Personal Information

Born Kadeem Hardison, July 24, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York; son of Bethann Hardison (owner of a modeling agency) and Donald McFadden (an art collector).
Education: Studied acting with Earl Hyman and at H.B. Studios, New York.
Memberships: Memberships: Screen Actors Guild.

Career

Career: Actor, television director, producer. Television: A Different World, 1987-92; numerous guest appearances on television series and specials; host, For Our Children: the Concert, 1993. Made-for-television movies: Go Tell It on the Mountain, 1984; Dream Date, 1989; Words Up! 1992; Drive, 1997; Blind Faith, 1998. Films: Beat Street, 1984; Rappin`, 1985; I`m Gonna Git You Sucka, 1988; School Daze, 1988; Def by Temptation, 1990; White Men Can`t Jump, 1992; Renaissance Man, 1994; Gunmen, 1994; Vampire in Brooklyn, 1995; Panther, 1995; Drive 1997; The Sixth Man, 1997. Television director: episodes of A Different World. Co-executive producer: CBS-TV Schoolbreak Special Words Up! 1992. Video recording: The Imagination Machines, 1992.

Life`s Work

A mainstay of the NBC comedy series A Different World, actor Kadeem Hardison helped co-star Jasmine Guy anchor the series during its six-year run. From 1987 to 1992, Hardison developed his fast-talking, somewhat nerdy character Dwayne Wayne into what the Washington Post aptly described in 1990 as "a hip Phi Beta Kappa who hides his sensitivity" behind trademark flip-up shades. It is the role for which he is best known, and it earned him an NAACP Image Award in 1989 and an Image Award nomination in 1992.

Theatre-trained--he appeared in several productions at the Eubie Blake Theatre--Hardison has worked steadily since his television debut in the early eighties, making numerous guest appearances on several television series and specials. His work on A Different World was decisive in the show`s ability to soon stand on its own, well beyond the shadow of The Cosby Show. Hardison has also had many supporting and central roles on his list of film credits, including parts in School Daze (1988), White Men Can`t Jump (1992), Panther (1995), and The Sixth Man (1997). In addition to acting, Hardison has directed episodes of A Different World, and also served as co-executive producer on the CBS-TV Schoolbreak Special Words Up! in 1992.

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