Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
arts

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Kadeem Hardison

American actor (born 1965)


American actor (born 1965)

FieldValue
imageKadeem Hardison - Drive 1997.jpg
captionHardison in 2025
nameKadeem Hardison
birth_date
birth_placeBrooklyn, New York City, U.S.
known_forA Different World, The Cosby Show & K.C. Undercover
occupationActor
spouse
children1
yearsactive1981–present

Kadeem Hardison (born July 24, 1965) is an American actor. The son of fashion model Bethann Hardison, he rose to prominence after landing the role of Dwayne Wayne on the television series A Different World, a spin-off of the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He is also known for playing Craig Cooper, the title character's father, in the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover. Hardison has also appeared in the first season of the Showtime comedy Black Monday and starred as Bowser in the Netflix series Teenage Bounty Hunters. On February 14, 2025, Hardison was announced as a cast member in the 3rd season of the HBO series Euphoria.

Early life

Hardison was born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Donald McFadden, an antique and fine art collector, and Bethann Hardison, a pioneering African-American runway model and advocate for diversity in the fashion industry.

Career

Hardison was a starring cast member on the sitcom A Different World as Dwayne Wayne, and a regular cast member of K.C. Undercover and the short-lived sitcoms Abby and Between Brothers. His career was managed predominantly by his mother, Bethann Hardison. He has also guest starred on several other sitcoms, including Living Single, Girlfriends, Under One Roof, The Boondocks (as himself), Greek, Parenthood, and on Everybody Hates Chris as the judge. His films include Escapee, Rappin', School Daze, Def by Temptation, Vampire in Brooklyn, 30 Years to Life, Made of Honor, The 6th Man, Drive, Renaissance Man, Panther, The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, Bratz, Biker Boyz, Who's Your Daddy?, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Blind Faith, Showtime, White Men Can't Jump, and B.C. Butcher. He appears in the 2013 PlayStation 3 video game Beyond: Two Souls as Cole Freeman, a doctor at the United States Department of Paranormal Activity.

Personal life

Hardison was married to American singer Chanté Moore from 1997 until 2000; they have a daughter. Hardison remains a close friend of actor Darryl Bell, who played his best friend Ron Johnson on A Different World; he made an appearance alongside Bell on FOX's Househusbands of Hollywood.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Beat StreetHigh School Student
The House of Dies DrearMac DarrowTelevision film
Go Tell It on the MountainRoyal
1985Rappin'Moon
1987Enemy TerritoryA-Train
1988School DazeEdge
I'm Gonna Git You SuckaWillie
1989Dream DateJim ParkerTelevision film
1990Def by Temptation'K'
1992White Men Can't JumpJunior
1994GunmenIzzy
Renaissance ManPvt. Jamaal Montgomery
1995PantherJudge
Vampire in BrooklynJulius Jones
1997The 6th ManAntoine Tyler
DriveMalik Brody
1998Blind FaithEddie Williams
2000Dancing in SeptemberWinston
200130 Years to LifeBruce
Fire & IceMichael WilliamsTelevision film
Instinct to KillLance Difford
Thank HeavenBilly Ferrell
2002ShowtimeKyle
Red SkiesRileyTelevision film
Who's Your Daddy?Andy BrookesVideo
2003Biker BoyzT.J.
DunsmoreWalter Taylor
2004Face of TerrorJefferson
2006The Cassidy KidsDennis Peabody
Love Hollywood StyleIce Pop
Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino StoryJoseph BarrinoTelevision film
2007BratzSasha's Dad
2008Made of HonourFelix
The SweepTyrone
2010AshesMatthew
2011EscapeeDetective Pars
The Hop OffCharles LeeShort
RicochetBob WorleyTelevision film
2013The Dark PartyJeff
ZerosomeCyrus Wainwright
2014Android CopSgt. Jones
Rescuing MadisonStevenTelevision film
2015Sister SwitchGregory Cole
2016B.C. ButcherNarrator
Queen of HeartsBookShort
2018The Christmas PactSadie's DadTelevision film
2019PaddletonDavid
2020Psych 2: Lassie Come HomeWilkersonTelevision film
Playing with BeethovenTed
2024ClearMindTom

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981ABC Afterschool Specials-Episode: "The Colour of Friendship"
1984The Cosby ShowPhillip WashingtonEpisode: "A Shirt Story"
1985American PlayhouseRoyalEpisode: "Go Tell It on the Mountain"
1987Spenser: For HireBobby WatersEpisode: "My Enemy, My Friend"
1987–93A Different WorldDwayne Cleofis WayneMain Cast
1988TV's Bloopers & Practical JokesHimselfEpisode: "Corbin Bernsen/Kadeem Hardison/Morton Downey Jr."
1990Saturday Morning VideosHimself/HostMain Host
The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirHimselfEpisode: "Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect: Part 2"
1991Sesame StreetHimselfEpisode: "Episode #22.42"
1992CBS Schoolbreak SpecialHenry BrooksEpisode: "Words Up!"
Out All NightDeanEpisode: "Smooth Operator"
RocRev. AdamsEpisode: "Dear Landlord"
1994Captain Planet and the PlaneteersGoki (voice)Episode: "Gorillas Will Be Missed"
1995Living SingleMarcus HughesEpisode: "Who's Scooping Who?"
1997Touched by an AngelMarc HamiltonEpisode: "Smokescreen"
1997–99Between BrothersCharles GordonMain Cast
1998Love Boat: The Next WavePerryEpisode: "Smooth Sailing"
Linc's-Episode: "Gangsta Rap"
Fantasy IslandMichael WilkinsonEpisode: "Wishboned"
1998–99The Crow: Stairway to HeavenSkull CowboyRecurring Cast
2000Just Shoot Me!Tad GallowEpisode: "Blackjack"
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildClown (voice)Episode: "The Steadfast Tin Soldier"
2001Intimate PortraitHimselfEpisode: "Jasmine Guy"
What About Joan?BenEpisode: "Joan Sets Up Alice"
2002–03Livin' LargeHimself/HostMain Host
2003AbbyWill JefferiesMain Cast
2000–04Static ShockAdam Evans/Rubberband Man (voice)title=Kadeem Hardison (visual voices guide)url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Kadeem-Hardison/access-date=October 19, 2023publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
2005One on OneDirectorEpisode: "Venice Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
2006Just for KicksCharles AtwoodRecurring Cast
My Name is EarlOwnerEpisode: "Born a Gamblin Man"
2006–07HouseLawyer Howard GemeinerRecurring Cast: Season 3
2007GirlfriendsEldon ParksRecurring Cast: Season 7
2007–09Everybody Hates ChrisJudge Harry WatkinsGuest Cast: Seasons 3–4
2008Under One RoofJamalEpisode: "Cell Out"
2009GreekBrian HowardEpisode: "Our Fathers"
Cold CaseAndrew 'Huxtable' Garrett '09Episode: "Read Between the Lines"
2010Ghost WhispererDean OlsonEpisode: "Dead Air"
The BoondocksHimself/Bald Actor (voice)Episode: "Pause"
2012ParenthoodRichard GilchristEpisode: "Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You"
Family GuyNBA Player (voice)Episode: "Ratings Guy"
2013CultPazRecurring Cast
2015Unsung HollywoodHimselfEpisode: "A Different World"
2015–18K.C. UndercoverCraig CooperMain Cast
2016Unsung HollywoodHimselfEpisode: "Jasmine Guy"
SupernaturalRussell LemmonsEpisode: "Rock Never Dies"
20179JKLTerranceEpisode: "The Key to Life"
K.9. UndercoverCraig Cooper (voice)Episode: "Infinite Loop"
2018Love IsNormanRecurring Cast
2019Black MondaySpencerRecurring Cast: Season 1
2020Teenage Bounty HuntersBowser JenkinsMain Cast
2021Reunion Road TripHimselfEpisode: "It's a Different World"
2022The Lincoln LawyerDetective KinderRecurring Cast: Season 1
MoonhavenArloMain Cast
2022–24Grown-ishCarnegie P. MillerGuest: Seasons 4–5, Recurring Cast: Season 6
2023–24The ChiProfessor GardnerRecurring Cast: Season 6
2024That 90's ShowMarcusEpisode: "I Can See Clearly Now"
TBACriminalGnarleylast1=Corderofirst1=Rosydate=May 29, 2024title=Kadeem Hardison Joins Ed Brubaker's Prime Video Series Criminal as Series Regularurl=https://deadline.com/2024/05/kadeem-hardison-ed-brughbaker-prime-video-series-criminal-1235943587/url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529203138/https://deadline.com/2024/05/kadeem-hardison-ed-brughbaker-prime-video-series-criminal-1235943587/archive-date=May 29, 2024access-date=May 29, 2024website=Deadline Hollywoodpublisher=Penske Media Corporation}}

Music videos

YearSongArtist
1991"Monster in the Mirror"Sesame Street
1995"Just tah Let U Know"Eazy-E
2001"Careful (Click, Click)"Wu-Tang Clan

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Beyond: Two SoulsCole FreemanVoice acting and motion capture

Cultural influence

  • Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran credit Hardison for making the name "Kadeem" familiar.
  • Hardison is the model for the title character Michael "The Cool" Young History in the inserts of the album The Cool by Lupe Fiasco.
  • Hardison was the subject of then-wife Chanté Moore's 1999 single "Chanté's Got a Man".
  • In a press conference following Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade wore flip-up sunglasses and said he was, "paying a little homage to Dwayne Wayne tonight", referencing Hardison's popular character from A Different World.
  • In Season 2, Episode 7 of Psych ("If You're So Smart, Then Why Are You Dead"), Gus references utilizing the "Kadeem Hardison method" to kiss a girl.
  • Hardison appears as the narrator on Add-2's 2019 album, Jim Crow: The Musical.

References

References

  1. "Kadeem Hardison Biography (1965?-)". filmreference.com.
  2. (September 21, 2017). "Whitley's World: A Brief History of Bad and Boujee Black Girl Style". ESPN.
  3. "'A Different World': Where Are They Now?".
  4. "Kadeem Hardison (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors.
  5. Rosario, Alexandra Del. (2021-07-20). "''Moonhaven'': Kadeem Hardison Joins Cast Of AMC Utopian Drama As Series Regular".
  6. (May 29, 2024). "Kadeem Hardison Joins Ed Brubaker's Prime Video Series ''Criminal'' as Series Regular". [[Penske Media Corporation]].
  7. Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran, ''Baby Names Now: From Classic to Cool—The Very Last Word on First Names'' (Macmillan, 2002), [https://books.google.com/books?id=N6NxC731aEIC&pg=RA2-PA353&dq=%22Dwayne+Wayne%22&ei=g2wCSejVGoO6yAS8wK2fCw 353].
  8. [https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dwyane-wade-wears-flip-sunglasses-post-game-4-150147586--nba.html Dwyane Wade postgame interview, Game 4 of the NBA Finals].
  9. (June 20, 2012). "Wade brings back flip shades at the podium!". YouTube.
  10. (November 26, 2019). "Add-2 Releases 'Jim Crow: The Musical' Album". Cheri Media.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Kadeem Hardison — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report