Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (2009) featured a cast of 45 tracked actors. Of these, 31 (78%) are still alive today and 9 have passed away. The oldest surviving cast member is Marla Gibbs, age 95. This film starred Franklyn Ajaye and Angela Bassett.
78% still with us· verified cast69% of full cast · incl. 5 unverified
Survivorship
Cast Reunion Index: 78% still living
Avg. Age at Death: 74.9 yrs
Deaths by Year
2015
2017
2019
2020
2021
2024
Cast45 members
| Person | Character | Status | DOB | Age | DOD | Age in 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Franklyn Ajaye Self | Self | Living | 13/05/1949 | 77 | — | 60 |
 Angela Bassett Narrator (voice) | Narrator (voice) | Living | 16/08/1958 | 68 | — | 51 |
 Bill Bellamy Self | Self | Living | 07/04/1965 | 61 | — | 44 |
 Todd Boyd Self | Self | Living | 01/01/1964 | 62 | — | 45 |
 Jeff Clanagan Self | Self | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Bill Cosby Self | Self | Living | 12/07/1937 | 89 | — | 72 |
 Stanley Crouch Self | Self | Deceased | 14/12/1945 | 74 | 16/09/2020 | 64 |
 Elijah Cummings Self | Self | Deceased | 18/01/1951 | 68 | 17/10/2019 | 58 |
 Tommy Davidson Self | Self | Living | 10/11/1963 | 62 | — | 46 |
| Self | Living | 23/10/1958 | 67 | — | 51 | |
Walter Fauntroy Self | Self | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Shang Forbes Self | Self | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Marla Gibbs Self | Self | Living | 14/06/1931 | 95 | — | 78 |
| Self | Deceased | 27/05/1936 | 87 | 29/03/2024 | 73 | |
 Dick Gregory Self | Self | Deceased | 12/10/1932 | 84 | 19/08/2017 | 77 |
 Eddie Griffin Self | Self | Living | 15/07/1968 | 58 | — | 41 |
 Steve Harvey Self | Self | Living | 17/01/1957 | 69 | — | 52 |
 D.L. Hughley Self | Self | Living | 06/03/1963 | 63 | — | 46 |
| Self | Deceased | — | — | — | — | |
Eddie Levert Himself | Himself | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Faizon Love Self | Self | Living | 14/06/1968 | 58 | — | 41 |
 Kweisi Mfume Self | Self | Living | 24/10/1948 | 77 | — | 61 |
 Kel Mitchell Self | Self | Living | 25/08/1978 | 48 | — | 31 |
 Mo'Nique Self | Self | Living | 11/12/1967 | 58 | — | 42 |
 Paul Mooney Self | Self | Deceased | 04/08/1941 | 79 | 19/05/2021 | 68 |
 Garrett Morris Self | Self | Living | 01/02/1937 | 89 | — | 72 |
 Charlie Murphy Self | Self | Deceased | 12/07/1959 | 57 | 12/04/2017 | 50 |
 Niecy Nash Self | Self | Living | 23/02/1970 | 56 | — | 39 |
 Reynaldo Rey Self | Self | Deceased | 27/01/1940 | 75 | 28/05/2015 | 69 |
 Chris Rock Self | Self | Living | 07/02/1965 | 61 | — | 44 |
 Sherri Shepherd Self | Self | Living | 22/04/1967 | 59 | — | 42 |
 Sommore Self | Self | Living | 15/05/1966 | 60 | — | 43 |
 Robert Townsend Self | Self | Living | 06/02/1957 | 69 | — | 52 |
Thea Vidale Self | Self | Living | 20/11/1956 | 69 | — | 53 |
 George Wallace Self | Self | Living | 21/07/1948 | 78 | — | 61 |
 Maxine Waters Self | Self | Living | 15/08/1938 | 88 | — | 71 |
 Damon Wayans Self | Self | Living | 04/09/1960 | 66 | — | 49 |
| Self | Living | 08/06/1958 | 68 | — | 51 | |
 Marlon Wayans Self | Self | Living | 23/07/1972 | 54 | — | 37 |
 Shawn Wayans Self | Self | Living | 19/01/1971 | 55 | — | 38 |
 Cornel West Self | Self | Living | 02/06/1953 | 73 | — | 56 |
 Katt Williams Self | Self | Living | 02/09/1973 | 53 | — | 36 |
 Andrew Young Self | Self | Living | 12/03/1932 | 94 | — | 77 |
Topper Carew Self | Self | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Julian Bond Self | Self | Deceased | 14/01/1940 | 75 | 15/08/2015 | 69 |
