This is a list of former African-American child actors. These actors were aged 17 or less at the time they started acting but are currently 18 or over. The list also includes deceased child actors.
Movies and/or TV series they appeared in are mentioned only if they were still a child at the time of filming.
NameBorn [Died]Years active (as child actors) & selected filmographyAdams, Brandon19791986–2001 -- The Sandlot (1993) -- Moonwalker (1988)Bagley, Ross19881994–2004 -- The Little Rascals (1994)Beard, Matthew "Stymie"1925 1929–1940 -- Our Gang (1930–35)Berry, Ananias1913 1924–1927 -- The McDougall Kids Berry, James1915 1924–1926 -- The McDougall Kids Berry, Warren1922 1927 -- The McDougall Kids Bledsoe, Tempestt19731984–1988 -- The Cosby Show (1984–92)Blunt, Erin19631973–1979 -- The Bad News Bears (1976)Boyce, Cameron1999 2008–2019 -- Jessie (2011–2015) -- Descendants series (2015–19)Bridges, Todd19651975–1980 -- Fish (1977–78) - Diff'rent Strokes (1978)Brown, Orlando19871995–2003 -- Family Matters (1996–98)Cameron, Trent19791989-1991 -- Homeroom (1989) -- The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990) -- You Take the Kids (1990–91)Carter, Ralph19611971–1976 -- Raisin (1973) -- Good Times (1974–79)Coleman, Gary1968 1974–1983 -- Diff'rent Strokes (1978–86) Davis Jr., Sammy1925 1933 -- Rufus Jones for President (1933)Edwards, Ed1925 ca.1931–1932 -- Penrod (1931–32)Fields, Kim19691977–1984 -- Baby, I'm Back (1978) -- Diff'rent Strokes (1979–81) -- The Facts of Life (1979–88)Fishburne, Laurence19611972–1976 -- One Life to Live (1973–76)Foxworth, Jaimee19791986–1993 -- Family Matters (1989–93)Golden II, Norman D.19841992–1998 -- Cop and a Half (1993) -- Moby Dick (1998)Holmes, Tony1967 ca.1977–78 -- Baby, I'm Back (1978)Hooks, Kevin19581969–1972 -- J.T. (1969) -- Sounder (1972)Hoskins, Allen "Farina"1920 1922–1936 -- Our Gang (1922–31)Hurlic, Philip1927 1932–1942 -- Penrod and Sam (1937) -- Zenobia (1939)Jackson, Eugene1916 1923–1931 -- Penrod and Sam (1923) -- Our Gang (1924–25) -- Little Annie Rooney (1925) -- Hearts in Dixie (1929) Jackson, Janet19661977–1981 -- Good Times (1977–79) -- Diff'rent Strokes (1980–84) Jackson, Michael1958 1972Jackson, Skai20022007–2017 -- Jessie (2011–15)Jeffries, Adam19761988–1991 -- True Colors (1990–92)Jordan, Michael B.19871999–2002 - The Wire (2002)Knight Pulliam, Keshia19791984–1992 -- The Cosby Show (1984–92)Leedy, Glenn1935 1942–1947 -- Jasper (1942-45) -- Song of the South (1946) -- The Burning Cross (1947)Lewis, Emmanuel19711982–1989 -- Webster (1983–89)McClure, Bryton19861990–2001 -- Family Matters (1990–97)Morrison, Dorothy19191923–29Morrison, Ernest "Sunshine Sammy"1912 1917–1926 -- Our Gang (1922–24)Mowry, Tamara19781990–1996 -- Sister, Sister (1994–99)Mowry, Tia19781990–1996 -- Sister, Sister (1994–99)Paulk, Marcus T.19861993–2001 -- Moesha (1996–2001)Perry, Steven19521958–1969 -- A Raisin in the Sun (1961)Pratt, Kyla19861993–2001 -- Dr. Dolittle (1998)Preston, Billy1946 1958 -- St. Louis Blues (1958)Raven-Symoné19851989–2000 -- The Cosby Show (1989–92) - Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–97)Raycole, Jazz19881995–2003 -- My Wife and Kids (2001–02)Richmond, Deon19781987–1993 -- The Cosby Show (1986–92)Richmond, Tequan19922003–2006 -- Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009)Rivera, Naya1987 1991–2002 - The Royal Family (1991–92)Robinson, Bumper1974 1983–1992 -- Enemy Mine (1985) -- The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992)Robinson, Jimmy1918 1927–1934 -- Mickey McGuire (1927–34) -- Penrod and Sam (1931)Ross, Shavar19711980–1986 -- Booker (1984)Smith, Jaden19982006–2013 -- The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) -- The Karate Kid (2010)Smollett-Bell, Jurnee19861991–2001 -- Full House (1992–94) -- Eve's Bayou (1997)St. John, Kristoff1966 1975–1982 -- Roots: The Next Generations (1979)Thomas, Billie "Buckwheat" 1931 1934–1944 -- Our Gang (1934-44)Thompson, Donald 19381948 -- The Quiet One (1948) Van Peebles, Mario19571968–1971 -- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)Warner, Malcolm-Jamal1970 1982–85 -- The Cosby Show (1984–92)Weaver, Jason19791990–1994 -- The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992) -- Thea (1993–94) -- Summertime Switch (1994)White, Jaleel 1976 1984–1991 -- Family Matters (1989–98)Williams, Tyler James19922000–2007 -- Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009) Kellie Shanygne Williams-Jackson Family Matters
See also List of African-American actors