20 Iconic Mixed-Race Stars Who Shaped Entertainment History

Entertainment has always been a global conversation where identity and culture meet on the biggest stages. Mixed-race stars have helped widen that conversation by moving across genres and mediums while bringing more people into the story. Their careers span film, television, music, and fashion, and their work reaches audiences in many languages and countries.

This list highlights performers whose backgrounds connect different communities and whose projects traveled far beyond one scene or one chart. You will find award winners, franchise leaders, platinum sellers, and household names whose credits show how varied a modern career can be. Each entry focuses on clear milestones, major roles, and concrete achievements that show how they helped shape the industries they work in.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry was born to an African American father and a white mother and began her career in modeling and pageants before moving into acting. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for ‘Monster’s Ball’ and became widely known to moviegoers through ‘X-Men’, ‘Die Another Day’, and other studio releases that kept her at the center of mainstream film.

She expanded her impact by taking on producing duties and by headlining action and drama titles across film and television. Her work includes directing and starring in ‘Bruised’, joining the ‘John Wick’ series, and leading high profile thrillers that sustained visibility for women leads in commercial projects.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson was born to a Black Nova Scotian father and a Samoan mother and first reached a global audience through professional wrestling. He moved into acting with roles in ‘The Mummy Returns’ and ‘The Scorpion King’ and went on to anchor franchises that include ‘Fast and Furious’, ‘Jumanji’, and ‘Moana’.

He cofounded Seven Bucks Productions and developed films and series that feature him in front of and behind the camera. His television work includes ‘Young Rock’, and his filmography shows consistent box office pull in action, adventure, and family titles.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey was born to an African American father with Afro Venezuelan ancestry and an Irish mother and debuted with a self titled album that produced multiple number one singles. She followed with hit albums that include ‘Music Box’, ‘Daydream’, and ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’ while maintaining a five octave range and whistle register that became a signature.

Her single ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ returns to charts worldwide every year and has reached new audiences through films, specials, and streaming. She has collected major music awards across several decades and performs live shows that continue to draw large audiences on tour and in residencies.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves was born to an English mother and a father of Native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Portuguese ancestry and grew up in Toronto after early years abroad. He moved from comedy in ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ to action in ‘Speed’ and led science fiction with ‘The Matrix’ before returning to action with ‘John Wick’.

He balances acting with producing through Company Films and participates in projects that require extensive stunt and fight training. His credits include studio tentpoles and independent films as well as voice work and game performances that show range across formats.

Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars was born Peter Gene Hernandez to a Puerto Rican father with Jewish ancestry and a Filipina mother and began performing in Honolulu as a child. He broke through with ‘Just the Way You Are’ and followed with radio and streaming hits that include ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ and ’24K Magic’.

He formed Silk Sonic with Anderson Paak and released a collaborative album that produced chart topping singles and major award wins. His live shows are built around band centered performance and choreography, and his songwriting and production credits extend to other artists in pop and R and B.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys was born to an African American father and an Italian American mother and trained in classical piano before releasing ‘Songs in A Minor’. She built a catalog that includes ‘The Diary of Alicia Keys’, ‘As I Am’, and other albums with singles that received heavy radio play and strong sales.

She has hosted major award broadcasts and collaborated across genres while keeping piano based arrangements at the core of her sound. Her credits include film and television appearances, book projects, and philanthropic work centered on music education and global health initiatives connected to her platform.

Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones was born to producer and musician Quincy Jones and actor Peggy Lipton and moved between comedy and drama on television. She became widely known through ‘The Office’ and ‘Parks and Recreation’ and appeared in films while writing and producing for the screen.

She cowrote the feature ‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ and produced documentary projects including ‘Quincy’ which won a Primetime Emmy. Her work in voice acting spans animated series and films, and she has developed series as a producer for both streaming and broadcast platforms.

Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz was born to television actor Roxie Roker and news producer Sy Kravitz and built a music career that mixes rock, soul, and funk. Albums like ‘Let Love Rule’ and ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’ produced singles that received global radio play and established his touring footprint.

He won multiple Grammy Awards in the rock category and expanded into acting with roles in films such as ‘The Hunger Games’. His work as a producer and multi instrumentalist includes collaborations with artists across genres, and his stage design and fashion presence have been recognized in music media and beyond.

Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph was born to singer Minnie Riperton and composer Richard Rudolph and joined ‘Saturday Night Live’ where she created characters and musical sketches over multiple seasons. She moved into film with comedies that include ‘Bridesmaids’ and continued to voice characters in animation on series and features.

She has won Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production on variety and animated projects. Her recent television work includes leading roles in streaming comedies and narrating documentary series while continuing long running voice roles on shows such as ‘Big Mouth’.

Drake

Drake was born to an African American father and a Jewish Canadian mother and started on television with ‘Degrassi The Next Generation’. He then released mixtapes and studio albums that produced streaming and radio records, including singles like ‘Hotline Bling’, ‘One Dance’, and ‘God’s Plan’.

He founded OVO Sound and developed artists under the label while producing an annual festival in Toronto. His tours have set attendance and gross marks in multiple markets, and his music regularly leads year end lists for consumption across formats.

Taika Waititi

Taika Waititi was born to a Maori father and a mother of Russian Jewish heritage and began directing and acting in New Zealand film and television. His features include ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit’, and he moved into franchise filmmaking with ‘Thor Ragnarok’.

He won the Academy Award for Adapted Screenplay for ‘Jojo Rabbit’ and directed episodes of ‘The Mandalorian’ while voicing the character IG 11. He cofounded Piki Films to support New Zealand projects and has continued to develop series and films as a writer, director, and actor.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa was born to a Native Hawaiian father and a mother of German, Irish, and Native American ancestry and began with television roles on ‘Baywatch’ and ‘Stargate Atlantis’. He gained global attention as Khal Drogo on ‘Game of Thrones’ and then led DC titles as Arthur Curry in ‘Aquaman’.

He wrote and directed ‘Road to Paloma’ and starred in series that include ‘See’. His production work has supported action and adventure projects for film and streaming, and his credits include independent films alongside major studio releases.

Halsey

Halsey was born to an African American father and a white mother and released the debut album ‘Badlands’ after building an audience online. She moved to number one on the singles chart as a featured artist on ‘Closer’ and followed with hits from albums that include ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom’ and ‘Manic’.

She writes and coproduces much of her material and collaborates with artists across pop and alternative scenes. Her tours feature strong visual concepts and she has contributed songs to film soundtracks along with high profile performances on television and award shows.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller was born to a Black father with Caribbean and European ancestry and a white mother and pursued acting after graduating from college. He became known worldwide for leading ‘Prison Break’ as Michael Scofield and returned for revival seasons due to the show’s continued popularity.

He wrote the screenplay for the thriller ‘Stoker’ under a pen name and has appeared in recurring roles on ‘The Flash’ and related series. His work includes film and television across genres, and he has received award nominations for both acting and writing.

Yara Shahidi

Yara Shahidi was born to an Iranian American father and an African American mother and first appeared in commercials before moving to television and film. She played Zoey Johnson on ‘Black ish’ and then led the spinoff ‘Grown ish’ which followed the character through college.

She enrolled at Harvard University while continuing her acting career and launched projects as a producer with her mother. Her credits include film roles and voice work in animation, and she has partnered with brands and organizations on youth and education initiatives connected to her public profile.

Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik was born to a Pakistani father and a white British mother and joined ‘The X Factor’ as a teenager before forming One Direction. After success with the group he began a solo career with the single ‘Pillowtalk’ and released albums that reached number one in major markets.

He has worked in fashion through design collaborations and campaigns and contributed songs to film soundtracks. His music videos have earned hundreds of millions of views, and his catalog includes features with artists in pop and R and B.

Henry Golding

Henry Golding was born to an English father and a Malaysian Iban mother and worked as a travel presenter before acting in feature films. He became widely known for leading ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and followed with roles in ‘A Simple Favor’ and ‘Last Christmas’.

He took on action with ‘Snake Eyes’ and continues to appear in both studio and independent projects. His early television work on ‘The Travel Show’ helped build an international audience, and his film roles have expanded representation for Southeast Asian stories in mainstream cinema.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba was born to a Mexican American father and a mother of Danish, Welsh, and German ancestry and began acting in television as a teenager. She starred in ‘Dark Angel’ and then moved into films that include ‘Sin City’ and ‘Fantastic Four’.

She later cofounded The Honest Company and continued acting and producing with projects like ‘L A s Finest’. Her credits show steady work across action, comedy, and drama while also building a business that operates alongside her screen career.

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee was born to a Chinese father and a mother of Eurasian ancestry and began acting as a child before training students in martial arts. He starred in ‘The Big Boss’, ‘Fist of Fury’, and ‘Enter the Dragon’ and became the most widely recognized face of martial arts cinema.

He created Jeet Kune Do and served as fight choreographer and creative lead on his films. His work influenced action design and opened international distribution paths for Hong Kong cinema, and his image remains one of the most reproduced in film culture.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley was born to an Afro Jamaican mother and a white Jamaican father and formed The Wailers with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Albums like ‘Catch a Fire’ and ‘Rastaman Vibration’ brought reggae to a global audience, and he toured extensively across Europe and North America.

The compilation ‘Legend’ became one of the best selling albums in the catalog of reggae music and introduced new generations to his work. His songs have been licensed for film and television for decades, and tribute concerts and reissues continue to place his music on charts worldwide.

Share the mixed race stars you think belong on this list in the comments and tell us which works introduced you to them.