published on in Wiki

Family of Taraji P. Henson, Empires Star actress

Family of Taraji P. Henson, Empire’s Star actress

Taraji Penda Henson reigns as Cookie Lyon in the hit TV series Empire (2015 till present) but she wasn’t always a movie legend. The young Henson initially set her heart on a career in show business but changed her mind after she was turned down by an acting programme and began studying electrical engineering. She failed a pre-calculus in her first year then transferred to another University to study theatre arts.

Date of Birth: September 11, 1970

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

The star actress from The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons (2008) is no doubt one of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood. She is a multi-award winning actress and is also the first African-American woman to win a Critic’s Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Keep scrolling to know all there is to know about the family life of Hidden Figures (2016) star.

Taraji P. Henson parents

Bernice Ballard Gordon (mother)

Taraji P. Henson's family - mother Bernice Ballard Gordon

She was first in a horrible marriage with Boris but eventually divorced her physically-abusive husband then raised her daughter as a single mom. It is no surprise that Bernice is Taraji’s hero as her mother taught her by her actions how to persevere and never give up. They struggled through life, living from check to check and Bernice is super proud of her daughter’s achievements against all odds. She is now married to Vernon Gordon.

Taraji P. Henson's family - mother Bernice Ballard Gordon

Boris Lawrence Henson (father)

Taraji P. Henson's family - father Boris Lawrence Henson

Date of Birth: January 12, 1948

Date of Death: February 19, 2006 (aged 58)

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Growing up in a crime-riddled neighbourhood was indeed tough for Taraji. She recalled in her memoir how when she was 4, her father dragged her mother by the hair into his car threatening to kill her. This was just one of the many violent episodes between her parents until they went their separate ways.

Taraji P. Henson's family - father Boris Lawrence Henson

Boris who was a janitor, metal fabricator and also a Vietnam veteran died at 58 after battling liver cancer. When she was little, Taraji knew just very little about the dynamics of her parents’ relationship and even added that despite the divorce, her father was a constant and positive presence throughout her childhood. It was only when she grew older she knew all that happened between her both parents

Boris had been married to Angela Henson till his death in 2006.

Taraji P. Henson grandparents

Patsie “Patsy” Ballard (nee Debrew) (maternal grandmother)

Taraji P. Henson's family - maternal grandmother Patsie "Patsy" Ballard

Date of Birth: April 18, 1924

Zodiac sign: Aries

Willie Loyd Ballard (maternal grandfather)

Taraji P. Henson's family - maternal grandfather Willie Loyd Ballard

Date of Birth: September 20, 1922

Date of Death: April 7, 2005 (aged 83)

Zodiac sign: Virgo

He married Taraji’s grandmother Patsy in 1942 and they became a parents to 6 daughters and 3 sons.


Taraji P. Henson siblings

Shawn Henson (younger brother from same parents)

April MzCockee Henson (younger sister from same parents) 

Taraji P. Henson's siblings - sister April MzCockee Henson

There is nothing that can be said about Taraji’s siblings, except their names.

William “Mark” LaMarr Johnson (late ex-boyfriend)

Date of Birth: January 24, 1969

Date of Death: January 25, 2003 (aged 34)

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Henson was 17 when she met Johnson in the lobby of a movie theatre in 1987. In no time, the two were in puppy love and they dated on and off again while the Proud Mary (2018) actress was in college. He had a good heart, loved her, made her laugh and before they knew what was happening, she had become pregnant.

After their baby arrived, the butterflies in her tummy gave way to heated arguments and screams that eventually became physically violent. The Baby Boy (2001) actress found strength in her father’s honesty with her and was able to tell Johnson off but allowed him to be a part of their son’s life until he was tragically murdered the day after his 34th birthday in 2003.

Kelvin Hayden (fiancé)

Taraji P. Henson's family - fiance Kelvin Hayden

Duration of Relationship: 2015 till present

Date of Birth: July 28, 1983

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Kelvin is the NFL player for the Chicago Bears. He dated the seasoned actress for over two years then they got engaged on May 13, 2018. Henson took to her Instagram account to announce that she’s said yes to her former Super Bowl star boyfriend.

Marcell Johnson (son with William Lamarr Johnson)

Taraji P. Henson's children - son Marcell Johnson

Date of Birth: May 10, 1994

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Marcell is the only son to the Acrimony (2018) star and he came at an “odd” time for the young starlet. She had just embarked on her theatre arts course at Washington Howard’s University when motherhood came calling. Taraji was not only determined to keep her baby; she also refused to miss a beat when it came to her performance schedules.

He has appeared alongside his mum in several episodes of the popular Fox series Empire (2015 till present) and also starred in Needlestick (2016). Mother and son share a really special bond as there’s just two of them.

ncG1vNJzZmian5nGqbHIoJ%2Btr5WetKnAjZympmeklr%2Bitshmp2aglaPAsLqMn5imoZyufA%3D%3D