Famous Black Comedians

Actor, singer-songwriter, and comedian, Jamie Foxx became internationally famous for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the biographical film Ray, a role that earned him an Academy Award. He is also known for hosting his own television sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show. Besides acting, he is also a Grammy Award-winning musician who has released four albums.

American comedian, writer and actor, Dave Chappelle, is best known for the Chappelle’s Show, the acclaimed Comedy Central show which brought him much popularity before he decided to call it quits in its third season. He later released award winning comedy specials with Netflix. Dave has also featured in numerous films like Half Baked and A Star Is Born.

Martin Lawrence is a German born-American actor and comedian. Despite being traumatized after witnessing his parents' divorce at the age of eight, Lawrence went on to succeed as a comedian and later as a leading Hollywood actor. After a problematic 1990s, which included episodes of arrests, lawsuits, and health problems, he bounced back with several hit films.

Chris Tucker is an American stand-up comedian and actor best known for playing Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series alongside Jackie Chan. Also a humanitarian, Tucker joined the likes of Bill Clinton, Jeffrey Epstein, Kevin Spacey, and Ghislaine Maxwell on a trip to Africa in an attempt to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Despite being born with conditions like microcephaly and dwarfism, Beetlejuice went on to become a popular film, radio, and TV personality. A prominent member of Wack Pack, which is part of The Howard Stern Show, Beetlejuice was named the greatest Wack Packer ever by Howard Stern in 2015.

Eartha Kitt was an American actress, comedian, dancer, and singer-songwriter. Renowned for her distinctive singing style, Kitt recorded several chartbusting songs during the 1950s. Also a well-known activist, Eartha Kitt established a non-profit organization called the Kittsville Youth Foundation, which helped underprivileged youths in Los Angeles. She was also an ardent advocate for same-sex marriage and LGBT rights.

The son of popular actor and comedian Damon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr. followed in his father's footsteps to become a famous actor and comedian in his own right. He played a major role in helping the ABC comedy series Happy Endings become a critically acclaimed series and a cult classic.

Nicholas Cannon is a comedian, rapper and television host. The Nick Cannon Show, America's Got Talent and The Masked Singer are some of his popular TV shows. He has also acted in films like Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing and Roll Bounce. Cannon has been accused of making racist and anti-Semitic remarks. He has called White people ‘savages’.

Stand-up comedian, actor, and film producer, Mike Epps, is a man with multiple talents. He began his career performing stand-up comedy and branched out into acting soon after.  As an actor, he gained fame for playing Day-Day Jones in the film Next Friday and its sequels. He is a controversial person and has been accused of assaulting a fellow comedian.

Karyn Parsons is an American comedian and actress best known for her portrayal of Hilary Banks in the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Parsons is credited with co-creating, co-writing, and co-producing the sitcom Lush Life. She is also credited with creating a line of animated films titled Sweet Blackberry, which is about unsung black heroes.

Sherri Shepherd is an American actress, television personality, author, and comedian. She is known for co-hosting the popular talk show The View. She co-hosted the show from 2007 to 2014, for which she received several nominations for Daytime Emmy Award, winning the award in 2009. Also known for her dancing skills, Shepherd competed in Dancing with the Stars in 2012.

A multifaceted personality, Rudy Ray Moore was a comedian, singer, actor, and film producer. He is remembered for playing the title character in the crime comedy film, Dolemite, and its sequels. He served in the army as a young man and began his career in the entertainment industry following his discharge. Many black comedians consider him an inspiration.

Faizon Love is a Cuban-American comedian and actor known for playing important roles in films like Friday, Torque, and Couples Retreat. In 2014, he was caught up in a controversy when he made a series of contentious comments on Twitter pertaining to the sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby. In 2017, he was arrested after being accused of misdemeanor assault.

Loni Love is an American comedian, actress, television host, and author. Love won the prestigious Daytime Emmy Award under the Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host category in 2018 for her work in the popular syndicated talk show, The Real. A former electrical engineer, Loni Love has worked in popular companies like Xerox Holdings Corporation and General Motors.

Known as The African King of Comedy, the Ghanaian-Liberian-American comedian Michael Blackson considers Eddie Murphy one of his greatest inspirations. An encounter with Ice Cube at The Comedy Store, turned Blackson’s future around. He is also known for his hit films Next Friday and Meet the Blacks.

Former actor and comedian Ross Bagley is best known for his role as Nicky Banks in the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Beginning his career as a child, he started acting when he was just five years old. A popular child actor during the mid-1990s, he appeared in many hit TV shows and received three Young Artist Awards.