Hollywood has seen a recent surge of young black actors earning notable roles in major projects. Michael Ward and Trevor Jackson are among those gaining recognition. Read on for some more information on standout young actors today.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Young black male actors are making a mark in Hollywood both on and off-screen.
- Notable names include Justice Smith, Khylin Rhambo, and Shameik Moore.
- Another renowned actor, Trevor Jackson, has appeared in films like SuperFly and on the popular series Grown-ish.
- Michael Ward, a Jamaican-born English actor, made his acting debut in the critically acclaimed film Blue Story.
Famous young black actors in Hollywood
In compiling this list, we reviewed the IMDb profiles of these actors and information available on online sites such as Famous Birthdays. Here are some famous young black actors who are under 30 in Hollywood.
|
Ranking |
Names of actor |
|
1. |
Justice Smith |
|
2. |
Khylin Rhambo |
|
3. |
Shameik Moore |
|
4. |
Bobb’e J. Thompson |
|
5. |
Jacob Latimore |
|
6. |
Tyrel Jackson Williams |
|
7. |
Trevor Jackson |
|
8. |
Jharrel Jerome |
|
9. |
Micheal Ward |
|
10. |
Brett Johnson |
|
11. |
Jaden Smith |
|
12. |
Marcus Scribner |
|
13. |
Michael Rainey Jr. |
|
14. |
Caleb McLaughlin |
|
15. |
Asante Blackk |
Whether playing leading roles or supporting characters, the following notable artists are paving the way for Hollywood’s next generation of black young actors:
1. Tremaine Brown Jr. — American
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Tremaine Brown Jr.
- Date of birth: 23 January 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: United States
Tremaine Brown Jr. is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Boo-Boo Kipling on the Netflix original series The Get Down. He made his debut on the show in 2016 during its 1st season.
2. Khylin Rhambo — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Khylin Rhambo
- Date of birth: 8 January 1996
- Age: 29 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: California, United States
Khylin is one of the most promising young black actors under 40. He is best known for his role as Caleb in the hit MTV series Teen Wolf. Khylin Rhambo has also appeared in popular shows like Euphoria and The First.
3. Cayden K. Williams — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Cayden K. Williams
- Date of birth: 22 October 2008
- Age: 17 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
When speaking of young black actors under 20, Cayden K. Williams should be at the top of the list. He is known for Girls Trip (2017), Beautifully Broken (2018), and David Makes Man (2019).
4. Bobb’e J. Thompson — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Bobb’e Jacques Thompson
- Date of birth: 28 February 1996
- Age: 29 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Bobb’e is an American actor, rapper, and comedian. He has been acting for over a decade and is known for his youthful energy, quick wit, and unique presence on camera. Bobb’e J. Thompson has appeared in popular films and TV shows like Role Models and That’s So Raven.
5. Jacob Latimore — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Jacob O’Neal Latimore
- Date of birth: 10 August 1996
- Age: 29 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
American actor Jacob O’Neal Latimore is also a singer and dancer. He began acting in 2009 and has appeared in films and TV shows such as One Tree Hill, House Party, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
6. Tyrel Jackson Williams — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Tyrel Jackson Williams
- Date of birth: 16 March 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Westchester County, New York, United States
Tyrel is one of the most promising talents of his generation. His first acting role was in a video called Sesame Street: Happy Healthy Monsters. Tyrel Williams has also appeared in TV series such as Good Luck Charlie, Modern Family, and Everybody Hates Chris.
7. Trevor Jackson — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Trevor Howard Lawrence Jackson
- Date of birth: 30 August 1996
- Age: 29 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Jackson is one of the most popular Black male actors under 30. He began his career as a child actor, appearing in shows like Cold Case and Eureka. Trevor Jackson has since moved on to more adult roles, appearing in films like SuperFly and Grown-ish. He is also a singer and songwriter.
8. Jharrel Jerome — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Jharrel Jerome
- Date of birth: 9 October 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: The Bronx, New York, United States
Jerome became the first Afro-Latino actor to win an acting Emmy for his role as Korey Wise of the Exonerated Five in the Netflix miniseries When They See Us. He has also appeared in films such as Moonlight and Concrete Cowboy. Jharrel Jerome also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series.
9. Micheal Ward — Jamaican
Source: UGC
- Full name: Micheal Ward
- Date of birth: 18 November 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Spanish Town, Jamaica
Micheal is a Jamaican-born English actor and former model. He made his acting debut in the critically acclaimed film Blue Story and followed it up with a lead role in the Netflix series Top Boy. Micheal Ward was awarded the 2020 BAFTA Rising Star Award.
10. Brett Johnson — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Brett Austin Johnson
- Date of birth: 22 May 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Washington, D.C., USA
Actor Brett Johnson is a rising star whose career debuted in 2016 in an episode of Swamp Murders. Since then, he has appeared in films and TV series like The Spirit God Gave Us, Cast & crew Cherish Alexander: Change Can Start with Me, and Five Feet Apart.
11. Jaden Smith — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Jaden Christopher Syre Smith
- Date of birth: 8 July 1998
- Age: 27 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Malibu, California, United States
Jaden Smith, the son of Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith, has been acting since childhood. His roles in The Karate Kid and After Earth have cemented his place in Hollywood. Jaden Smith is also a talented musician and fashion icon.
12. Marcus Scribner — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Marcus Scribner
- Date of birth: 7 January 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Marcus began studying acting at age seven and was 10 years old when he was booked for his first guest-star role on the ABC crime dramedy Castle. The actor is best known for starring as Andre “Junior” Johnson Jr. in the ABC sitcom Black-ish and Junior in its spin-off Grown-ish. Marcus Scribner has also appeared in Dragons: The Nine Realms and Along for the Ride.
13. Michael Rainey Jr. — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Michael Rainey Jr.
- Date of birth: 22 September 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Michael Rainey Jr. is a promising young American-Jamaican actor. He is best known for his role as Tariq St. Patrick on Power and Power Book II: Ghost. He has also appeared on Orange Is the New Black, LUV, and Un altro mondo, among many others.
14. Caleb McLaughlin — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Caleb Reginald McLaughlin
- Date of birth: 13 October 2001
- Age: 24 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Carmel Hamlet, New York, United States
With his undeniable talent and versatility, Caleb McLaughlin has proven himself to be among the best young actors under 25. He became a household name by portraying Lucas Sinclair in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. He has also starred in films such as Concrete Cowboy and High Flying Bird.
15. Asante Blackk — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Asante Duah Ma’at
- Date of birth: 20 October 2001
- Age: 24 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Waldorf, Maryland, United States
Actor Asante Blackk made his career debut in the critically acclaimed miniseries When They See Us, for which he received an Emmy nomination. He has since appeared in TV shows like This is Us and Social Distance.
16. Jahi Winston — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Jahi Di’Allo Winston
- Date of birth: 30 November 2003
- Age: 21 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
As young as he is, Jahi Di’Allo has made several appearances with his roles in films The Upside, Proud Mary, Charm City Kings, and We Have a Ghost. He is also a talented musician.
17. Miles Brown — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Miles Brown
- Date of birth: 28 December 2004
- Age: 20 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Oxnard, California, United States
Best known for his role in the TV show Black-ish, Miles Brown has also appeared in Queens & Kings Shopping Cart Race, Sherman’s Showcase, and Boy Genius. He is also a talented dancer, best known by his stage name Baby Boogaloo. He is among the famous young black actors making it great in Hollywood.
18. Elliot Edusah — British
Source: UGC
- Full name: Elliot Edusah
- Date of birth: 9 March 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: London, United Kingdom
Edusah’s career debuted at the Royal National Theatre (National Theatre) in London after attending The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology for two years. Elliot Edusah has been featured in Sitting in Limbo, Hard Truths, Pirates, Outside the Wire, and other films.
19. Ryan McKen — British
Source: UGC
- Full name: Malique Thompson-Dwyer
- Date of birth: 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Birmingham, England
The actor is of British-Jamaican-Indian ancestry and is known for Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), Game of Thrones (2011), and Bancroft (2017). Ryan McKen graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
20. Malique Thompson-Dwyer — British
Source: UGC
- Full name: Malique Thompson-Dwyer
- Date of birth: 2 February 1998
- Age: 27 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Hollinwood, Failsworth, United Kingdom
Malique is among the top young black British actors. He is known for portraying Prince McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2016 to 2019 and 2021 onwards. Malique Thompson-Dwyer was the youngest contestant to appear in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Season 18. He was the second to be eliminated on 2 December 2018.
21. Myles Truitt — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Myles Truitt
- Date of birth: 1 February 2002
- Age: 23 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Truitt became interested in acting at the age of 11. The actor is best known for his breakout role as Eli Solinski in the action film Kin in 2018. Myles Truitt also plays Ant in Queen Sugar and Issa Williams on Black Lightning.
22. Skylan Brooks — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Skylan Brooks
- Date of birth: 12 February 1999
- Age: 26 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Brooks is one of the famous young black actors on Netflix in 2025. He is best known for playing Mister in The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete. Skylan Brooks also played the role of Ra-Ra in the Netflix musical series The Get Down and Charles “Chubs” Meriwether in The Darkest Minds.
23. Chosen Jacobs — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Chosen Jacobs
- Date of birth: 1 July 2001
- Age: 24 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Chosen Jacobs, a multifaceted actor, singer, and producer, is best known for his recurring role as Will Grover on the CBS series Hawaii Five-0 and his role as Mike Hanlon in the 2017 film It Chapter Two. Chosen Jacobs started acting when his mother enrolled him in theater classes.
24. Abraham Attah — Ghanaian
Source: UGC
- Full name: Abraham Nii Attah
- Date of birth: 2 July 2001
- Age: 24 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Ashiaman, Tema, Accra, Ghana
Abraham Nii Attah is a Ghanaian actor based in the United States. He made his feature film debut in Beasts of No Nation in 2015 as a child soldier, Agu. The role earned him the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival. Abraham Attah also appeared in the Marvel Studios film Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017.
25. Isaiah Russell-Bailey — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Isaiah Russell-Bailey
- Date of birth: 24 October 1995
- Age: 18 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Fort Worth, TX
Isaiah is an American actor, dancer, and model. He burst into the acting scene in 2018, quickly becoming a fan favourite. He stars in the Netflix comedy, Family Reunion, playing Shaka, the notorious, yet well-intentioned son of the McKellan family. The young actor stars alongside Loretta Divine and Tia Mowry.
26. Jahking Guillory — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Jahking Guillory
- Date of birth: 14 May 2001
- Age: 24 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Long Beach, California, United States
Jahking is one of the famous young black actors in Hollywood. The actor is best known for his starring role in the 2016 film Kicks. Jahking Guillory also appears in The Chi on Showtime and the Netflix series On My Block.
27. Nathaniel McIntyre — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Nathaniel Logan McIntyre
- Date of birth: 20 August 2003
- Age: 22 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Nathaniel McIntyre always had an interest in drama as a child. He made a debut in the TV series Celebrity Ghost Stories. He has also appeared in Magic Camp, David Makes Man, The Equalizer, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, and Horror Noire.
28. Luka Sabbat — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Luka Sabbat
- Date of birth: 26 November 1997
- Age: 27 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: New York, United States
Luka is a French-American model and actor. He is known for his role as Luca Hall in Grown-ish. He has also held other roles in movies such as The Dead Don’t Die and Sharp Stick.
29. Jaden Harmon — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Jaden Harmon
- Date of birth: 14 October 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: United Kingdom
Jaden Harmon is an American actor who voiced Denzil in the American dub of Chuggington. He is most famously known for his role as Andre in One Tree Hill. He also featured in Drop Dead Diva, Homeland, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Blue Bloods, and The Game.
30. Michael Evans Behling — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Michael Evans Behling
- Date of birth: 5 March 1996
- Age: 29 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Columbus, Indiana, United States
American actor Michael Evans Behling is best known for his role as Jordan Baker on All American. He is biracial and was adopted by a white family. Evans’ father is Nigerian, his mother is German, and his last name is German.
31. Niles Fitch — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Niles Fitch
- Date of birth: 12 July 2001
- Age: 24 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Actor Niles Fitch began his career as a child actor and gained prominence through his role in the NBC series This Is Us. He received praise for his performance in the film The Fallout. Since his father died from lupus when Niles was 12, he has collaborated with Lupus LA as an ambassador.
32. J.D. — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Jonathan Pierce Daviss
- Date of birth: 28 February 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Jonathan Pierce Daviss played football in high school before becoming an actor. He stars as Pope Heyward in the Netflix drama series Outer Banks. Actor J.D. was also featured in Do Revenge and Revolution.
33. Akili McDowell — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Akili McDowell
- Date of birth: 30 December 2002
- Age: 23 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: San Francisco, California, United States
Actor Akili McDowell is known for his roles in David Makes Man and Criminal Activities. The actor was arrested in August 2024 in connection with the murder of Cesar Peralta. The victim was shot and killed in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Houston in July 2024. McDowell was taken into custody and charged with murder and theft.
34. McCarrie McCausland — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: McCarrie McCausland
- Date of birth: 19 August 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Orlando, Florida, United States
McCarrie McCausland is possibly the most underrated young Black actor of his caliber. He began his television career in 2011, portraying David Burton on ABC/Lifetime’s hit series Army Wives and was nominated for a Young Artist Award for that role.
McCarrie landed the recurring role of Young Marcel on The Originals. In 2015, he began filming NBC’s Game of Silence, playing the role of Young Shawn.
35. Issac Ryan Brown — American
Source: UGC
- Full name: Issac Ryan Brown
- Date of birth: 12 July 2005
- Age: 20 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Issac Ryan Brown is an American actor, rapper, and singer. He is known for his role as Booker in Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home, which earned him a nomination at the 48th Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Principal Performance in a Children’s Program, and his role as Augustus “Gus” Porter in The Owl House.
Who is the highest-paid black actor under 30?
Michael Evans Behling, Miles Brown, Jahi Winston, Marcus Scribner, Jaden Smith, Micheal Ward, and Trevor Jackson are some of Hollywood’s highest-paid black actors under 30.
Who was the first Black Hollywood star?
Josephine Baker earned the title of “The First Black Superstar” with her first credited appearance in 1927. Due to racism in the US at the time, many of her early films were French. She made films for about 20 years.
Who was the Black singer who was also an actress?
Cassandra Monique Batie (born on 30 December 1984) was known professionally as Andra Day. She was the first black singer to become an actress. Cassandra sang in the R&B and soul music.
Who is the youngest Black executive producer?
Guinness World Records recognized Marsai Martin as the youngest person to serve as an executive producer on a major Hollywood film after working on her film Little.
Who is the most successful black actor?
Some of the most successful black actors are Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Morgan Freeman, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Will Smith.
Who is the most iconic black actor?
The most iconic Black actor is subjective, but Sidney Poitier is widely considered one of the most significant for being the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Actor. Other actors frequently mentioned as among the most iconic and influential include Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Morgan Freeman due to their prolific and critically acclaimed careers.
Who are some black actors under 50?
As of 2025, some of the black actors under 50 who have made significant headway in Hollywood include:
- Donald Glover
- Michael B. Jordan
- Damson Idris
- John Boyega
Who are some young black actors under 15?
Some young Black actors under 15 include Lonnie Chavis, known for his roles in When They See Us and This Is Us, and JD McCrary, who voiced young Simba in The Lion King (2019).
These young black actors are breaking barriers, showcasing their talents, and bringing diversity to Hollywood. With the rise of streaming and the demand for inclusive stories, they will continue to lead the industry.
Source: Original
Legit.ng listed some of the richest Nollywood actors and their net worth. Nollywood is one of the largest film industries in the world.
With millions of fans worldwide, most Nollywood actors have amassed tremendous wealth through their work in the industry.
Source: Legit.ng
