Taye Diggs
Susan
I work in downtown Chicago. It is my impression that most African-American actors and models are lighter skinned than the average African-American who works in Chicago. Carol Moseley Braun, whom I have met and hugged (she was a very good senator to me) has a medium skin tone, as compared to the range of my coworkers.
Of the Celebrities so far mentioned only Seal seems to have very dark skin, especially when compared to some people I have met. Some of my co-workers have very strikingly dark skin. I have met some Americans who have nearly black skin, skin so dark that there is not much contrast between it and their truly black hair. Most of the black Africans whom I have met had slightly darker skin than Carol Moseley Braun, but only one has had nearly black skin, so don’t make the mistake that darker skin means more African. Africans vary in skin tone as do caucasions.
Musicians are between actors in athletes in that their talent matters more than their appearance, especially in pre-video days.
The picture of Ray Charles looks like he’s made up a little darker.
There are a number of black actors and models, both African-American and other ethnic origin, who, depending soley on the lighting and filters used, can be presented in a range that either accentuates or underscores their actual skin tone. Generally they’re made out to be a bit lighter than they actually are, especially if they share screen time with other people who generally have lighter skin.
ALSO: sun exposure factors into this, easily. This time of year, when I’m outside a lot, I can tan three shades darker on my face and arms and exposed legs from what I consider my “natural skin tone.” I wish I could show you my arms and face… I look like a fat black redneck.
Here’s an interesting comparison: on the website showing wood grains I’d say the tops of my arms resemble mahogahny, the underside most closely resemble cherry oak.
That said, zamboniracer’s idea of darkskinned people most closely matches mine: there’s waaaay too many mid-range medium toned black people on some of y’all’s lists. Although I suppose on the human melanin chromatic scale from albino to Idi Amin, they are pretty dark.
…and representing the “Remember, Caucausian /= White” contingent, the lovely and multitalented Mindy Kaling.
–drool-- 
Yaphet Kotto. That man has the unique pigmentation that a few but not many of the actors/actresses cited have: His skin is so dark that it rings slightly green when photographed. It’s true. A blue-green reflection of light happens. One needs to use perhaps a warm/soft or a Cosmetic Peach to warm the skin tone just a shade.
Why does one “need” to change the skin tone of such a person? ( I ask, to avoid perhaps an angry encounter when none is intended ). Because video and film do not always accurately capture skin tones, and it’s patently insulting, IMHO, to have a dark-skinned performer look like they have bluish-greenish tinted lights on them, when they do not.
I got my ass chewed once on a set in Chicago, for telling my lighting guy to Cosmetic Peach both the key and fill on a very dark-skinned lady we were videotaping. No big deal, no eye rolling, no attitude, just told the man to gel the lights for me.
God, she lost it. Called me racist, called me a selection of foul-mouthed names, etc. It came out of nowhere, and it took a lot of talking from the client, and explaining, to settle the situation down.
Finally, to prove WHY I’d said what I’d said, we videotaped her unlit properly, and showed her the playback. She was horrified. I told her coolly that I didn’t give a darn if she was black, green, yellow, white, ochre. My job was to make her look great, and her skin rang a reflection tone of blue/green. Once she’d seen the clip, she shut up.
Couldn’t be bothered to apologize for my doing my job, but at least she sat for the shoot. :rolleyes:
This really is how we approach lighting situations. The new RoscoLux Page has a nice quote regarding their newly launched Rosco # 302: Pale Bastard Amber. Take a look at what that guy had to say.
Anyway, back to the O.P. The actors who come right to mind whose skin tones ring that dark would be some already on the list. Yaphet Kotto, Richard Roundtree, etc.
Askia is correct. Darker skinned folk are frequently lightened up slightly to help balance them with lighter skinned folk. Additionally might I add that the lighter skinned folk are darkened down too. It’s all in the ratios, baby. 
I recently shot live music in Canada, and we had ladies of aaaaallllll shades lined up on stage. In one venue, we had the sun setting against the edge of the stage, so when the lead singer of the moment stepped up a bit, she was on the order of 5 stops hotter than the entire rest of the stage. When it was one of the darker skinned gals, live was okay- I opened up and the stage got some light. When it was one of the white gals? The entire rest of the stage went away into mud when I irised down to expose properly for her. Such is life.
Cartooniverse
I did amature photography in high school for year book, and one of the toughest things to deal with was widely varied skin tones in an indoor group shot. With my lack of skill and knowledge of the tricks of the trade, it was very easy for me to end up with washed out pale people and the darkest people with only the whites of the eyes and teeth showing, in the same shot. Not good at all.
Did you read the post 3 above yours ? :smack:
Lots of males on this thread – but where are the females? Are there any popular, famous females who are truly dark-skinned?
Singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman.
I’ll admit I had missed it when I posted. I was busy looking up how to spell Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
All I can say is thank goodness we’re communicating in written form 
It’s interesting tho’, are non-US born celebs “allowed” to be darker because they are exotic and foreign ?
Mmm, maybe, though it may just be that there aren’t as many very dark skinned US-born African-Americans to choose from. Didn’t I just read somewhere on these boards that the average “African-American” is about 25% white?
Bluesman Keb’ Mo’ is quite dark.
The slave trade was done mainly from the coastal areas of Western Africa, whose people were already were lighter skinned than natives from the interior.