Gorgeous Biracial Celebrities With One Black Parent
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Deceased biracial celebrities listed last
Only included celebrities who have a picture on IMDb
Deceased biracial celebrities listed last
Only included celebrities who have a picture on IMDb
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Yazz was born on 19 May 1960 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK. She is an actress and composer, known for Yazz: Stand Up for Your Love Rights (European Version) (1988), Yazz: Stand Up for Your Love Rights (US Version) (1988) and Yazz: Where Has All the Love Gone? (1988).Mother was White English; father was Jamaican; birth name was Yasmin Marie Evans- DeAndre Yedlin was born on 9 July 1993 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He is an actor, known for 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup (2023), 2021-2022 Süper Lig (2021) and UEFA Europa League (2009).Mother is Ashkenazi Jewish; father is African-American and Dominican
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
A 2-time Emmy nominee, Michael Yo is a comedian/actor/host keeping busy in all of Hollywood's platforms. In stand up, Michael came up under the wings of Chelsea Handler and Jo Koy and now headlines all over the country. He is releasing his hilarious and heartfelt debut stand up comedy special, Blasian, coming out late 2018. In acting, Michael recently reoccurred on "Kevin Can Wait," shot a Damon Wayan Jr.'s pilot "Happy Together" for CBS, and was a principal in Facebook's upcoming Facebook Watch first sitcom series, "Starter Pack." Michael got his start in radio and it continues to be his passion. This summer, Michael is launching his new daily pop culture radio talk show, "The Michael Yo Show," on the EW channel of SiriusXM and can also be heard daily on "Hits1 in Hollywood" on channel 2. Michael was previously seen covering celebrity news and gossip on "The Insider," "Extra," "E! News," as well as guest co-hosting CBS' "The Talk." Michael continues to appear as a hot topic contributor on "The Wendy Williams Show." The self-proclaimed "Half-Black Brother with a Korean Mother" was born and raised in Houston and now lives in Los Angeles with his family.Mother is Korean; father is African-American; birth name was Michael Yo Simmons- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Britney Young was born in Tokyo, Japan. She is an actress and producer, known for GLOW (2017), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015) and Better Things (2016).
Mother is White with Irish ancestry; father is African-American; was born in Tokyo, Japan- Actress
- Producer
- Sound Department
Zendaya (which means "to give thanks" in the language of Shona) is an American actress and singer born in Oakland, California. She began her career appearing as a child model working for Macy's, Mervyns and Old Navy. She was a backup dancer before gaining prominence for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010) which also includes Bella Thorne, Kenton Duty and Roshon Fegan. Zendaya was a contestant on the sixteenth season of the competition series Dancing with the Stars. She went on to produce and star as K.C. Cooper in the Disney Channel sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015) She made her film breakthrough in 2017, starring as Michelle "MJ" Jones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and as Anne Wheeler in the musical drama film The Greatest Showman (2017) alongside actors such as Tom Holland, Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. Besides acting, singing and dancing she is an ambassador for Convoy of Hope. She has written a book, launched her own clothing line (Daya by Zendaya) and proved herself to be a great role model for young girls all around the world.Mother is White with German, Irish, and English, and Scottish ancestry; father is African-American
Birth name was Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman
Is the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, which she won twice for "Euphoria"- Actress
- Producer
Sheree Zampino was born on 16 November 1967 in Schenectady, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Our Journey (2001), Games People Play (2019) and When the Time Comes (2000). She was previously married to Terrell Fletcher and Will Smith.Father is Italian; formerly married to actor Will Smith- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Mel Appleby was born on 11 July 1966 in Hackney, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Coronation Street (1960), Mel & Kim: F.L.M. (1987) and Mel & Kim: That's the Way It Is - Version 2 (1988). She died on 18 January 1990 in Westminster, London, England, UK.Mother was White British; father was Jamaican
She and her sister formed the English pop duo Mel and Kim
DIED JANUARY 18, 1990, age 23, of cancer- Actor
- Additional Crew
Lloyd Avery II was born on 21 June 1969 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Boyz n the Hood (1991), Shot (2001) and Poetic Justice (1993). He died on 4 September 2005 in Crescent City, California, USA.Mother was Mexican; father was African-American
DIED SEPTEMBER 4, 2005, age 36; was stabbed and strangled to death by his cellmate at Pelican Bay state prison; he was incarcerated there after being convicted of two counts of murder- Inday Ba was born on 10 August 1972 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997), Trial & Retribution (1997) and Casualty (1986). She was married to Jonathan Clements. She died on 26 April 2005 in London, England, UK.Mother is Swedish; father was from Senegal
DIED APRIL 26, 2005; age 32, of kidney failure and septicemia due to lupus - Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Grichka Bogdanoff was born on 29 August 1949 in Saint-Lary, Gers, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Steps to the Future (2010), Robo Story (1985) and Chassé-croisé (1982). He died on 28 December 2021 in Paris, France.Father was Russian; mother was Hungarian and African-American
Maternal grandfather was African-American singer Roland Hayes; maternal grandmother was a countess, who raised him and his twin brother, Igor, in her castle in France
He and Igor had extensive plastic surgery and possible acromegaly that damaged their natural good looks
DIED DECEMBER 28, 2021, age 72, of COVID-19, 6 days before his twin brother- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Igor Bogdanoff was born on 29 August 1949 in Saint-Lary, Gers, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Steps to the Future (2010), Robo Story (1985) and Chassé-croisé (1982). He was married to Amélie de Bourbon Parme and Ludmilla d'Oultremont. He died on 3 January 2022 in Paris, France.Father was Russian; mother was Hungarian and African-American
Maternal grandfather was African-American singer Roland Hayes; maternal grandmother was a countess, who raised him and his twin brother, Grichka, in her castle in France
He and Grichka had extensive plastic surgery and possible acromegaly that damaged their natural good looks
DIED JANUARY 3, 2022, age 72, of COVID-19, 6 days after his twin brother- Actor
- Sound Department
- Soundtrack
Cameron Boyce was an American actor, with Afro-Caribbean and African-American descent. His paternal grandmother Jo Ann Allen was one of the "Clinton Twelve", the first African-Americans to attend an integrated high school in the Southern United States (specifically in Clinton, Tennessee).
In 1999, Boyce was born in Los Angeles, California. He was trained as a dancer from an early age. In 2008, he made his debut in the music video "That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)" by the band "Panic! at the Disco". He was playing a child version of guitarist Ryan Ross. Also in 2008, Boyce gained a recurring role in the short-lived soap opera "General Hospital: Night Shift" (2007-2008).
Boyce's first appearance in a feature film was in the horror film "Mirrors" (2008), playing the role of Michael "Mikey" Carson (the son of the film 's protagonist). His second film appearance was in the spy film "Eagle Eye" (2008), playing the role of Sam Holloman. His next prominent film role was in the comedy film "Grown Ups" (2010), again playing the son of the film's protagonist.
Boyce showcased his dancing skills in the web series "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" (2010-2011). In 2011, Boyce appeared as a featured dancer in a "Dancing with the Stars" special and in the television sitcom "Shake It Up" (2010-2013). He made a guest appearance in the sitcom "Good Luck Charlie" (2010-2014), playing an impostor version of regular character Gabe Duncan.
Boyce next gained the co-starring role of Luke Ross in the sitcom "Jessie" (2011-2015). The premise of the series was that celebrity couple Morgan and Christina Ross had no free time to spend with their four children, so they hired aspiring actress Jessie Prescott (played by Debby Ryan) as a full-time nanny and surrogate mother to the kids. Luke was the second oldest child, who viewed Jessie as a love interest. The series was a ratings hit for Disney Channel. It lasted for 4 seasons, and a total of 98 episodes.Mother is Ashkenazi Jewish with Hungarian, Russian, Lithuanian, and German ancestry; father is African-American
DIED JULY 6, 2019, age 20, of an epileptic seizure- Music Artist
- Actress
- Music Department
Actress, singer, songwriter, and producer Irene Cara was destined for a life of accomplishments that millions strive for but very few actually attain. From being able to play the piano by ear at age five to earning an Oscar, multiple Grammys, a Golden Globe, and a People's Choice Award, Irene's rise to stardom was paved with experiences of a lifetime.
Beginning shortly after realizing their daughter's natural talent, Irene was quickly enrolled in music, acting, and dance classes. Shortly before that, her mother entered her into multiple competitions and at the age of three, Irene was a finalist in the "Little Miss America" pageant.
Her professional career began on Spanish-language television singing and dancing before performing on shows including 'The Original Amateur Hour', 'The Ed Sullivan Show', and 'The Tonight Show' with Johnny Carson. Her talent was also showcased On and Off Broadway in various productions including 'Ain't Misbehavin'', the Obie Award-winning musical 'The Me Nobody Knows', 'Maggie Flynn' starring Shirley Jones and Tony Award-nominated actor Jack Cassidy, and 'Via Galactica' opposite Raul Julia.
Having performed on the stage, the next natural progression seemed to be series television. She would find a home on the daytime drama 'Love of Life' and the educational series 'The Electric Company' where she participated as a member of the group 'The Short Circus', teaching children about grammar through music. 'The Electric Company's' cast was made up of veteran actors Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, and Morgan Freeman.
Continuing the pursuit of excellence, Irene recorded her first Spanish-language album at the age of eight and released an English-speaking holiday album shortly thereafter. Her career already blossoming, she would receive the honor of becoming the youngest member to perform in an all-star concert tribute for the legendary Duke Ellington. Held at Madison Square Garden, Irene performed along with music greats Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Roberta Flack.
With Broadway, television, and recording firmly tucked under her belt, Irene's next stop was the big screen. Before she entered her teenage years, she had won the title role in the film Aaron Loves Angela. Her performance in the movie was so outstanding that she was cast as the lead in the now cult classic musical drama 'Sparkle'. Proving that she was a tremendously versatile actress, Irene received international acclaim for her roles in 'Roots: The Next Generation' starring alongside James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll among others, and 'The Guyanna Tragedy: The Jim Jones Story' where she would again work with James Earl Jones as well as LeVar Burton. As much as she had already accomplished, nothing could have prepared her for the super-stardom that would come with her next role.
In 1980, Irene would portray the character Coco Hernandez in a movie-musical titled 'Fame', a story about a group of students auditioning for acceptance into New York's High School for the Performing Arts. The film follows the students from their first to final days at the school and served to shine a light on the film's inspiration, LaGuardia High, and its counterpart Julliard. Irene's massive solo vocal talent was showcased through the title song 'Fame' as well as 'Out Here on My Own'. They and Irene would make Academy Awards history as it marked the first time two songs from the same film were nominated in the same category, and both performed by Irene. The title track won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The impact of 'Fame' would catapult Irene Cara into a household name and earn her two Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Artist, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical. Billboard Magazine named her the Top New Single Artist and Cashbox Magazine awarded her with the Most Promising Female Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist honors.
In 1982, Irene was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress for the NBC movie-of-the-week Maya Angelou's 'Sister, Sister' also starring Diahann Carroll and Rosalind Cash. She would garner another NAACP Image Award nomination for the title role in the PBS film 'For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story'. When it seemed her professional life couldn't get any better, Irene set the world on fire again.
Composer Giorgio Moroder approached Irene in 1983 to collaborate on the theme to a film he was attached to titled 'Flashdance'. Irene agreed and actually wrote the lyrics to the title song 'Flashdance...What a Feeling' in a car with producer Keith Forsey while on the way to the studio to record it. Those lyrics would reinforce Irene's already solid place in Hollywood history. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards with Irene taking home the coveted Oscar for Best Original Song. She would also add a Golden Globe to her already impressive collection of honors for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture in addition to two Grammys, a People's Choice Award, and an American Music Award. On a personal level, as a woman of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, her Academy Award win is even more special as she was the first bi-racial woman to ever win in any category other than acting and only the second to be nominated outside of an acting category.
In 1984/85, Irene was back on the big screen in the film 'City Heat' opposite Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. She co-wrote the theme as well as performed the classic standards 'Embraceable You' and 'Get Happy'. Irene also starred opposite Tatum O'Neal in the film 'Certain Fury', voiced "Snow White" in the animated film 'Happily Ever After', and toured as "Mary Magdalene" in the Andrew Lloyd Webber production 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.
Not having sat on her laurels, in between winning Oscars, Grammys, and touring, she released the albums 'Anyone Can See' and 'What a Feeling' in 1982 and 1983 respectively which spawned the additional hits 'Breakdance', 'The Dream', 'You Were Made for Me', and 'Why Me', and in 1985 collaborated and sang with Placido Domingo. 'Breakdance' and 'Why Me' would both become Top 10 hits. In 1987, the release of the album 'Carasmatic' was shelved in the United States because of legal issues with the label, but it was issued in limited quantities in the United Kingdom, immediately making the album a collector's piece for anyone lucky enough to have gotten a copy.
Still feeling the love of audiences everywhere, the 90s were spent living out of a suitcase on multiple European concert tours. After finally getting a little breathing space, Irene formed the group Hot Caramel in 1999 and returned to performing to the delight of eager audiences clamoring to hear her unmistakable voice.
In 2004, Irene was awarded the Prestige Award for Lifetime Achievement. She was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fort Lauderdale Film Institute in 2005, and in 2006, was awarded the Honorary Lifetime Achievement for outstanding contribution in the African-American community by the Columbus Times of Georgia, the country's oldest black newspaper. In 2007, the Reel Sisters of the Disapora Film Festival presented her with the Trailblazer Award, and the Council of the City of New York honored her for her outstanding contributions as a performer. Perhaps one her most pleasurable moments was the 2011 unveiling of her name on a street sign in the Grand Concourse of the Bronx Walk of Fame. That same year, she released a new album titled Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel. Now semi-retired from the industry that filled every corner of her life for decades, Irene is now enjoying entertaining audiences via her YouTube podcast 'The Irene Cara Show' where she shares videos and talks about the acting and music industry's backstory.
While the outpouring of love from fans still makes her happy, Irene continues to be touched by the knowledge that she and her roles have inspired others within the acting/music industry as well.
Mariah Carey: "Around the same time, my mother entered me in a talent competition in the city, and I sang one of my favorite songs, 'Out Here on My Own', by Irene Cara. I felt 'Out Here on My Own' described my entire life, and I loved singing that way - singing to reveal a piece of my soul. And I won doing it. At that age. I lived for the movie 'Fame', and Irene Cara was everything to me."
Celine Dion: "Whether it's 'Titanic' and the unsinkable 'My Heart Will Go On', 'Michael's Song' and 'Listen to the Magic Man' (in English and French) for 'The Peanut Butter Solution', or 'Deadpool 2's' unexpected 'Ashes', she presides over movie theme songs as if taking up the baton from Irene Cara herself."
Whitney Houston: "'Sparkle' was especially important to because she'd been trying to get the film made for 15 years, having fallen in love with the 1976 original (starring Irene Cara, who went on to appear in Fame) as a teenager, seeing it every Saturday for three months straight."
The two most memorable lines from the title song 'Fame' are "I'm gonna live forever," and "Baby, remember my name". From "Little Miss America" to Carson, 'The Electric Company', 'Flashdance' and beyond, Irene Cara's legacy is guaranteed. Everyone will remember her name.Mother was French and Cuban; father was African-American and Puerto Rican; birth name was Irene Cara Escalera
DIED NOVEMBER 25, 2022, age 63, of heart disease- Actress
- Soundtrack
Carol Channing was born January 31, 1921, at Seattle, Washington, the daughter of a prominent newspaper editor, who was very active in the Christian Science movement. She attended high school in San Francisco and later worked as a model in Los Angeles. She attended prestigious Bennington College in Vermont and majored in drama and dance and supplemented her work by taking parts in nearby Pocono Resort area. Carol initially made her mark on Broadway in "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" playing Lorelei Lee. In "Hello Dolly" she played Dolly Gallagher Levi, the witty, manipulative widow intent upon finding a wealthy husband. The musical won ten Tony awards in 1964, including Channing's for best actress in a comedy. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her two children made their first public appearance after President John F. Kennedy's death by seeing her perform in "Hello Dolly" and later visited her backstage. She appeared in the film Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Her son Channing Carson is a Pulitizer Prize-nominated finalist cartoonist and she continued to practice her Christian Science religion.Paternal grandmother was African-American
She kept her ancestry a secret until she was 81 years old, when she acknowledged it in her 2002 autobiography, "Just Lucky I Guess"
DIED JANUARY 15, 2019, age 97, from complications of two strokes- Actress
- Soundtrack
Born in Pittsburgh, Marpessa Dawn moved to England as a teenager and started acting in small roles in television; upon moving to France, she danced and sang in nightclubs while at times working as a governess before getting her big break as "Eurydice" in "Black Orpheus". Married twice, she left five children and four grandchildren at her death, which occurred forty-one days after that of her co-star in "Black Orpheus", Breno Mello.Father was Filipino; mother was African-American
Best known for her role as Eurydice in the Academy Award-winning film "Black Orpheus"
DIED AUGUST 25, 2008, age 74, of a heart attack- Jade Goody was born on 5 June 1981 in Bermondsey, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Bo Selecta: Proper Crimbo (2003), Treasure (2015) and Stars in Their Eyes (1990). She was married to Jack Tweed. She died on 22 March 2009 in Upshire, Essex, England, UK.Mother is White English; father was White English and West Indian
DIED MARCH 22, 2009, age 27, of cervical cancer - Actor
- Writer
- Composer
Paul Gray was born on 8 April 1972 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Resident Evil (2002), Rollerball (2002) and Final Fight: Streetwise (2006). He was married to Brenna. He died on 24 May 2010 in Urbandale, Iowa, USA.Mother is White with English ancestry; father was African-American
Was a member of the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Slipknot
His physician, Dr. Daniel Baldi, was charged with manslaughter for over-prescribing Xanax, but was acquitted of the charge. His family filed a civil lawsuit against the doctor, and was awarded a settlement in 2018
DIED MAY 24, 2010, age 38, of a drug overdose- Composer
- Music Department
- Actress
Etta James is an American singer who performed in various genres, including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz, gospel. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind". She faced a number of personal problems, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch.
Etta James's powerful, deep, earthy voice bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll. She won six Grammy Awards and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Rolling Stone magazine ranked James number 22 on its list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time; she was ranked number 62 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.She claimed her father was Rudolf Walderone, who was White with Swiss ancestry. He was a professional billiards player better known as "Minnesota Fats." However, he adamantly denied this and parentage was never determined
DIED JANUARY 20, 2012, age 73, of Alzheimer's Disease- Actor
- Composer
- Director
This velvet-toned jazz baritone and sometime actor was (and perhaps still is) virtually unknown to white audiences. Yet, back in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Herb Jeffries was very big...in black-cast films. Today he is respected and remembered as a pioneer who broke down rusted-shut racial doors in Hollywood and ultimately displayed a positive image as a black actor on celluloid.
The Detroit native was born Umberto Alejandro Ballentino on September 24, 1911 (some sources list 1914). His white Irish mother ran a rooming house, and his father, whom he never knew, was of mixed ancestry and bore Sicilian, Ethiopean, French, Italian and Moorish roots. Young Herb grew up in a mixed neighborhood without experiencing severe racism as a child. He showed definitive interest in singing during his formative teenage years and was often found hanging out with the Howard Buntz Orchestra at various Detroit ballrooms.
After moving to Chicago, he performed in various clubs. One of his first gigs was in a club allegedly owned by Al Capone. Erskine Tate signed the 19-year-old Herb to a contract with his Orchestra at the Savoy Dance Hall in Chicago. While there Herb was spotted by Earl 'Fatha' Hines, who hired him in 1931 for a number of appearances and recordings. It was during the band's excursions to the South that Jeffries first encountered blatant segregation. He left the Hines band in 1934 and eventually planted roots in Los Angeles after touring with Blanche Calloway's band. There he found employment as a vocalist and emcee at the popular Club Alabam. And then came Duke Ellington, staying with his outfit for ten years. Herb started his singing career out as a lyrical tenor, but, on the advice of Duke Ellington's longtime music arranger, Billy Strayhorn, he lowered his range.
The tall, debonair, mustachioed, blue-eyed, light-complexioned man who had a handsome, matinée-styled Latin look, was a suitable specimen for what was called "sepia movies" -- pictures that played only in ghetto and/or segregated theaters and were advertised with an all-black cast. Inspired by the success of Gene Autry, Herb made his debut as a crooning cowboy with Harlem on the Prairie (1937), which was considered the first black western following the inauguration of the talkies. Dark makeup was applied to his light skin and he almost never took off his white stetson which would have revealed naturally brown hair. A popular movie, Herb went on to sing his own songs (to either his prairie flower and/or horse) in both The Bronze Buckaroo (1939) and Harlem Rides the Range (1939). Outside the western venue, he starred in the crimer Two-Gun Man from Harlem (1938). As the whip-snapping, pistol-toting, melody-gushing Bronze Buckaroo, Jeffries finally offered a positive alternative to the demeaning stereotypes laid on black actors. Moreover, he refused to appear in "white" films in which he would have been forced to play in servile support.
In the midst of all this, Herb continued to impress as a singer and made hit records of the singles "In My Solitude", "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good", "When I Write My Song", Duke Ellington's "Jump for Joy" and his signature song "Flamingo", which became a huge hit in 1941. Some of the songs he did miss out on which could have furthered his name, were "Love Letters" and "Native Boy". During the 1950s Herb worked constantly in Europe, especially in France, where he owned his own Parisian nightclub for a time. He also starred in the title film role of Calypso Joe (1957) co-starring Angie Dickinson and later appeared on episodes of "I Dream of Jeannie", "The Virginian" and "Hawaii Five-0".
Although he very well could have with his light skin tones, the man dubbed "Mr. Flamingo" never tried to pass himself off as white. He was proud of his heritage and always identified himself as black. In the mid-1990s, westerns returned in vogue and Herb recorded a "comeback album" ("The Bronze Buckaroo Rides Again") for Warner Western. During this pleasant career renaissance he has also been asked to lecture at colleges, headline concerts and record CDs. In 1999-2000, at age 88, he recorded the CD "The Duke and I", recreating songs he did with Duke. It also was a tribute honoring the great musician's 100th birthday.
His five marriages, including one to notorious exotic dancer Tempest Storm, produced five children. At age 90-plus, Herb "Flamingo" Jeffries, lived in the Palm Springs area with significant other (and later his fifth wife) Savannah Shippen, who is 45 years his junior, remaining one of the last of the original singing cowboys still alive (along with Monte Hale) until he finally passed away on May 25, 2014, having hit the century mark.
In 2003 he was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame and was invited to sing for President Bush at the White House. He is also the last surviving member of The Great Duke Ellington Orchestra, and certainly deserves proper credit for his historic efforts in films and music.Mother was White with Irish ancestry; father was purportedly Italian and Ethiopian, but he may have been African-American
Some sources say Jeffries has no African ancestry. He claimed at various times to be White; or Irish and Sicilian; or Creole; or multi-racial Spanish, Portuguese, Native American, and Black
DIED MAY 25, 2014, age 100, of heart failure- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Soundtrack
Günther Kaufmann was born on 16 June 1947 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. He was an actor, known for Querelle (1982), Wickie und die starken Männer (2009) and Ludwig - Requiem for a Virgin King (1972). He was married to Patrizia, Alexandra von Herrendorf and Gabriele. He died on 10 May 2012 in Berlin, Germany.Mother was White German; father was African-American
Was a German actor who was a protege and paramour of iconic German director Werner Fassbinder
DIED MAY 10, 2012, age 64, of a heart attack- Music Artist
- Actress
- Soundtrack
An out-of-wedlock child, Eartha Kitt was born in the cotton fields of South Carolina. Kitt's mother was a sharecropper of African-American and Cherokee Native American descent. Her father's identity is unknown. Given away by her mother, she arrived in Harlem at age nine. At 15, she quit high school to work in a Brooklyn factory. As a teenager, Kitt lived in friends' homes and in the subways. However, by the 1950s, she had sung and danced her way out of poverty and into the spotlight: performing with the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe on a European tour, soloing at a Paris nightclub and becoming the toast of the Continent. Orson Welles called her "the most exciting girl in the world". She also spoke out on hard issues. She took over the role of Catwoman for the third and final season of the television series Batman (1966), replacing Julie Newmar. Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer in her home in Weston, Connecticut, on Christmas Day 2008.Father was purportedly a White farmer of German descent, but if true, he never acknowledged paternity
DIED OCTOBER 25, 2008, age 81, of colon cancer- Actress
- Additional Crew
Cheslie Kryst was born on 28 April 1991 in Jackson, Michigan, USA. She was an actress, known for Colin in Black & White (2021), Extra (1994) and Nashville Squares (2019). She died on 30 January 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.Father is White with Polish ancestry; mother is African-American
Was Miss USA 2019; was a correspondent for the TV entertainment show "Extra!" for which she received two Emmy Award nominations
DIED JANUARY 30, 2022, age 30; committed suicide by jumping from the 29th floor of an apartment building- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Phil Lynott was born on 20 August 1949 in West Bromwich, Birmingham, England, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for A Knight's Tale (2001), The Expendables (2010) and Rush (2013). He was married to Caroline Crowther. He died on 4 January 1986 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK.Mother was Irish; father was from British Guiana (now called Guyana)
Was the lead vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter for the hard rock band Thin Lizzy
DIED JANUARY 4, 1986, age 36, of septicemia (blood infection)- Music Artist
- Music Department
- Actor
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica, to Norval Marley and Cedella Booker. His father was a Jamaican of English descent. His mother was a black teenager. The couple were married in 1944 but Norval left for Kingston immediately after. Norval died in 1957, seeing his son only a few times.
Bob Marley started his career with the Wailers, a group he formed with Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston in 1963. Marley married Rita Marley in February 1966, and it was she who introduced him to Rastafarianism. By 1969 Bob, Tosh and Livingston had fully embraced Rastafarianism, which greatly influence Marley's music in particular and on reggae music in general. The Wailers collaborated with Lee Scratch Perry, resulting in some of the Wailers' finest tracks like "Soul Rebel", "Duppy Conquerer", "400 Years" and "Small Axe." This collaboration ended bitterly when the Wailers found that Perry, thinking the records were his, sold them in England without their consent. However, this brought the Wailers' music to the attention of Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records.
Blackwell immediately signed the Wailers and produced their first album, "Catch a Fire". This was followed by "Burnin'", featuring tracks as "Get Up Stand Up" and "I Shot the Sheriff." Eric Clapton's cover of that song reached #1 in the US. In 1974 Tosh and Livingston left the Wailers to start solo careers. Marley later formed the band "Bob Marley and the Wailers", with his wife Rita as one of three backup singers called the I-Trees. This period saw the release of some groundbreaking albums, such as "Natty Dread", "Rastaman Vibration".
In 1976, during a period of spiraling political violence in Jamaica, an attempt was made on Marley's life. Marley left for England, where he lived in self-exile for two years. In England "Exodus" was produced, and it remained on the British charts for 56 straight weeks. This was followed by another successful album, "Kaya." These successes introduced reggae music to the western world for the first time, and established the beginning of Marley's international status.
In 1977 Marley consulted with a doctor when a wound in his big toe would not heal. More tests revealed malignant melanoma. He refused to have his toe amputated as his doctors recommended, claiming it contradicted his Rastafarian beliefs. Others, however, claim that the main reason behind his refusal was the possible negative impact on his dancing skills. The cancer was kept secret from the general public while Bob continued working.
Returning to Jamaica in 1978, he continued work and released "Survival" in 1979 which was followed by a successful European tour. In 1980 he was the only foreign artist to participated in the independence ceremony of Zimbabwe. It was a time of great success for Marley, and he started an American tour to reach blacks in the US. He played two shows at Madison Square Garden, but collapsed while jogging in NYC's Central Park on September 21, 1980. The cancer diagnosed earlier had spread to his brain, lungs and stomach. Bob Marley died in a Miami hospital on May 11, 1981. He was 36 years old.Father was White with British and possibly Syrian Jewish ancestry; mother was Jamaican
His father was a naval captain in his 50's when Marley was born; his mother was 19
Marley's parents never married, and his father abandoned him and his mother shortly after Marley's birth
DIED MAY 11, 1981, age 36, of cancer- Actress
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Stephanie Moseley was born on 14 February 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was an actress, known for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011), Mirror Mirror (2012) and Idlewild (2006). She was married to Earl Hayes. She died on 8 December 2014 in Los Angeles, California, USA.Mother is White
DIED DECEMBER 18, 2014, age 30; was shot to death by her husband, aspiring rapper Earl Hayes, who then killed himself