Celebrities
Did you know that these celebrities were adopted?
More than 2 million children are adopted every year in the United States according to U.S. Census data. The Atlanta BlackStar recently covered a list of ten celebrities that were adopted as children.
Actor Jamie Foxx was born Eric Marlon Bishop to his birth mother Louise Annette Talley Dixon on December 13, 1967. Shortly after his birth, he was adopted by his birth mother’s adoptive parents Esther Marie and Mark Talley. His mother was not a part of his childhood as he had very little contact with her.
Singer Keyshia Cole was born October 15, 1981 to Francine “Frankie” Lons. At the age of two, she was adopted by family friends Leon and Yvonne Cole. Keyshia’s attempt to establish a positive relationship with her birth mother played out on her BET reality show “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is.”
NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was given up for adoption as an infant a matter of weeks after his birth. He was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick who had lost two children shortly after their births due to heart defects.
NBA player Alonzo Mourning was adopted by a family friend when his parents divorced. He was 10-years old when he was adopted by Fannie Threet, who adopted a total of 12 children and served as a foster mother to more than 200 children.
Black Eyed Peas star apl.de.ap, who was born in the Phililippines, was adopted at age 14 by the Hudgens family. Upon being adopted, he moved to Los Angeles, California. He describes his childhood in the Philippines before being adopted as “rough.”
Trailblazing hip hop icon Darryl McDaniels of the iconic group Run-DMC was adopted as an infant by Byford and Banna McDaniels. McDaniels adoptive parents did not reveal his adoption to him until he was 35 years old. McDaniels search for his biological family played out on the 2006 VH1 documentary “DMC:My Adoption Journey.”
Retired NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper was adopted by a woman who worked at the prison where his biological mother was serving time for armed robbery. His birth mother, Barbara Henderson, is the sister of former NFL linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson. His adoptive mother, Emma Lewis Culpepper, raised more than 15 children.
Musician Bo Diddley was adopted by his mother’s cousin Gussie McDaniel. He was born December 30, 1928 to birth mother Ellas Otha Bates.
Singer and actress Eartha Kitt, who was born after her biological mother was raped, was adopted by Anna Mae Riley. Kitt spent much of her childhood believing that Riley was her birth mother. Kitt was sent to live with her birth mother after Riley passed away.
Comedian and actor Tommy Davidson was adopted at two years old by a white couple. His adoption is one of the few cases of a celebrity being interracially adopted.
