Celebs You Probably Didn’t Know Were Black

Sometimes a public figure’s background is more layered than it looks at first glance. Plenty of well known names have Black heritage that is not always front and center in their public biography, especially when their families span different cultures and countries.

This list highlights actors, musicians, and athletes whose Black ancestry may surprise some readers. Each entry shares clear facts about family roots and career milestones so you can see exactly how these identities fit into their life stories.

Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones is the daughter of music legend Quincy Jones who is African American, and actor Peggy Lipton who was Ashkenazi Jewish. She was born in Los Angeles and graduated from Harvard University where she studied religion and philosophy.

Her screen credits include major roles in ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘The Office’. Beyond acting she has written television episodes and produced projects that reflect a wide range of interests in film and music.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller was born in England and grew up in the United States. His father is of African American and Jamaican heritage and his mother is white. He has often discussed his family background in interviews while focusing on his work.

He became globally known for his lead role in ‘Prison Break’. He has also written screenplays and appeared in ‘The Flash’ and ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ while continuing to work as a writer and advocate on mental health topics.

Troian Bellisario

Troian Bellisario’s mother is Deborah Pratt who is African American and a writer and producer, and her father is television creator Donald P Bellisario. She was born in Los Angeles and started acting as a child in projects connected to her family’s production work.

She starred as Spencer Hastings on ‘Pretty Little Liars’. Bellisario also writes and directs independent films and has produced work that screened at festivals, expanding her career beyond acting.

Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals was born in Chicago to an African American father and an Irish American mother. She studied literature at Yale University and began acting while still in school.

Her breakout came with ‘Flashdance’ and she later became a lead on ‘The L Word’. Beals has continued to work steadily in film and television including roles in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ and ‘Swamp Thing’.

Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Hall’s mother is the opera singer Maria Ewing who had documented African American ancestry along with Native American and European roots, and her father was the British director Peter Hall. She was born in London and attended Cambridge before focusing fully on acting.

Hall has starred in films such as ‘The Town’ and ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’. She also wrote and directed ‘Passing’, a feature that explores mixed race identity and the history of racial categorization in the United States.

Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph is the daughter of singer Minnie Riperton who was African American and songwriter Richard Rudolph who is Jewish. She was born in Florida and raised in Los Angeles in a household connected to the music industry.

She became a cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and went on to lead the series ‘Loot’. Rudolph also works extensively in voice acting with roles in projects like ‘Big Mouth’ and ‘The Mitchells vs the Machines’.

Slash

Slash was born Saul Hudson in London to an African American mother who was a fashion designer and a white English father who worked in album art. He moved to Los Angeles as a child and began playing guitar in his early teens.

He rose to fame as the lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses and later formed Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver. He records and tours regularly and is known for collaborations across rock and pop, including session work for artists in many genres.

Pete Wentz

Pete Wentz’s mother has Afro Jamaican ancestry and worked in education, and his father is of English and German descent and worked as an attorney. He grew up in the Chicago area and became active in the local hardcore scene before forming his band.

Wentz is the bassist and lyricist for Fall Out Boy and has co written many of their hits. He also runs a record label and has authored books, expanding his work into publishing and business.

Logic

The rapper Logic, born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, has an African American father from Maryland and a white mother. He grew up in the Washington DC suburbs and began releasing mixtapes that gained a large following.

His debut studio album ‘Under Pressure’ entered the charts with critical attention for its storytelling. He has released multiple platinum singles and wrote the novel ‘Supermarket’, showing range beyond music.

Halsey

Halsey, born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, has a father who is African American with Irish roots and a mother of Italian and Hungarian descent. She started writing songs as a teenager and built an audience through early online releases.

Her first album ‘Badlands’ produced several successful singles and led to worldwide touring. She continues to release hit collaborations and has credits as a songwriter and visual director on her projects.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter’s father is African American and served in the United States Army, and his mother is of Irish and German descent. He grew up in Michigan and New Jersey and was drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school.

Jeter played shortstop for the Yankees throughout his career and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. After retiring he became a team executive and launched media and business ventures tied to sports.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey was born in New York to Alfred Roy Carey who had Afro Venezuelan and African American heritage and Patricia Hickey who is Irish American. She began singing at an early age and worked as a demo singer before signing a record deal.

Carey has multiple number one singles and is recognized for her five octave vocal range. She writes and produces much of her material and has acted in films including ‘Precious’ and ‘The Butler’.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle’s mother Doria Ragland is African American and her father Thomas Markle is white and worked in television lighting. She grew up in Los Angeles and attended Northwestern University where she studied theater and international relations.

Markle gained global attention as an actor on ‘Suits’ before marrying Prince Harry. She has since produced podcasts and documentaries and works with charitable initiatives focused on women and families.

Kidada Jones

Kidada Jones is the daughter of Quincy Jones who is African American and actor Peggy Lipton. She started modeling as a teenager and later became known for her work in fashion design.

She created pieces for major brands and served as a designer for Disney with the Disney Couture line. Jones has also worked as a stylist for high profile photo shoots and music videos.

Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd was born in San Francisco to an African American father and an Irish American mother. He starred at the University of California Berkeley before entering the NBA as a high draft pick.

Kidd won an NBA championship as a player and later moved into coaching with head coaching roles in the league. He has also served on the coaching staff for national team competitions.

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin’s father is Afro Haitian and ran a basketball program in Oklahoma where Blake and his brother learned the game. Griffin played for the University of Oklahoma and became the top overall pick in the NBA draft.

He won Rookie of the Year and made multiple All Star teams while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Griffin has also appeared in commercials and media projects and has produced television content.

Keegan Michael Key

Keegan Michael Key was adopted at birth and raised by a Black father and a white mother in Detroit. He studied theater at the University of Detroit Mercy and earned a master’s degree from Penn State.

He co created and starred in ‘Key and Peele’ which became a landmark sketch series. Key has since appeared in films and series such as ‘Schmigadoon’ and provides voices for animated features.

Jordan Fisher

Jordan Fisher has a multiethnic background that includes African American ancestry and was adopted and raised by his grandparents in Alabama. He trained in musical theater and moved into television work as a teenager.

He has starred on Broadway in ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Dear Evan Hansen’. Fisher won ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and continues to act in streaming films and series while releasing pop singles.

Jessica Szohr

Jessica Szohr was born in Wisconsin to an African American father and a mother of Hungarian ancestry. She started modeling in her teens and transitioned to acting with guest roles on network shows.

Szohr became widely known for playing Vanessa Abrams on ‘Gossip Girl’. She later joined the cast of ‘The Orville’ and continues to work in television and film projects.

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs was born in Cardiff to Danny Wilson who is Black and played rugby league and to a white Welsh mother. He moved to Manchester as a child and joined the Manchester United youth system.

Giggs played his entire club career for Manchester United and won multiple league titles and European trophies. After retiring he worked as a coach and manager and has remained involved in football development.

Share your picks in the comments and tell us who else belongs on this list.