The culture is mourning the sudden loss of beloved actor and legendary talent Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who has tragically passed away at the age of 54.
🕊️ A TRAGIC END TO A LEGENDARY LIFE
According to reports from TMZ, Warner was vacationing in Costa Rica when he lost his life during a private family excursion. Local officials confirm the Emmy-nominated star is believed to have drowned, leaving behind a legacy of powerful storytelling, Black boy joy, and generational impact.
📺 FROM THEO HUXTABLE TO HOLLYWOOD HISTORY
Malcolm first stole hearts in the 1980s as the lovable and charismatic Theo Huxtable on the iconic sitcom The Cosby Show. Week after week, viewers connected with the teenage son who was just trying to make it through high school—and Warner brought the role to life with humor, charm, and authenticity.
But his career didn’t stop there.
Malcolm went on to star in hit shows like Malcolm & Eddie, deliver dramatic performances in The Resident and Reed Between the Lines, and maintain a powerful presence in film, music, and poetry.
He even earned a Grammy Award in 2015 for his work alongside Lalah Hathaway and Robert Glasper on the spoken word track “Jesus Children of America.”
🖤 PRIVATE LIFE, PUBLIC IMPACT
Though Warner kept his personal life out of the spotlight, he remained deeply connected to his craft and his culture. He is survived by his wife and daughter, whom he fiercely protected from public life.
🕯️ REST IN POWER, KING
Malcolm-Jamal Warner wasn’t just a character on our screens—he was a reflection of us. A reminder of the complexity, humor, and power of Black men.
His work shaped a generation, and his legacy will continue to do so.
NoirOnlineOrg sends love and light to his family, his fans, and everyone touched by his artistry.
Elayna Black, known to WWE audiences as the rebellious and unpredictable Cora Jade, has announced she is stepping away from professional wrestling for the foreseeable future, citing concerns for her mental health.
In a candid message shared on social media, the 24-year-old wrote:
“I originally had a 10 minute long video explaining where my head’s at, and maybe eventually I’ll post it but seems unnecessary for now. I’ll keep it short but I am going to be taking a break from wrestling for the foreseeable future. It’s no longer good for my mental health and I’ll never know if that love for it I once had will return if I don’t step away. I’m gonna take the rest of the year to take care of me and go from there.”
She concluded her post with a message to her fans and supporters:
“I apologize to the fans and promoters who were looking forward to/booked my upcoming appearances. I hope you can understand. To my supporters, thank you Brie/Elayna ‘Let go or be dragged’”
From NXT Star to Independent Trailblazer
Elayna Black’s release is just months following her May 2, 2025, WWE release, as part of a wave of company-wide cost-cutting. Her release came after four years with the promotion, where she worked her way up through the ranks of NXT and emerged as one of the brightest and most incendiary stars of the new era of the brand.
As Cora Jade, Black first became popular during the times of NXT 2.0. Her “skateboarding rebel” image immediately became a fan favorite. She was featured with career-high performances in main event matches, including a stunning dive off the top of the cage in a WarGames match where both her aggression and drama appeal were revealed.
Her biggest spotlight moment was with her takedown along with Roxanne Perez, for which the group garnered the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship. In an unexpected heel turn that shocked the women’s division, Jade betrayed Perez and physically trashed her title belt, starting what would be her hallmark era as leader of the self-titled “Generation of Jade.”
Jade’s heel work was some of the most widely debated content on NXT, solidifying her place in history as a true great performer and a character that everyone loved to hate. She may be gone, but she’s spoken well of her stint with the company, stating she was bummed about how it ended but remains proud of what she accomplished there and has no regrets.
The Trump administration has released records of the FBI’s surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureate’s family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination.
The release involves more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration.
King’s family, including his two living children, Martin III and Bernice, were given advance notice of the release and had their own teams reviewing the records ahead of the public disclosure.
In a lengthy statement released Monday, the two living King children called their father’s case a “captivating public curiosity for decades.” But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged that “these files must be viewed within their full historical context.”
“As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief — a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met — an absence our family has endured for over 57 years,” they wrote. “We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief.”
Bernice King was five years old when her father was killed. Martin III was 10.
President Donald Trump promised as a candidate to release files related to President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination. When Trump took office in January, he signed an executive order to declassify the JFK records, along with those associated with Robert F. Kennedy’s and King’s 1968 assassinations.
The government unsealed the JFK records in March and disclosed some RFK files in April.
Besides fulfilling the intent of his January executive order, the latest release serves as another alternative headline for Trump as he tries to mollify supporters angry over his administration’s handling of records concerning the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself behind bars while awaiting trial in 2019, during Trump’s first presidency. Trump last Friday ordered the Justice Department to release grand jury testimony but stopped short of unsealing the entire case file.
The King records, meanwhile, were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the sealing order ahead of its expiration date.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., addresses marchers during his “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. (AP Photo, File)
Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. They, along with King’s family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, tapping their offices and phone lines with the aim of discrediting them and their movement.
It has long been established that then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was intensely interested if not obsessed with King and others that he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoover’s bureau wiretapped King’s telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to get information against him.
“He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” the King children said in their statement.
“The intent of the government’s COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. King’s reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement,” they continued. “These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth — undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo.”
Opposition to King intensified even after the Civil Rights Movement compelled Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson to enact the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Right Act of 1965. After those landmark victories, King turned much of his attention to economic justice and international peace. He was an outspoken critic of rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King argued that political rights alone were not enough in an uneven economy. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat.
King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice.
James Earl Ray plead guilty to assassinating King. He later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998.
Members of King’s family, and others, have questioned whether Ray acted alone, or if he was even involved. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, asked for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno directed the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department to take a new look. The Justice Department said it “found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King.”
The Greyhounds are back, but this time they’re on a whole new field.
Apple TV+ has confirmed production is underway on the eagerly awaited fourth season of its hit show Ted Lasso, with filming kicking off in Kansas City, Missouri, home of series star and co-creator Jason Sudeikis. While the show’s heart has always been on the pitch at AFC Richmond, season four presents a new, ambitious backdrop: Ted is trading men’s Premier League matches for the hard-bitten passion of women’s football.
The new season has Ted Lasso himself (Sudeikis) returning to London to run a second division ladies’ team, his most unruly challenge yet. In typical Lasso fashion, he’s not just coaching football. He’s bringing hope, unity, and courage in the face of uncertainty. “Leap before you look” is the rallying cry for a season that will be exploring new emotional territory and unseen team dynamics.
Back alongside Sudeikis for the new season are beloved cast members and Emmy winners Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca), Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent), Juno Temple (Keeley), Jeremy Swift (Higgins), and Brendan Hunt (Coach Beard). Joining them for the new season will be a range of newcomers, including Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education), Jude Mack, Faye Marsay (Andor), Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, and Abbie Hern. Newcomer Grant Feely takes the position of Ted’s son Henry, providing what’s anticipated to be a more realistic view into Ted’s life.
The move to Kansas City for initial production is a down-home homecoming for Sudeikis, who grew up in the area before finding worldwide fame. Although most of the season will be based out of London, the show’s spiritual home, this starting point on this side of the pond provides a full-circle emotional resonance for the production.
Behind the camera, Ted Lasso’s creative bench is just as A-list as its on-camera roster. Season four welcomes Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Jack Burditt (30 Rock, Modern Family) to the executive ranks under a new overall deal with Apple TV+. Sudeikis reprises his executive producing role with co-creators Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, and Bill Lawrence, as well as producers Jane Becker, Jamie Lee, Bill Wrubel, and Brett Goldstein, who also serves as writer and EP.
Season four’s writing team will feature names like Leanne Bowen, Sarah Walker, Phoebe Walsh (both also co-executive producers), Julia Lindon, and story editor Dylan Marron. Sasha Garron co-produces, ensuring the program’s unique blend of heart, humor, and vulnerability is preserved.
From players originally developed for NBC Sports promos, Ted Lasso grew into an unexpected global phenomenon. Prior to its debut, the series has had a heap of critical acclaim and ratings-winning awards. Season one is a record-breaker for the number of Emmy nominations earned by a freshman comedy, while both seasons one and two each won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, a feat accomplished by few.
As Ted Lasso comes roaring into season four with a fresh team, new city, and new stakes, one thing is for sure: the faith is still there.
Season 4 of Ted Lasso is scheduled to release in 2026 on Apple TV+.
Ray J is opening up about the shifting relationship between him and his family—revealing the current space him and Brandy are in after being close the entire lives!
Ray J Speaks From The Heart On Evelyn Lozada’s Podcast 🎧
While chopping it up on Evelyn Lozada and her daughter Shaniece Hairston’s joint podcast, Ray opened up about his complex relationship with his sister, legendary singer Brandy Norwood—and let’s just say, it got real emotional real fast.
“I Love My Sister, But I’m An Embarrassment To Them” 💔
Ray didn’t hold back when discussing how he feels within the family dynamic.
“I never wanted to be accepted. I feel like I’m an embarrassment,” he admitted. Evelyn noted that “Brandy has a very clean-cut image,” but Ray was clear: things between them have changed over time.
Brandy And The Kids Still Have A Tight Bond 👩🏾🦱👧🏽👦🏽
Despite the emotional distance, Ray J made it clear that Brandy remains deeply connected to his children.
“She speaks to them every day, they go to her house often,” he said, emphasizing the family bond still exists—even if things between the siblings are different now.
The Real Hurt: When Family Doesn’t Understand You 🧠💔
What hit hardest for Ray J wasn’t public criticism—but the way his family sees him.
“You only feel bad when your family has a problem with it,” he shared. “Not the comments. Not the people on the other side.”
Ray J Calls Out The Generational Disconnect: “Shame On Them” 😤📲
Ray kept it real in expressing his frustration.
“Shame on them. They’re not intelligent enough to know what’s going on in the digital world,” he said. Evelyn jumped in to defend his perspective, saying he’s “tapping into something they don’t understand.”
Digital Hustler Energy: “I’ll Never Go Broke” 💼📉📲
Ray closed out the conversation on a powerful note with his ability to not only master the internet but to stay relevant for the last thirty years.
“I love being on stage, but with the stuff I know and the codes I know—we’ll always be safe.”
“I know digital, and I know survival.”
Final Word: Standing On Business, Even When It Hurts 💼❤️🩹
Despite the emotional tension, Ray J remains unapologetic and focused on building his digital empire. His vulnerability struck a chord—and showed a side of him that many rarely see.
Video of a traffic stop in Jacksonville, Fla., has gone viral. And although the incident occurred nearly six months ago, thousands of outraged viewers are now raising questions about what they believe to be excessive force used on a young Black man.
According to an arrest report obtained by News4JAX, Will McNeil Jr. was pulled over just after 4:00 pm on February 19 because his car “did not have its headlights or tail lights illuminated in inclement weather.” The report reads that McNeil Jr. was not wearing his seat belt and became “verbally combative” with the officer when he was asked to show his identification.
But recently released dash cam video paints a different picture and has many on the internet seeking justice for the 22-year-old driver. The footage shows McNeil Jr. was wearing his seat belt at the time he was pulled over and asked officers to call their supervisor to explain why he was being held when there was no rain or fog at the time he was stopped.
According to First Coast News, officers reported giving McNeil Jr. several warnings that they would break his window if he did not step out of his car. Although those warnings cannot be heard in the video, officers can be seen breaking the driver’s side window and striking McNeil Jr. in the head several times before he was forcibly removed from his car and forced to the ground.
McNeil Jr. told News4JAX that the incident left him with several injuries, including a concussion.
“I suffered a chipped tooth; my tooth went through my lip, and they slammed me on the ground and on the concrete. I had to get nine stitches. I also had a concussion and now I suffer from short-term memory loss,” he said.
In a statement on X, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the incident and said they are conducting their own investigation into the events leading up to the young man’s arrest.
“We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop represented to be from February 19, 2025. We have launched an internal investigation into it and the circumstances surrounding this incident. We hold our officers to the highest standards and are committed to thoroughly determining exactly what occurred,” it reads.
But social media has been flooded with comments from people who believe the proof that the police department is in the wrong is in the video.
“You saw exactly what happened because it was completely recorded. Your own officers stated the reason for his arrest in the video, and he was not resisting. The force used was completely unnecessary. This was a blatant abuse of power. The City of Jacksonville should be ashamed,” wrote someone on X.
Attorney Ben Crump, who will be representing McNeil, told News4JAX that the video evidence is clear that the police were out of line, “It should be obvious to anyone watching this video that William McNeil wasn’t a threat to anyone. He was calmly exercising his constitutional rights, and they beat him for it.”
Venus Williams is back on the tennis scene, ready to compete for the first time in more than a year, and while she smiled or laughed frequently Sunday while discussing her return at the DC Open, there was something that would make her even happier: if her younger sister Serena were along for the ride.
“I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said when asked about a recent video on social media that showed Serena swinging a racket. “But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
That, of course, was said with a wide grin. Serena, 43, hasn’t played since the 2022 U.S. Open, when she declared she was “evolving” away from the sport she dominated for stretches on the way to 23 Grand Slam singles titles and an additional 14 in doubles with Venus.
“I don’t know what she’s going to do. I don’t ask those questions,” Venus said a day before the hard-court tournament in the nation’s capital begins. “I think we always hit the ball, because that’s who we are. We’re always hitting.”
She said it was during a recent practice session of hers that Serena showed up and joined in for about 15 or 20 minutes.
“She can take six months off and she clocks it clean,” Venus said. “You can’t teach that kind of talent. She’s just so good.”
They both were the best around at one point.
Both reached No. 1 in the rankings. Venus, who turned 45 last month, won seven major singles championships, two at the U.S. Open and five at Wimbledon.
Her last tournament was in March 2024 at the Miami Open, where she exited in the first round. It’s been so long that the official WTA Tour website lists her as “inactive.”
“This is very special for me to come back and play tennis,” Venus said. “I think it’s a surprise for the fans — and a surprise in general, as I hold my cards tight.”
Sure does.
It came as a bit of a shock to the tennis world when her appearance in Washington via a wild-card invitation was announced a week ago.
Her team had reached out to DC Open chairman Mark Ein via text in April to gauge whether he’d be open to having Venus at an event she last entered in 2022. He said he needed two seconds to reply: “Of course.”
“She’s such an icon of the sport — and, importantly, both on and off the court,” Ein said in an interview. “So anytime you can have her engaged and have the spotlight on her and everything she’s done and continues to do, it’s hugely positive.”
What did she miss the most while away from the tour?
“All the times that I had and, of course, the adrenaline, all those things,” Venus said. “Just the pure fun of playing the game, the fun of the challenge, overcoming — when you play, you overcome so many challenges: your opponents, the conditions, a lot of times you have to overcome yourself. Those things are very exciting.”
When asked why she’s getting back on court, Venus offered a simple response: “Why not?”
As for whether this is a one-stop tour or she plans to play elsewhere, she wasn’t prepared to say much.
“I’m just here for now, and who knows?” Venus said. “Maybe there’s more. … But at the moment, I’m focused just on this. I haven’t played in a year. There is no doubt I can play tennis, but obviously coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things. I definitely feel I’ll play well. I’m still the same player. I’m a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand.”
Woah Vicky is done with the influencer lifestyle, or so she says.
In a now-viral series of tweets, the controversial internet personality declared her intention to abandon her online presence, get married, and become a housewife. The 24-year-old, best known for her heavily memed accent and internet antics, spelled out the exact type of man she’s looking for: tall, dark, Christian, rich, and ideally athletic. According to her, she’s praying for a husband and ready to delete Instagram for good.
“I’m trying to get married delete my Instagram and become a housewife. I need a husband,” she tweeted. “He must be dark tall love God, Jesus Christ cause we have to be equally yoked and doing really good. Rich and athlete would be nice because I live a good lifestyle. I’m healthy yeah but if not athlete that’s fine but yeah you have to make good money because my dad was rich. I came from a rich house and yeah, but I want a man I don’t. I’m tired of being singleGod this is my prayer. Any takers.”
“I want to get married and have 4 kids mixed kids.”
And just like that, the internet exploded.
The Internet Reacts: Jokes, Criticism, and Cultural Commentary
Naturally, Twitter had a lot to say. From dunking on her voice to dissecting the racial undertones of her “mixed kids” aspirations, Woah Vicky’s marriage pitch lit a firestorm online.
One user wrote,
“Woah Vicky don’t do this. Woah Vicky let me introduce you to the ideology of radical feminism.”
Another joked,
“Every single D1 athlete is currently hemorrhaging with excitement.”
But others were far less amused.
“Stop tryna live yo life trying to find a black man, it’s creepy af,” one user tweeted, hinting at long-standing concerns about Woah Vicky’s fetishization of Black men and culture.
One user went viral for noting the disturbing omission in her “husband criteria”:
“Notice how she didn’t say that he had to be single.”
Another added,
“First things first you need to seek mental help.”
Yet another tweet took a more somber and sociological angle, writing:
“The women want to marry us and have our babies because we have big dicks and fuck good. But they don’t really look at us as people because of our sociocultural makeup. Until we fix the issue of the isolated dark-skinned Black man in society, shit will continue looking funny.”
Clout Detox or Just Another Tweetstorm?
Whether this is a genuine spiritual epiphany or just another instance of performative attention-seeking is up for debate. Woah Vicky has long walked the line between parody and sincerity, with her past controversies ranging from adopting a caricature of Black speech to her notorious feud with Bhad Bhabie cementing her place as an internet wild card.
Still, the specificity of her “husband wishlist” and the fact that she invoked Jesus, wealth, athleticism, and a desire for “mixed kids” all in one tweet had even longtime followers doing double-takes.
And of course, not everyone was against it. One user admitted,
“This was me in 2023 when I found husband.”
Confusion, discomfort, and a collective scream of girls, what?
Is This A Woman Manifesting or a Problematic Pattern?
This isn’t the first time Woah Vicky has tried to pivot toward God and domestic bliss. In 2022, she briefly rebranded as a Christian influencer, promoting celibacy and scripture before pivoting back into influencer chaos. Her latest “housewife arc” seems to be part spiritual journey, part marital manifestation, and part cultural minefield.
Whether she finds the “tall, dark, rich, Jesus-loving athlete” she’s praying for is TBD. But one thing’s for sure, if Vicky does leave Instagram, Twitter will keep talking about her long after the app is gone.
And as one user so bluntly put it:
“I truly feel sorry for any good dude trying to find a wife in America in 2025.”
We’re sending our deepest condolences today as the music world mourns the heartbreaking loss of Robbie Pardlo—the lead vocalist of early 2000s R&B/Hip-Hop group City High.
According to reports from TMZ, Robbie passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Willingboro, New Jersey. He was 46 years old.
📝 Final Moments & Family By His Side
While an official cause of death has not yet been publicly confirmed, early reports indicate that Robbie transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Sources close to the family say that Robbie may have been privately battling health issues in recent years, but at this time, those claims remain unverified.
🕯️ Memorial Plans In The Works
Fans, friends, and collaborators alike have already begun flooding social media with tributes to the singer, whose raw, emotional vocals on the group’s breakout hit “What Would You Do?” helped define a generation.
City High, which also included Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby, earned Grammy recognition and widespread acclaim for blending storytelling and social commentary with soulful harmonies.
Plans for a public memorial are reportedly underway, with official details expected to be shared in the coming days.
🖤 Rest in Power, Robbie. Thank you for giving the world your voice.
Since she jumped into the world of show business in the ’80s, Regina King has been a force to be reckoned with. However, she isn’t only known as an actress. She’s a director, mental health advocate and role model in resilience, too.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 14: Regina King attends the premiere of HBO’s “Watchmen” at The Cinerama Dome on October 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images) – Credit: Photo Rich Fury / Getty Images
Regina Rene King was born in Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 1971. It didn’t take long for King, the daughter of an electrician father and a special education teacher mother, to be bitten by the acting bug.
King started in dance classes, training in ballet and jazz and showing a natural gift for performing. But when she tagged along to one of the acting classes her younger sister was taking, King was inspired to take on the craft, too. She began studying under acting coach Betty Bridges, who quickly recognized King’s talent and urged her to begin auditioning.
“Acting felt like an extension of dancing. Both are about telling a story and expressing emotions,” she said.
Where it all began: Early success on ‘227’
At the age of 14, King landed her first major role: Brenda Jenkins on the NBC sitcom “227.” For five seasons, King acted alongside Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams, Alaina Reed Hall and Jackée Harry. Though she’d been taking acting classes before landing the role, King calls her time on “227” her “acting school,” as working with seasoned performers taught her so much about professionalism and bringing characters to life. Marla Gibbs was especially impactful, King told “Acting Magazine.”
“Marla was like a mentor to me. She taught me the importance of authenticity and staying grounded.”
King’s portrayal of Brenda Jenkins was generally well-received, so much so that it earned her two Young Artist Award nominations: one for Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series in 1986 and another in 1987 for Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Long Running Series Comedy or Drama.
The turning point: King’s transition from sitcom star to serious actress
By the time “227” ended in 1990, King had built a reputation as a comedic performer. However, the California native didn’t want to be put into a box. She wanted to prove she could be a serious adult actress, not just a child star whose 15 minutes of fame ended with “227.” Fortunately, her casting as Shalika in the late John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991 would do just that.
The coming-of-age crime drama, King’s film debut, was a learning experience for everyone. It taught King more about the power of storytelling in film, and it taught the world that King had range.
King went on to star in two other John Singleton dramas, “Poetic Justice” in 1993 and “Higher Learning” in 1995. The same year, King returned to her comedy roots with a role in “Friday” alongside Ice Cube and Chris Tucker.
King’s continued rise to fame: ‘Jerry Maguire,’ ‘Enemy of the State,’ ‘Ray’ and other roles
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: (Editors Note: Image Converted to Black and white) Regina King, winner of Best Supporting Actress for ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ poses in the press room during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) – Credit: Photo Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
By the mid-1990s, King was no longer just a “227” alum. She was a respected performer.
King’s portrayal of Marcee, wife of Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s character in “Jerry Maguire,” continued opening doors for King. Her performance as a supporting actress in the popular film put more eyes on her and her abilities, leading to King being cast in more prominent roles.
One of these was “Enemy of the State,” a political action thriller directed by Tony Scott and starring Will Smith. King’s performance as Carla, wife of Will Smith’s character, earned her an Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture nomination at the 1999 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards.
King had a string of roles in films and television shows throughout the second half of the 1990s and into the early 2000s, including a guest appearance on “Living Single” and supporting roles in “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” in 1998 and “Ray” in 2004. She even briefly returned to her sitcom roots as a main character in “Leap of Faith” in 2002. The show had King acting alongside names like Sarah Paulson, Ken Marino and Lisa Edelstein. However, it was axed after one season.
What movie did Regina King win an Oscar for?
By the 2010s, King’s career had reached new heights, and her nomination-worthy performances in several films put her name among the world’s most respected and famous Black actresses.
One of King’s most noteworthy film performances came in 2018 with the release of “If Beale Street Could Talk.” The Barry Jenkins film, based on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name, featured King as Sharon Rivers, one of the protagonists’ mothers.
“Beale Street” was a defining moment in King’s career. Critics called her performance powerful, and it ultimately gave the longtime actress her first Academy Award nomination and win. At the 2019 ceremony, the Oscar presenter handed King the award for Best Supporting Actress. King noted her award as a victory not only for her but for the women who came before and will come after her. In a backstage post-award acceptance interview, she said,
“So many women have paved the way. I walk in their light and I am creating my own light, and there will be young women who walk in that light.”
Small screen, big impact: Regina King’s award-winning TV roles
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: Regina King attends the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images) – Credit: Photo Pool / Getty Images
Given that it was a television role that launched her acting career, it makes sense that TV appearances continued to show up on King’s résumé. A few of her small screen credits include:
“The Boondocks” – the voices of Huey and Riley Freeman
“24” – Sandra Palmer
“Southland” – Detective Lydia Adams
“Shameless” – Gail Johnson
“The Big Bang Theory” – Janine Davis
“Seven Seconds” – Latrice Butler
Winning gold: ‘American Crime’ and ‘Watchmen’
King’s list of television appearances is long, filled with noteworthy performances. However, three of her most significant and memorable roles are in “American Crime” and “Watchmen.”
“American Crime” premiered in 2015 and ran for three seasons. Since the crime drama was an anthology series, King played a different character each season: Aliyah Shadeed in season one, Terri LaCroix in season two and Kimara Walters in season three.
King’s work on “American Crime” was widely well-received, and Hollywood’s award season confirmed it. Her performances brought King her first and second Primetime Emmy Awards in 2015 and 2016, both for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. She was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actress from a Television Golden Globe and won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the NAACP Image Awards in 2016.
“Watchmen” was another impactful project for King. King was the star of the miniseries, portraying Angela Abar, a bakery owner by day and hooded avenger by night. King’s performance earned her a fourth Emmy — her third was for “Seven Seconds” in 2018 — this time for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
Impact of ‘Watchmen’
“Watchmen” and “American Crime” were no doubt impactful for King’s life — after all, they led to her winning several major critical awards. However, it’s worth noting that these series impacted audiences, too.
By portraying one as a superhero, King’s “Watchmen” role provided Black women with representation they aren’t often given. A review of the series called King’s character a superhero fit for the complex present times, as she fights against racism and domestic terrorism against Black people and other minorities in a divided society.
King echoed that sentiment in a 2019 interview, noting that the series shone a light on the racial injustice and hate that often go unspoken about in America today. It also educated viewers on incidents they may not have learned about in school — the 1921 Tulsa massacre, a racist attack on Black Wall Street that the series opens with, for instance.
“The white supremacy has always been there in the country. In the last couple of years, those people have become more emboldened, so here we are: masks off,” she said.
Impact of ‘American Crime’
“American Crime” was equally impactful for similar reasons. The provocative anthology series differed from other programming ABC aired at the time, as it created conversations about race and class in America. In an interview with Assignment X, King said the subject matter shown on “American Crime” is necessary for viewers, adding that it was amazing to be a part of it because it was honest.
“Race is such a huge part of America’s fabric, and it’s something that exists that is not talked about probably as much as it should be to heal a lot of pain for all races. It needs to be a discussion,” she said.
A vision behind the camera: Regina King, the director
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MAY 12: Regina King speaks onstage at the Netflix – Rebels and Rule Breakers For Your Consideration Event at Netflix FYSee Space on May 12, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images) – Credit: Photo Phillip Faraone / Getty Images
Throughout her career, King has not only made a name for herself for her work in front of the camera, but behind it, too. Besides being a talented, convincing actress, King has also branched out into directing.
Her directorial debut was the 2020 drama “One Night in Miami,” which explores an imagined meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke. “One Night in Miami” received critical acclaim, and audiences called it proof of King’s ability to tackle delicate subject matter and tell stories skillfully.
In a CBS News interview, King said taking on a project centered around these iconic Black men was daunting — “scary in a good way,” she stated — as she didn’t want to fail their legacies. Her admiration of their work and stories, plus the connection she felt to the characters, contributed to her success in directing the project.
“I felt like I knew all of these men,” King said. “I saw my son in these conversations. I saw my father in these conversations. They love, they’re vulnerable, they’re strong.”
Besides “Miami,” King’s directing credits include several episodes of “A Man in Full,” “Scandal,” “Shameless,” “This is Us” and more.
Grace through grief: Personal tragedy and public strength
SANTA MONICA, CA – JANUARY 17: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Actress Regina King attends the 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on on January 17, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for The Critics’ Choice Awards) – Credit: Photo Mike Windle / Getty Images
In January 2022, King took a step back from her busy career. Not to recover from burnout or consider her next steps, but to grieve — Regina King’s son, her only child, Ian Alexander, Jr. tragically died by suicide at just 26 years old.
Regina King’s son’s death affected her so deeply that she didn’t publicly address it until two years after his passing. In 2024, King bravely spoke to “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts about what her grief process has looked like. In doing this interview, King created conversations not only about the complexities of grief and loss — she noted that “grief is love that has no place to go” — but about the importance of mental health awareness, too.
“When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way and they expect it to look heavy. And people expect that…to have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian’s choice, which I respect and understand, you know, that he didn’t wanna be here anymore, that’s a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey,” King told Robin Roberts.
Regina King returns: Recent work and what’s ahead
King has since returned to work, and the Los Angeles native’s upcoming projects show off both her acting and directing chops. “Caught Stealing,” a crime thriller starring King, Austin Butler and Zoe Kravitz, is set to premiere in late August 2025. Fantasy film “Children of Blood and Bone,” which has King acting alongside names like Idris Elba, Amandla Stenberg and Viola Davis, hits screens in 2027.
On the directorial side of things, King is set to direct and produce “Bitter Root,” a Harlem Renaissance horror story based on the Image Comics series. Given the success of “One Night in Miami,” expectations of King are high. The film is expected to be a standout that’s entertaining and meaningful.
Her ability to convincingly tell stories as an actress and director, her resilience after great loss and her willingness to speak on difficult subjects like grief and mental health further reinforce her reputation as a powerhouse and add to the legacy she’s building for herself.
