Cast & Creative
Taraji P. Henson (Bertha Holly) is an Academy Award-nominated actor, producer, #1 New York Times bestselling author, mental health advocate, and entrepreneur, with a globally celebrated career that extends beyond the screen.
In June 2025, Henson starred in Tyler Perry’s Straw for Netflix. The film, which also includes performances by Sherri Shepherd and Teyana Taylor, follows a single mother (Henson) who faces a series of unfortunate events that lead her down an unexpected path. Straw debuted as the #1 film globally on Netflix in its first week. Additional projects this year include Apple TV+’s “Number One on the Call Sheet,” a two-part documentary that celebrates the achievements of Black actors in Hollywood, and CNN’s latest travel series, “My Happy Place.”
Most recently, Henson starred in Peacock’s limited series “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” which launched as the most watched premiere in Peacock history and the #1 original drama. The show earned the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie), and Henson took home the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie).
She quickly rose to fame with her breakout role in Hustle & Flow, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and a BET Award for Best Actress. She was most recently seen in the award-winning musical adaptation of The Color Purple, winning an NAACP Image Award and receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award ensemble nomination. Other film highlights include Hidden Figures, Acrimony, Proud Mary, Think Like A Man and Think Like A Man Too, Smokin’ Aces, No Good Deed, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
On television, she has garnered multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations, most recently for her guest turn on “Abbott Elementary.” Previously, Henson won a Golden Globe Award, received multiple Emmy nominations, and became the first Black woman to win a Critics’ Choice Television Award in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category for her portrayal of Cookie Lyon on the smash hit series “Empire.” Her producorial efforts on the play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Play in 2024.
In June 2024, she released her #1 New York Times bestselling and NAACP Image Award-winning children’s book, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!). Henson also released her New York Times bestselling novel Around the Way Girl in October 2016.
In 2018, Henson created the Boris L. Henson Foundation, which exists to both normalize and improve access to mental health services for Black communities in hopes of eradicating the stigma around seeking help and support. Furthering her passion for creating and uplifting her community and beyond, Henson founded TPH by Taraji in 2020, an award-winning brand of inclusive, spa-inspired products. In 2024, Henson further expanded her business portfolio as the strategic advisor and creative collaborator for Seven Daughters Moscato. For Henson, this collaboration is about more than wine; it’s about creating opportunities for magical moments of connection and lasting memories.
Cedric “The Entertainer” (Seth Holly) Cedric Antonio Kyles, better known by his stage name, Cedric “The Entertainer,” is an executive producer, director, actor, comedian, and novelist. Over the course of a career spanning 30 years, he has solidified his status as one of the world’s premier performers on the stage, in film, and on television.
Most recently, Cedric has developed and will serve as executive producer of the new comedy sitcom “Crutch,” starring Tracy Morgan, for Paramount+. He has also joined forces with Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum artist, actress, producer and entrepreneur Toni Braxton for a music and comedy experience with their joint residency, Love & Laughter, at The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
In the literary world, Cedric released his debut novel, Flipping Boxcars, for Amistad Press/HarperCollins in September 2023. Collaborating with Alan Eisenstock, the literary noir tale drew on stories from his own close-knit family’s colorful history to serve up a fast-paced and diverting fictional crime caper.
On the TV front, Cedric is the star and executive producer of the CBS hit comedy ”The Neighborhood,” which was recently renewed for an 8th season and continues to hold the spot for one of the top 3 most-watched comedy shows on broadcast television. The series features star-studded guests, including George Lopez, Toni Braxton, and Tracy Morgan, to name a few. In 2023, Cedric received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for “The Neighborhood,” making it his sixth inclusion within the category.
Concurrently, he is starring in and executive producing the ”Kings of BBQ” series now on Hulu, where he and Anthony Anderson tie in their love of BBQ with their lifestyle brand, AC Barbeque. Cedric also hosted and executive produced ”The Greatest #AtHome Videos” and has previously hosted and produced the 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards. In addition, Cedric reprised his role as Uncle Bobby in Disney+’s ”The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”—the long-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking animated series “The Proud Family.” Other noteworthy television credits include ”The Last O.G. “ opposite Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish, ”The Steve Harvey Show,” “Cedric the Entertainer Presents” and ”Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
His versatile film work spans genres, from memorable performances in comedies such as the hit Barbershop franchise and The Original Kings of Comedy concert film—which chronicled his record-breaking comedy tour with fellow comedians Steve Harvey, D.L Hughley and the late Bernie Mac—to dramas like Paul Schrader’s critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated drama First Reformed, co-starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried, as well as his signature baritone voice in animated hits such as Disney’s Madagascar and Planes franchises, Ice Age, and Dr. Dolittle 2, among many others.
He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019. Cedric has continuously been passionate about his philanthropic efforts through The Kyles Family Foundation, where they have raised funds and donated to organizations and programs including the Boys & Girls Club of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, United Negro College Fund, SSM Health’s Women’s Health Initiative, UNCF, Amazing Grace Conservatory, and more.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Bynum Walker). Ruben most recently helmed the world premiere of John Leguizamo’s The Other Americans at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and the Public Theatre in NYC. He will star opposite Tom Hanks and Kelli O’Hara in This World of Tomorrow, written by Hanks and James Glossman, at NYC’s The Shed in November 2025. His Broadway production of Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau received 4 Tony® nominations, including Outstanding New Play. His own autobiographical Lackawanna Blues was awarded The Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards as well as a Tony Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor. With Lackawanna Blues, Ruben became the first person in the history of Broadway to write, direct and star in a play. His Broadway production of Jitney garnered several awards for Outstanding Revival including the Tony Award and six Tony nominations. Santiago-Hudson adapted August Wilson’s play Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom for Netflix: produced by Denzel Washington, directed by George C. Wolfe, and starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman.
Santiago-Hudson received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars and made his Broadway acting debut alongside Gregory Hines in Jelly’s Last Jam; other Broadway credits include Stick Fly and Gem of the Ocean.
Ruben wrote, executive produced and co-starred in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues based on his Obie- and Helen Hayes Award-winning play. The movie received many honors, including an Emmy, Golden Globe, NAACP Image Award, The Christopher Award, and the Humanitas Prize.
Film and television credits include “East New York,” American Gangster, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Shaft, Devil’s Advocate, Domestic Disturbance, Forgotten Genius, The Red Sneakers, Selma, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Solomon and Sheba (the first time a biblical movie starred actors of color), Rear Window, “The Quad,” “Public Morals,” “Low Winter Sun,” “David Makes Man,” “Billions,” “The West Wing,” “Law & Order,” and numerous other guest star appearances. Santiago-Hudson starred in the hit ABC series “Castle” for three seasons as Capt. Roy Montgomery.
Ruben’s other honors as writer, director or actor include the Humanitas Prize, the National Board Of Reviews, the Christopher Award, the Clarence Derwent Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, 4 Obie Awards, 6 Audelco Awards, the Helen Hayes Award, the NAACP Image Award, the Glen Bartle Distinguished Alumni Award, the SDCF Joseph Calloway Directing Award, the Lloyd Richards Directing Award, the Nederlander Apple Award, and honorary doctorate degrees from Wayne State University and Buffalo State University.
