Black Cancer Celebrities

Vote for Your Favourite Black Cancer Celebrities

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 1 
Mike Tyson
(One of the Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time and First to Simultaneously Hold WBA, WBC & IBF Titles)
Mike Tyson
114
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 30, 1966
Birthplace: Fort Greene, New York, United States

A former professional boxer who reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion for three years, Mike Tyson is considered a colossal figure in boxing. Claiming his first heavyweight title at the young age of 20, he went on to become one of the best heavyweights of all time. Also a controversial person, he was once imprisoned on rape charges.

 2 
Kawhi Leonard
(American Professional Basketball Player and 5-Time NBA All-Star Winner)
Kawhi Leonard
63
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 29, 1991
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

A four-time All-Star and six-time All-Defensive Team member, Kawhi Leonard has helped two teams win NBA championships while earning the Finals Most Valuable Player award on both THE occasions. In 2015 and 2016, he was named Defensive Player of the Year. Nicknamed the Claw for his amazing ball-hawking skills, Leonard is known for his quiet demeanor off-court.

 3 
Israel Adesanya
(New Zealand Mixed Martial Artist and Kickboxer)
Israel Adesanya
121
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 22, 1989
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria

Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian-born New Zealand kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and former boxer. Considered one of the best strikers in MMA, Adesanya has won multiple championships and is the current UFC Middleweight Champion. In 2019, Israel Adesanya was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year at the Halberg Awards.

 4 
H.E.R.
(R&B Singer Known for Her Abum 'H.E.R')
H.E.R.
127
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: June 27, 1997
Birthplace: Vallejo, California, United States

R&B singer Gabriella “Gabi” Wilson, better known to her fans as H.E.R., had initially released a few works under her real name. However, she gained fame only after the release of her first EP, H.E.R. Volume 1, in 2016. The two-time Grammy-winner performed at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Award ceremony.

 5 
Pop Smoke
(American rapper closely associated with Brooklyn drill)
Pop Smoke
47
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 20, 1999
Birthplace: Canarsie, New York, United States
Died: February 19, 2020
 6 
Antonio Brown
(American Football Wide Receiver)
Antonio Brown
60
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 10, 1988
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, United States

Antonio Brown is an American football player and one of the most popular wide receivers in the history of the National Football League (NFL). Controversy's favorite child, Brown is a testimony to the fact that one's personal behavior can have a major impact on their professional life; his off-the-field controversies have marred his otherwise illustrious playing career.

 7 
Jon Jones
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist and Former Two-Time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion)
Jon Jones
40
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 9, 1987
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, United States

Jon Jones, the American professional mixed martial artist, is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists ever. He holds many Ultimate Fighting Championship records in the light heavyweight division. However, he has been also been involved in several controversies and has been arrested for felony, hit-and-run charges and has tested positive for banned substances.

 8 
Forest Whitaker
(Best Known for His Role in 'The Last King of Scotland')
Forest Whitaker
22
Birthdate: July 15, 1961
Birthplace: Longview, Texas, United States
Forest Whitaker is best known for his Academy Award-winning performance as real-life dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. Fans also loved him in Rogue One and Ghost Dog. He is an advocate of the UN’s Global Goals and supports peace-building initiatives and programs that help war victims.
 9 
Virgil van Dijk
(Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Centre-Back)
Virgil van Dijk
21
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 8, 1991
Birthplace: Breda, Netherlands

Dutch footballer Virgil van Dijk plays as a defender for Liverpool and has won several titles, such as a Premier League, with them. Starting his senior career with Groningen, he later played for teams such as Celtic and Southampton. He is the only defender to be named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year.

 10 
Missy Elliott
(Rapper Known for Singles "Get Ur Freak On," "The Rain," and "Lose Control.")
Missy Elliott
28
Birthdate: July 1, 1971
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Four-time Grammy-winning rapper Missy Elliott, known for her chartbusting tracks such as Get Ur Freak On, was ranked fifth on Billboard’s 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time list. She was initially part of the R&B group Sista and then collaborated with Timbaland in the collective Swing Mob
 11 
Danny Glover
(Known for His Lead Role as Roger Murtaugh in the 'Lethal Weapon' Film Series)
Danny Glover
22
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: July 22, 1946
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Danny Glover is an American actor whose career has spanned more than four decades. Apart from being an actor, Danny Glover has had a major impact as an activist; he has made his presence felt as an activist in countries like Brazil, Iraq, Venezuela, Israel, and many African countries.

 12 
Dell Curry
(American Former Professional Basketball Player and Father of NBA Players Stephen & Seth Curry)
Dell Curry
16
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 25, 1964
Birthplace: Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States
Former basketball player Dell Curry, father of NBA players Stephen and Seth Curry, is mostly known for his 10-year stint with the NBA team Charlotte Hornets and became their all-time leader in points and three-point field goals. Curry is now a color commentator for the Hornets’ broadcasts. 
 13 
Thomas Sowell
(Economist)
Thomas Sowell
28
Birthdate: June 30, 1930
Birthplace: Gastonia, North Carolina

One of the few personalities known for his disdain of self-promotion, Thomas Sowell is an important American social theorist and economist. Over the years, he has played a prominent role working as a faculty member of many prestigious universities, such as the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Cornell University

 14 
Andre Braugher
15
Birthdate: July 1, 1962
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Died: December 11, 2023
Andre Braugher is best known for his Emmy-winning performances as Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street and as Nick Atwater in Thief. Fans also loved him as Raymond Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as Woodchuck Coodchuck-Berkowitz in BoJack Horseman, and in the movies City of Angels and Poseidon
 15 
Arthur Ashe
(The Only Black Man to Win the Singles Title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open)
Arthur Ashe
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 10, 1943
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Died: February 6, 1993
Tennis player Arthur Ashe is best remembered for his three Grand Slam singles wins. He became the first Black player to be named to the U.S. Davis Cup team. He contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion during a bypass surgery and devoted his final years to AIDS awareness campaigns.
 16 
Chiwetel Ejiofor
(British Actor Known for His Film ‘12 Years a Slave’)
Chiwetel Ejiofor
21
Birthdate: July 10, 1974
Birthplace: Forest Gate, London, England

Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor received scars on his forehead when he was just 11 as a result of an accident in which he lost his father. Although the scars might bring back terrible memories, they might have played a crucial role in Steven Spielberg selecting him for a role in Amistad, a film based on the events aboard a slave ship.

 17 
Bobby Lashley
(Professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Artist)
Bobby Lashley
31
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 16, 1976
Birthplace: Junction City, Kansas, United States
Wrestler and MMA legend Bobby Lashley has won titles such as the ECW World Championship, the TNA/Impact World Heavyweight Championship, and the WWE US Championship. He currently plays for Raw under WWE, as part of stable The Hurt Business. He has headlined events such as Bound for Glory.
 18 
Tia Mowry
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Tia Landry’ in the Sitcom ‘Sister, Sister’)
Tia Mowry
26
Birthdate: July 6, 1978
Birthplace: Gelnhausen, Germany

Tia Mowry is one-half of the famous Mowry twin sisters who formed a singing group called Voices in the early 1990s. She has also played important roles in several popular films. A basketball enthusiast, Tia serves as the head coach for the Atlanta team that participates in the Entertainment Basketball League.

 19 
Charlie Murphy
(Best Known as a Writer & Cast Member of the Sketch-Comedy Series 'Chappelle's Show')
Charlie Murphy
19
Birthdate: July 12, 1959
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: April 12, 2017
Charlie Murphy, older brother of Eddie Murphy, is best remembered for his sketch-comedy series Chappelle's Show and for his performance as Vic in Black Jesus. He also voiced Big Kid on the children’s show Thugaboo. He also starred in movies such as CB4 and co-wrote Vampire in Brooklyn.
 20 
Diahann Carroll
11
Birthdate: July 17, 1935
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: October 4, 2019

Diahann Carroll was an American actress, model, singer, and activist. In 1962, she became the first African-American woman to receive a Tony Award under Best Actress in a Musical category. She is credited with starring in Julia, the first American TV series to star a black woman in a non-stereotypical role; Carroll's portrayal of Julia earned her a Golden Globe.

 21 
Lena Horne
(Actress and Dancer Known for Her One-Woman Show 'Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music')
Lena Horne
6
Birthdate: June 30, 1917
Birthplace: Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, United States
Died: May 9, 2010

Lena Horne was an American singer, actress, dancer, and civil rights activist. Horne's 70-year acting career was embellished with several prestigious awards, such as Grammy Awards. Her life and career were depicted in many stage shows, where she was portrayed by actresses like Leslie Uggams, Nikki Crawford, and Ryan Jillian.

 22 
David Alaba
(Austrian Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder and Defender)
David Alaba
29
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 24, 1992
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria

David Alaba is an Austrian football player who currently plays for the Real Madrid Club de Fútbol and the Austria national football team. Best known for his versatility, Alaba can play as a midfielder and defender. Counted among the greatest defenders of his generation, David Alaba is a two-time Austrian Sports Personality of the Year recipient.  

 23 
Ida B. Wells
(Women's Rights Activist and Civil Rights Leader)
Ida B. Wells
21
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 16, 1862
Birthplace: Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States
Died: March 25, 1931
Civil rights and women's rights activist Ida B. Wells is remembered for speaking up against the lynching of Blacks in the U.S. She was born a slave and freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. She later co-founded the NAACP. She also co-owned and wrote for Memphis Free Speech and Headlight.
 24 
Penny Hardaway
(American College Basketball Coach and Former Professional Player)
Penny Hardaway
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 18, 1971
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Penny Hardaway is a college basketball coach who is currently serving as the head coach for the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team. A former player, Hardaway played for teams like Miami Heat and New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association where he was a two-time All-NBA First Team member and a four-time NBA All-Star. 

 25 
Ray Allen
(Basketball player)
Ray Allen
13
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 20, 1975
Birthplace: Merced, California, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 26 
Carl Lewis
(American Track-and-Field Athlete Who Won Nine Olympic Gold Medals During the 1980s and 1990s)
Carl Lewis
14
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 1, 1961
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

A dominant sprinter and long jumper, Carl Lewis has won ten Olympic medals, nine of them gold. From 1981 to 1991, he topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events, slowly starting to lose his dominance thereafter, eventually retiring in 1997. Currently a businessperson, he has also appeared in films and television productions.

 27 
Solange Knowles
(Singer, Songwriter & Performance Artist)
Solange Knowles
32
Birthdate: June 24, 1986
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Solange Knowles, younger sister of pop star Beyoncé Knowles, initially performed as a back-up dancer and wrote songs for Beyoncé’s band Destiny's Child. She has delivered Grammy-winning tracks such as Cranes in the Sky and has also won an Impact Award. She also owns a hip-hop-themed children’s merchandise brand.
 28 
Patrick Vieira
(French Professional Football Manager and Former Player)
Patrick Vieira
21
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 23, 1976
Birthplace: Dakar, Senegal

Patrick Vieira is a football manager and former footballer. Vieira, who was an important member of the France national team, is currently serving as the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club which competes in the Premier League. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his time, Vieira helped his team win its first FIFA World Cup in 1998.

 29 
Romeo Santos
(Lead Member and Vocalist of the Bachata Group 'Aventura')
Romeo Santos
16
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 21, 1981
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 30 
DeAndre Jordan
(Basketball player)
DeAndre Jordan
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 21, 1988
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Height: 6'11" (211 cm)
 31 
Clyde Drexler
(Basketball player)
Clyde Drexler
23
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 22, 1962
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)
 32 
David Alan Grier
(actor, screenwriter, stage actor, television actor)
David Alan Grier
8
Birthdate: June 30, 1956
Birthplace: Detroit
 33 
Satchel Paige
(American Professional Baseball Pitcher)
Satchel Paige
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 7, 1906
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
Died: June 8, 1982

Legendary baseball pitcher Satchel Paige was part of the MLB and the Negro League Baseball. The National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee began his career playing for the Chattanooga Black Lookouts and later played for teams such as the Cleveland Indians. He was the American League’s first black pitcher.

 34 
Jimmie Walker
(Actor and Comedian Known for His Role as ‘James Evans Sr.’ in the TV Series ‘Good Times’)
Jimmie Walker
20
Birthdate: June 25, 1947
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Actor and stand-up comedian Jimmie Walker is best known as James Evans Jr. from the series Good Times, a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He became famous for his signature catchphrase, “Dy-no-mite!” He has also appeared in films such as Super Shark and the series Bustin' Loose.
 35 
Shari Headley
(Actress and Model Best Known for Her Role as ‘Lisa McDowell’ in the Film ‘Coming to America’)
Shari Headley
12
Birthdate: July 15, 1964
Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States

Shari Headley shot to fame in the 1980s with her performance in the box-office hit Coming to America and there was no looking back after that. She aspired to become a doctor, but after winning a Ford Modeling Agency sponsored contest, she drifted toward acting. She bagged a NAACP award nomination for her performance in 413 Hope St.

 36 
Wilma Rudolph
(The First American Woman to Win Three Gold Medals in a Single Olympic Games)
Wilma Rudolph
20
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 23, 1940
Birthplace: Clarksville, Tennessee, United States
Died: November 12, 1994

Sprinter Wilma Rudolph made history by becoming the first American female athlete to win three track and field gold medals in a single Olympic game. As a child, she needed orthopedic shoes to help her walk. The sports icon lost her life to cancer but was immortalized through books and movies.

 37 
Wizkid
(Singer-songwriter)
Wizkid
36
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 16, 1990
Birthplace: Surulere, Lagos

Nigerian singer Wizkid soared to fame with chart-busting tracks such as Holla at Your Boy. A performer who has revolutionized the Afrobeats genre, Wizkid supported Nigeria’s End SARS protests against police brutality, on social media. In 2011, he was part of a paternity scandal but denied having fathered a child.

 38 
Solomon Northup
6
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: July 10, 1807
Birthplace: Minerva, New York
Died: 1863 AD
Abolitionist Solomon Northup had authored the memoir Twelve Years a Slave, which was later adapted into the Academy Award-winning film 12 Years a Slave. Northup was abducted and sold as a slave to a planter in Louisiana. He was eventually freed with the help of the governor New York.
 39 
Dikembe Mutombo
(Basketball player)
Dikembe Mutombo
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 25, 1966
Birthplace: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Height: 7'2" (218 cm)
 40 
Iman Shumpert
(American Professional Basketball Player Who Plays at the ‘Shooting Guard' Position)
Iman Shumpert
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 26, 1990
Birthplace: Berwyn, Illinois, United States

Iman Shumpert is an American basketball player who has played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for popular teams like New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, and the Houston Rockets. While representing the Cleveland Cavaliers, Iman Shumpert helped his team win NBA championship in 2016.

 41 
Randy Jackson
(Bassist)
Randy Jackson
24
Birthdate: June 23, 1956
Birthplace: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Randy Jackson started his career playing bass guitar for various artists, He then started his stint as a producer with Columbia and MCA Records. He is best known for his appearance as a judge on American Idol. He has also been the executive producer of America's Best Dance Crew.
 42 
LaDainian Tomlinson
(American football player)
LaDainian Tomlinson
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 23, 1979
Birthplace: Rosebud, Texas, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 43 
PartyNextDoor
(Singer-Songwriter Known for His Albums ‘PartyNextDoor ‘ and ‘PNDColours’)
PartyNextDoor
13
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: July 3, 1993
Birthplace: Mississauga, Canada

PartyNextDoor is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer. He grew up listening to rappers, such as Jodeci, Boyz II Men, Blackstreet, and 112 and was inspired to pursue a career in music. His first mixtape was a moderate hit. Since then, he has released a few albums and several singles. He has been nominated for the Grammy Awards twice. 

 44 
Wole Soyinka
(Author, Poet, Playwright)
Wole Soyinka
13
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 13, 1934
Birthplace: Abeokuta

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist. In 1986, he became the first sub-Saharan African to be honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature. As a young man, he worked with the Royal Court Theatre in London. In Nigeria, he was actively involved in the country’s freedom struggle. He has taught at various international universities.

 45 
Hopsin
(Rapper)
Hopsin
11
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 18, 1985
Birthplace: Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 46 
Benjamin Mendy
(French Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Left-Back)
Benjamin Mendy
23
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 17, 1994
Birthplace: Longjumeau, France
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 47 
Patrice Lumumba
(1st Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Patrice Lumumba
7
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 2, 1925
Birthplace: Sankuru, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Died: January 17, 1961
Congolese politician Patrice Lumumba was the first prime minister of the Republic of the Congo. He was an MNC leader and played a major role in turning Congo from a Belgian colony to an independent country. He was executed on the orders of Mobutu Sese Seko, following the Congo Crisis.
 48 
Taylor Russell
(Canadian Actress Known for Her Films: ‘The Heart Still Hums’, ‘Waves’ and ‘Bones & All’)
Taylor Russell
19
Birthdate: July 18, 1994
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada

Canadian actress, Taylor Russell, is best known for starring in the TV show Lost in Space. She began acting when she was in her late teens. At the beginning of her career, she appeared in small roles in TV shows. With time, she started getting more substantial roles and gradually ventured into films as well.

 49 
LeSean McCoy
(American Football Player)
LeSean McCoy
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 12, 1988
Birthplace: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 50 
6lack
(Rapper)
6lack
20
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: June 24, 1992
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland