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 Giancarlo Esposito, Shar Jackson and many more!
1988: Dean Big Brother Almighty, better known as Giancarlo Esposito, stars in Spike Lee’s classic ‘80s film, School Daze.
2012: Esposito hit the slopes at the Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest in Park City, Utah earlier in December. The 54-year-old actor kept quite busy this year with appearances in ABC’s One Upon a Time, NBC’s Revolution and the crime thriller Alex Cross.
1996: Shar Jackson joins the cast of the popular ‘90s series Moesha as the title character’s best friend, Niecy Jackson.
2012: Jackson is shown here at the premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” in Los Angeles. In addition to playing mother to four children, Jackson starred in the action feature One Blood over the summer.
1985: Geoffrey Owens tries to find his place in the Huxtable family as Elvin Tibideaux on the classic sitcom The Cosby Show.
2012: In August, Owens attended the press launch for the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) with fellow actress Linda Kuriloff. Earlier this year, he received rave reviews for his role in David Mamet’s crime mystery play Race.
1985: Sheila E. plays herself in Krush Groove, based on the early days of Def Jam Records.
2012: Sheila was a beauty in blue at VH1 Divas 2012, featuring Kelly Rowland, Ciara, Keri Hilson and others. This past summer, the famed drummer traveled the world for a series of concerts in France, Holland, London, San Diego, Washington D.C., New York City and more. Sheila will reportedly release new music in 2013.
1998: 15-year-old Robert Ri’chard lands the well-mannered role of Bobby on Nickelodeon’s Cousin Skeeter, also starring Meagan Good.
2012: Ri’chard has kept busy with several television and movie parts over the years, including a current recurring role on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries.
1990: Thelma Frye, better known as Anna Maria Horsford, becomes a blushing bride on the church sitcom Amen.
2012: Horsford‘s longstanding career has brought in roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., The Bernie Mac Show and more. Most recently, the 64-year-old actress played Helen Wilson on BET’s Reed Between the Lines.
1989: Long before she was Kim Parker, Countess Vaughn played the adorable Alexandria DeWitt on 227.
2012: After Moesha, The Parker and Celebrity Fit Club, Vaughn focused her attention on being a mother of three. She still hits the studio to brush up on her vocal skills (Shown here on TV One’s Life After).
2001: Pint-size Lil’ Romeo performs on ABC Family’s Front Row Center in Los Angeles after the release of his self-titled debut album.
2012: There’s nothing lil’ about him anymore. After a Nickelodeon series, a spot on USC’s basketball team and Dancing With The Stars, Romeo Miller is back to his first love– music. The 23-year-old rapper released his mixtape Inception in August.
’90s: Charles S. Dutton (bottom right) is a dedicated family man in the short-lived sitcom Roc.
2012: In addition to starring in The Obama Effect earlier this year, Dutton took up a role in the critically-acclaimed drama LUV also starring Common, Danny Glover and Dennis Haysbert.
1988: DJ Spinderella (left) spins the hits for Salt-n-Pepa’s second studio album A Salt With A Deadly Pepa.
2012: Spinderella takes her post at Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Star Comedy Jam at the Best Buy Theater in New York City. These days, she’s keeping the crowd rocking while comedians Capone, Finesse Mitchell, Tony Roberts and Gary Owens bring in the laughs. (WireImages)
1986: Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds releases his debut album Lovers (with a little help from the incomparable L.A. Reid).
2012: In October, Babyface performed at the 26th Anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball presented by Mercedes-Benz in Beverly Hills. In July, Toni Braxton revealed to EBONY.com that the pair was working on a project of duets, set for 2013. (Getty Images)
A Kodak moment from the Ross family’s past… (Shown here: Evan Ross & Tracee Ellis Ross)
2012: Ross shown here at the premiere of the Weinstein Company’s Lawless in Hollywood. The 24-year-old actor has reportedly wrapped production on Supremacy, also featuring Derek Luke and Danny Glover. The film is based on the real-life story of a white supremacist who takes a black family hostage after killing a cop. (Getty Images)
Early ‘90s: Bryton James (McClure) plays the adorable Richie Crawford on the classic sitcom Family Matters.
2012: James is pictured here at the book signing of “The Young and the Restless Life of William J. Bell” in Costa Mesa, CA in July. He’s kept busy with a role on The Young and the Restless since 2004. (WireImages)
1995: Let’s take it back…
2012: Montell Jordan attends the 43rd annual GMA Dove Awards Pre-Show in Atlanta back in April. In addition to playing husband and father to four beautiful children, the 43-year-old singer is a minister at Victory World Church in Norcross, GA. (Getty Images)
1997: Elise Neal stars alongside Chris Tucker in the ‘90s action/comedy Money Talks.
2012: Neal looks ravishing at the 2012 Soul Train Awards. The 46-year-old actress recently wrapped production on the upcoming drama 1982 and guest starred on ABC’s hit series Scandal earlier this year.
1980: Cheryl The Pearl, Blondie and Angie B—better known as Angie Stone—make up the first female hip-hop group, The Sequence.
2012: Looking good! Stone chatted with UPTOWN in July about the release of her sixth studio album Rich Girl…
1996: Maia Campbell (center) rounds out the revamped cast of In the House with Kim Wayans, LL Cool J and Alfonso Ribeiro.
2012: After suffering through troubled times, Campbell has called on Iyanla Vanzant to “Fix My Fallen Star.” The upcoming episode will air Nov. 17 on OWN.
1980: Charlie Wilson (center) and The Gap Band heat up the Billboard charts with The Gap Band III. “Burn Rubber,” anyone?
2012: Wilson is pictured here at the 2012 Soul Train Awards. In addition to keeping his sound fresh and funky, the 59-year-old crooner became a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation in 2008.
Who is this handsome, young and budding rapper/actor?
2012: Common attends the GQ Men of the Year Party in Los Angeles. In addition to making “G.O.O.D.” music, his critically acclaimed film LUV hit theaters in early November.
1994: Wood Harris stars alongside Duane Martin and Tupac Shakur in Above the Rim.
2012: Harris pictured here at the after party for the opening night of A Streetcar Named Desire earlier this year. The talented actor is set to portray Malcolm X in Lifetime’s TV movie Betty and Coretta which began production in September.
1976: Pam Grier sits down for a candid interview while in Los Angeles.
2012: Grier walked the black carpet at the 5th annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood back in February. This November, Grier plays mother to “the Blacksmith” (RZA) in The Man with the Iron Fists.
1989: Funnyman Martin Lawrence claims the role of Cee in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing.
2012: This past weekend, Lawrence celebrated Eddie Murphy’s incredible career at Spike TV’s tribute “One Night Only.” The actor recently told TMZ that he might return to television “soon.” Hmmm…
1966: Mary Wilson (center) and The Supremes perform “My World Is Empty Without You” on The Ed Sullivan Show. Girl power.
2012: Wilson is shown here at the Hollywood premiere of Sparkle, loosely based on The Supremes. Later this month, the 68-year-old singer will pay tribute to the legendary Lena Horne in the production of Stormy Weather.
1994: Terrence “T.C.” Carson plays the always-boastful Kyle Barker on the classic ‘90s sitcom, Living Single.
2012: Our friends over at Madame Noire recently caught up with Carson who discussed the cast’s chemistry and what he’s up to these days…
1983: Made famous by Soul Train’s Don Cornelius in the late ‘70s, Jody Watley (center) gets her start with the group Shalamar.
2012: Pictured here with legendary director Vincent Paterson, Watley stars in Loving The Silent Tears, an “international musical event,” at The Shrine Auditorium in October.
1986: It might be difficult to see his face, but oh that hair…
Dondre Whitfield makes his appearance on The Cosby Show as Vanessa Huxtable’s boyfriend, Robert.
2012: You can catch the 43-year-old actor in Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed drama Middle of Nowhere. Whitfield is pictured here with his wife Salli Richardson-Whitfield at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles.
1991: Lynn Whitfield took on the role of a lifetime in The Josephine Baker Story.
2012: Whitfield enjoys a cocktail at La Maison Cointreau Debuts in New York City. She recently wrapped production on The Last Letter also starring Omari Hardwick and Sharon Leal.
1995: As one-half of the ‘90s R&B duo Groove Theory, Amel Larrieux releases the group’s debut album.
2012: In June, Larrieux brought her sweet sounds to the SummerStage Gala Opening Concert in New York City. Her forthcoming album is titled Ice Cream Every Day.
1989: Rosie Perez gets her first major acting gig in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing.
2012: Perez takes on the role of Breena Harper in Won’t Back Down, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis (shown here at the film’s New York premiere).
1988: Karyn White‘s self-titled debut album shoots to the top of the R&B charts.
2012: White appears on TV One’s candid series Life After. The 47-year-old singer released Carpe Diem, her first album in seventeen years, in March.
1992: Khalil Kain makes his acting debut alongside Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps in Juice.
2012: Kain attends The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation Gala in New York City. You can next find him on Broadway, playing the title role in the first major revival of The Great MacDaddy, which opens on November 15, 2012 at 777 Theater.
1991: Wide receiver Desmond Howard breaks record after record at the University of Michigan to eventually become a Heisman trophy winner.
2012: Howard attends DIRECTV’s Celebrity Beach Bowl earlier this year in Indianapolis, Indiana. The former football star can be found on ESPN as their go-to college football analyst.
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. She and husband Duane Martin recently opened up a restaurant lounge, Xen, in the San Fernando Valley.
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 upcoming 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. She now plays mother to her three-year-old daugher Isabella Amour Watson.
2001: The adorable Kady Kyle, played by Parker McKenna Posey.
2012: Posey has grown into a beautiful young lady! As shown is ready to graduate from high school and take on the world.
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. The beautiful actress has kept busy with a role on ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
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. The group recently released the album I Miss Us in April.
1984: A young Alfonso Ribeiro grooves with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
2012: In October, Ribeiro tied 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. Her newest project Only Forever will be released later 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. The film, featuring Frankliln, took home the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature Film at the 13th Annual Woodstock Film Festival.
Beautiful! A young Jenifer Lewis early in her career.
2012: Lewis attends the premiere of Sparkle in Hollywood. This year, Lewis starred in the box office hit Think Like a Man.
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.
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.
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