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Kenya Barris

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Kenya Barris
Barris in 2016
Born(1973-08-09)August 9, 1973(age 50)
Inglewood, California,U.S.
Other namesKenya 'Yee' Harris
Alma materClark Atlanta University
Occupations
  • Film and television writer
  • producer
  • director
  • actor
Years active1997–present
Spouse
Rainbow Edwards Barris
​
​
(m.1999;sep.2022)​
Children6

Kenya Barris(born August 9, 1973) is an American film and television writer, producer, director, and actor. He is best known as the creator of theABCsitcomblack-ish(2014–2022).

Early life and education

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Barris, the second-youngest among four siblings, was born to Tina, who worked as a real estate agent, and her former husband Patrick, who was a factory worker at General Motors. Barris grew up inInglewoodandPacoima,California.[1]He was named after the country ofKenya,which his father had visited.[2]His parents divorced when he was a child.[3]

He is an alumnus ofClark Atlanta Universitywhere he started out studying medicine.[4][5][6]

Career

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Barris has created numerous television shows, including the critically acclaimedBlack-ish.The award-winning series also has two spin-offs,Grown-ishandMixed-ish,[7]and a third potential spin-offOld-ish.[8]He was a writer forThe Game,Girlfriends,andSoul Food.[7][5][9]Barris co-created and producedAmerica's Next Top ModelwithTyra Banks.[10]He penned the filmGirls Trip.He co-produced the 2019 filmLittle[11]and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2019 theatrical releaseShaft.

In 2020, Barris made his acting debut in#BlackAF,a series he developed forNetflix,co-starringRashida JonesandIman Benson.[12][13][14]In October 2020, Barris announced that he would write, produce, and direct a biopic on comedianRichard PryorforMGM.[15]

Also in 2020, it was reported his production company, Khalabo Ink Society, was considering a deal withViacomCBS.[16]His company entered a multi-project development deal withAudiblein 2021.[17]

In 2021, it was reported that Barris was developing a potential television series,Brown-ish,withEva Longoria.[18]

In August 2022, it was announced that Barris would write and direct a modern remake ofThe Wizard of Oz.[19]In January 2024, he confirmed that he finished penning the script for the film and announced that he is also in development on a modern remake ofIt's a Wonderful Life,with the intention to cast aperson of colorin the lead role ofGeorge Bailey.[20]

Personal life

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Barris married anesthesiologist Dr. Rania "Rainbow" Edwards Barris in 2000. They have six children.[21]His wife filed for divorce in 2014, and Barris filed for divorce in 2019: the couple reconciled and withdrew their divorce petitions both times. Barris filed for divorce a second time in 2022.[22][23][24][25]

Filmography

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Films

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Title Year Credited as Studio Notes
Writer Director Producer Other
Barbershop: The Next Cut 2016 Yes No Yes No Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Warner Bros. Pictures Co-producer
Co-written withTracy Oliver
Girls Trip 2017 Yes No No No Universal Pictures Co-written with Tracy Oliver andErica Rivinoja
Little 2019 No No Yes No
Shaft Yes No Executive No Warner Bros. Pictures/Netflix Co-written with Alex Barnow
The Witches 2020 Yes No No No Warner Bros. Pictures Co-written withRobert ZemeckisandGuillermo del Toro
Soul No No No Yes Pixar Animation Studios Special thanks[26]
Coming 2 America 2021 Yes No Executive No Amazon Studios/Paramount Pictures Co-written withBarry W. BlausteinandDavid Sheffield
Cheaper by the Dozen 2022 Yes No Yes No Disney+/Walt Disney Pictures/20th Century Studios Co-written withJenifer Rice-Genzuk HenryandCraig Titley
You People 2023 Yes Yes Yes No Netflix Directing debut
Co-written withJonah Hill
White Men Can't Jump 2023 Yes No No No Hulu/20th Century Studios Co-written with Doug Hall
The Underdoggs 2024 No No Yes No Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Wizard of Oz TBA Yes Yes No No Warner Bros. Pictures/New Line Cinema Co-production withThe Hideaway EntertainmentandTemple Hill Entertainment
It's a Wonderful Life TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA Paramount Pictures TBA

Television series

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Title Year Credited as Network Notes
Actor Creator Director Writer Executive
producer
Girlfriends 2000–2008 No No No Yes No UPN/The CW
America's Next Top Model 2003–2018 No Yes No No No UPN/The CW/VH1
Soul Food 2002–2004 No No No Yes No Showtime
Like Family 2004 No No No Yes No The WB
Listen Up 2004–2005 No No No Yes No CBS
The Game 2006–2014 No No No Yes No The CW/BET
Are We There Yet? 2011–2012 No No No Yes No TBS
I Hate My Teenage Daughter 2012–2013 No No No Yes No Fox
Black-ish 2014–2022 No Yes Yes Yes Yes ABC
Grown-ish 2018–2024 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 No No No Yes
Entergalactic 2022 No Yes No No Yes Television special
The Vince Staples Show[27] 2023 No No No No Yes Pre-production
Diarra from Detroit 2024 No No No No Yes BET+

Awards

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In 2019,Black-ishwon severalNAACP Image Awards.It was named best comedy series andTracee Ellis RossandAnthony Andersontook acting honors.Black-ishwas the winner of the Entertainment andChildren's Peabody Awardin 2016.[28]Barris andBlack-ishalso won the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.[29]Barris was nominated for the same award in 2018. He was also nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Awardfor Outstanding Comedy Series in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021, and aPGA Awardfor Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy forBlack-ishin 2014.[30]In 2016, Barris won the Rod Serling Award forAdvancing Social Justice Through Popular Media.[31]

In 2018, he donated $1 million toClark Atlanta University,and was granted anhonorary doctorateinhumane letters.[32]

References

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  1. ^"blackish Creator Kenya Barris' Life Story: Poverty to Hollywood Success".Peoplemag.Retrieved2023-11-05.
  2. ^Ito, Robert (September 6, 2015)."Mostly Joking:" Black-ish "creator Kenya Barris's balancing act".The California Sunday Magazine.
  3. ^Nussbaum, Emily(April 18, 2016)."In Living Color".The New Yorker.
  4. ^"You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes: Kenya Barris Returns".
  5. ^ab"Kenya Barris On 'Black-ish' And What Kids Lose When They Grow Up With More".NPR.org.
  6. ^"The True Story Behind Golden Globe Nominee black-ish: Creator's Path from Poverty to Hollywood".Peoplemag.Retrieved2023-11-05.
  7. ^abNussbaum, Emily (April 25, 2016)."In Living Color"– via The New Yorker.
  8. ^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.Retrieved2021-06-09.
  9. ^Andreeva, Nellie (August 21, 2015)."'black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris Inks Overall Deal With ABC Studios ".
  10. ^Nussbaum, Emily (April 25, 2016)."In Living Color".The New Yorker.
  11. ^Harriot, Michael (January 9, 2019)."#BlackGirlMagic: Black-ish Star Marsai Martin Set to Become Youngest Executive Producer in Hollywood History".The Grapevine.RetrievedJanuary 9,2019.
  12. ^Andreeva, Nellie (2019-05-10)."Kenya Barris & Rashida Jones To Star In Barris' First Netflix Series 'Black Excellence'".Deadline.Retrieved2019-09-03.
  13. ^Rico, Klaritza (2020-03-19)."TV News Roundup: Showtime Releases 'Billions' Season 5 Trailer".Variety.Retrieved2020-03-21.
  14. ^"#BlackAF".IMDB.
  15. ^Kay, Jeremy (2020-10-26)."MGM, 'Black-ish' creator Kenya Barris line up Richard Pryor biopic".Screen.Retrieved2020-10-26.
  16. ^Andreeva, Nellie (2020-10-31)."Kenya Barris In Talks With ViacomCBS To Partner In New Studio, Eyes Exit From Netflix Deal".Deadline.Retrieved2020-11-05.
  17. ^"Kenya Barris' Khalabo Ink Society Strikes Exclusive Deal with Audible | About Audible".www.audible.com.Retrieved2023-02-21.
  18. ^"Kenya Barris Is Developing a 'Brown-ish' Series With Eva Longoria | Entertainment Tonight".www.etonline.com.Retrieved2023-02-21.
  19. ^"Kenya Barris to Write & Direct Reimagining of 'Wizard of Oz' for Warner Bros; Khalabo Ink Society Producing".15 August 2022.
  20. ^Sharf, Zack (2024-01-20)."Kenya Barris' Richard Pryor Biopic Is a 10-Episode Series; New 'Wizard of Oz' Is Set in Inglewood and 'It's a Wonderful Life' Remake Has POC Lead: 'I'm Still a Believer in IP'".Variety.Retrieved2024-02-22.
  21. ^Italie, Leanne (May 1, 2018)."Pearls of parenting wisdom from the real Bow Johnson".Associated Press.
  22. ^Canfield, David (May 17, 2018)."How black-ish reflects the life of its creator — and his wife, Rainbow Edwards-Barris".Entertainment Weekly.
  23. ^"'Black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris to Divorce Wife of 20 Years ".The Hollywood Reporter.August 12, 2019.
  24. ^Naumann, Ryan (May 21, 2020)."'Black-Ish' Creator Kenya Barris Calls Off Divorce From Wife Rainbow ".The Blast.
  25. ^Saad, Nardine (2022-06-08)."'Black-ish' creator Kenya Barris files for divorce from wife Rania for a third time ".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2022-09-23.
  26. ^'Soul' Filmmakers on Alternate Endings and the Meryl Streep Movie That Influenced the Story
  27. ^Deville, Chris (6 September 2022)."Vince Staples Will Star In A Netflix Sitcom Loosely Based On His Life".Stereogum.Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2022.Retrieved6 September2022.
  28. ^"75th Annual Entertainment & Children's Programming Winners".Peabody Awards.4 May 2016.Retrieved27 March2017.
  29. ^"48th NAACP Image Awards".48th NAACP Image Awards.NAACP Image Awards. Archived fromthe originalon 19 March 2017.Retrieved27 March2017.
  30. ^"Kenya Barris Awards".IMDB.IMDb.com, Inc.Retrieved27 March2017.
  31. ^Lewis, Dave (11 November 2016)."Creator of 'black-ish' Kenya Barris to receive the 2016 Rod Serling Award".ENTERTAINMENT/TELEVISION.L.A. Times.
  32. ^Suggs, Ernie."Blackish creator to give million-ish to Clark Atlanta University in Grown-ish gift".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.AJC.
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