Angela Bassett is an American actress, director, and producer whose career spans film, television, and theater. Born in Harlem in 1958 and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, she became widely known for portraying real-life figures including Tina Turner, Betty Shabazz, Katherine Jackson, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King. Her breakthrough performance as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win. Bassett later reached a new generation through Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, American Horror Story, and 9-1-1. She received an Honorary Academy Award in 2024 for her lifetime contribution to cinema. In 2026, her credits include 9-1-1 and the upcoming animated film Wildwood.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Angela Evelyn Bassett |
| Date of Birth | August 16, 1958 |
| Age in 2026 | 68 |
| Birthplace | Harlem, New York, USA |
| Profession | Actress, Director, Producer |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Weight | Not reliably publicly verified |
| Husband | Courtney B. Vance |
| Children | Two |
| Education | Yale College, Yale School of Drama |
| Major Breakthrough | What’s Love Got to Do with It |
| Honorary Oscar | 2024 |
| Reported Net Worth | $25 million combined estimate |
Celebrity Net Worth reports $25 million as a combined figure for Bassett and her husband Courtney B. Vance, so it should not be treated as a separately verified personal net worth.
Early Life and Background
Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in Harlem and was raised primarily in St. Petersburg, Florida. She became interested in acting after seeing James Earl Jones perform Of Mice and Men during a high-school trip to Washington, D.C. That experience helped shape her decision to pursue theater and professional acting.
Education
Bassett attended Yale College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in African American studies in 1980. She continued her training at Yale School of Drama and received an MFA in 1983. Yale later awarded her an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 2018.
Career Journey / Rise to Fame
Bassett began her professional career on stage, appearing in productions including Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Henry IV, Part I, and Antigone. She moved into film with an early role in Boyz n the Hood and soon developed a reputation for portraying complex historical and fictional characters.
Her major breakthrough arrived with What’s Love Got to Do with It in 1993, where she portrayed singer Tina Turner. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama.
Major Career Achievements
Bassett’s career includes Waiting to Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Malcolm X, The Rosa Parks Story, The Jacksons: An American Dream, American Horror Story, Black Panther, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Her performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever brought another Academy Award nomination.
In January 2024, she received an Honorary Academy Award recognizing her lifetime achievement and contributions to cinema.
What Angela Bassett Is Known For
Bassett is particularly known for dramatic portrayals of real-life women and powerful fictional characters. Her performances as Tina Turner, Betty Shabazz, Rosa Parks, Katherine Jackson, and Queen Ramonda are among her most recognized roles. Her work also extends into directing, producing, television, voice acting, and theater.
How Much Angela Bassett Earns
Bassett’s exact annual income is not publicly disclosed. Her professional earnings can come from film and television acting, producing, directing, voice work, and other entertainment projects. Individual contracts and yearly compensation are generally private.
Sources of Income
Her documented professional income sources include acting in movies and television, executive producing, directing, voice performances, and stage work. Her long-running television roles, including 9-1-1, have added another significant area of professional activity. ABC identifies her as both star and executive producer of the series.
Angela Bassett Net Worth 2026
Celebrity Net Worth currently lists $25 million, but its figure is explicitly a combined net worth for Bassett and Courtney B. Vance. Therefore, it should not be presented as an independently verified figure for Bassett alone. No audited public statement establishes her individual 2026 net worth.
Net Worth Breakdown
A reliable dollar-by-dollar breakdown of Bassett’s personal wealth is unavailable. Her career-based financial profile includes decades of film and television work, producing, directing, voice acting, and stage performances. Private investments, property values, taxes, expenses, and liabilities are not sufficiently documented to calculate an exact personal balance sheet.
Personal Life, Family & Relationships
Bassett has been married to actor Courtney B. Vance since 1997. The couple have twins, Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah. They have also worked together professionally, including stage projects and their production company, Bassett/Vance Productions.
Physical Appearance
Bassett is commonly listed at 5 feet 4 inches, or approximately 1.63 meters. Her current weight is not reliably documented by authoritative public sources, so a specific number would be speculative.
Social Media Presence
Bassett maintains a public digital presence connected to her acting projects, appearances, interviews, and professional activities. Her online presence is primarily centered on career-related updates rather than detailed disclosure of her private family life.
Lifestyle & Assets
Bassett and Vance have maintained a relatively private family lifestyle despite decades of public careers. Public sources do not provide a complete, independently verified list of their current properties, investments, vehicles, or other assets, making precise asset valuations unreliable.
Recent Updates in 2026
Bassett continues to appear as Athena Grant-Nash on 9-1-1, with IMDb listing the series through 2026. Her current film credits also include Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, while Wildwood, an animated feature in which she voices the General, is listed for 2026.
Interesting Facts
- Bassett earned a BA in African American studies from Yale.
- She completed an MFA at Yale School of Drama.
- Her first Academy Award nomination came for portraying Tina Turner.
- She received an Honorary Academy Award in 2024.
- She has worked as an actress, director, producer, and voice performer.
- She has starred in both Black Panther films and 9-1-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Angela Bassett in 2026?
Angela Bassett is 68 years old in 2026. She was born on August 16, 1958.
What is Angela Bassett known for?
She is known for films and television projects including What’s Love Got to Do with It, Waiting to Exhale, Black Panther, American Horror Story, and 9-1-1.
Who is Angela Bassett’s husband?
She is married to actor Courtney B. Vance. They married in 1997 and have twins.
How tall is Angela Bassett?
She is commonly listed at 5 feet 4 inches, or about 1.63 meters.
What is Angela Bassett’s net worth in 2026?
Celebrity Net Worth reports $25 million as a combined figure for Bassett and Courtney B. Vance. Her individual net worth has not been independently verified.
Conclusion
Angela Bassett has built a career across stage, film, television, directing, and producing. Her portrayal of Tina Turner established her as a major film actress, while later work in Black Panther, American Horror Story, and 9-1-1 expanded her audience. Her Honorary Academy Award further recognized her long contribution to cinema. In 2026, she remains active through television and film projects, including 9-1-1 and Wildwood. Although published financial estimates exist, her exact individual net worth remains private.
Harvey Glen