Anthony Anderson

2.1. Birth and Family

Anthony Anderson was born on August 15, 1970, in Compton, California. His mother, Doris Bowman (née Hancox), worked as a telephone operator and was also an actress. His stepfather, Sterling Bowman, originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, relocated to Los Angeles where he initially worked in the steel mill industry before establishing a chain of three clothing stores. Sterling Bowman passed away 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 had difficulty pronouncing the word "sugar."

2.2. Ancestry

Through DNA analysis, Anderson's ancestry has been traced to several African ethnic groups, including the Bubi people of Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea, as well as the Tikar, Hausa, and Fulani people from Cameroon.

2.3. Early Comedy Career

Anderson's initial venture into stand-up comedy was unsuccessful, which he described as a blow to his ego. However, this experience led him to meet fellow comedic actor Guy Torry, who offered encouragement. Anderson and Torry later collaborated on the 1999 film Life, starring alongside Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.

3.1. Academic Background

Anthony Anderson is an alumnus of the Hollywood High School Performing Arts Magnet, graduating in 1988. He initially enrolled at Howard University as a theater major, where he honed his acting skills alongside notable figures such as Avery Brooks, Ruby Dee, and Ossie Davis. However, he faced financial difficulties and had to leave the university after his junior year. Nearly three decades later, inspired by his son Nathan's acceptance to Howard University, Anderson returned to complete his education. In 2022, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.

4.1. Early Career (1995-2004)

Anthony Anderson's career began in 1995, with his early television work including a lead role as Teddy Broadis in the teen series Hang Time. He made numerous one-off guest appearances on shows such as NYPD Blue, Malcolm & Eddie, In the House, and Ally McBeal. He also held recurring roles on series like 'Til Death and The Bernie Mac Show. Anderson made his film debut in Liberty Heights (1999). In 2002, he lent his voice to the character Ray Ray in an episode of the Disney Channel animated series The Proud Family, a role he reprised in 2023 for a second-season episode of its revival series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. From 2003 to 2004, he was the central character in the short-lived series All About the Andersons, which aired for one season on The WB. His early leading film roles included the comedy films Kangaroo Jack (2003), My Baby's Daddy (2004), and King's Ransom (2005), alongside a supporting role in the family adventure film Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004).

4.2. Rise to Prominence (2005-2014)

Anderson's career continued to gain momentum with supporting roles in the drama Hustle & Flow (2005) and Martin Scorsese's critically acclaimed crime film The Departed (2006). He also appeared in the comedy horror films Scary Movie 3 (2003) and Scary Movie 4 (2006), and was slated to return for Scary Movie 5 (2013). In 2008, Anderson joined the cast of the long-running NBC crime drama Law & Order, portraying Detective Kevin Bernard for three seasons (18, 19, and 20). He later reprised this role in the series' revival in 2022, concurrent with the final episodes of Black-ish, before departing the series for its 22nd season. In 2009, Anderson directed a one-minute short film featuring his Law & Order co-star Jeremy Sisto for the Responsibility Project, a joint initiative by NBC and Liberty Mutual Group. In June 2010, he was cast in a minor role in Scream 4. Prior to his work on Law & Order, Anderson starred in two other crime series: Fox's K-Ville, where he was one of the lead characters, and FX's The Shield. He also starred in the sitcom Guys with Kids, which ran for a single season. In 2013, Anderson was selected to host Wall of Fame, a celebrity-driven family game show produced by Endemol for NBC, though the taped episodes never aired. In 2014, he hosted Eating America with Anthony Anderson on Food Network, a summer show where he visited various American towns known for their food festivals. He was also a frequent judge on Iron Chef America, notably serving as a bartender/sous-chef for Iron Chef Bobby Flay in the "Ultimate Bar Food" battle.

4.3. Black-ish and Television Hosting (2014-Present)

In 2014, Anderson began his critically acclaimed role as Andre "Dre" Johnson on the ABC sitcom Black-ish, which concluded its eight-season run in 2022. For his performance, Anderson received 11 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations. When he was not nominated as a producer or actor for the show's final season, he humorously remarked while guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, "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 served as an executive producer for the Black-ish spinoffs, Grown-ish, which premiered on Freeform in 2018, and Mixed-ish, which ran on ABC for two seasons from 2019 to 2021. He made guest appearances as Dre in episodes of both series. From 2016 to 2022, Anderson hosted To Tell the Truth, also airing on ABC. In 2019, he was a guest panelist in season two of The Masked Singer, and later competed in season ten as "Rubber Ducky," being eliminated in the first episode of Group A. In October 2022, Anderson and his mother, Doris, began filming Anthony Anderson and Mom: European Vacation for the E! network. In November 2023, it was announced that Anderson and his mother Doris Bowman would host the Fox game show We Are Family, taking over from Jamie Foxx and his daughter, Corinne, who were originally slated for the role. The show premiered on January 3, 2024. In December 2023, Anderson was selected to host the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

5.1. Film

5.2. Television

5.3. Video Games

5.4. Music Videos

6.1. Marriage and Family

Anthony Anderson was married to Alvina Stewart from September 1999 until their divorce was finalized in September 2023. They have two children. Their son, Nathan, notably starred as Tahj in the Netflix sitcom Richie Rich and also made guest appearances on Black-ish. Stewart initially filed for divorce in September 2015, citing irreconcilable differences, after a separation that began in April 2014. They reconciled in January 2017, and she withdrew her petition. However, on March 25, 2022, she filed for divorce again, which was granted by a judge the following year in September.

As part of their divorce settlement, Anderson was ordered to pay over 200.00 K USD annually in spousal support, with a base amount of 20.00 K USD monthly. Should his gross income exceed 2.00 M USD per year, he is required to pay 20% of that gross amount to his ex-wife. The court documents also stipulated that Anderson must relinquish his Glock 19 firearm to law enforcement within 30 days of the divorce finalization. Anderson retained their home in Encino and a 2004 Land Rover, while Alvina kept possession of their home in Houston and their 2022 Mazda. They also divided their cemetery plots located in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

6.2. Health and Advocacy

Anderson has type 2 diabetes and has actively participated in raising awareness for the condition. In 2011, he won 250.00 K USD on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, donating his winnings to the Alzheimer's Association.

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

7.1. Sexual Assault Allegations

In July 2004, Anderson was accused of sexually assaulting a 25-year-old extra in a trailer on the film set of Hustle & Flow in Memphis, Tennessee. The alleged victim claimed that Anderson and assistant director Wayne Witherspoon forcibly removed her clothing, photographed her naked body, and sexually assaulted her. A witness reported hearing the alleged victim's screams and seeing her run naked from the trailer, after which she was treated at St. Francis Hospital. However, on October 6, 2004, the charges were dropped by Judge Anthony Johnson, who ruled that there was no probable cause to proceed with the case, describing the accuser's testimony as "suspicious."

In September 2004, Anderson was sued for sexual assault by another woman who alleged that he made sexually suggestive remarks and assaulted her in his dressing room on the set of All About the Andersons. Reports indicated that Anderson and Warner Bros. Television paid 900.00 K USD in damages as a result of this lawsuit.

On July 20, 2018, the Los Angeles Police Department initiated an investigation into another sexual assault allegation against Anderson. However, due to a lack of evidence, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office decided not to press charges on September 4, 2018.

7.2. Emmy Hosting Controversy

In December 2023, Anderson's selection as host for the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards was met with considerable controversy due to the resurfacing of past sexual assault allegations. The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) publicly urged the Emmys and Fox, the network airing the 2024 ceremony, to reconsider Anderson as host. The SVPA emphasized the entertainment industry's "power and responsibility to protect individuals from sexual violence" and called for due diligence in selecting public figures for such roles. The telecast itself received mixed reviews, with some criticism directed at a recurring segment where Anderson's mother interrupted acceptance speeches that ran too long. This particular bit, especially when she interrupted Jennifer Coolidge's speech for The White Lotus, was widely perceived by some on social media as "rude" and "disrespectful."