Birthday Celebrations — August 3

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 3 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Isaiah Washington

Full name: Isaiah Washington IV

Born August 3, 1963

Actor, producer, author, and television and film performer.

Washington built a wide-ranging career across Black independent film, major studio productions, and television. His performances in films including Crooklyn and Get on the Bus, along with his role as Dr. Preston Burke on Grey’s Anatomy, made him a recognizable dramatic presence across several eras.

DJ Spinderella

Birth name: Deidra Muriel Roper

Born August 3, 1970

DJ, rapper, producer, radio personality, and member of Salt-N-Pepa.

Spinderella became one of hip-hop’s most visible and influential women DJs as part of Salt-N-Pepa. Her turntable work, stage presence, and longevity helped establish the DJ as an essential part of the group’s sound while opening space for women behind the decks in mainstream hip-hop.

Michael Ealy

Birth name: Michael David Brown

Born August 3, 1973

Actor and film and television leading man.

Ealy became known for bringing emotional depth, quiet intensity, and leading-man presence to Black film and television. From Barbershop and Their Eyes Were Watching God to Think Like a Man and later dramatic thrillers, his career has crossed romance, comedy, action, and television drama.

Todd Gurley

Full name: Todd Jerome Gurley II

Born August 3, 1994

Former NFL running back, All-Pro selection, and collegiate football standout.

Gurley emerged as one of football’s most explosive running backs, first at the University of Georgia and later in the NFL. At his peak with the Los Angeles Rams, his combination of speed, power, receiving ability, and scoring made him one of the league’s most dominant offensive players.

Beverly Lee

Born August 3, 1941

Singer, songwriter, founding member, and longtime keeper of the Shirelles legacy.

Lee helped form the Shirelles while still in high school, becoming part of one of the first Black girl groups to top the American pop charts. The group’s success opened doors for later Motown acts and helped make young Black women central figures in the sound of early 1960s popular music.

Jo Marie Payton

Born August 3, 1950

Actress, singer, voice performer, and Black television favorite.

Payton became beloved as Harriette Winslow on Perfect Strangers and Family Matters, helping anchor one of the most successful Black family sitcoms of its era. She later introduced a new generation to her voice as Suga Mama on The Proud Family and its revival.