Kenya Barris

Kenya Barris (born August 9, 1974) is an American actor, director, producer, and writer.

Kenya Barris
Barris at the Peabody Award in 2016
Born (1974-08-09) August 9, 1974
Inglewood, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materClark Atlanta University
OccupationActor, director, producer, writer
Notable work
Black-ish
Girls Trip
#BlackAF
Net worth$75 million
Spouse(s)
Rainbow Barris
​
(m. 1999)​
Children6

Early life and education

Barris was born in Inglewood, California,[1] and is an alumnus of Clark Atlanta University.[2][3]

Career

Barris has created numerous television shows, including the critically acclaimed Black-ish. The award-winning series also has two spin-offs, Grown-ish and Mixed-ish. He was a writer for The Game , Girlfriends, and Soul Food.[4][3][5] Barris co-created and produced America's Next Top Model with Tyra Banks.[6] He penned the film Girls Trip. He co-produced the 2019 film Little[7] and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2019 theatrical release, Shaft.

In 2020, Barris made his acting debut in a series developed by himself and ordered by Netflix. Titled #BlackAF, it co-stars Rashida Jones and Iman Benson.[8][9][10] It is also announced that they will make another spin off of Black-ish, Old-ish.[11] In October 2020, Barris announced that he'll write, produce and direct the biopic on comedian Richard Pryor for MGM, making his feature directorial debut for it as well.[12] His Khabako Ink Society company is currently eyeing a deal with ViacomCBS.[13]

Filmography

Films
Title Year Credited as Studio Notes
Writer Producer Other
Barbershop: The Next Cut 2016 Yes No No Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Bros. Pictures Co-producer
Girls Trip 2017 Yes No No Universal Pictures
Little 2019 No Yes No
Shaft Yes No No Warner Bros. Pictures / Netflix Executive producer
The Witches 2020 Yes No No Warner Bros. Pictures
Soul No No Yes Pixar Animation Studios Special thanks[14]
Coming 2 America 2021 Yes No No Paramount Pictures

Television series
Title Year Credited as Network Notes
Actor Creator Director Writer Executive
producer
Girlfriends 2000–2008 No No No Yes No UPN/The CW
Black-ish 2014–present No Yes Yes Yes Yes ABC
Grown-ish 2018–present No Yes No Yes Yes Freeform
Mixed-ish 2019–present No Yes No Yes Yes ABC
Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show 2019 No No No No Yes Netflix
BlackAF 2020–present Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Character: Kenya Barris

Awards

In 2019, Black-ish won several NAACP Image Awards. It was named best comedy series and Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson took acting honors. Black-ish was the winner of the Entertainment and Children's Peabody Award in 2016.[15] Barris and Black-ish also won the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.[16]

Barris was nominated for the same award in 2018. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2016, a Gold Derby Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television Comedy in 2016, and a PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy Black-ish in 2014.[17] In 2016, Barris won the Rod Serling Award for Advancing Social Justice Through Popular Media.[18]

In 2018, he donated $1 million to Clark Atlanta University, and was granted an honorary doctorate in humane letters.[19]

Personal life

He is married to Rania "Rainbow" Barris, an anesthesiologist and the inspiration behind Tracee Ellis Ross' character on Black-ish. On August 9, 2019, they filed for divorce. On May 15, 2020, Barris filed a request for dismissal of his divorce and is awaiting the petition to be thrown out by the judge.[20]

They have six children.

References
  1. "Film Bio: Kenya Barris - The Talk - Race in America - PBS". 10 January 2017.
  2. "You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes : Kenya Barris Returns".
  3. "Kenya Barris On 'Black-ish' And What Kids Lose When They Grow Up With More".
  4. Nussbaum, Emily (April 25, 2016). "In Living Color" – via The New Yorker.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (August 21, 2015). "'black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris Inks Overall Deal With ABC Studios".
  6. Nussbaum, Emily (April 25, 2016). "In Living Color" – via The New Yorker.
  7. Harriot, Michael (January 9, 2019). "#BlackGirlMagic: Black-ish Star Marsai Martin Set to Become Youngest Executive Producer in Hollywood History". The Grapevine. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  8. Andreeva, Nellie (2019-05-10). "Kenya Barris & Rashida Jones To Star In Barris' First Netflix Series 'Black Excellence'". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  9. Rico, Klaritza (2020-03-19). "TV News Roundup: Showtime Releases 'Billions' Season 5 Trailer". Variety. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  10. "#BlackAF". IMDB.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (2020-09-08). "'Black-ish' Spinoff 'Old-ish' Starring Laurence Fishburne & Jenifer Lewis In Works At ABC". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  12. Kay, Jeremy (2020-10-26). "MGM, 'Black-ish' creator Kenya Barris line up Richard Pryor biopic". Screen. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (2020-10-31). "Kenya Barris In Talks With ViacomCBS To Partner In New Studio, Eyes Exit From Netflix Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  14. 'Soul' Filmmakers on Alternate Endings and the Meryl Streep Movie That Influenced the Story
  15. "75th Annual Entertainment & Children's Programming Winners". Peabody Awards. Peabody Awards. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  16. "48th NAACP Image Awards". 48th NAACP Image Awards. NAACP Image Awards. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  17. "Kenya Barris Awards". IMDB. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  18. Lewis, Dave. "Creator of 'black-ish' Kenya Barris to receive the 2016 Rod Serling Award". ENTERTAINMENT/TELEVISION. L.A. Times.
  19. "Blackish creator to give million-ish to Clark Atlanta University in Grown-ish gift". AJC. AJC.
  20. Uwumarogie, Victoria (2019-08-12). "Black-ish Creator Kenya Barris Files For Divorce From Wife — And Inspo Behind "Rainbow" — After 20 Years Together". MadameNoire. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
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