Black Actors You Didn’t Know Were Gemini

From May 21 to June 20, Gemini season covers a surprising number of Black male performers whose birthdays land under the sign of the twins. Below is a single, expanded roundup ordered strictly by birth date. You’ll find headliners, character-actor greats, and cross-over stars with credits that span everything from prestige dramas to blockbuster franchises.

David Ajala

Born May 21, David Ajala stars in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ and has appeared in ‘Supergirl’. His film credits include roles in ‘Fast & Furious 6’ and ‘The Dark Knight’. Ajala trained at the Anna Scher Theatre and works across sci-fi, crime drama, and action. He also performs voice roles in games and animation.

Paul Winfield

Born May 22, Paul Winfield received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Sounder’. He portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the miniseries ‘King’ and appeared in ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’. Winfield’s television work earned multiple Emmy nominations, including a win for a guest role on ‘Picket Fences’. His career spanned stage, film, and narration.

LaMonica Garrett

Born May 23, LaMonica Garrett is known for roles in ‘Sons of Anarchy’, ‘Designated Survivor’, and ‘1883’. He portrayed the Monitor and the Anti-Monitor in the Arrowverse crossovers. Garrett’s career includes action, western, and political-thriller projects. He has also done commercial and voiceover work tied to sports and gaming.

Carl Anthony Payne II

Born May 24, Carl Anthony Payne II is widely recognized for ‘Martin’ and ‘The Cosby Show’. His credits include recurring roles in ‘The Game’ and guest spots across network comedies and dramas. Payne has directed episodes for television and digital projects. He appears at comedy and nostalgia tours tied to his sitcom work.

Lenny Kravitz

Born May 26, Lenny Kravitz has appeared in ‘Precious’ and ‘The Hunger Games’ as well as the series ‘American Woman’. Beyond music, he founded a design studio that intersects with production design and set aesthetics. Kravitz’s acting roles often connect with fashion and art-world narratives. He works in both supporting and cameo roles across film and television.

Dondré Whitfield

Born May 27, Dondré Whitfield’s credits span ‘The Cosby Show’, ‘Queen Sugar’, and multiple daytime dramas. He has appeared in films and TV movies across family and inspirational genres. Whitfield has hosted and produced lifestyle and educational programming in addition to acting. His career includes recurring and series-regular roles over several decades.

André 3000

Born May 27, André 3000 (André Benjamin) co-starred in ‘Four Brothers’ and ‘Idlewild’. He portrayed Jimi Hendrix in ‘Jimi: All Is by My Side’. His television work includes guest roles and voice parts across animated series. He also composes and contributes to film and TV music projects.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Born May 27, Louis Gossett Jr. won an Academy Award for ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’. He appeared in ‘Roots’ and later in ‘Watchmen’. Gossett amassed extensive stage credits, including Broadway roles. His career includes dramatic features, television films, and historical miniseries.

Nonso Anozie

Born May 28, Nonso Anozie stars in ‘Sweet Tooth’ and appeared in ‘Game of Thrones’. His film work includes ‘Cinderella’, ‘Ender’s Game’, and ‘Pan’. Anozie trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company and won the Ian Charleson Award for stage performance. He works across fantasy, family adventure, and drama.

Reggie Yates

Born May 31, Reggie Yates began acting in British children’s television before moving into dramas and comedies. He appeared in ‘Grange Hill’ and voiced a character on ‘Rastamouse’. Yates has also directed features and documentaries, including scripted projects set in the UK entertainment scene. His work spans acting, presenting, and filmmaking.

Morgan Freeman

Born June 1, Morgan Freeman’s screen career includes ‘Glory’, ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. He won an Academy Award for ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and played Lucius Fox in ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy. Freeman has narrated major documentaries such as ‘March of the Penguins’. His production company, Revelations Entertainment, backs film and television projects.

Mark Curry

Born June 1, Mark Curry headlined ‘Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’. He has guest-starred on series including ‘Black-ish’ and ‘The Drew Carey Show’. Curry tours nationally with stand-up while continuing television appearances. His work also includes hosting and family television programming.

Dennis Haysbert

Born June 2, Dennis Haysbert is widely recognized for playing President David Palmer on ’24’. His film credits include ‘Love & Basketball’, ‘Heat’, and ‘Far from Heaven’. Haysbert’s voice work spans animation and video games. He has also narrated documentaries and historical series.

Wentworth Miller

Born June 2, Wentworth Miller broke out as Michael Scofield on ‘Prison Break’. His film credits include ‘The Loft’ and a key part in ‘Stoker’, and he appeared across Arrowverse series as Leonard Snart. Miller also writes for screen with produced scripts such as ‘Stoker’ and ‘The Disappointments Room’. He has worked in both U.S. and international productions.

Wayne Brady

Born June 2, Wayne Brady’s acting includes TV series like ‘Black Lightning’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother’, alongside Broadway credits. He won multiple Emmys for ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ and hosts ‘Let’s Make a Deal’. Brady has voiced characters in animation and video games. His musical-theater roles include leads in ‘Kinky Boots’ and ‘Chicago’.

Dave East

Born June 3, Dave East portrays Method Man in ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’. He has appeared in independent films and guest-starred on television series across drama and crime genres. East contributes tracks to soundtracks and has made cameo appearances tied to music projects. His on-screen work frequently intersects with New York–set narratives.

Keith David

Born June 4, Keith David’s distinctive baritone anchors roles in ‘Platoon’, ‘They Live’, and ‘Crash’. On television, he starred in ‘Greenleaf’ and provided voice performances for ‘Gargoyles’ and ‘Rick and Morty’. His stage résumé includes Tony-nominated work in ‘Jelly’s Last Jam’. David’s narration appears in numerous documentaries and historical series.

Quincy Brown

Born June 4, Quincy Brown has acting credits in ‘Dope’, ‘The Holiday Calendar’, and the series ‘Star’. He appears in films across streaming platforms and cable networks. Brown also works in music and fashion, often integrating those pursuits with on-screen roles. His credits include both supporting and leading parts in romantic comedies and dramas.

Atandwa Kani

Born June 6, Atandwa Kani is known for roles in ‘The Suit’ and appearances connected to ‘Black Panther’. He trained at the University of the Witwatersrand and has an extensive stage background. Kani works in South African and international productions. His credits span drama, period pieces, and literary adaptations.

Lance Reddick

Born June 7, Lance Reddick earned acclaim as Cedric Daniels on ‘The Wire’ and as Phillip Broyles on ‘Fringe’. He portrayed Charon in the ‘John Wick’ films and appeared in ‘Bosch’ as Chief Irving. Reddick’s voice acting includes major video-game franchises like ‘Destiny’ and ‘Horizon’. He trained at Yale School of Drama and worked extensively in theater.

Prince

Born June 7, Prince led ‘Purple Rain’ both on screen and in its soundtrack. He followed with projects like ‘Under the Cherry Moon’ and ‘Graffiti Bridge’, often serving as star, director, and composer. His film work helped popularize Minneapolis as a production locale. Archival concert films and documentaries continue to feature his on-camera performances.

Keenen Ivory Wayans

Born June 8, Keenen Ivory Wayans created and hosted ‘In Living Color’. His film credits include writing, directing, and starring in ‘I’m Gonna Git You Sucka’. Wayans also produced the early entries of the ‘Scary Movie’ franchise. He appears on screen in comedies and industry-focused documentaries.

Lucien Laviscount

Born June 9, Lucien Laviscount’s credits include ‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Scream Queens’. He began on British television in ‘Grange Hill’ and ‘Coronation Street’. Laviscount appears in music-driven projects and romantic comedies. He works across UK and U.S. productions.

Paapa Essiedu

Born June 11, Paapa Essiedu drew acclaim for ‘I May Destroy You’ and stars in ‘Gangs of London’. He trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and has Royal Shakespeare Company credits. Essiedu works across contemporary thrillers and classical adaptations. His screen roles include lead and ensemble parts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Eamonn Walker

Born June 12, Eamonn Walker plays Battalion Chief Wallace Boden on ‘Chicago Fire’. He had major roles in ‘Oz’ and ‘Kings’. Walker trained in London and has extensive theater experience, including Shakespeare. His screen work spans crime drama, political series, and ensemble procedurals.

Richard Ayoade

Born June 12, Richard Ayoade broke out in ‘The IT Crowd’. He directed ‘Submarine’ and ‘The Double’ and frequently appears on British panel shows. Ayoade’s voice credits include animated features and series across major studios. He writes, directs, and acts across film and television.

Reece Noi

Born June 13, Reece Noi appeared in ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Grange Hill’. He has credits in British dramas and international co-productions. Noi’s roles include contemporary crime and period settings. He works in film, television, and audio drama.

Babs Olusanmokun

Born June 14, Babs Olusanmokun appears in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ and ‘Dune’. His television credits include ‘Black Mirror’ and ‘The Defenders’. Olusanmokun speaks multiple languages and performs in international productions. He works across science fiction, action, and drama.

Dayo Okeniyi

Born June 14, Dayo Okeniyi’s credits include ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘Shades of Blue’, and ‘Power Book II: Ghost’. He has appeared in tech-focused thrillers and ensemble dramas. Okeniyi works across streaming, broadcast, and studio features. His roles span crime, sci-fi, and corporate suspense.

Ice Cube

Born June 15, Ice Cube transitioned from music into acting with early roles in ‘Boyz n the Hood’ and ‘Higher Learning’. He headlined and produced the ‘Friday’ series and the ‘Barbershop’ films. His filmography also includes action titles like ‘Three Kings’ and family hits such as ‘Are We There Yet?’. Through Cube Vision, he produces film and television projects.

Denzel Whitaker

Born June 15, Denzel Whitaker appeared in ‘The Great Debaters’ and ‘Black Panther’. His television credits include ‘Training Day’ and ‘Warriors of Liberty City’. Whitaker also directs shorts and works in voice acting. He appears in independent features and studio projects.

Tupac Shakur

Born June 16, Tupac Shakur made a strong acting debut with ‘Juice’, followed by ‘Poetic Justice’ and ‘Above the Rim’. He filmed roles in ‘Gridlock’d’ and ‘Gang Related’, which were released posthumously. Shakur studied acting and poetry at the Baltimore School for the Arts. His filmography remains a frequent subject of retrospectives and academic studies.

Kendrick Lamar

Born June 17, Kendrick Lamar guest-starred on ‘Power’ and has appeared in film and television projects tied to his music. He contributes original songs and curates soundtracks for major releases. Lamar’s visual albums and short-form films showcase his on-camera storytelling. He collaborates with directors across scripted and music-driven formats.

Jacob Anderson

Born June 18, Jacob Anderson stars in ‘Interview with the Vampire’ and appeared in ‘Game of Thrones’. He releases music under the name Raleigh Ritchie and contributes to screen soundtracks. Anderson’s work crosses fantasy, horror, and drama. He performs in British and American productions.

Chuku Modu

Born June 19, Chuku Modu has credits in ‘The Good Doctor’, ‘Game of Thrones’, and ‘The 100’. He works across medical drama, sci-fi, and fantasy genres. Modu appears in independent features and international television. He also narrates and performs in documentary projects.

If we missed one of your Gemini favorites, drop their name—and a favorite role—in the comments!