ATTN: CASTING African-American faces we want to see more of!
by hazelnutz10 | created - 19 Sep 2011 | updated - 19 Sep 2011 | PublicCome on casting directors, directors, and producers!!!! So tired of seeing the same black actors in everything. Please remember there are more than 10 qualified black actors in the business. Let's give some other people a chance, and let the "usual suspects" take a rest.
Here's a list of some familiar, and new faces, to help you get more creative!
1. Omari Hardwick
Actor | Kick-Ass
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." He shares, "I in no way believe that I am the highest or most high...
Handsome and talented!!
2. Sophie Okonedo
Actress | Hotel Rwanda
Sophie Okonedo is a British actress. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda (2004).
Okonedo was born within London in 1968. Her parents were Henry Okonedo (1939-2009) and Joan Allman. Her father was British Nigerian ...
One of the best of our time!
3. Chiwetel Ejiofor
Actor | 12 Years a Slave
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...
4. Linara Washington
Actress | Grey's Anatomy
Linara Washington was born in the little town of Beaufort, SC to a beautiful Brazilian woman and an American son of a preacher man. Her mother spoke no English at the time, which has given Linara the added benefit of being fluent in Portuguese. She is currently adding German to her list of ...
I have been watching her for a while. She just did a movie with Brad Pitt!
5. Donielle Artese
Actress | Insecure
Donielle Artese was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Insecure (2016), Mad Men (2007) and Jane the Virgin (2014).
I saw her on a few episodes of Mad Men...she was awesome!
6. Arlen Escarpeta
Actor | The Oath
Arlen Escarpeta was born in Belize, Central America as Arlen Alexander Escarpeta. He is known for his work on Whitney (TV Movie) (2015), Final Destination 5 (2011), Into the Storm (2014) and Friday the 13th (2009). He currently resides in Los Angeles, California and has been able to make a name for...
Excellent actor!!
7. Jesse Williams
Actor | The Cabin in the Woods
Jesse Wesley Williams born August 5, 1981 is a former high school teacher and activist turned actor/director. He's best known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery on the ABC Television series Grey's Anatomy and his advocacy for the disenfranchised, highlighted by his internationally resonant ...
8. Larenz Tate
Actor | Crash
Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. His brothers are actors Larron Tate and Lahmard J. Tate. In 1984, Larenz and his family moved to California. It was while living in California that Larenz's parents got him and his brothers ...
9. Candice Coke
Actress | The Algerian
Hails from New York, where she studied Educational Theater at NYU while on a scholarship for spring board diving. She started her career dancing for icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, and many others in the States and internationally. Eventually she made the transition to Los Angeles where she has...
10. Shelli Boone
Actress | Saints & Sinners
...storyteller, dreamer, doer.
Shelli Boone has been working in Hollywood for over fifteen years, and she is currently recurring on CW's hit show "All American" and CBS' second season of "Why Women Kill". She has guest starred on popular shows such as "SWAT", "NCIS:LA", "Dear White People", "...
Saw her on Grey's Anatomy!
11. Regina Hall
Actress | Girls Trip
Regina Hall was born December 12, 1970 in Washington, D.C., to Ruby, a teacher, and Odie Hall, a contractor. 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. In 1997 at age 26, she began ...
12. Brandon T. Jackson
Actor | Tropic Thunder
Brandon Timothy Jackson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Beverly Yvonne (Bozeman) and Wayne Timothy Jackson. His parents are both pastors, and his maternal grandfather was a Pentecostal child preacher. He credits his sense of humor to both his father and his life straddling the ...
13. Benita Krista Nall
Actress | Minority Report
Benita Krista Nall is an actress and producer, best known for her role as Liz on "Hart of Dixie" (2015) created Leila Gerstein, "Minority Report" (2002) directed by Steven Spielberg starring Tom Cruise, "Catch Me If You Can" (2002) directed by Steven Spielberg starring Leonardo DiCaprio, "13 Going ...
14. Lamman Rucker
Actor | Why Did I Get Married?
Born in Pittsburgh, his mother had a dance company (the Pittsburgh Black Theater Dance Ensemble) and his father was a drummer, so entertaining is in his blood. His first acting role was as Martin Luther King in the 4th grade. He was in the drama club in 7th grade and then attended high school at ...
15. Ryan Michelle Bathe
Actress | One for the Money
Ryan Michelle Bathe was born on July 27, 1976 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for One for the Money (2012), Boston Legal (2004) and This Is Us (2016). She has been married to Sterling K. Brown since June 2007. They have two children.
16. Nate Parker
Actor | The Birth of a Nation
Nate Parker was born on November 18, 1979 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Birth of a Nation (2016), Arbitrage (2012) and Non-Stop (2014). He has been married to Sarah DiSanto since 2007. They have four children.
He was amazing in The Great Debaters!
17. Jurnee Smollett
Actress | The Burial
Jurnee Smollett is an award-winning actress and activist of rare talent and conviction. In the fall of 2020, she starred in J.J. Abrams, Jordan Peele and Misha Green's critically acclaimed drama for HBO, "Lovecraft Country." Smollett's performance was lauded by industry insiders and critics alike. ...
18. Faune Chambers Watkins
Actress | Epic Movie
Faune Chambers Watkins was born on September 23, 1976 in Florida, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Epic Movie (2007), White Chicks (2004) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). She has been married to Fonzworth Bentley since July 10, 2010. They have two children.
19. Jason George
Actor | Fallen
Jason George was born on February 9, 1972 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Fallen (1998), Sunset Beach (1997) and Breaking In (2018). He has been married to Vandana Khanna since July 10, 1999. They have three children.
20. Casey Lee
Actor | True Crime
Casey Lee is an American Actor and Musician born and raised in the city of New York, South Bronx. He moved to Los Angeles in the mid '90s. He landed a job as DJ Twist on the hit Fox television show "In Living Color." During that time, he began to get involved in acting.
Known for delivering great ...
21. Robin Thede
Writer | A Black Lady Sketch Show
Robin Thede is a comedy writer, sketch/improvisational comedian and actress. She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, earning a B.S.J. degree in Broadcast Journalism and African-American Studies. After college, Robin studied improvisation, sketch and comedy writing at The Second ...
22. Nefetari Spencer
Actress | South Side
Nefetari Spencer was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is known for South Side (2019), Sherman's Showcase (2019) and Ted 2 (2015).
I don't know why she doesn't have a picture, but she is really funny! She started an all black, female sketch group called Elite Delta Force...you should check them out!
23. Sydelle Noel
Actress | GLOW
Sydelle Noel was born in Hollywood, Florida, USA. She is an actress, known for GLOW (2017), Black Panther (2018) and Arrow (2012).
24. Kent King
Actress | Knots Landing
Kent Masters King joined the cast of ABC's daytime drama Port Charles (1997) in June of 2003, just a few months after ABC Daytime President Brian Frons announced it was being canceled. Kent was born in Los Angeles, California, on August 5, 1974. She played Julie Williams in the long-running ...
I've thought she was beautiful since Knots Landing!
25. Isaiah Mustafa
Actor | It Chapter Two
Isaiah Mustafa was born on February 11, 1974 in Portland, Oregon, USA. He is an actor and director, known for It Chapter Two (2019), Shadowhunters (2016) and Horrible Bosses (2011). He has been married to Lisa Mitchell since May 26, 2018.
26. Columbus Short
Actor | The Losers
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. Whether impersonating relatives, dancing or just making people laugh, everyone sensed something special about the boy. Fortunately,...
27. Rose Jackson
Actress | Dead Presidents
Rose Jackson is known for Dead Presidents (1995), The Crew (1995) and What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). She has been married to Michael G. Moye since 1996. They have one child.
28. Keesha Sharp
Actress | Lethal Weapon
Award-nominated actress, writer, and director Keesha Sharp has become known in the entertainment industry for her innate ability to bring complex characters to life on screen, her steadfast professionalism, and her irrefutable beauty, inside and out. Keesha can be seen on season 3 of "Power Book II...
29. Wood Harris
Actor | Remember the Titans
Harris was born Sherwin David Harris in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Mattie Harris. However, he works under his nickname, "Wood". Attended New York University Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School. Has performed in many films and various stage productions including plays by August Wilson, ...
30. Gillian White
Actress | Take Back
Gillian was born in Los Angeles, CA to parents, Victor and Cheryl Waters. She was raised in Altadena, CA. Her background is of African-American, Blackfoot Indian and Irish descent. An all around student athlete, Gillian was a star basketball player, Homecoming Queen and a honors student in high ...
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