Kadeem Hardison

Kadeem Hardison is an actor and director whose career spans more than four decades in film and television. Hardison studied acting at New York City's Eubie Blake Theatre and HB Studio, making his debut as a teenager on an ABC Afterschool Special. Early film roles included appearances in Stan Lathan's adaptation of James Baldwin's "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and the hip-hop film "Beat Street."

Hardison gained national recognition for his role as Dwayne Wayne on the NBC sitcom "A Different World," a spin-off of The Cosby Show. His portrayal of the college student, known for his flip-up glasses, became a defining character in Black television and pop culture. The role earned Hardison multiple NAACP Image Award nominations and wins, including Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.

After "A Different World," Hardison continued to work across film and television. He appeared in Spike Lee's "School Daze," Ron Shelton's "White Men Can't Jump" with Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, and co-starred with Eddie Murphy and Angela Bassett in "Vampire in Brooklyn." Hardison also contributed voice work to animated series, including the character of Virgil's father in "Static Shock." His television guest appearances include "Everybody Hates Chris," "Parenthood," "Greek," and "Ghost Whisperer."

Hardison has taken on roles in series such as the Disney Channel's "K.C. Undercover" as Craig Cooper and Showtime's "Black Monday." He played Bowser Jenkins, a veteran bounty hunter, in the Netflix series "Teenage Bounty Hunters." In addition to acting, Hardison has directed episodes of "A Different World" and made his feature directorial debut with "The Dark Party." His work continues to contribute to the landscape of American television, film, and entertainment.