Birthday Celebrations — June 19

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on June 19 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Phylicia Rashad

Born June 19, 1948

Title: Actress, singer, director, educator, and Tony Award winner

Phylicia Rashad is an actress, director, and educator whose work spans television, film, and the stage. She became the first Black woman to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, and her career reflects both artistic excellence and deep ties to Howard University and Black theater tradition.

Zoe Saldaña

Born June 19, 1978

Title: Actress, dancer, producer, and Afro-Latina cultural figure

Zoe Saldaña is an Afro-Latina actress whose work has reached global audiences through major film franchises and dramatic roles. Born to Dominican and Puerto Rican roots, she has carried Caribbean identity into a career that includes dance, action, science fiction, and film production.

Anthony Parker

Born June 19, 1975

Title: Basketball executive and former professional basketball player

Anthony Parker was a professional basketball player who built his career across the NBA and overseas before moving into front-office leadership. His journey shows another path in Black sports history: not only playing the game, but later helping shape teams and organizations from the executive side.