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Angela Bassett Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 22, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth16 August 1958

Age68 years

BirthplaceHarlem, New York, U.S.A

ProfessionActress, Activist

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

SpouseCourtney B. Vance (m. 1997)

FamilySon - Slater Josiah Vance; Daughter - Bronwyn Golden Vance

Net worth$28 million

Angela Bassett Biography

Early life and background Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in Harlem, New York. She spent portions of her childhood in several American cities and attended multiple schools, including Disston Middle School, Jordan Park Elementary in Minneapolis, Azalea Middle School in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Boca Ciega High School in Florida.

Early life and background
Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in Harlem, New York. She spent portions of her childhood in several American cities and attended multiple schools, including Disston Middle School, Jordan Park Elementary in Minneapolis, Azalea Middle School in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Boca Ciega High School in Florida. In high school she was active in extracurricular programs—debate, drama, choir and student government—and was the first African-American student from her high school to be admitted to the National Honor Society.

Bassett pursued higher education at Yale University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. While at Yale she was classmates with actor Charles S. Dutton and met her future husband, Courtney B. Vance, who graduated from the drama school in 1986.

Career
Angela Bassett moved into professional theatre in New York, with one of her early stage appearances coming in 1985 at Second Stage Theatre. That year she also made her first television appearance, and her film debut followed in 1986.

In the early 1990s Bassett gained wider recognition through significant film roles, including parts in Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Malcolm X (1992). Her portrayal of Tina Turner brought international acclaim, earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and an Academy Award nomination. With that Golden Globe win she became the first African-American performer to claim that particular award in the Best Actress — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy category.

Bassett has often been praised for playing strong, real-life African-American women and other resilient characters throughout her career. In addition to live-action work, she has performed voice roles for animated projects and provided the voice for a First Lady character in an episode of a long-running animated series. Her television credits include both dramatic and genre work; she took on an unusual character in an anthology horror series and expanded into directing with a 2014 television film about the life of a major musical artist.

Public profile
Alongside her acting, Bassett is active in arts advocacy and youth programming. She supports events for children with diabetes and for children in foster care, and she serves as a UNICEF ambassador for the United States. She and her husband co-wrote a memoir about their relationship and the challenges they faced in becoming parents. Bassett is also publicly engaged with political causes and supported presidential campaigns in the 2000s and 2010s.

Personal life
Angela Bassett is married to actor Courtney B. Vance; the couple wed on October 12, 1997. After several fertility treatments, they became parents to twins—a son and a daughter. Bassett maintains a disciplined fitness routine and lists hobbies such as working out, reading and cooking. She identifies as Christian and is African-American.

Latest updates
Bassett continues to work across film, television and stage. Her credits include both dramatic portrayals and voice work, and she has taken on directing responsibilities for television. Her career remains noted for its focus on powerful, real-life figures and complex women.

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Recent Work

Whitney (TV film)

Made her directorial debut with a television film about Whitney Houston in 2014.

2014
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Career Highlights

  1. Portrayed Tina Turner, earning a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination
  2. Breakthrough film roles in Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Malcolm X (1992)
  3. Directorial debut with the 2014 TV film Whitney
  4. Appointed a UNICEF ambassador for the United States
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Net Worth

$28 million

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Angela Bassett born?

Angela Bassett was born on 16 August 1958.

What is Angela Bassett known for?

Angela Bassett is known for actress, Activist.

What is Angela Bassett’s marital status?

Angela Bassett's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Angela Bassett married to?

Angela Bassett is publicly listed as married to Courtney B. Vance (m. 1997).

What is Angela Bassett’s net worth?

Angela Bassett's net worth is commonly listed as $28 million, based on available public profile information.