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.
Born in the 2010s
- Janice LeAnn Brown,actress
- Blue Ivy Carter, voice actress and singer
- Ravi Cabot-Conyers, actor
- Celestina Harris,actress
- Melody Hurd, actress, dancer, and model
- Jaidyn Triplett, actress and singer
- North West (musician), voice actress, rapper and singer
- Keivonn Woodard,actor
Born in the 2000s
- Micah Abbey, actor
- Halle Bailey, actress and singer
- Bailey Bass, actress
- Iman Benson, actress
- Asante Blackk, actor
- Marissa Bode, actress
- Miles Brown, actor
- Shamon Brown Jr., actor
- Seth Carr, actor
- Lonnie Chavis, actor
- Chloe Coleman, actress
- Kyliegh Curran, actress
- Jonathan Daviss, actor
- Priah Ferguson, actress
- Demetrius Flenory Jr., actor
- Benjamin Flores Jr., actor and rapper
- Jalyn Hall, actor
- Caleel Harris, actor
- Alex R. Hibbert, actor
- Arica Himmel, actress
- Skai Jackson, actress
- Chosen Jacobs, actor and singer
- Chandler Kinney, actress
- Leah Sava Jeffries, actress
- Calah Lane, actress
- Adrian Lyles, actor and musician
- Marsai Martin, actress
- JD McCrary, actor and singer
- Caleb McLaughlin, actor
- Jaden Michael, actor
- Maleah Joi Moon, actress
- Michael Rainey Jr., actor
- Dara Reneé, actress
- Storm Reid, actress
- Ruth Righi, actress
- Marcus Scribner, actor
- Sayeed Shahidi, actor
- Yara Shahidi, actress and Harvard graduate
- Savannah Lee Smith, actress
- Willow Smith, actress
- Trinitee Stokes, actress
- Daniella Taylor, actress
- Myles Truitt, actor
- Lexi Underwood, actress
- Quvenzhané Wallis, actress
- Keith L. Williams, actor
- Jahi Di'Allo Winston, actor
- Shahadi Wright Joseph, actress
- Sofia Wylie, actress
- Dallas Dupree Young, actor
Born in the 1990s
- Jordan Alexander, actress
- Ajiona Alexus, actress
- Chloe Bailey, actress and singer
- Madison Bailey, actress
- Jabari Banks, actor
- Jaylen Barron, actress
- Zazie Beetz, actress
- Denée Benton, actress and singer
- Rhyon Nicole Brown, actress
- Jasmin Savoy Brown, actress
- Jordan Calloway, actor
- Sierra Capri, actress
- Chance The Rapper, rapper
- Kiersey Clemons, actress
- Zendaya Coleman, actress
- Dexter Darden, actor
- Aisha Dee, actress
- Dee Dee Davis, actress
- Ariana DeBose, actress
- Teala Dunn, actress
- Ayo Edebiri, actress
- Reign Edwards, actress
- Jimmie Fails, actor
- Roshon Fegan, actor
- Dominique Fishback, actress
- Jordan Fisher, actor
- Rome Flynn, actor
- Tati Gabrielle, actress
- Antonia Gentry, actress
- Jacob Gibson, actor
- Raven Goodwin, actress
- Carlacia Grant, actress
- Brett Gray, actor
- Bryshere Gray, actor
- Imani Hakim, actress
- Kelvin Harrison Jr., actor
- Helena Howard, actress
- Paige Hurd, actress
- O'Shea Jackson Jr., actor and rapper
- Paris Jackson, actress
- Trevor Jackson, actor
- Carlon Jeffery, actor and rapper
- Sarah Jeffery, actress
- Nadji Jeter, actor
- Camrus Johnson, actor
- Coco Jones actress and singer
- Malcolm David Kelley, actor
- Jak Knight, actor, writer, and comedian
- Jacob Latimore, actor
- Jayme Lawson, actress
- Kiana Ledé, actress and singer
- Denny Love, actor
- Michael Luwoye, actor
- Christopher Massey, actor
- Kyle Massey, actor
- Miranda Rae Mayo, actress
- China Anne Mcclain, actress and singer
- Shane Paul McGhie, actor
- Parker McKenna Posey, actress
- Aeriel Miranda, actress
- Shameik Moore, actor and musician
- Laci Mosley actress and comedian
- Kiara Muhammad, actress
- Normani, singer
- Brittany O'Grady, actress
- Keke Palmer, actress
- Serayah (actress), actress
- Sydney Park, actress
- Madison Pettis, actress
- Solea Pfeiffer, actress
- Taylor Polidore, actress
- Nathaniel Potvin, actor
- Keith Powers, actor
- Trevante Rhodes, actor
- Tequan Richmond, actor
- Zeno Robinson, voice actor
- Lee Rodriguez, actress and singer
- Kara Royster, actress
- Kylee Russell, actress
- Alyah Chanelle Scott, actress
- Doc Shaw, actor
- Alexandra Shipp, actress
- Diggy Simmons, actor
- Lovie Simone, actress
- Jaz Sinclair, actress
- Paulina Singer, actress
- Algee Smith, actor
- Jaden Smith, actor and singer
- Lakeith Stanfield, actor
- Amandla Stenberg, actress
- Coy Stewart, actor
- Joy Sunday, actress
- Chelsea Tavares, actress
- Leon Thomas III, actor
- Dominique Thorne, actress
- Tyler The Creator, actor
- Diamond White, actress and singer
- Tyler James Williams, actor
- Tyrel Jackson Williams, actor
- Arif Zahir, actor, musician and internet personality
Born in the 1980s
- Quinton Aaron, actor
- Lloyd Banks, actor
- Malcolm Barrett, actor
- Fantasia Barrino, actress and singer
- Jurnee Smollett-Bell, 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
- Quinta Brunson, actress, producer, writer and comedian
- Hannibal Buress, actor and comedian
- Trai Byers, actor
- Nick Cannon, actor
- Chingy, rapper
- Tanya Chisholm, actress and dancer
- Monique Coleman, actress
- Emayatzy Corinealdi,
- Yaya DaCosta, actress
- Charles Michael Davis, actor
- Daveed Diggs, actor
- Drake, actor
- Edwina Findley, actress
- Jennifer Freeman, actress
- Darrell Britt-Gibson, actor
- Donald Glover, actor
- Reagan Gomez-Preston, actress writer, and producer
- Meagan Good, actress
- Elena Goode, actress
- Kat Graham, actress and singer
- Shalita Grant, actress
- Sonequa Martin-Green, actress
- Lance Gross, 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
- Sam Jones III, actor
- Michael B. Jordan, actor
- Wiz Khalifa, actor
- Christel Khalil, actress
- Aja Naomi King, actress
- Zoe Kravitz, actress and filmmaker
- Lil Scrappy, rapper
- Lauren London, actress
- Peter Macon, actor
- Jonathan Majors, actor
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor
- Kelly McCreary, actress
- Jason Mitchell, actor
- Monica, actress
- Victoria Monét, R&B singer
- Lamorne Morris, actor
- Aaron Moten, actor
- George McMichael Moyer, actor
- Ashleigh Murray, actress
- Naturi Naughton, actress
- Angel Parker, actress
- Teyonah Parris, actress
- Candice Patton, actress
- Jay Pharoah, actor
- Kyla Pratt, actress
- Issa Rae, actress
- Emmy Raver-Lampman, actress
- Rihanna, singer
- Sam Richardson, actor and comedian
- Amber Riley, actress and singer
- Naya Rivera, actress, singer and model
- Evan Ross, actor and musician
- Kelly Rowland actress and singer
- Amanda Seales, actress
- Gabourey Sidibe, actress
- Brian Michael Smith, actor
- Jussie Smollett, actor
- Jordin Sparks, actress
- Tika Sumpter, actress
- Raven-Symoné, actress, singer and director
- Jessica Szohr, actress
- Tessa Thompson, actress
- Norman Towns, actor, comedian, and producer
- 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
- Samira Wiley, actress
- Jessica Williams, actress
- Nafessa Williams, actress
- Lee Thompson Young, actor
- Young Buck, rapper
Born in the 1970s
- Aaliyah, singer, actress
- 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
- Ahmed Best, actor, comedian and musician
- Big Gipp, rapper
- Stephen Bishop, actor
- De'Aundre Bonds, actor
- Bone Crusher, Hip Hop rapper
- Chadwick Boseman, actor
- 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,
- Dave Chappelle, actor and comedian
- Chi-Ali, rapper
- Deon Cole, actor
- Mike Colter, actor
- Common, actor
- Laverne Cox, transgender actress
- D-Nice, actor
- Merle Dandridge, actress
- Taye Diggs, actor
- DMX, actor, rapper
- Snoop Dogg, actor
- Omar Dorsey, actor
- Ava DuVernay, film director
- Michael Ealy, actor
- Nelsan Ellis, actor
- 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
- Kimberly Hébert Gregory, actress
- 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
- Dulé 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
- Richard T. Jones, actor
- 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
- Omar Benson Miller, actor
- Wentworth Miller, actor
- Kel Mitchell, actor, comedian
- 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, 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 Saldaña, actress
- Sherri Saum, actress
- Tupac Shakur, actor, rapper
- Shanice, singer
- Beanie Sigel, rapper
- Henry Simmons, actor
- IronE Singleton, actor
- Sisqo, rapper singer
- Jada Pinkett Smith, actress, singer-songwriter
- Octavia Spencer, actress
- Larenz Tate, actor
- The Game, rapper
- Charlize Theron, actress
- 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
- Bokeem Woodbine, actor
Born in the 1960s
- Tichina Arnold, actress
- Michael Beach, actor
- Jennifer Beals, actress
- Darryl M. Bell, actor
- Halle Berry, actress
- Richard Biggs, actor
- Big Daddy Kane, rapper
- Birdman, rapper
- Sean Blakemore, actor
- Michael Boatman, actor and sitcom comedian
- Lisa Bonet, actress
- Andre Braugher, actor
- Toni Braxton, singer
- Todd Bridges, actor
- Richard Brooks, actor
- Frances Callier, actress
- Mariah Carey, 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
- Kim Coles, actress
- Sean Combs, actor
- Lavell Crawford, actor and comedian
- Rusty Cundieff, actor
- Mark Curry, actor
- Danny Boy, rapper
- Stacey Dash, actress
- Tommy Davidson, actor
- Cassi Davis, actress
- LaVan Davis, actor
- Viola Davis, actress
- Deezer D, actor, rapper
- DJ Kay Gee, rapper
- DJ Yella, disc jockey and rapper
- Natalie Desselle-Reid, actress
- Nate Dogg, actor
- Colman Domingo, actor
- Doug E. Fresh, beatboxer and rapper
- Gary Dourdan, actor
- Dr. Dre, actor
- Dres, rapper
- E-40, actor
- Eric B., actor
- Sonya Eddy, actress
- Kim Fields, actress
- Laurence Fishburne, actor
- Freddie Foxxx, actor
- Thomas Mikal Ford, actor, comedian
- 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
- Terrance Howard, actor
- D.L. Hughley, comedian, actor
- Ice Cube, actor
- Janet Jackson, actress and singer
- Jay-Z, rapper
- Kristoff St. John, actor
- A.J. Johnson
- Anne-Marie Johnson, actress
- David Jude Jolicoeur, actor
- 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, actor
- Dawnn Lewis, actress
- Kecia Lewis, singer and actress
- Phill Lewis, actor, comedian
- Tina Lifford, actress
- LL Cool J, actor
- Lord Jamar, actor
- Faizon Love, actor and comedian
- 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
- Haywood Nelson, actor
- Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian
- 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 actress
- Donnell Rawlings, actor and comedian
- Gene Anthony Ray, actor
- Lance Reddick, actor
- 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
- 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, 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
- Michael Jai White, actor and martial artist
- Eugene Wilde, singer
- Gary Anthony Williams, actor
- Michael K. Williams, actor
- 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
- Jeffrey Wright, actor
- Malik Yoba, actor
Born in the 1950s
- Khandi Alexander, actress
- Debbie Allen, actress
- Sherman Augustus, actor, martial artist and former NFL player
- Patti Austin, singer
- BabyFace, singer
- Philip Bailey, singer
- Anita Baker, singer
- Leslie David Baker, actor
- Angela Bassett, actress
- Fred Berry, actor
- 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
- Judy Cheeks, singer
- Natalie Cole, actress
- Tony Cox, actor
- Keith David, actor, comedian
- Michael Dorn, actor
- Suzzanne Douglas, actress
- Denise Dowse, actress and director
- Michael Clarke Duncan, actor
- Charles S. Dutton, actor
- Giancarlo Esposito, actor
- Dave Fennoy, actor
- Clarence Gilyard, actor
- 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
- Dorian Harewood, actor
- Jackee Harry, 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
- Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, actor
- Larry "Flash" Jenkins, actor, director, producer, screenwriter
- Ralph Johnson, singer
- Jay Arlen Jones, actor
- Ron Cephas Jones, actor
- Chaka Khan, singer
- Spike Lee, film director, producer, writer, actor
- Jenifer Lewis, actress
- Tommy Lister Jr., actor
- Bernie Mac, actor, comedian
- Debbi Morgan, actress
- Mr. T, actor
- Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian
- Lance E. Nichols, actor
- Bill Nunn, actor
- Jo Marie Payton, actress
- Paul Pena, singer-songwriter, guitarist
- CCH Pounder, actress
- Clifton Powell, actor
- Prince, actor
- Dianne Reeves, singer
- Ving Rhames, actor
- Howard Rollins, actor
- Victoria Rowell, actress
- Sinbad, actor and comedian
- Bern Nadette Stanis, actress
- Ron Taylor, actor
- Tony Todd, actor
- 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
- James Avery, actor
- Margaret Avery, actress
- Taurean Blacque, actor
- John Beasley, actor
- George Benson, singer
- Avery Brooks, actor
- Roger Aaron Brown, actor
- Ron Canada, actor and producer
- Nell Carter, actress
- Olivia Cole, actress
- Hugh Dane, actor
- Loretta Devine, actress
- Art Evans, actor
- Damon Evans, actor
- Mike Evans, actor
- Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, actor
- Ken Foree, actor
- Aretha Franklin, actress
- Sheila Frazier, actress
- Ron Glass, actor
- Danny Glover, actor
- Cuba Gooding Sr., actor
- Larry Graham, singer
- Teresa Graves, actress
- Pam Grier, actress
- Alaina Reed Hall, actress
- Isaac Hayes, actor
- Shirley Hemphill, actress
- Gregory Hines, actor
- Mike Hodge, actor
- Kene Holliday, actor
- Telma Hopkins, actress and singer
- Anna Maria Horsford, actress
- Ernie Hudson, actor
- Samuel L. Jackson, actor
- Jim Kelly, actor
- Gladys Knight, actress
- Patti LaBelle, actress
- Ted Lange, actor
- Darlene Love, actress
- Al Matthews, actor
- Vonetta McGee, actress
- Frank McRae, actor
- Paul Mooney, actor and comedian
- Joe Morton, actor
- Jeffrey Osborne, singer
- Billy Preston, actor
- Joan Pringle, actress
- Richard Pryor, actor and comedian
- Marion Ramsey, actress
- Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress and comedian
- Tim Reid, actor
- James Reynolds, actor
- LaTanya Richardson, actress
- Lionel Richie, actor, composer, and singer
- Charlie Robinson, actor
- Roger Robinson, actor
- Smokey Robinson, singer
- Diana Ross, actress and singer
- Richard Roundtree, actor
- O. J. Simpson, actor
- Carly Simon, singer
- Bubba Smith, actor
- Meshach Taylor, actor
- Lynne Thigpen, actress
- Ernest Lee Thomas, actor
- Berlinda Tolbert, actress
- Glynn Turman, actor
- Leslie Uggams, actress and singer
- Ben Vereen, actor, dancer, and singer
- Jimmie Walker, actor
- Dionne Warwick, actress and singer
- Carl Weathers, actor
- Demond Wilson, actor
- Theodore Wilson, actor
- John Witherspoon, actor and comedian
- Samuel E. Wright, actor
Born in the 1930s
- Mary Alice, actress
- John Amos, actor
- Paul Benjamin, actor
- Johnny Brown, actor
- Jim Brown, actor
- Tony Burton, actor
- Godfrey Cambridge, comedian and actor
- Diahann Carroll, actress
- Bernie Casey, actor
- Rosalind Cash, actress and singer
- Ray Charles, actor
- Bill Cobbs, actor
- Bill Cosby, actor and comedian
- Ivan Dixon, actor, director, and producer
- Robert DoQui, actor
- Ja'Net DuBois, actress
- Roberta Flack, singer
- Gloria Foster, actress
- Al Freeman Jr., actor and director
- Morgan Freeman, actor
- Marla Gibbs, actress
- Carl Gordon, actor
- Louis Gossett Jr., actor
- Dick Gregory, actor and comedian
- Rosey Grier, actor
- Bill Gunn, actor and director
- Lynn Hamilton, actress
- Lloyd Haynes, actor
- Sherman Hemsley, actor
- Ellen Holly, actress
- Robert Hooks, actor
- Raymond St. Jacques, actor
- Rafer Johnson, actor
- Duane Jones, actor
- James Earl Jones, actor
- Lincoln Kilpatrick, actor
- Mabel King, actress
- Yaphet Kotto, actor
- Cleavon Little, actor
- Janet MacLachlan, actress
- Don Marshall, actor
- Whitman Mayo, actor
- James McEachin, actor
- Barbara McNair, actress and singer
- Garrett Morris, actor and comedian
- Greg Morris, actor
- Roger E. Mosley, actor
- Lou Myers, actor
- Nichelle Nichols, actress
- Ron O'Neal, actor
- Melvin Van Peebles, actor and filmmaker
- J. A. Preston, actor
- Thalmus Rasulala, actor
- Lou Rawls, actor
- Della Reese, actress, singer
- Little Richard, actor
- Matt Robinson, actor and producer
- Madge Sinclair, actress
- Nathaniel Taylor, actor
- Wally Taylor, actor
- Tina Turner, actress and singer
- Billy Dee Williams, actor
- Clarence Williams III, actor
- Hal Williams, actor
- Fred Williamson, actor
- Flip Wilson, actor and comedian
- Nancy Wilson, actress
- Paul Winfield, actor
Born in the 1920s
- Maya Angelou, actress
- Harry Belafonte, actor and singer
- Roscoe Lee Browne, actor
- Virginia Capers, actor
- Rupert Crosse, actor
- Sammy Davis Jr., actor
- Ruby Dee, actress
- Redd Foxx, comedian, actor
- Susie Garrett, actress
- Robert Guillaume, actor
- Moses Gunn, actor
- Bernie Hamilton, actor
- Julius Harris, actor
- Eartha Kitt, actress
- William Marshall, actor and director
- LaWanda Page, actress
- Brock Peters, actor
- Sidney Poitier, actor
- Roxie Roker, actress
- Esther Rolle, actress
- Mel Stewart, actor
- Cicely Tyson, actress
- William Warfield, actor
Born in the 1910s
- Willie Best, actor and comedian
- Nat King Cole, actor
- Scatman Crothers, actor
- Ossie Davis, actor
- Tina Dixon, R&B singer, actress and comedian
- Roy Glenn, actor
- Edna Mae Harris, actress, singer
- Robert Earl Jones, actor and professional boxer
- Sybil Lewis, actress
- Nina Mae McKinney, actress and singer
- Butterfly McQueen, actress
- Juanita Moore, actress
- Maidie Norman, actress
- Jimmy Robinson, actor
- Timmie Rogers, comedian, actor
- Nipsey Russell, comedian
- Isabel Sanford, actress, comedian
- Joe Seneca, actor, singer, and songwriter
- Woody Strode, actor
- Clarice Taylor, actress
- Napoleon Whiting, actor
Born in the 1900s
- Eddie Anderson, actor
- James Baskett, actor
- Louise Beavers, actress
- Mildred Boyd, actress, singer, and dancer
- Everett Brown, actor
- Cab Calloway, actor
- Alvin Childress, actor
- Ruby Dandridge, actress
- Dudley Dickerson, actor
- Theresa Harris, actress, singer, dancer
- Gee Gee James, radio and theater actress and singer
- Canada Lee, professional athlete, musician, and actor
- Mantan Moreland, actor and comedian
- Alice Whitman, actress
- Fred Toones, actor and comedian
- Lillian Yarbo, actress, dancer, and singer
Born in the 1890s
- Ismay Andrews, actor
- Rex Ingram, actor
- John Marriott, actor
- Charles R. Moore, actor
- Charles Olden, actor
- Lillian Randolph, actress
- Paul Robeson, actor
- Edward Thompson, actor
- Bill Walker, actor
- Blue Washington, actor
- Spencer Williams Jr., actor and filmmaker
- Zara Cully, actress
Born in the 1880s
- Spencer Bell, actor
- Sam McDaniel, actor
- Tim Moore, actor
- Clarence Muse, actor
- Whitman Sisters, actresses
- Oscar Smith, actor
Born in the 19th century
- Ira Aldridge, actor
- Amanda and Samuel Chambers, early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah
- David Fagen, buffalo soldier, anti-imperialist
- Jesse Graves, actor
- Irving Jones, comedian and songwriter
- Cora Ann Pair Thomas, missionary