Regina King

Regina King
Name	Regina King
Caption	King in 2019
Birth name	Regina Rene King
Birth date	15 January 1971
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, director, producer
Years active	1985–present
Spouse	Ian Alexander Sr., (1997–2007)

Regina King. An acclaimed American actress and director, she has built a formidable career spanning decades across television and film. Renowned for her powerful dramatic performances, she has received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and multiple Primetime Emmy Awards. Beyond acting, she has emerged as a significant director for series like *This Is Us* and the feature film *One Night in Miami...*, while also being a prominent voice for social justice and political activism.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, she was raised by her mother, a special education teacher, and her father, an electrician. She attended Westchester High School where she was an honor student and a member of the school's drill team. Her early interest in performance was nurtured in the local community, and she began her professional career with a role on the NBC sitcom *227* while still a teenager. This early start in the entertainment industry provided a foundation before she later studied at the University of Southern California.

Career

Her breakthrough came with the role of Brenda Jenkins on the long-running sitcom *227*, which aired from 1985 to 1990. She transitioned to film with notable roles in John Singleton's *Boyz n the Hood* and *Poetic Justice* opposite Janet Jackson. The 1990s and 2000s saw her in a string of successful films including *Jerry Maguire*, *Enemy of the State*, and *Ray*. A major career resurgence occurred on television with her award-winning role as Detective Lydia Adams on *Southland* on TNT. She later won consecutive Emmy Awards for her performances in the anthology series *American Crime* and *Seven Seconds*. Her portrayal of Sharon Rivers in Barry Jenkins's *If Beale Street Could Talk* earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She made her feature directorial debut with *One Night in Miami...*, a critically acclaimed film about a fictional meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown.

Personal life

She was married to Ian Alexander Sr., a record producer, from 1997 until their divorce in 2007. They have one son, Ian Alexander Jr., who was a DJ and aspiring musician. She has spoken openly about the profound grief following her son's death in 2022. She maintains a close-knit relationship with her sister, Reina King, who is also a producer and business partner. A longtime resident of Los Angeles, she is known for fiercely guarding her family's privacy while navigating the public demands of her career.

Filmography

Select film credits include *Boyz n the Hood* (1991), *Poetic Justice* (1993), *Jerry Maguire* (1996), *Enemy of the State* (1998), *Ray* (2004), *This Christmas* (2007), *If Beale Street Could Talk* (2018), and *The Harder They Fall* (2021). Her television work features series regular roles on *227*, *Southland*, and *The Leftovers* on HBO. She has directed episodes of numerous series such as *Scandal*, *This Is Us*, *Insecure*, and *The Good Doctor*.

Accolades

Her honors include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and four Primetime Emmy Awards. For *If Beale Street Could Talk*, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. Her Emmy wins were for *American Crime* and *Seven Seconds*. She has also received awards from the Screen Actors Guild, the NAACP Image Awards, and the Black Reel Awards. Her directorial work on *One Night in Miami...* earned nominations from the Directors Guild of America Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Director.

Public image and activism

Widely respected within Hollywood for her integrity and talent, she is considered one of the most accomplished actresses of her generation. She is a vocal activist, frequently using her platform to advocate for Black Lives Matter, gender equality, and voting rights. In 2019, she pledged to hire 50% women for all her production projects for two years. She has been a prominent supporter of Democratic candidates and has spoken at events like the March for Our Lives. Her work, both on-screen and off, is consistently framed by a commitment to social change and authentic representation.

Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American film directors