Time flies when you’re having fun– and you’re famous! Check out our gallery of your favorite stars and their transitions through Hollywood!
This week: Updated with the cast of “My Wife & Kids”!
1990: Damon Wayans brings in the laughs as a cast member on In Living Color.
2011: Wayans leaves the John Leguizamo Show in Hollywood late last year.
1988: Tisha Campbell-Martin is cast as Jane Toussaint in the Spike Lee joint School Daze.
2012: Campbell makes an appearance on Good Morning America in August.
2001: George O. Gore II plays Michael “Junior” Kyle on the family sitcom.
2012: Coincidentally, Gore co-stars alongside Craig Wayans and Damien Dante Wayans for BET’s scripted family comedy Second Generation Wayans.
2001: Jennifer Freeman plays the pretty, yet ditzy, Claire Kyle.
2012: Freeman attends the premiere of Bully in Los Angeles.
2001: The adorable Kady Kyle, played by Parker McKenna Posey.
2012: Posey has grown into a beautiful young lady!
Photo courtesy of Twitter
2001: Camille Winbush (bottom left) plays “Nessa” Thomkins on The Bernie Mac Show.
2012: Winbush attends Paul Frank Fashion’s Night Out in West Hollywood in September.
1993: SWV heats up the Billboard charts with their hit single “Weak.”
2012: SWV poses with Estelle at the CHEVY Shot Caller’s Dinner for Black Girls Rock 2012! in New York City.
1984: A young Alfonso Ribeiro grooves with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
2012: Ribeiro ties the knot with longtime girlfriend Angela Unkrich in Los Angeles.
1986: A classic! Anita Baker releases her second studio album, Rapture.
2012: Baker attends “A Tribute To The Music of Motown” after party in New York City earlier this year.
1987: Don Franklin guest stars as Greg Martinson on The Cosby Show.
2012: Franklin attends the premiere of Any Day Now during the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
Beautiful! A young Jenifer Lewis early in her career.
2012: Lewis attends the premiere of Sparkle in Hollywood.
1978: Tim Reid stars as DJ Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati.
2012: Reid speaks at the USDA Black History Month Celebration back in February.
1996: Sisqó, a quarter of the ’90s R&B sensation Dru Hill, releases their self-titled debut album.
2012: Sisqó performs at Singersroom’s R&B Spotlight Showcase in June.
Photo courtesy of Concrete Loop
1981: Sheryl Lee Ralph (middle) takes on the role of Denna Jones in Dreamgirls, eventually leading to a Tony Award nod for Best Actress.
2012: Ralph attends the memorial service for late actor Michael Clarke Duncan.
1993: Bianca Lawson (center) gets cast on Saved By The Bell: The New Class.
2012: Lawson attends the premiere of The Weinstein Company’s “Bully” in Los Angeles.
1990: Johnny Gill releases “Rub You The Right Way” off of his self-titled album.
2012: Gill performs at BET’s Celebrationof Gospel back in March.
A young Dionne Warwick shines in this black and white still.
2012: Warwick receives the 2012 NBLCA Choose Life Award in New York City.
1970: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s father congratulates him on being named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.
2012: Abdul-Jabbar brings in the big bucks at a taping of Jeopardy! in Washington, DC.
Late 80’s: Rosario Dawson makes an appearance on Seasme Street.
2012: Dawson attends a photo call for Tara Smith’s “Vegan Haircare” at Oxford Street London.
1995: Amanda Seales (formerly Amanda Diva) captures a role on the short-lived Nickelodeon sitcom My Brother and Me.
2012: Seales does promo for MTV’s Hip Hop POV in New York City.
1987: Perri “Pebbles” Reid releases her self-titled debut album.
2012: Pebbles attends the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Atlanta Legends Mixer to kick off BET’s Hip Hop Awards weekend.
1997: Remember this sweetie pie from Soul Food?
2012: Brandon Hammond is all grown up!
The 28-year-old film school graduate recently told ESSENCE.com that he’s been writing and directing since the film wrapped and is working on a television show with his friends.
1989: Oh baby youuuuu! Biz Markie climbs the Billboard charts with this hip-hop hit.
2012: Markie searches high and low for the perfect home in Washington, D.C. on Celebrity House Hunting.
1985: Sheila E playing herself in Krush Groove, based on the early days of Def Jam Records.
2012: White hot! Sheila E attends the 84th Annual Academy Awards earlier this year.
1994: Da Brat gets Funkdafied.
2012: Da Brat attends the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Atlanta Legends Mixer at W Hotel Midtown.
1987: 25-year-old Keith Sweat releases his debut album Make It Last Forever.
2012: Sweat performs at the Fresh Music Festival in Orlando, FL back in July.
1988: Anthony Anderson poses for his senior yearbook picture at Hollywood High.
2012: Anderson makes his promo rounds the new NBC comedy Guys With Kids.
1984: A Cosby kid! Tempestt Bledsoe makes her big acting debut as Vanessa Huxtable on The Cosby Show.
2012: Bledsoe and Anthony Anderson make an adorable couple on NBC’s Guys With Kids.
2001: Kerry Washington as Chenille in Save the Last Dance.
2012: Washington will make her return as Olivia Pope in season two of Scandal.
2008: NeNe Leakes becomes the breakout star of Real Housewives of Atlanta.
2012: Leakes delivers major at-ti-tude on NBC’s new sitcom The New Normal.
2004: Keyshia Cole released her debut single “Never,” featuring Eve.
2012: Cole stops by Power 105.1′s “The Breakfast Club” to discuss her new reality show with husband Daniel Gibson.
1980′s: A young Steve Harvey shows off his pearly whites.
2012: From comedian to author to radio personality, Harvey can now add “talk show host” to his resume.
2000: Tamar Braxton releases her self-titled debut album.
2012: Braxton attends Angela Simmons‘ 25th Birthday celebration in New York City. You can catch all of her hilarious antics on her reality spin-off Tamar & Vince.
1995: The sassy Meagan Good in Friday.
2012: The cheery actress attends will.i.am‘s charity event in Hollywood. Good will star in NBC’s Infamous later this year.
Then: Irene Cara as Sparkle Williams
Now: Cara went on to star in the ’80s classic Fame and most recently released her band’s album Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel.
Then: Philip Michael Thomas as Stix
Now: After Sparkle, Thomas went on to play Ricardo Tubbs in Miami Vice.
Then: Lonette McKee as Sister Williams
Now: McKee has kept busy with roles in Jungle Fever, Men of Honor, ATL and more.
Then: Dwan Smith as Delores Williams
Now: Interesting….
Then: Mary Alice as Effie Williams
Now: The Emmy Award-winning actress has played every role from housemother on A Different World to The Oracle in The Matrix Revolutions.
Then: Dorian Harewood as Levi Brown
Now: Harewood starred in Roots: The Next Generation as well as The Jesse Owens Story, among other projects.
2006: A then 16-year-old Jordin Sparks auditions for American Idol.
2012: Sparks attends the New York premiere of Sparkle.
1986: Whitney Houston receives her first GRAMMY for Best Pop Vocal Performance (“Saving All My Love For You”).
2011: The late Houston attends Clive Davis’ Pre-GRAMMY Gala in Beverly Hills. We miss you Whitney!
2007: Tika Sumpter hosts SOAPnet’s The Night Before Party for the Daytime Emmy Award Nominees.
2012: Sumpter attends the New York premiere of Sparkle.
1997: Carmen Ejogo stars alongside Eddie Murphy in the action-comedy Metro.
2012: Ejogo attends the New York premiere of Sparkle.
2002: Derek Luke wows America in his debut performance in Antwone Fisher.
2012: Luke attends the New York premiere of Sparkle.
2006: Omari Hardwick attends the Los Angeles premiere of Gridiron Gang.
2012: Hardwick attends the New York premiere of Sparkle.
2000: Day-Day! Mike Epps stars alongside Ice Cube in the comedy Next Friday.
2012: Epps attends the New York premiere of Sparkle.
1990s: Cee Lo Green becomes the breakout star of hip-hop group Goodie Mob.
2012: Green attends The Voice press junket and cocktail reception.
2007: Terrence J makes an appearance at “R&B Live” at Spotlight in New York.
2012: Terrence J and the beautiful Selita Ebanks attend the 12th annual BET Awards.
2005: Tamela Mann delivers her debut album Gotta Keep Movin’.
2012: Mann presents an award at the 43rd annual GMA Dove Awards in Georgia.
1984: Curtis Armstrong plays Dudley “Booger” Dawson in the classic ‘80s comedy Revenge of the Nerds.
2011: Armstrong makes an appearance on Rules of Engagement.
1976: Danielle Spencer-Fields plays the sassy Dee Thomas on What’s Happening!!
2012: After a devastating car accident in 1977, Spencer became a successful veterinarian in Saugus, Calif.
1988: Al B. Sure delivers his debut album, In Effect Mode.
2012: Al B. Sure attends “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, Live On Stage” in Las Vegas.
Early 1990s: Young and Immature. Marques Houston (a.k.a. Batman) and his fellow bandmates made the girls go crazy.
2012: Houston attends Crown Royal Black and Urban Entrepreneurs “BE Next” Awards.
1971: Pat Cleveland gets glam for Vanity Fair.
2012: Cleveland attends the premiere of HBO’s upcoming documentary About Face: Super Models Then & Now in New York.
1989: Darius McCrary plays Eddie Winslow in the classic television sitcom Family Matters.
2012: McCrary is spotted at Café Entourage in Hollywood.
Early 1990s: A young Tevin Campbell wows the crowd with his chart-topper “Tomorrow.”
2012: Campbell takes us back to “Can We Talk.”
1997: Chanté Moore with then-husband Kadeem Hardison at an event for Hoodlum.
2012: Moore looking just as stunning at this year’s BET Awards in Los Angeles, Calif.
1960s: Ronald Isley, center, captures America’s attention with The Isley Brothers’ one-of-a-kind sound.
2011: Isley performs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute concert honoring Aretha Franklin.
1987: Holly Robinson Peete stars as Sergeant Judy Hoffs on 21 Jump Street.
2012: Peete attends the 2012 Women In Film Crystal + Lucy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.
1996: Gold Olympian Michael Johnson poses for TIME magazine.
2012: Johnson attends Nike’s 2012 Debut of Team USA Apparel in New York City.
1992: How adorable! Tahj Mowry plays Teddy on the classic ’90s sitcom Full House.
2012: Mowry attends The Thirst Project’s 3rd Annual Gala in Beverly Hills, Calif.
2000s: A young Taraji P. Henson early in her career.
2012: Henson goes blue for this year’s BET Awards.
1992: Jason Weaver takes on the role of Michael Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream.
2012: Weaver on set of Dysfunctional Friends with Wesley Jonathan, Datari Turner and Terrell Owens.
1991: R&B singer Shanice blasts onto the scene with her hit single “I Love Your Smile.”
2011: Shanice, husband Flex Alexander and their two children attend a signing for La Toya Jackson‘s book “Starting Over.”
1998: Kelis releases her debut album Kaleidoscope.
2012: One baby and nasty divorce later, Kelis is still doing her thing.
1987: Reginald VelJohnson plays “The Big Kahuna” Carl Winslow on the classic sitcom Family Matters.
2012: VelJohnson currently has a recurring role as Dash DeWitt on the CW’s Hart of Dixie.
1980s: Deion Sanders becomes an All-American cornerback at Florida State University.
2012: Sanders attends T.D. Jakes‘ 35th Anniversary of Ministry Gala in Dallas, TX with producer Tracey Edmonds.
1990: Erika Alexander moves into the Cosby residence as Pam Tucker.
2011: Alexander attends the 42nd annual NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, Calif.
1980s: Downtown Julie Brown rocks Club MTV.
2012: Brown looks white hot at the Billboard Music Awards.
Related: 2012 Billboard Music Awards Arrivals [PHOTOS]
1999: LisaRaye McCoy hits the red carpet long before her Single Ladies days.
2012: McCoy attends the Second Biennial Diamond Awards presented by the Not Alone Foundation in Atlanta.
Related: LisaRaye On ‘Single Ladies’ Critics: “F**k ‘Em!”
1996: Eric Benét releases his debut album True To Myself.
2012: Benét strikes a strong pose at the Billboard Music Awards.
Related: Chaka Khan Calls On Famous Friends For Trayvon PSA [VIDEO]
’80s: Bobby Brown steals the show while goofing off with New Edition.
2012: Brown works it out on stage during a New Edition concert in Newark, N.J.
Related: Bobby Brown Dedicates New Song To Whitney [VIDEO]
1975: A young Melba Moore releases Peach Melba.
2012: Moore attends “A Tribute To The Music of Motown” in New York Ci