Kenya Barris

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Kenya Barris
Kenya Barris, the Series Creator and Executive Producer of "Blackish.", May 2016.jpg
Barris in 2016
Born (1974-08-09) August 9, 1974 (age 47)
Inglewood, California, U.S.
Other namesKenya 'Yee' Barris
Alma materClark Atlanta University
Occupation
  • Film and television writer
  • producer
  • director
  • actor
Years active1997–present
Spouse(s)
Rainbow Edwards Barris
​
​
(m. 1999)​
Children6

Kenya Barris (born August 9, 1974) is an American film and television writer, producer, director, and actor. He is best known as the creator of the ABC sitcom black-ish (2014–present).

Early life[]

Barris was born in Inglewood, California, the second of five children. He was named after Kenya due to his father visiting the country.[1] Barris' parents divorced when he was five years old, after his mother left Barris' physically abusive father.[2] He is an alumnus of Clark Atlanta University.[3][4]

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,[5] and a third potential spin-off Old-ish.[6] He was a writer for The Game, Girlfriends, and Soul Food.[5][4][7] Barris co-created and produced America's Next Top Model with Tyra Banks.[8] He penned the film Girls Trip. He co-produced the 2019 film Little[9] and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2019 theatrical release Shaft.

In 2020, Barris made his acting debut in #BlackAF, a series he developed for Netflix, co-starring Rashida Jones and Iman Benson.[10][11][12] In October 2020, Barris announced that he will write, produce and direct a biopic on comedian Richard Pryor for MGM.[13] His Khabako Ink Society company is currently eyeing a deal with ViacomCBS.[14]

Barris has been working on a possible TV series Brown-ish with Eva Longoria.[10]

Personal life[]

Barris has been married to anesthesiologist Dr. Rania "Rainbow" Edwards Barris since 1999. They have six children.[15][16][17][18]

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[19]
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 2019–2021 No Yes No Yes Yes ABC
Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show 2019 No No No No Yes Netflix
BlackAF 2020 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Character: Kenya Barris
We the People 2021 No Yes No No Yes

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.[20] Barris and Black-ish also won the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.[21]

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.[22] In 2016, Barris won the Rod Serling Award for Advancing Social Justice Through Popular Media.[23]

In 2018, he donated $1 million to Clark Atlanta University, and was granted an honorary doctorate in humane letters.[24]

References[]

  1. ^ Ito, Robert (September 6, 2015). "Mostly Joking: "Black-ish" creator Kenya Barris's balancing act". The California Sunday Magazine.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, Emily (April 18, 2016). "In Living Color". The New Yorker.
  3. ^ "You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes : Kenya Barris Returns".
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Kenya Barris On 'Black-ish' And What Kids Lose When They Grow Up With More".
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Nussbaum, Emily (April 25, 2016). "In Living Color" – via The New Yorker.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2021-05-18). "ABC Boss On Status Of 'Old-ish' & 'Brown-ish', Expanding 'Black-ish' & 'Modern Family' Universes And Passing On Alec Baldwin/Kelsey Grammer Comedy". deadline.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 21, 2015). "'black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris Inks Overall Deal With ABC Studios".
  8. ^ Nussbaum, Emily (April 25, 2016). "In Living Color" – via The New Yorker.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Andreeva, Nellie (2019-05-10). "Kenya Barris & Rashida Jones To Star In Barris' First Netflix Series 'Black Excellence'". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  11. ^ Rico, Klaritza (2020-03-19). "TV News Roundup: Showtime Releases 'Billions' Season 5 Trailer". Variety. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  12. ^ "#BlackAF". IMDB.
  13. ^ Kay, Jeremy (2020-10-26). "MGM, 'Black-ish' creator Kenya Barris line up Richard Pryor biopic". Screen. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Italie, Leanne (May 1, 2018). "Pearls of parenting wisdom from the real Bow Johnson". Associated Press.
  16. ^ Canfield, David (May 17, 2018). "How black-ish reflects the life of its creator — and his wife, Rainbow Edwards-Barris". Entertainment Weekly.
  17. ^ "'Black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris to Divorce Wife of 20 Years". The Hollywood Reporter. August 12, 2019.
  18. ^ Naumann, Ryan (May 21, 2020). "'Black-Ish' Creator Kenya Barris Calls Off Divorce From Wife Rainbow". The Blast.
  19. ^ 'Soul' Filmmakers on Alternate Endings and the Meryl Streep Movie That Influenced the Story
  20. ^ "75th Annual Entertainment & Children's Programming Winners". Peabody Awards. Peabody Awards. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  21. ^ "48th NAACP Image Awards". 48th NAACP Image Awards. NAACP Image Awards. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Kenya Barris Awards". IMDB. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  23. ^ Lewis, Dave. "Creator of 'black-ish' Kenya Barris to receive the 2016 Rod Serling Award". ENTERTAINMENT/TELEVISION. L.A. Times.
  24. ^ "Blackish creator to give million-ish to Clark Atlanta University in Grown-ish gift". AJC. AJC.

External links[]

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