Anthony Anderson
Actor & Producer
Los Angeles, California
About Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson is an American actor and producer with a long career in television and film. Born in 1970 and raised in Compton, California, he studied at Hollywood High School for the Performing Arts, where his performance work helped him earn an arts scholarship to Howard University. He built his early career through roles in studio comedies and action films, including Me, Myself and Irene, the Barbershop franchise, Scary Movie 3, Kangaroo Jack, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave, Malibu’s Most Wanted, and others. He later appeared in major releases such as Transformers, The Departed, The Big Year, Small Town Crime, The Star, and the Academy Award nominated Ferdinand, and starred in the Netflix film Beats as both lead actor and executive producer.
On television, Anderson is best known for his role as Andre “Dre” Johnson in ABC’s multi award nominated sitcom black-ish, which ran for eight seasons. He also served as an executive producer on the series and on the spinoff grown-ish for Freeform. His other series work includes All About the Andersons, K-Ville, The Shield, Guys with Kids, and Law & Order, where he played Detective Kevin Bernard and later returned for the show’s twenty first season.
Anderson has an extensive hosting and unscripted portfolio. He has hosted To Tell the Truth, We Are Family, The Real Full Monty, several Food Network series, Iron Chef America segments, the National Memorial Day Parade, Dear Mama, the Stand Up To Cancer telecast, and the seventy fifth Emmy Awards, alongside reality projects such as Trippin’ with Anthony Anderson and Mama Doris and Kings of BBQ.
Areas of Focus
Career Background
Education
Media
Press
"30 years in the making": Actor Anthony Anderson graduates from Howard University
Read the full article ›Awards & Recognition
NAACP ACTSO Awards: First place for monologue performance from The Great White Hope; NAACP
Golden Glove Award: Work raising awareness for diabetes; Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation; 2023
Trailblazer Award: Achievements and support for youth in Los Angeles; Woodcraft Rangers; 2023
National Alumni Hall of Fame: Inducted into National Alumni Hall of Fame; Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Class of 2017
Emmy and Golden Globe nominations: Acting work; Television Academy and Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Charities & Volunteering
American Diabetes Association: Beneficiary of Anthony Anderson Celebrity Golf Classic
Los Angeles Mission: Beneficiary of Anthony Anderson Celebrity Golf Classic
Boys and Girls Clubs of America: Beneficiary of Anthony Anderson Celebrity Golf Classic
GOOD+ Foundation: Service on Fatherhood Leadership Council
Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation: Recognized for work raising awareness for diabetes
Woodcraft Rangers: Partnership in youth focused initiatives in Los Angeles
City of Compton: Holiday food giveaways providing food to over 1,000 residents; participation in Gonzales Park Dodgers Dreamfields groundbreaking with Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Kershaw’s Challenge, and the City of Compton
Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Kershaw’s Challenge: Support for Dodgers Dreamfields project in Compton
COVID 19 community efforts: Joined Mayor Eric Garcetti at a South Los Angeles clinic to encourage COVID 19 testing in communities of color; co hosted Saving Our Selves A BET COVID 19 Relief Effort special supporting African Americans impacted by coronavirus
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C): Co host of SU2C telecast supporting cancer research
National Memorial Day Parade: Host of the National Memorial Day Parade and related televised specials honoring military service and families
Boards & Memberships
GOOD+ Foundation: Member, Fatherhood Leadership Council
Boys and Girls Clubs of America National Alumni Hall of Fame: Inducted member; 2017 (Class of 2017)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Anthony Anderson do?
Anthony Anderson is an American actor and producer with a long career in television and film. He is based in Los Angeles, California.
What is Anthony Anderson known for?
He is best known for playing Andre "Dre" Johnson in ABC's sitcom black-ish, on which he also served as executive producer, as well as for film roles in Transformers, The Departed, and Ferdinand, and for hosting shows including the 75th Emmy Awards.
Where is Anthony Anderson based?
He is based in Los Angeles, California.
Where did Anthony Anderson study?
He studied at Hollywood High School for the Performing Arts and later attended Howard University.
Last updated February 20, 2026