African-American Actors Who Died Before They Turned 25

The entertainment industry has often been marked by the tragic loss of young stars whose potential was only beginning to be realized. While some of these performers achieved global fame through television and film, others made history on the stage or were just transitioning into acting from other creative fields. The following male African-American actors left a lasting legacy despite passing away before reaching the age of 25.

Cameron Boyce

Cameron Boyce was a celebrated young actor who rose to fame as a prominent star on the Disney Channel. He is widely remembered for his starring role as Luke Ross in the comedy series ‘Jessie’ and for playing Carlos, the son of Cruella de Vil, in the ‘Descendants’ film franchise. His career also included appearances in major feature films such as ‘Grown Ups’ and ‘Mirrors’. Beyond his acting talent, Boyce was an active humanitarian and was honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award for his work with the Thirst Project. He passed away at the age of 20 in 2019 following an epileptic seizure.

Pop Smoke

Bashar Barakah Jackson, professionally known as Pop Smoke, was a transformative figure in the Brooklyn drill music scene who was beginning a promising career in film. He made his acting debut portraying the character Monk in the 2021 coming-of-age basketball drama ‘Boogie’. Directed by Eddie Huang, the film showcased Jackson’s screen presence and versatility beyond his established music career. His performance was released posthumously and received attention for his natural charisma on screen. Jackson was tragically killed at the age of 20 in 2020.

Wylie Draper

Wylie Draper was an actor and accomplished dancer who gained national attention for his portrayal of Michael Jackson. He starred as the adult version of the pop icon in the 1992 award-winning television miniseries ‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’. His performance was highly regarded for capturing the physical movements and stage presence of the legendary entertainer. Before his breakthrough role, Draper worked as a dancer at Disney World and appeared in various musical productions. He passed away at the age of 24 in 1993 following a battle with leukemia.

The Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher Wallace, widely known as the Notorious B.I.G., was a legendary rapper who made several appearances in television and film during the 1990s. He appeared as himself in a memorable episode of the hit sitcom ‘Martin’ in 1995 and also made a guest appearance on ‘The Wayans Bros.’. His cinematic presence included a role in the 1996 film ‘Bullet’, which featured other prominent figures from the hip-hop community. Wallace’s influence on pop culture was immense, and his life has since been the subject of numerous biographical films and documentaries. He was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997 at the age of 24.

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