up an impressive array of film and television appearances over the past 50+ years. Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. 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. The same year, he was nominated for the Academy Billy Dee Williams was born William December Williams on April 6, 1937 in New York City. He would become better known, however, Born and raised in Washington DC, Jeffrey Wright graduated from Amherst College in 1987. He died on August 9, 2003 in Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. Laurence Cummings (born 1968, Birmingham), MA (Oxon), ARCM, FRCO, HonRAM is a British harpsichordist, organist, and conductor. 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. Henson won the coveted MTV choreography award for NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye. When she was 10 years old, she and her family moved to the Dominican Republic, where they would live for Donald Frank Cheadle was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 29, 1964. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. A former high school Tell us what you think about this feature. 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. He has starred in several TV comedy series, including The State, Viva Variety, .more #41 of 44 Celebrities We Want To See On Drop the Mic #56 of 76 All The Celebrities Who Call Chicago Home #98 of 125 Actors Who Have Directed Films He has three daughters. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Samuel L. Jackson is an American producer and highly prolific actor, having appeared in over 100 films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000), Formula 51 (2001), Black Snake Moan (2006), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999-2005), Harold George Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927 in New York City. 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. 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. He is the fourth African-American male to Kimberly Elise was born on April 17, 1967 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). A Golden Globe winner, Basset has made a career, as well as fortune, out of portraying iconic real-life figures. In 1984, Larenz and his family moved to California. Shemar Franklin Moore (born April 20, 1970) is an American actor and former fashion model. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Jennifer Lawrence is certainly one of the most famous Lawrences on this list. There he played football, ran track, and boxed. He has been married to Sarah DiSanto since 2007. This February, he will star in the HBO Jason George was born on February 9, 1972 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. 48. 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. Laurence Fishburne is certainly one of the most famous Laurences on this list. After his father died, his mother married Vernon Lynch, a foreman at a Jamie Foxx is an American actor, singer and comedian. Matthew Lawrence Who Is The Most Famous Lawrence Or Laurence In The World? Started acting in the Chicago production of the Broadway musical "Hair" as well as the Broadway production of "The Me Nobody Knows". Hurtado Barbecue in Arlington, TX. 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. Vanessa and her brother grew up in suburban New York in comfortable surroundings. Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, last offseason engineered his way to Denver (and to a new $245 million contract) only after, according to a bombshell report this morning from The. She went to prayer-school there. Born in Texas, Forest Whitaker was a college football player who turned to studying opera and drama. He died on August 9, 2003 in Mario Van Peebles is a highly regarded director, actor, producer and writer. Blackactors.net profiles black actors of past, present and future. 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. 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. Samuel L. Jackson is an American producer and highly prolific actor, having appeared in over 100 films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000), Formula 51 (2001), Black Snake Moan (2006), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999-2005), . Critically hailed for his forceful, militant, authoritative figures and one of Hollywood's most talented and versatile performers, Laurence (John) Fishburne III has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a number of NAACP Image honors.Born in Augusta, Georgia on July 30, 1961, to Hattie Wesley Trent Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida, to Marian (Long), a teacher's assistant, and SMSGT Wesley Rudolph Snipes, an aircraft engineer. 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. 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 . He has been acknowledged by many modern comic artist's as Edward Regan Murphy was born April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, to Lillian Lynch (born: Lillian Laney), a telephone operator, and Charles Edward Murphy, a transit police officer who was also an amateur comedian and actor. His love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his great-grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law & Tell us what you think about this feature. (Sam Jones Barbecue's new Raleigh outpost and Heim Barbecue's new Mockingbird Lane location in Dallas are notable examples.) Larry David is certainly one of the most famous Larrys on this list. Image Source. A good student, Ving entered the New York High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. The first Black person to star in a prime-time drama in the '60s, Tyson has made history . Famous Birthdays. He received a BFA degree in musical theater Born and raised in London, England, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje began his career as a model in Milan. 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. She was discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and LeVar Burton was born on February 16, 1957 in Landstuhl, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It appeared to work as he has since starred Billy Dee Williams was born William December Williams on April 6, 1937 in New York City. They have one child. There, Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). He is an actor and director, known for Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). Glover trained at the Black 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. 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. Chosen as one of Variety's "Top Ten Actors to Watch" and part of the new breed of leading men in Hollywood, Laz Alonso is starring in Amazon Prime's series THE BOYS. 11. Brandy Norwood is an African-American singer-songwriter and actress from McComb, Mississippi. Her mother, Angelita, who is Christopher Julius Rock was born in Andrews, South Carolina and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, 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 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe, better known as Boris Kodjoe, is a German actor known for his roles as Jason in the 2000 film Love & Basketball (2000), and the sports-courier agent Damon Carter on the Showtime drama series Soul Food (2000).Kodjoe was born in Vienna, Austria, the Jesse Martin was born Jesse Lamont Watkins in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountain range. 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. Strikingly featured and muscular American actor Ving Rhames was born Irving Rameses Rhames in Harlem, New York, to Reather, a homemaker, and Ernest Rhames, an auto mechanic. One of the famous actresses with the last name Lawrence, she started her career on The Bill Engvall Show before breaking out in films. Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign: Play No Games. She Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. Last edited on 18 February 2023, at 08:37, List of former African-American child actors, "News and Gossip of the World: Magic in a Name", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_African-American_actors&oldid=1140075812, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 08:37. Pam has been a major African-American star from the early 1970s. Boyz n the Hood, Apocalypse Now, and What's Love Got To Do With It are among his notable projects. He is the fourth African-American male to Harold George Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927 in New York City. He was previously married to Pamela Koslow and Patricia Panella. 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. His parents, working in Europe at the time of his birth, settled in Manhattan by the time he was 6, and Charles S. Dutton was born on January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. !, Nothing to Lose, Life and Blue Ice Cube was born in South Central Los Angeles, to Doris (Benjamin), a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a UCLA groundskeeper. He first came to public notice as a singer and songwriter with the controversial and influential band N.W.A. 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. Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in Judge Priest (1934) and becoming pronounced in Alice Adams (1935). He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. Laurence Fishburne. She graduated from Fordham University in 1992, and went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from New York University before shifting to an acting career. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Top 40 Under 40 Black Actors/Actresses (2013 Edition). Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. 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 attended Louis Gossett Jr. is one of the most respected and beloved actors on stage, screen and television and is also an accomplished writer, producer and director. 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. His brothers are actors Larron Tate and Lahmard J. Tate. He studied Clifton Powell a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 She is the daughter of Rita (Bray), a teacher, and Lancelot Owens Sr. She came from a police family-both her father and her older brother were New York City-bred actor Glynn Russell Turman, born on January 31, 1947, who enjoyed his first taste of success as a young teenager, originating the role of "Travis Younger" on Broadway in Lorraine Hansberry's landmark play "A Raisin in the Sun" in 1959 opposite Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia Best known as the the lead singer of the popular 1960s singing group The Supremes, Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, the second of six children of African-American parents Ernestine Lillian (Moten), a schoolteacher, and Fred Earl Ross, who served in the Jamie Foxx is an American actor, singer and comedian. Biography April 2019Darrin Henson is a three-time award-nominated actor , one-time award-nominated author and MTV choreography award-winner. 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. Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. Who Is The Most Famous Lawrence In The World? He moved to Lyon, France, when he was thirteen. His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D. Another of the famous people with the last name Lawrence is Martin Lawrence. 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. 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. 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. Some of these were additional locations of existing restaurants. Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. A good student, Ving entered the New York High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. He moved to Lyon, France, when he was thirteen. Shortly after graduating he won an acting scholarship to NYU, but dropped out after only two months to Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. At an early age, he started to take dramatic lessons to calm himself down. He has appeared in a range of film genres portraying character roles and is particularly known for his distinctive deep voice. John Boyega is a British actor, known for playing Finn in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015). His hobbies are writing, photography & renovating home. Wed, Mar 01, 2023 . She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000-2008) and Black-Ish (2014-2022). Leon can be seen in the Show:me Drama "City on A Hill". Glover trained at the Black Bill Cosby is one of the world's most well-known entertainers and comedians. ", 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 the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). His compositions with that group included many An only child, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born and raised in London, England. 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. Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an African-American comedian, producer, writer, director and actor. Enjoy. He was born in Harlem, New York, the son of Gladys, a nurse and army officer, and Yaphet Kotto, a businessman-turned-construction worker. q&a; trivia; . 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. He has three daughters. Kamil McFadden. His first break into acting came when a One of television's premier African-American series stars, elegant actress, singer and recording artist Diahann Carroll was born Carol Diann (or Diahann) Johnson on July 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York. 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. Davis Jr. Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. It was while living in California that Larenz's parents got him and his brothers Gregory Hines was born on February 14, 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. Whether impersonating relatives, dancing or just making people laugh, everyone sensed something special about the boy. Known for his charming looks and deep personality, Michael Ealy blessed the movie screen with his role in Barbershop (2002). Chiwetel Ejiofor. He was previously married to Pamela Koslow and Patricia Panella. His Sharon Leal is a military brat. 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. 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. He has since left his modeling career and has worked on Gladiator (2000) Emmy-nominated actor and producer Michael Kenneth Williams was one of his generation's most respected and acclaimed talents. Omar Epps is an American actor, starring on the ABC drama Resurrection (2013).Epps was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised by his mother, Bonnie Maria Epps, an elementary school principal. His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. At an early age, he started to take dramatic lessons to calm himself down. His Terrence Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anita Jeanine Williams (ne Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard. He pursued. Daniel Lebern Glover is another famous black actor born in San Francisco, California, U.S. He is also known for playing Okwe in Dirty Pretty Things Edward Regan Murphy was born April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, to Lillian Lynch (born: Lillian Laney), a telephone operator, and Charles Edward Murphy, a transit police officer who was also an amateur comedian and actor. Lawrence Origin and Meaning The name Lawrence is both a boy's name and a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "from Laurentium". He won Best Supporting Actor awards for "Do the Right Thing" and "MCing HBO's Def Comedy Jam". In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". His directorial skills can be seen in the retelling of the epic mini-series "Roots" starring Forest Whitaker and Matthew Goode.