We love each of these actors and singers for their talent, but no role in film, TV or stage is more perfect than the roles they have together, reliving some of the most classic movie roles and songs as a duet. Here are 15 Black celebrity couples, primarily from the 90’s and beyond, we love to see together on the big screen, the main stage or in our headphones, and the many projects they’ve starred in together.
Angela Bassett & Laurence Fishburne
This perfect cinematic couple have been featured in multiple projects together, from the big screen to the small stage. This couple most famously played Ike and Tina Turner for “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” were mother and father to Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.), performed on the stage together in “Fences,” and appeared together again in the 2006 film, “Akeelah and the Bee.”
Morris Chestnut & Gabrielle Union
This on-screen couple has been linked together on and off the big screen, but their most intimate embraces are only for the cameras. They have been a couples in numerous movies, including “The Perfect Holiday” and “The Brothers,” and were co-stars in movies “Two Can Play That Game” and more recently, “Think Like A Man.”
Ice Cube & Nia Long
Who could forget how Ice Cube longed for Nia Long in Friday? Well, he got to finish what he started with Long many years later in the movie Are We There Yet?
Terrence Howard & Taraji P. Henson*
Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson are best known for their co-starring roles in “Hustle & Flow,” but they also take their on-screen love to the stage at the 2010 hosts of the Soul Train Awards. This twosome also were plot members in 2005’s “Four Brothers.”
Chante Moore & Kenny Lattimore
This once real-life couple took their love and talents and combined them to work together on numerous songs and albums. 2003’s “Things That Lovers Do” consisted of classic soul songs from the ’70s and ’80s sung by the duet themselves and was the predecessor to other albums from the couple. The couple also recorded a version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You’re All I Need To Get By.” Sadly, the couple filed for divorce in 2011 after nine years together.
Babyface and Mariah Carey
Babyface and Mariah Carey were the “it” 90’s singing duo, one as an award-winning, multi-platinum artist and another as an award-winning producer/artist. They have recorded and produced various songs together for each other’s projects, such as “Everytime I Close My Eyes” and “Melt Away.”
Avant & Keke Wyatt
Avant and Keke Wyatt are known for making great music together, starting with classics like “My First Love” and “Nothing In This World.” This duo has recently joined together again for their latest single, “You & I.”
Sanaa Lathan & Omar Epps
Their roles as long-time friends turn lovers in 2000’s “Love and Basketball” had us all at hello to the on-screen chemistry, and this pair of actors will always be star-crossed in our eyes. Lathan and Epps have also crossed paths again, much to our delight, in another classic hit movie, “The Wood,” as childhood friends who longed to see each other again.
Tichina Arnold & Martin Lawrence
Hilarious as it may be, these two actors have crossed paths to the extreme. From hating each other on the hit television sitcom “Martin” to being husband and wife in “Wild Hogs,” Tichina Arnold and Martin Lawrence may have the most awkward, but hilarious scenes as a duo. The pair were also co-stars together in the film “Big Momma’s House.”
Martin Lawrence & Lynn Whitfield
Martin Lawrence has had his share of recurring co-stars, like bad boy co-star Will Smith and Tichina Arnold (previous), but none was crazier and more movie-worthy than Lynn Whitfield. Her role as Lawerence’s crazy girlfriend in the 90’s classic “A Thin Line Between Love & Hate” created a buzz for both actors, and she also appeared on a two-part episode of “Martin” the next year, crazily obsessed with Lawrence again while on a cruise.
R. Kelly & Kelly Price
Nothing says 90’s R&B more than a duet from R. Kelly and Kelly Price. These two R&B heavy hitters have been feature on each other’s singles and projects numerous times, from “Friend of Mine” with Ron Isley to “Best Friend” to “3 Way Call” with fellow singer Kim Burrell.
Alfred Woodard & Delroy Lindo
These two are a classic pair. We love Alfred Woodard and Delroy Lindo for their role as husband and wife in the 1994 Spike Lee directed, “Crooklyn.” The pair are also co-stars in the movie “The Core,” a 2003 film.
Danny Glover & Whoopi Goldberg
This pair of actors are in a league of their own, especially Goldberg who is an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar-winning actress, television host and comedienne. When you think of these two together, you think of the all-time classic movie that brought out the award-winning performances in 1985, “The Color Purple.” Known for its gripping acting by some of the best actors of the generation, “The Color Purple” is not the only movie this couple paired up for. They were also a couple in the light film, 2003’s “Good Fences.”
Nelly & Kelly Rowland
There are many duets we love, but duets complete with rapper Nelly and singer Kelly Rowland are one of the most memorable, beginning with their first duet, “Dilemma.” This was the anthem for 2002, and they hit us again with another duet together “Gone” in 2010. This is one couple we would like to see translate their love from the music to real life.
Kerry Washington & Jamie Foxx
We love this pair because not only do they make great movies together, but as individuals, their acting usually translates into something big. The blockbuster actors were co-stars in the autobiography of Ray Charles in “Ray,” and are filming their latest venture together “Django Unchained.”
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