Not Kids Anymore: 16 Black TV Child Stars Who Are All Grown Up

My Wife and Kids Parker McKenna Posey Parker McKenna Posey began playing the role of the very cute Kady Kyle in the ABC television show, My Wife and Kids (March 28, 2001 - May 17, 2005), when she was only 6 years old. Since the show ended, the now 18-year-old has continued acting and has done some swimsuit modeling. She starred in one episode of Nickelodeon's iCarly. The actress also appeared in a number of movies, including the TV movies Summer Camp and Meet the Santas, as well as the direct-to-DVD productions of Alice Upside Down and Street Life Noah Gray-Cabey Noah Gray-Cabey was cast in the role of Franklin Aloysius Mumford, the whiz kid friend of the youngest daughter on the show. After the show ended, the 18-year-old went on to play recurring roles on the NBC show Heroes, starred in the movie The Lady in the Water, and in 2011 appeared in the film Pizza Man. His role as a young genius on My Wife and Kids was not far from his real life story. A child prodigy of the piano, at age 5 Gray-Cabey became the youngest soloist ever to perform with an orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, as well as the Queensland Conservatory and the International Convention in Brisbane. He has been admitted to Harvard University for the class of 2015, but decided to defer a year to catch up with family. He is now enrolled in the Harvard class of 2016. Everybody Hates Chris Tyler James Williams For four hilarious seasons, audiences watched Tyler James Williams grow up as the fictionalized version of a young Chris Rock on the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (Sept. 22, 2005 – May 8, 2009 ). The actor has kept busy after the cancellation of the popular television series. In 2012, Williams got the role of Owen in the series Go On, and played the lead character Cyrus DeBarge in the Disney Channel original movie Let It Shine. In 2013, he starred in the Tyler Perry film, Peeples. The actor, now 21, also guest-starred in several television shows, including House M.D., True Jackson, Veep and Key & Peele. Additionally, he did voice work for the show Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Williams is also pursuing a rap career and was featured on several of the Let It Shine soundtrack songs and on Radio Disney. Tequan Richmond Tequan Richmond played Drew, Chris’ very popular, better-looking little brother who had a way with the young ladies. Like Williams, Richmond continued to work after the show's run ended. He has played T. J. Ashford on the long-running ABC soap opera General Hospital since November 2012. The 21-year-old actor also has made appearances on CBS' Cold Case, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Numbers, ABC's Private Practice and Detroit 1-8-7, TNT's Memphis Beat, TVOne's Love That Girl , as well as Lifetime's Strong Medicine and FX's The Shield. He has co-starred on NBC's ER, Showtime's Weeds, and Fox's MadTV. Richmond made his 2013 Sundance Film Festival debut with a performance as Beltway sniper Lee Boyd Malvo in Blue Caprice. Imani Hakim The annoying but adorable youngest sibling, Tonya, was played by Imani Hakim on the show. Now 20, Hakim has guest-starred in episodes of The Wizards of Waverly Place, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and three episodes of ER. She also starred in the television movies, One Angry Juror and The Gabby Douglas Story, where she portrayed the Olympic gold medalist. The Parent 'Hood Curtis Williams As a young chubby lad, Curtis Williams starred in the sitcom The Parent 'Hood (Jan. 18, 1995 - July 25, 1999) as Nicholas Peterson, the youngest son in the Peterson family. After the show ended, Williams appeared in guest roles on television shows such as Moesha, Malcolm in the Middle, Cold Case and That’s So Raven in 2007. He also starred in the movie Durango Kids. Williams was a regular guest on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno, appearing over 12 times on the late-night talk show. The 27-year-old former child star reportedly graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a bachelor’s degree in cinema television and a minor in business management. He is currently pursuing a career as a hip-hop artist. Ashli Amari Adams Beginning at age 4, Ashli Amari Adams played the role of the cute youngest sister, Cece Peterson, until the sitcom ended in 1999. Adams has not acted since 1999, except for a small role on the television series Girlfriends. However, the 22-year-old recently graduated from the California Institute of Arts with a degree in theater, which indicates she still has an interest in the industry. The Wire Tristan Wilds In 2006, Tristan Wilds joined HBO's acclaimed drama television series The Wire (Jun. 2, 2002 - Mar. 9, 2008),to play Michael Lee, a troubled middle-school student who lives in poverty and cares for his younger brother. Shortly after the show ended in 2007, Wilds landed a role as Zach Taylor in film, The Secret Life of Bees. In July 2008, he was cast as Dixon Wilson in The CW teen drama television series, 90210. While working on 90210 in 2010, the 24-year-old actor landed a part in the George Lucas war film Red Tails. Wilds has also been pursuing a music career, and in summer 2013, he released the hit single Own It. His Grammy-nominated album, New York: A Love Story debuted in September 2013. Maestro Harrell On the show, Maestro Harrell played the character Randy Wagstaff, the good-hearted young man who regularly found himself in a world of trouble. His career as an actor was blossoming before The Wire and continues to do so. He plays Malik on the ABC comedy Suburgatory and has appeared in movies such as Polish Bar, The Promotion, as well as Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. Harrell also has had guest roles on shows like Meet the Browns, Lie to Me and CSI: NY. In addition to his acting, the 22-year-old also enjoys a burgeoning career as a music producer and artist. He created the music for recording artist Rihanna’s Reb'l Fleur perfume commercial. Julito McCullum Julito McCullum took on the role of fan-favorite Wee-Bey Brice's son, Namon, who is reluctantly recruited into a life of crime after he is forced to sell drugs by his on-screen mother. After the series, the 23-year-old actor starred in the independent film You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Kills You, and last year he played alongside Anthony Mackie in the film, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete. He has also landed guest roles on television shows Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit. Jermaine Crawford Jermaine Crawford played the role of Duquan “Dukie” Weems on the show. Although he was the son of drug addicts, the character Weems showed great potential until his life of poverty led him down a tragic path. But things are not so bleak for Crawford in real life. The 21-year-old actor, who happens to be the second cousin of co-star Tristan Wilds, has made appearances in movies such as An American Affair, Twelve, Damsels in Distress, and worked in Maladies and CRU (II). Crawford also had guest-starring roles on television shows such as Person of Interest and The Unusuals. Thuliso Dingwall At 12 years old, Thuliso Digwall was the ruthless character Kenard on The Wire, even though he never uttered a curse word in his life prior to playing the part. After the show, Dingwall, at 18, played a less diabolic role in the movie Toe to Toe, and has performed on shows such as Law & Order, Unforgettable and Person of Interest. The Bernie Mac Show Camille Winbush Camille Winbush got her big break playing the role of Vanessa "Nessa" Thomkins on The Bernie Mac Show (Nov. 14, 2001 – April 14, 2006), for which she earned several award nominations. From 2008 to 2013, Winbush appeared as Lauren Treacy, a recurring character in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. The 24-year-old actress also guest-starred on other television shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds. Jeremy Suarez Jeremy Suarez played Bernie Mac's geeky and overdramatic nephew on The Bernie Mac Show. He was 11 years old when he took on the role. Since the show ended, the 21-year-old has been the voice of Koda in the movie Brother Bear 2 and Kai in Zambezia. Suarez also starred in Extreme Movie, Chrysalis, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, and The Fix. Dee Dee Davis Dee Dee Davis' role as Bryanna, aka, “Baby Girl,” made her famous at the age of 5. Since the show ended, the 18-year-old has guest-starred in Strong Medicine, House and The Game, but she has since decided to focus on school. Moesha Marcus T. Paulk Marcus T. Paulk started playing the son on the television show Moesha (Jan. 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001) when he was 10 years old. He would later acquire small guest roles in the The Hughleys, Fatherhood, and The Proud Family. The 27-year-old actor has also done his share of movie work over the past few years, appearing in Red Tails, Another Cinderella Story, Roll Bounce, Extreme Movie, and The Rig.

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