He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. 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. William Henry Cosby, Jr. was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Anna Pearl (Hite), a maid and William Henry Cosby, Sr., a U.S. Navy sailor. He later began his acting career Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. He studied Clifton Powell a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. His father was a Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in the Chelsea section of Manhattan on November 13, 1955. 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 brothers are actors Larron Tate and Lahmard J. Tate. 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. 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. Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in Judge Priest (1934) and becoming pronounced in Alice Adams (1935). www.nottingham.ac.uk He is a three-time NBA MVP and 12-time NBA all-star. Sidney had little formal After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). TOP 50 Best Black actors - IMDb A good student, Ving entered the New York High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. Whoopi's recent ancestors were from Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. 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. With a bold voice and posture, Colin makes his characters a favorite among audiences for every role he plays. Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. Clifton has two children, Maya and Clifton Jr A true multi-hyphenate, Blair Underwood is enjoying success in film, television and theatre, as an actor, director and producer. He moved to Lyon, France, when he was thirteen. Wed, Mar 01, 2023 . 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 discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. 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. He died on August 9, 2003 in Forest Steven Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220 lb. 7. 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. He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). Who Is The Most Famous Larry In The World. He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000-2008) and Black-Ish (2014-2022). He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). 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. Started acting in the Chicago production of the Broadway musical "Hair" as well as the Broadway production of "The Me Nobody Knows". 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! Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961), usually credited as Larry Fishburne until 1993, is an American actor and producer. He is best known for playing a fictionalized version of himself on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. frame. 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 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". The Best New Barbecue Joints in the South - southernliving.com List of African-American actors - Wikipedia He is an actor and writer, known for Cool Runnings (1993), New York Undercover (1994) and Cop Land (1997). At 14 Francis Ford Coppola cast him in Apocalypse Now (1979), which filmed for two years in the Philippines. 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. Often mentioned as the greatest player in NFL history, this ruggedly handsome African American fullback for the Cleveland Browns first appeared on movie screens in the western Rio Conchos (1964), followed by a strong supporting role as convict commando "Jefferson" in the terrific WWII action film Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. He also courted disdain and public controversy for most of his career as a staunch Cold 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), Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. His directorial skills can be seen in the retelling of the epic mini-series "Roots" starring Forest Whitaker and Matthew Goode. He is an actor and producer, known for Far from Heaven (2002), 24 (2001) and Heat (1995). Black Actors - IMDb 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. He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. Winter's Bone, The Hunger Games series, and Silver Linings Playbook are some of her notable projects. 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. Billy Dee has notched up an impressive array of film and television appearances over the past 50+ years. He is best known for his television roles as the bass singer Melvin Franklin in The Temptations, Robin Wood in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Malcolm Franks in Single Ladies, Dr. Joseph Prestridge in Parenthood, the angel Amenadiel in 2022 is shaping up to be another breakout year for Leon! In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". When he was a child, his mother married Jeffries Diggs, whose surname Taye took. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. ", 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. Top 40 Under 40 Black Actors/Actresses (2013 Edition). He is an actor and director, known for Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). Tracy Lee Lawrence (born January 27, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and . 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. He has three daughters. 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), . 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. 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. She has a Vanessa Lynne Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, Greenburgh, New York and raised in Millwood, New Castle, New York to Helen Williams & Milton Williams, both music teachers. 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. 9. Beer Barrel Polka and Tonight You Belong To Me are among his popular songs. He has been acknowledged by many modern comic artist's as Actress | After his father died, his mother married Vernon Lynch, a foreman at a Born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 19, 1982, Columbus Keith Short, Jr., started entertaining at the age of three, by putting on shows for his folks' enjoyment. Then, her parents packed up to move back to the US and settled in Fresno, California. 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 . Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. It appeared to work as he has since starred Aunjanue Ellis was born in San Francisco, California. 29. Blackactors.net profiles black actors of past, present and future. 50 Black Actors Who Made Entertainment History - Newsweek They have four children. 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 His parents, working in Europe at the time of his birth, settled in Manhattan by the time he was 6, and Terrence Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anita Jeanine Williams (ne Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard. 28. He has been married to Aviss Pinkney-Bell since June 9, 2001. 'Red Velvet' details first black actor to play Othello He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). Laurence Cummings (born 1968, Birmingham), MA (Oxon), ARCM, FRCO, HonRAM is a British harpsichordist, organist, and conductor. His mother then moved his family to Buffalo, New York. In 2020 Leon starred in Hallmark's #1 movie of the year, "Time for Us to 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. Off-screen he is a social activist, educator and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. Whether impersonating relatives, dancing or just making people laugh, everyone sensed something special about the boy. He was the bandleader and host of The Lawrence Welk Show. Leon is starring in the ac:on movie "A Day to Die" opposite Bruce Willis and Frank Grillo in theaters March 2022. ", 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 Derek Luke was born on April 24, 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. One of the famous actors named Laurence, he is best known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix films. 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. Did we forget one of your favorite famous people with the last name Lawrence? Top 30 most beautiful women in Hollywood right now. Chiwetel Ejiofor. He is the son of Marcia (Berry), a teacher and actress, and Andre Young, a visual artist. 20 Richest Black (African American) Actors and Actresses and Their Net Taraji Penda Henson is an American actress and singer. 11. He first came to be recognized by moviegoers starring as Ricky in Boyz n the Hood (1991), a role where he played a high school running back using his football Derek Luke was born on April 24, 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. Her mother, Angelita, who is Christopher Julius Rock was born in Andrews, South Carolina and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. His father, Winston, is from Sierra Leone and worked at Ford Dagenham; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and had a clerical duty. At an early age, he started to take dramatic lessons to calm himself down. Who Is The Most Famous Lawrence Or Laurence In The World? (Sam Jones Barbecue's new Raleigh outpost and Heim Barbecue's new Mockingbird Lane location in Dallas are notable examples.) Her mother, Emma (Harris), was a teacher and a nurse, and her father, Robert James Johnson, Jr., was a clergyman. Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. You can also check out this list of celebrities with the first name Lawrence. She began appearing on commercials at the age of four. He attended Lance Reddick is an American actor and musician. He was educated at the New York Dramatic Workshop. In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Shemar Franklin Moore (born April 20, 1970) is an American actor and former fashion model. Daniel Lebern Glover is another famous black actor born in San Francisco, California, U.S. (1957-2012) Synopsis. 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). The list is organized chronologically, grouping actors by their birth year. He is the fourth African-American male to Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). His father, from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, is black (of Black Henry Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut, one of three children to Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons, Sr., an IRS agent. Henson won the coveted MTV choreography award for NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye. 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. She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. 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. 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. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. His love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his great-grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. Shortly after graduating he won an acting scholarship to NYU, but dropped out after only two months to Thandiwe Newton was born in London. In her biography she stated that, on the day she was born, her father was in the midst of a card game trying to get money to pay the hospital costs. Who Is The Most Famous Lawrence In The World? 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. Top 50 Most Popular Young Actors In 2023. q&a; trivia; . He is known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, Jason "Furious", Laurence Harvey (born Laruschka Mischa Skikne; 1 October 1928 25 November 1973) was a Lithuanian-born British Jewish actor. Famous Birthdays. 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. How many celebrities with the last name Lawrence can you think of? He is an actor and producer, known for Burn Notice (2007), Third Watch (1999) and The Gifted (2017). His father was a carpenter and they had a very strained and abusive relationship, which led Perry to suffer from depression as a Hill Harper, an accomplished film, television and stage actor, stars in the hit CBS drama series, CSI: NY (2004). After graduating from high school, Denzel enrolled at Actress | His notable roles are that of Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 2005, Derek Morgan on CBS's Criminal Minds from 2005 to 2016, and as the third permanent host of Soul Train from 1999 An only child, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born and raised in London, England. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He attended Circle in the Square Theatre School and Playwrights Horizons Theater School. He is an actor and producer, known for the films Ray, Selma Lord Selma, Dead Presidents, and Menace 2 Society, and the TV series The Family Business, Sacrifice, and Saints & Sinners. He was educated at the New York Dramatic Workshop. Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. 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. He died on August 9, 2003 in Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. Martin Lawrence - Biography He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and The Client (1994). 75+ Famous Lawrences | List of Famous People Named Lawrence - Ranker He also acted in Big Fat Liar starring Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who, David Bryan Woodside (born July 25, 1969) is an American actor. He was born on April 16, 1965 in Hesse, Germany. Laurence Fishburne - Wikipedia Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director. In 1984, Larenz and his family moved to California. He is the son of Donna (Davis), a high school counselor, and Michael A. Jordan. Here's my top 50 Black Actors of all time. 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". His middle name, Bakari, means "noble promise" in Swahili. 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. 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. List of Famous People with last name Lawrence - FMSPPL.com Martin Lawrence is an American comedian and actor with a net worth of $110 million. He has been married to Vandana Khanna since July 10, 1999. 50+ Famous Blacks | Notable People With the Last Name Black - Ranker Also, Dorothy Jean Dandridge was born on November 9, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Ruby Dandridge (ne Ruby Jean Butler), an entertainer, and Cyril H. Dandridge, a cabinet maker and minister. They have one child. I include great character actors, box-office stars, comedic performers and some up and coming rising stars! [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. classmates laugh. One of his sisters is his twin. She Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. Phifer's acting career began when he auditioned at an open casting call for director Spike Lee's Clockers (1995) and was selected for the leading role. Some of these were additional locations of existing restaurants. He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and The Client (1994). Lawrence Becker, 41 TikTok Star. He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud, May 21, 1952), is an American actor. 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. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. How many celebrities named Lawrence or Laurence can you think of? Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence (born April 16, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, talk show host, and writer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname of "The, Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach, and former executive who most recently served as President of Basketball Operations for the, The Greatest Stand-Up Comics from the USA, Actors in the Most Christopher Guest Movies, The Toughest Professional Fighters in History, Larry Bird's Best Teammates Throughout His NBA Career. Matthew Lawrence coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me by Your Name, . He gained a huge recognition for his performance as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series. List of Celebrities with last name: Lawrence - FamousFix List Michael Ian Black (born Michael Ian Schwartz; August 12, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. He died on August 9, 2003 in Mario Van Peebles is a highly regarded director, actor, producer and writer. 75+ Famous Larrys | List of Famous People Named Larry - Ranker 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. 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." Top 20 Famous Black Actors of All Time - The Teal Mango 02 Mar 2023 18:29:40 Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. In 1973, at the age of 12, young Laurence won a recurring role on the daytime soap One Life to Live (1968) that lasted three seasons. He has been married to Stephanie Cozart Burton since October 3, 1992. She's an actress and singer, best known for her many roles on Broadway. His debut was at the Village Vanguard in New York. Sharon then moved with her parents to the Philippines, till she was 6 years old. 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. Now, 39 years later, he is one of the stars on CBS's "Young and The Restless", the number one rated drama for the past 25 years on daytime television, playing the popular character of Neil Winters. He was born in 1939 in Dallas, Texas, where he lived in his early years before moving with his family to Los Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an African-American comedian, producer, writer, director and actor. Colin Salmon is one of Britain's most renowned actors. 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. Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958 in New York City, to Betty Jane (Gilbert), a social worker, and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, a Bill Cosby is one of the world's most well-known entertainers and comedians. Forest Whitaker - Movies, Son & Wife - Biography 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 graduated with a masters degree in Law from London's prestigious Kings College, before moving to Los Angeles to make the transition to acting. She lived in Zambia until political unrest caused her family to move back to the UK, where she lived in Actress | 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. Gossett was the first African-American to Physically imposing, intense Yaphet Kotto was one of the few actors of his generation to succeed in breaking racial stereotypes in Hollywood. His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D. Another of the famous people with the first name Larry is Larry Bird. 48. 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. His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. Michael B. Jordan, the middle of three children, was born in Santa Ana, California and raised in Newark, New Jersey. Soap Opera Actor. Search. 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.