Six American Hollywood Stars With Yoruba Descent

Actors of different nationalities abound in Hollywood, a good number of actors and actresses have their roots in Yoruba land.  Here are six of them that have their roots in Yoruba nation.

 Adepero Oduye

Adepero Oduye is an American actress who is also a singer and writer.

Oduye’s breakout role came in 2011 when she starred in Dee Rees’ critically acclaimed and award-winning independent film Pariah, for which she received several awards and a nomination for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards.

The following year, she joined an all-star cast in the “Steel Magnolias” television remake as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, a role originated by Daryl Hannah.

In 2013, Oduye co-starred alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor in Steve McQueen’s historical drama “12 years a slave” and was winner of the 2014 Academy Award for Best Picture.

Donald Faison

Donald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his leading role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC/NBC comedy-drama Scrubs (2001–2010) and a supporting role as Murray in both the film Clueless (1995) and the subsequent television series of the same name. He also starred as Phil Chase in the TV Land sitcom The Exes (2011–2015).

Although Faison was born on 22 June 1974 in Harlem, New York, United State, he is originally from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria.

Dayo Okeniyi

Oladayo A. Okeniyi is a Nigerian-American actor popularly known for playing the role of Thresh in “The Hunger Games” and Danny Dyson in “Terminator Genisys.”

Prior to being cast in “The Hunger Games”, Okeniyi worked in local theatre and in film shorts. Okeniyi starred 2014 in the drama film “Endless Love”, also portrayed Danny Dyson in the 2015 film “Terminator Genisys” and starred in the NBC series “Shades of Blue”.

Folake Olowofoyeru

Olowofoyeku appeared in guest starring roles on television shows that include 30 Rock, How to Get Away with Murder, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Modern Family, Westworld, and White Collar.

Olowofoyeku also starred in the 2017 film, Death Race 2050, as Minerva Jefferson. The film is a sequel to the 1975 cult film, Death Race 2000 and was shot in Lima, Peru

Born on October 26, 1983, Folake is of the Yoruba tribe.

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Olugbenga Enitan Temitope Akinnagbe is an America actor and writer best known for his roles as Chris Partlow on the HBO series “The Wire” and as Larry Brown on the HBO series “The Deuce.”

He starred in leading roles in two independent films as Jack in “Home”, directed by Jono Oliver and as James in “Big Words”, directed by Neil Drumming.

Akinnagbe made a guest appearance on a season 10 “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” episode entitled “Hell” as Elijah Okello, a former Ugandan child soldier living in New York, facing deportation

Born on December 12, 1978 in Washington, he is also Yoruba.

Rotimi  Akinosho

Rotimi Akinosho is an American actor, singer, and model. At his first trial with acting, Rotimi auditioned and subsequently got his first acting role on “Boss” as a drug dealer, Darius Morrison.

He also appeared in three episodes of ABC’s “Betrayal.”

Rotimi made his silver screen debut in the film Black Nativity (2013). He next appeared in the high grossing film, Divergent (2014).

Born on 30 November 1988 in Maplewood, New Jersey; Rotimi is of Yoruba descent.

(Source: Nation)

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