TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) featured a cast of 26 tracked actors. Of these, 7 (27%) are still alive today and 19 have passed away. The oldest surviving cast member is Bill Cosby, age 89. This film starred Muhammad Ali and Jonelle Allen.
27% still with us· verified cast
Survivorship
Cast Reunion Index: 27% still living
Avg. Age at Death: 73.6 yrs
Deaths by Year
1962
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2025
Cast26 members
| Person | Character | Status | DOB | Age | DOD | Age in 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Muhammad Ali Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 17/01/1942 | 74 | 03/06/2016 | 62 |
 Jonelle Allen Self | Self | Living | 18/07/1944 | 82 | — | 60 |
 John Amos (archive footage) | (archive footage) | Deceased | 27/12/1939 | 84 | 21/08/2024 | 65 |
 Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 18/09/1905 | 71 | 28/02/1977 | 99 |
 Desi Arnaz (archive footage) | (archive footage) | Deceased | 02/03/1917 | 69 | 02/12/1986 | 87 |
 Obba Babatundé Self | Self | Living | 01/12/1951 | 74 | — | 53 |
 Pearl Bailey Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 29/03/1918 | 72 | 17/08/1990 | 86 |
 Lucille Ball (archive footage) | (archive footage) | Deceased | 06/08/1911 | 77 | 26/04/1989 | 93 |
 Harry Belafonte Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 01/03/1927 | 96 | 25/04/2023 | 77 |
 Patricia Belcher Self | Self | Living | 07/04/1954 | 72 | — | 50 |
 Willie Best Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 27/05/1913 | 49 | 27/11/1962 | 91 |
 H. Rap Brown Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 04/10/1943 | 82 | 23/11/2025 | 61 |
 Cindy Birdsong Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Living | 15/12/1939 | 86 | — | 65 |
 James Brown Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 03/05/1933 | 73 | 25/12/2006 | 71 |
 Cab Calloway Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 25/12/1907 | 86 | 18/11/1994 | 97 |
 Diahann Carroll (archive footage) | (archive footage) | Deceased | 17/07/1935 | 84 | 04/10/2019 | 69 |
 Ray Charles Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 23/09/1930 | 73 | 10/06/2004 | 74 |
 Bill Cosby Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Living | 12/07/1937 | 89 | — | 67 |
 Sammy Davis Jr. Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 08/12/1925 | 64 | 16/05/1990 | 79 |
 Ruby Dee (archive footage) | (archive footage) | Deceased | 27/10/1922 | 91 | 11/06/2014 | 82 |
 Redd Foxx (archive footage) | (archive footage) | Deceased | 09/12/1922 | 68 | 11/10/1991 | 82 |
 Marvin Gaye Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 02/04/1939 | 44 | 01/04/1984 | 65 |
 Whoopi Goldberg Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Living | 13/11/1955 | 70 | — | 49 |
 Arsenio Hall Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Living | 12/02/1955 | 71 | — | 49 |
 Lena Horne Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 30/06/1917 | 92 | 09/05/2010 | 87 |
 Michael Jackson Self (archive footage) | Self (archive footage) | Deceased | 29/08/1958 | 50 | 25/06/2009 | 46 |