24 Famous Actors In Their First Role Vs. What They Look Like Today

1.Queen Latifah in her first role as Lashawn in Jungle Fever in 1991:

She's in a patterned headwrap and beaded necklace expressing concern
Universal / Via youtube.com

Queen Latifah now:

Queen Latifah wearing a tuxedo-inspired outfit with statement jewelry at an event
Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images

1991 vs. now:

  Universal / Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images
Universal / Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images

2.Eddie Murphy in his first role as Reggie Hammond in 48 Hrs. in 1982:

Eddie Murphy in character wearing a checkered jacket and tie
Paramount / Via youtube.com

Eddie now:

Eddie Murphy holding award, wearing glasses and a black suit, standing at podium with microphone, smiling
Rich Polk / NBC via Getty Images

1982 vs. now:

  Paramount / Rich Polk / NBC via Getty Images
Paramount / Rich Polk / NBC via Getty Images

3.Raven-Symoné in her first role as Olivia Kendall in The Cosby Show from 1989–1992:

Young Raven in character wearing a layered outfit, smiling
NBC / Via youtube.com

Raven now:

Raven-Symoné posing, wearing a pinstripe suit with necklaces, with a buzzed head
Unique Nicole / Getty Images

'90s vs. now:

  NBC / Unique Nicole / Getty Images
NBC / Unique Nicole / Getty Images

4.Viola Davis in her first role as a nurse in The Substance of Fire in 1996:

closeup of a young viiola davis

Viola now:

closeup of viola smiling with natural hair and a cocktail dress
Monica Schipper / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

1996 vs. now:

  Miramax / Monica Schipper / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Miramax / Monica Schipper / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

5.Gabrielle Union in one of her first roles as Ashli in Moesha in 1996:

closeup of Gabrielle in a cheerleading uniform
UPN

Gabrielle now:

Gabrielle Union smiling in a white lace blouse with hoop earrings at an event
Taylor Hill / WireImage

1996 vs. now:

  UPN / Taylor Hill / Getty Images
UPN / Taylor Hill / Getty Images

6.Idris Elba in one of his first roles as a pizza delivery man in Space Precinct in 1994:

closeup of Idris in a dirty uniform
Sky One / Via youtube.com

Idris now:

Idris Elba smiles in a sleek suit with a hand tattoo
Cindy Ord / Getty Images for Vanity Fair

1994 vs. now:

  Sky One / Cindy Ord / Getty Images
Sky One / Cindy Ord / Getty Images

7.Regina King in her first role as Brenda Jenkins in 227 from 1985–1990:

closeup of regina sitting on a couch with short hair
Columbia / Via youtube.com

Regina now:

closeup of regina at an event with her hair pulled up
Jc Olivera / FilmMagic / Getty Images

'80s vs. now:

  Columbia / Jc Olivera / FilmMagic / Getty Images
Columbia / Jc Olivera / FilmMagic / Getty Images

8.Samuel L. Jackson in one of his first roles in The Displaced Person in 1977:

closeup of samuel wearing a bucket hat standing outside
PBS / Via youtube.com

Samuel now:

Samuel L. Jackson wearing a beanie and glasses, with a sweater over a polo shirt
Eamonn M. Mccormack / Getty Images for Universal Pictures

1977 vs. now:

  PBS / Eamonn M. Mccormack / Getty Images
PBS / Eamonn M. Mccormack / Getty Images

9.Halle Berry in her first role as Emily Franklin in Living Dolls in 1989:

closeup of a younger halle with short hair and gold hoop earrings
ABC

Halle now:

Halle posing at an event, wearing an elegant black outfit with a sheer neckline with curled short hair
Steve Granitz / FilmMagic

1989 vs now:

  ABC / Steve Granitz / Getty Images
ABC / Steve Granitz / Getty Images

10.Denzel Washington as Robert Eldridge in Wilma in 1977:

closeup of denzel
NBC / Via youtube.com

Denzel now:

closeup of an older denzel smiling in a suit
Momodu Mansaray / WireImage / Getty Images

1977 vs. now:

  NBC / Momodu Mansaray / WireImage / Getty Images
NBC / Momodu Mansaray / WireImage / Getty Images

11.Angela Bassett in her first role as Salina McCulla in Search for Tomorrow in 1985:

closeup of angela in a blazer with short hair
NBC / Via youtube.com

Angela now:

Angela Bassett in a patterned blazer with her long hair curled
Monica Schipper / Getty Images

1985 vs. now:

  NBC / Monica Schipper / Getty Images
NBC / Monica Schipper / Getty Images

12.Zendaya in her first role as Rocky Blue in Shake It Up from 2010–2013:

closeup of zendaya in a dance uniform
Disney / Via youtube.com

Zendaya now:

Zendaya in a futuristic metallic outfit with statement necklace at an event
Joe Maher / Getty Images

Early '10s vs. now:

  Disney / Joe Maher / Getty Images
Disney / Joe Maher / Getty Images

13.Jamie Foxx in In Living Color from 1991–1994:

closeup of a younger jamie wearing a backwards cap
20th Television / Via youtube.com

Jamie now:

Jamie Foxx at an event wearing a coat with his hair cut short and a goatee
Joe Maher / Getty Images

Early '90s vs. now:

  20th Television / Joe Maher / Getty Images
20th Television / Joe Maher / Getty Images

14.Lupita Nyong'o in her first role as F in East River in 2008:

lupita wearing  gold hoop earrings and a dress with a shaved head

Lupita now:

Lupita Nyong'o smiling in a jeweled dress with flower headpiece at a celebrity event
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

2008 vs. now:

  Kozak Films / Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Kozak Films / Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

15.Will Smith in his first role as Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990:

closeup of will making a face at the camera wearing gold necklaces and a hat
Nbc / NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Will now:

Will making a peace sign gesture at an event wearing a suit and he's got a goatee
Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival

1990 vs. now:

  NBC/ Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images
NBC/ Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images

16.Octavia Spencer in her first role as Nurse Annette in A Time To Kill in 1996:

closeup of octavia in a nurse uniform
Warner Bros. / Via youtube.com

Octavia now:

Octavia Spencer wearing a stylish top with her hair curled and worn loose
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images

1996 vs. now:

  Warner Bros. / Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images
Warner Bros. / Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images

17.Don Cheadle in one of his first roles as Elliott Washburn in Hamburger Hill in 1987:

closeup of don sitting on the ground in a uniform
Paramount / Via youtube.com

Don now:

Don wearing a blazer and glasses at a marvel event
Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images

1987 vs. now:

  Paramount / Michael Buckner / Getty Images
Paramount / Michael Buckner / Getty Images

18.Tracee Ellis Ross in her first role as Kiki in Far Harbor in 1996:

closeup of a younger tracee looking pensive
Castle Hill Productions / Via youtube.com

Tracee now:

closeup of tracee smiling at an event with a long ponytail
Steven Ferdman / Getty Images for CultureCon

1996 vs. now:

  Castle Hill Productions / Steven Ferdman / Getty Images for CultureCon
Castle Hill Productions / Steven Ferdman / Getty Images for CultureCon

19.Laurence Fishburne in one of his first roles as Josh Hall in One Life to Live from 1973–1976:

a young laurence with his hand on his hip
Abc Photo Archives / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Laurence now:

closeup of laurnence in a suit
Frazer Harrison / WireImage / Getty Images

'70s vs. now:

  ABC / Frazer Harrison / WireImage / Getty Images
ABC / Frazer Harrison / WireImage / Getty Images

20.Keke Palmer in her first role as Gina's niece in Barbershop 2 in 2004:

closeup of young keke with two pigtails
MGM / Via youtube.com

Keke now:

Keke wearing a black strapless gown with large hoop earrings and hair in a blow out
Taylor Hill / WireImage

1996 vs. now:

  MGM / Taylor Hill / Getty Images
MGM / Taylor Hill / Getty Images

21.Mahershala Ali in his first role as Dr. Trey Sanders in Crossing Jordan from 2001–2002:

closeup of Mahershala Ali

Mahershala now:

Man in patterned coat and fur hat smiling at an event
Cindy Ord / FilmMagic,

Early 2000s vs. now:

  NBC / Cindy Ord / Getty Images
NBC / Cindy Ord / Getty Images

22.Whoopi Goldberg in one of her first roles as Celie in The Color Purple in 1985:

closeup of whoopi goldberg sitting in a rocking chair
Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection

Whoopi now:

Whoopi Goldberg smiles in a studio, with her hair in long locs

1985 vs. now:

  Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection / ABC
Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection / ABC

23.Tessa Thompson in her first role as Wilhelmina "Billie" Doucette in Cold Case in 2005:

She's got curly hair wearing a casual shirt, standing near a brick wall
CBS

Tessa now:

Actress with braided hair and a strapless gown
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images for Vanity Fair

2005 vs. now:

  CBS / Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images
CBS / Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images

24.And finally, Kerry Washington in her first role in ABC Afterschool Special in 1994:

Kerry in a plaid shirt with a headband against a starry backdrop
ABC / Via youtube.com

Kerry now:

Kerry with shoulder-length hair wearing a thin-strapped ruffled dress
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images for Vanity Fair

1994 vs. now:

  ABC / Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images
ABC / Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images

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