Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Black Soap Stars: An Intimate Look
Believe it or not, soap operas can be a good breeding ground for some of the greatest actors in Hollywood. From Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman to three-time Emmy Award winning thespian Cicely Tyson, many great black actors have cut their teeth on daytime dramas. While Shemar Moore, Victoria Rowell, Tichina Arnold, Tonya Pinkins, Debbi Morgan and Vivica A. Fox were beloved characters on popular serials, they've done well beyond them. Check them out.

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Kevin Mambo
'Guiding Light' (CBS)
This Zimbabwean-Canadian actor is best known for his role on 'Guiding Light' in the role of Marcus Williams. Williams is a saxophone player who loves his music and a beautiful singer Dahlia Creed, played by Sharon Leal. The actor arrived on the series in August of 1995 and picked up his first Emmy eight months later. He received another Emmy the following year. Mambo left the series three years later and appeared on various TV shows before returning to the world of soaps in 2003, when he took on the role of Dr. Jordan Kingsley on 'One Life to Live.' Between 2003 and 2005, he was a regular on 'Law & Order' franchise. Mambo is currently on Broadway in Lynn Nottage's play 'Ruined' and picked up a 2009 Pulitzer prize for drama.

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Victoria Rowell
'The Young and the Restless' (CBS)
Speculation continues about whether the Portland, Maine, native will come back to the role that she's played on daytime's number-one rated soap opera, 'The Young and the Restless,' for over 15 years. As Drucilla Winters, Rowell has occupied the longest-running African American female soap character in daytime television. She won 11 NAACP Image Awards. Rowell's first run as Drucilla was from 1990 to 1998. She briefly returned in 2000, and then returned on a regular basis from 2002 until early 2007. Rowell also played Dr. Amanda Bentley on the CBS series 'Diagnosis: Murder,' opposite Dick Van Dyke, and starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson in 2007's 'Home of the Brave.'

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Shemar Moore
'The Young and the Restless' (CBS)
A former fashion model, the Oakland native began portraying Malcolm Winters on 'The Young and the Restless' in 1994. Once estranged from his brother, Neil (played by Kristoff St. John), Malcolm morphed into one of the most beloved characters on the long-running soap opera -- even garnering a prestigious Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in 2000. Since leaving the soap opera, the hunky University of Santa Clara alum has hosted 'Soul Train' and starred in movies such as 'Motives,' 'The Seat Filler' and Tyler Perry's hit 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman.' He currently plays detective Derek Morgan on the CBS prime-time drama 'Criminal Minds.'

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Tamara Tunie
'As the World Turns' (CBS)
This McKeesport, Pa., native is one of the few actors who's able to hold a daytime and nighttime job at the same time. She plays lawyer Jessica Griffin McKechnie Harris on 'As the World Turns' and medical examiner Melinda Warner on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.' Tunie has also appeared in a number of theater productions and produced the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Spring Awakening.'

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Charles Divins
'Passions' (NBC)
Prior to acting, Divins was a model who worked for Tommy Hilfiger and appeared in GQ, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Gear. When his attention turned to acting, he took on the role of Chad Harris-Crane on the soap 'Passions,' from 2002 to 2007. The Dallas native left the show when it moved from NBC to DirecTV.

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Cicely Tyson
'Guiding Light' (CBS)
A veteran of film and TV, this New York native had a stint on daytime television nearly 40 years ago. During 1966, Tyson also had a recurring role in the daytime soap opera, 'Guiding Light,' which ended its run this month after 72 years. Her character's name was Martha Frazier. Tyson soon went on star in 1972's 'Sounder,' for which she was nominated for an Oscar for best actress. After working with Tyler Perry in 2005's 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' and 'Madea's Family Reunion,' Perry mention her name as part of his dream cast for his film adaptation of 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.'

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Darnell Williams
'All My Children' (ABC)
The London actor was one-half of the first African American supercouple on 'All My Children' (along with Debbie Morgan) for his portrayal of Jesse Hubbard, from 1981 to 1988. Before he left the show, Williams won two Emmys. He returned to the soaps as Jesse's look-alike, Jacob Foster, on 'Loving' and 'The City.' In May 2007, Williams joined the cast of 'Guiding Light' in the recurring role of the villainous Griggs. After a 20-year absence, he returned to the role of Jesse on 'Children' in 2008.

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Vivica A. Fox
'Generations' (NBC)
Although we've seen the South Bend, Ind., actress make it big in roles in 'Independence Day,' 'Set it Off,' and 'Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2,' many may remember that she headline the first daytime black soap opera, 'Generations,' when it aired on NBC from 1989 to1991. She played Maya Reubens, opposite Debbie Morgan and Kristoff St. John. Fox later had roles on 'Days of Our Lives,' and 'The Young and the Restless.' In September 2007, she appeared in the sixth season of HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' as the mother of a family displaced by a hurricane and taken in by Larry and Cheryl. Fox last hosted her own VH1 reality series, titled 'Glam God,' in 2008.

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs

Debbie Morgan
'All My Children' (ABC)
In addition to appearing in films such as 'Eve's Bayou' and 'Love and Basketball,' the Dunn, N.C., actress is best known for her role as Dr. Angie Hubbard on the ABC soap opera 'All My Children.' Her role on the show during the '80s was as one-half of the first African American supercouple on the American soap opera (along with Darnell Williams). In 1989, Morgan, in a tie with Santa Barbara actress Nancy Lee Grahn, won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. After leaving 'Children,' she had roles on NBC's 'Generations' and ABC's 'Loving' before returning in 2008 to play Angie again on 'Children.'

Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs