Who Knew?: 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Anthony Anderson

In 2003, when Anthony Anderson starred in All About the Andersons — a sitcom on the WB network — no one could have thought that he would have become as accomplished as he has within a decade. Having dipped into quite a few genres over the years, Anderson is experiencing his second round of success on the small screen with his new ABC series, Black-ish. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have Tracee Ellis Ross as his co-star. Anderson himself, didn’t come up as a priviliged kid but he’s stated in promotional interviews that his kids are having to learn how to adjust as his star rises in Hollywood. From his acting/directing career to being tapped to host shows like the Food Network’s Food Fest Nation, Anderson is pushing forward in Hollywood. Still, after all these years there may be a couple facts that you don’t know about the actor. Take a look at our list of six little-known things about Anthony Anderson.

– Anthony Anderson was born and raised in the Compton area of Los Angeles. He said in a 2002 interview with Femail, “You were either made a ward of the court, on parole or dead by 21 if you grew up in Compton, Los Angeles.” It’s well-known that Compton is pretty rough — especially for young black men coming of age but Anderson is a prime example of how to become a success, regardless of your background.

– After leaving his performing arts high school in Los Angeles, Anderson attended Howard University on a drama scholarship. While there, he met his college sweetheart Alvina and they got married in 1995. The couple has two children, Nathan and Kyra.

– In 2009 , Anderson directed a short film with his Law & Order co-star Jeremy Sisto as the featured actor. The piece was a part of a collaborative effort between NBC and Liberty Mutual.

– Anderson’s mother Dora was a film extra so he ended up spending a lot of time on movie sets.

– The Blackish producer started acting in commercials at the age of five.

-Anthony Anderson is diabetic and utilizes every opportunity to push for awareness of the disease.