Viola Davis: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Oct. 19, 2026

News •

Stars including Viola Davis hit the red carpet in La Jolla • Oct. 14, 2026, 4:41 PM ET (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Facts

Born	August 11, 1965 (age 61) • South Carolina
Awards And Honors	EGOT • Cecil B. DeMille Award (2025) • Grammy Award (2023) • Golden Globe Award (2017) • Academy Award (2017) • Emmy Award (2015) • Tony Awards (2010) • Tony Awards (2001) • Academy Award (2017): Actress in a Supporting Role • Emmy Award (2015): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series • Golden Globe Award (2017): Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture • Tony Award (2010): Best Actress in a Play • Tony Award (2001): Best Featured Actress in a Play
Married To	Julius Tennon (2003–present)
Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In)	"Without a Trace" (2006) • "Get on Up" (2014) • "Judging Amy" (2000) • "Doubt" (2008) • "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" (2005) • "Fences" (2016) • "The Help" (2011) • "Far from Heaven" (2002) • "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her" (2013) • "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2003–2008) • "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them" (2014) • "World Trade Center" (2006) • "Traveler" (2007) • "Blackhat" (2015) • "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (2011) • "Kate & Leopold" (2001) • "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2002) • "How to Get Away with Murder" (2014–2020) • "Antwone Fisher" (2002) • "Sofia the First" (2013) • "NYPD Blue" (1996) • "Hack" (2003) • "Troop Zero" (2019) • "Century City" (2004) • "Threshold" (2005) • "American Koko" (2017) • "Brothers & Sisters" (2008) • "Law Abiding Citizen" (2009) • "The Architect" (2006) • "The Andromeda Strain" (2008) • "Traffic" (2000) • "Nights in Rodanthe" (2008) • "Lila & Eve" (2015) • "Out of Sight" (1998) • "City of Angels" (2000) • "Scandal" (2018) • "Disturbia" (2007) • "Trust" (2010) • "It's Kind of a Funny Story" (2010) • "The Substance of Fire" (1996) • "Ender's Game" (2013) • "Miss Apprehension and Squirt" (1998) • "The Division" (2002) • "The Guardian" (2001) • "New York Undercover" (1996) • "Solaris" (2002) • "Suicide Squad" (2016) • "Won't Back Down" (2012) • "Knight and Day" (2010) • "Providence" (2001) • "State of Play" (2009) • "United States of Tara" (2010) • "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2002) • "Widows" (2018) • "Eat Pray Love" (2010) • "The Practice" (2003) • "Laws of Chance" (2006) • "Prisoners" (2013) • "Madea Goes to Jail" (2009) • "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him" (2013) • "Third Watch" (2001) • "The Shrink Is In" (2001) • "Beautiful Creatures" (2013) • "Custody" (2016)

Top Questions

Is Viola Davis married?

Julius Tennon (2003–present)

When was Viola Davis born?

Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965.

Where was Viola Davis born?

Viola Davis was born in Saint Matthews, South Carolina, United States.

Photos

Viola Davis stands at a microphone in a white and black gown, holding her Emmy Award while accepting the outstanding lead actress in a drama series honor.

Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis, dressed as maids, stand together in a kitchen smiling at each other in a scene from the film The Help (2011).

Viola Davis as Rose Maxson stands outside in a checked dress and patterned apron, leaning on a railing next to a brick wall in a scene from the film Fences.

Viola Davis as Ma Rainey passionately singing into a vintage microphone, with Chadwick Boseman and Colman Domingo playing brass instruments behind her in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Viola Davis as Nanisca, wearing armor and holding a weapon, sits beside John Boyega as King Ghezo in a blue robe in a scene from the film Woman King.

Viola Davis, wearing a colorful necklace and bracelets, smiles while being interviewed by host Jimmy Fallon at his desk on The Tonight Show set with a New York City backdrop.

Viola Davis, in period costume, sits at a vintage sewing machine working with fabric during a scene from the play Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage.

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Whoopi Goldberg smiles in front of a red Fashion Group International step-and-repeat backdrop at the FGI Night of Stars 39th Annual Gala in New York City.

Whoopi Goldberg

American actress

Meryl Streep smiles on the red carpet in a long red gown with a deep V neckline, holding a silver clutch at the Academy Awards.

Meryl Streep

American actress

Rita Moreno smiles and holds up her memoir featuring a black-and-white portrait of herself on the cover at a book signing event in Los Angeles.

Rita Moreno

Puerto Rican-born American actress, dancer, and singer

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington

American actor

Marcia Gay Harden with long brown hair, wearing drop earrings and a black top, poses in front of a dark background with a white geometric design.

Marcia Gay Harden

American actress

Mel Brooks in a tuxedo smiles widely and points at his Emmy Award trophy while posing in front of a blue Emmy Awards backdrop.

Mel Brooks

American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor

Jennifer Hudson smiling at the camera, wearing sparkling earrings and a dark, shimmering outfit, with her hair pulled back.

Jennifer Hudson

American actress and singer

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Patty Duke

American actress

Allison Janney smiles in a close-up portrait with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a black textured top and earrings, against a dark background.

Allison Janney

American actress

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Bette Midler

American actress and singer

Glenn Close smiles while wearing a black sequined dress with a sheer neckline at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles.

Glenn Close

American actress

Mary-Louise Parker

Mary-Louise Parker

American actress

Joel Grey in Cabaret

Joel Grey

American actor, singer, and dancer

Ariana DeBose

Ariana DeBose

American actress

Tony Shalhoub smiling at the camera, wearing a beige suit, white shirt, and striped tie, in front of a dark background.

Tony Shalhoub

American actor

Robert Goulet smiling in a black-and-white studio portrait, wearing a plaid suit jacket, white shirt, and tie, circa early 1960s.

Robert Goulet

American singer and actor

Julie Harris stands holding an open parasol above her head, wearing a high-collared blouse and looking directly at the camera.

Julie Harris

American actress

Mike Nichols, wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie, stands smiling at a podium with a star-shaped award in front of him at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Mike Nichols

American director

Jessica Lange

Jessica Lange

American actress

James Earl Jones smiling and wearing a black tuxedo with a bow tie and glasses at an event in 1997.

James Earl Jones

American actor

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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