405: Actor Kadeem Hardison

In this week’s episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome actor Kadeem Hardison.

Kadeem Hardison plays Professor Gardner, a college literature professor in the current Showtime series The Chi. Hardison became known for his role as the fast-talking, flip-sunglass-wearing, girl-watching “Dwayne Wayne” on NBC’s hit show A Different World alongside Lisa Bonet, Jasmine Guy and Debbie Allen. This role made him an instant ‘90s icon and a memorable television figure, and he even directed several episodes of the show. Before his breakout role, Kadeem began his acting career in 1981 on the ABC After School Special The Color of Friendship. Kadeem most recently starred in Moonhaven for AMC, was a series regular on Teenage Bounty Hunters for Netflix and recurred on the comedy series Black Monday for  Showtime.

In 2018, he starred in Love Is… for OWN. He also starred in Disney Channel’s K.C. Undercover opposite Zendaya for three seasons. He has guest starred and recurred on various shows such Grownish, NBC’s Parenthood, The CW’s Supernatural and the CBS comedy 9JKL, Between Brothers and House M.D, UPN’S Girlfriends and Everybody Hates Chris on CBS, along with many others.

Kadeem made his motion picture debut in Stan Lathan’s 1984 adaptation of James Baldwin’s classic Go Tell it on the Mountain and worked again with Lathan that same year in Beat Street. From there, he took several comedic supporting roles in films such as Spike Lee’s School Daze, Keenen Ivory Wayans’ Blaxploitation tribute I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, and Ron Shelton’s White Men Can’t Jump. He also co-starred alongside Eddie Murphy and Angela Bassett in the comedy Vampire in Brooklyn.  Kadeem currently resides in New York and Los Angeles, and has a daughter named Sophia.

Host: Ryanne
Music by: Sammus
Edited by: Jamie Broadnax