Anthony Anderson

Anthony Anderson (born August 15, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, and television host. He is known for his leading roles in television shows such as Andre "Dre" Johnson on the comedy series ''Black-ish'' (2014–2022), Marlin Boulet on the drama series '' K-Ville'' (2007), and NYPD Detective Kevin Bernard on the NBC crime drama ''Law & Order'' (2008–2010, 2022). He has also had major roles in feature films such as ''Me, Myself & Irene'' (2000), '' Kangaroo Jack'' (2003), ' ''Hustle & Flow'' (2005), ''The Departed'' (2006), ''Transformers'' (2007), and ''Scream 4'' (2011).

Anderson is currently the host of the Fox game show '' We Are Family''. He has appeared as a regular judge on Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and had roles on other television programs such as '' All About the Andersons'', ''The Bernie Mac Show'', '' Guys with Kids'', and ''The Shield''. From 2016 to 2022, Anderson served as host of the ABC version of the game show ''To Tell the Truth'' and was a guest panelist on various game shows. In 2024, he hosted the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Early life

Anderson was born in Compton, California. His mother, Doris Bowman (née Hancox), was a telephone operator and actress. His stepfather, Sterling Bowman, was a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, who moved to Los Angeles to work in the steel mill industry before opening a chain of three clothing stores. Sterling died in 2022. Anderson has a younger half-brother, Derrick Bowman, who works as an ICU nurse. Growing up, Anderson's nickname was "Tugga" because he could not pronounce sugar. According to a DNA analysis, Anderson descends from the Bubi people of Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea), and from the Tikar, Hausa, and Fulani people of Cameroon.

Anderson has stated that his first attempt at stand-up comedy was a failure. Although this experience was a blow to his ego, he met his future friend and fellow comedic actor Guy Torry there, who consoled him after the show and encouraged him to keep getting up on stage. He and Torry later acted together in the 1999 film ''Life'', alongside Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.

Anderson is an alumnus of the Hollywood High School Performing Arts Magnet's Class of 1988. He initially enrolled at Howard University as a theater major but faced financial difficulties, leading him to leave after his junior year. Nearly three decades later, inspired by his son Nathan's acceptance to the university, he returned to Howard to complete his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts in 2022.

Career

1995–2004: Early roles

Anderson's early television work includes a lead role as Teddy Broadis in the teen series '' Hang Time'', and many one-off guest appearances on shows such as ''NYPD Blue'', '' Malcolm & Eddie'', '' In the House'', and ''Ally McBeal'', as well as recurring roles on series like '''Til Death'' and ''The Bernie Mac Show''. Anderson has worked as an actor, often in comedic roles, since his film debut in '' Liberty Heights'' (1999). In 2002, he voiced the character Ray Ray in an episode of the Disney Channel animated series ''The Proud Family''. He later reprised this role in a second-season episode of its revival series '' The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder'', which aired in 2023. From 2003 to 2004, he was the central character in the short-lived series '' All About the Andersons'', which lasted for one season on The WB. He also had leading film roles in the comedy films '' Kangaroo Jack'' (2003), ''My Baby's Daddy'' (2004), and '' King's Ransom'' (2005), with a supporting role in the family adventure film '' Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London'' (2004).

2005–2014: Rise to prominence

Anderson took supporting roles in the drama ''Hustle & Flow'' (2005), and Martin Scorsese's crime film ''The Departed'' (2006). Additionally, Anderson had a supporting role in '' Scary Movie 3'' (2003) and ''Scary Movie 4'' (2006). He was originally set to return in '' Scary Movie 5'' (2013) with Regina Hall and Kevin Hart. Anderson joined the cast of the long-running NBC crime drama television series, ''Law & Order'' in 2008. After three seasons (18, 19, and 20) as Kevin Bernard, he reprised the role upon the series' revival in 2022, concurrent with the final episodes of ''Black-ish''. In 2009, Anderson directed a one-minute short film featuring his ''Law & Order'' co-star Jeremy Sisto. The short was made for the Responsibility Project, a joint initiative of NBC and Liberty Mutual Group. The short aired during the ''In The House'' episode "Reality Bites" on October 16, 2009. In June 2010, he was cast in a minor role in ''Scream 4''.

Before his work in ''Law & Order'', Anderson starred in two other crime series, Fox's '' K-Ville'' (as one of the lead characters) and FX's ''The Shield''. He also starred in the sitcom '' Guys with Kids'', which lasted a single season. In 2013, Anderson signed on to host the celebrity-driven, family game show called ''Wall of Fame'', which was produced by Endemol USA for NBC. Eight one-hour episodes were taped at the time, but never aired. Anderson's series ''Eating America with Anthony Anderson'' was a summer show in 2014. He visited different towns in America that host "food festivals" highlighting a specific type of food. He was a frequent judge on ''Iron Chef America'', and was one of the few judges to taste dishes from all the Iron Chefs on the show. In the ''Ultimate Bar Food'' battle, he served as bartender/sous-chef for Iron Chef Bobby Flay opposite Masaharu Morimoto and fellow judge Simon Majumdar.

2014–2022: ''Black-ish''

In 2014, Anderson began starring as Andre "Dre" Johnson on the ABC sitcom ''Black-ish'', which completed its eight-season run in 2022. During its run Anderson received 11 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations. In 2022, Anderson was not nominated as a producer or actor for its final season. He reacted to the news while guest hosting ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' joking, "Can you believe that shit? Now I'm not saying the voters were stupid for not nominating me or ''Black-ish'' or Tracee, I'm just saying they're racist." He also serves as executive producer on its spinoffs ''Grown-ish'', which premiered on Freeform in 2018, and '' Mixed-ish'', which ran on ABC for two seasons from 2019 to 2021. He guest starred as Dre in episodes on both series. From 2016 to 2022, he was the host of ''To Tell the Truth'', which also aired on ABC. In 2019, Anderson was a guest panelist in season two of '' The Masked Singer''. He later competed in season ten as "Rubber Ducky" and was eliminated in the first episode when competing in Group A. In October 2022, Anderson and his mother Doris began filming ''Anthony Anderson and Mom: European Vacation'' to be aired on the E! network.

2023–present: ''We Are Family''

In November 2023, it was announced that Anderson and his mother Doris would host the Fox game show '' We Are Family'', replacing Jamie Foxx and his daughter, Corinne, who were originally set to host the show. It premiered on January 3, 2024. In December 2023, Anderson was named as the host of the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. The decision for Anderson to host was met with controversy due to his allegations of sexual assault. The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) urged the Emmys and Fox, the network set to air the 2024 ceremony, to reconsider Anderson as host writing, "The entertainment industry has the power and responsibility to protect individuals from sexual violence...the Emmys and Fox to not only remove Anderson as host, but to also conduct their due diligence going forward when selecting hosts." The telecast was met with mixed reviews and some criticism, in particular, regarding a recurring bit in which Anderson's mother interrupted acceptance speeches that went on too long. Some on social media cited the moment when Anderson's mother interrupted a speech given by Jennifer Coolidge, who won for ''The White Lotus'', as being "rude" and "disrespectful".

Personal life

Anderson was married to Alvina Stewart from September 1999 to September 2023. They have two children. Their son Nathan starred as Tahj in the Netflix sitcom '' Richie Rich'' and guest starred in ''Black-ish''. Stewart initially filed for divorce in September 2015 citing irreconcilable differences, after having been separated since April 2014. They reconciled in January 2017 and she withdrew her petition. On March 25, 2022, she filed for divorce again, and it was granted by a judge the following year in September.

Anderson has type 2 diabetes and has been active in diabetes awareness.

Playing for the Alzheimer's Association, in 2011, Anderson won $250,000 on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire''.

Anderson is an honorary member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity; he was inducted on July 30, 2020. In 2019, a star was named after Anderson in the International Star Registry.

Rape and sexual assault allegations

Anderson was accused of raping a 25-year-old extra in a trailer on the film set of ''Hustle & Flow'' on July 27, 2004. The alleged victim accused Anderson and assistant director Wayne Witherspoon of forcibly removing her clothing, photographing her naked body, and sexually assaulting her. A witness claimed to have heard the alleged victim's screams and to have seen her run naked from the trailer, and she was treated at St. Francis Hospital. The charges were dropped on October 6, 2004, because the judge ruled that there was no probable cause to try the case.

Anderson was sued for sexual assault in September 2004 by another woman who claimed that Anderson made sexually suggestive remarks and then assaulted her in his dressing room on the set of '' All About the Andersons''.

On July 20, 2018, it was revealed that he was being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department for another sexual assault allegation. Due to lack of evidence on September 4, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office decided not to press charges against Anderson.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Music videos

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Anthony
1970 births
Living people
20th-century American comedians
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American comedians
21st-century American male actors
20th-century African-American male actors
21st-century African-American male actors
African-American game show hosts
African-American male comedians
American game show hosts
American male comedians
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
American people of Bubi descent
American people of Cameroonian descent
American people of Equatoguinean descent
American people of Fulbe descent
American people of Hausa descent
American people of Tikar descent
Comedians from California
Entertainers from Compton, California
Disney Legends
Howard University alumni
Male actors from California
Male actors from Los Angeles