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Actor

1965-07-24 · New York City, New York, USA · Male

28 series in the catalog

Kadeem Hardison (born July 24, 1965) is an American actor. The son of fashion model Bethann Hardison, he rose to prominence after landing the role of Dwayne Wayne on the television series A Different World, a spin-off of the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He reprised this role in the 2026 Netflix remake by the same name. Hardison is also known for playing Craig Cooper in the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover, his portrayal of Bowser in the comedy drama series Teenage Bounty Hunters, and for appearing in the first season of the Showtime comedy Black Monday.

Early life

Hardison was born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Donald McFadden, an antique and fine art collector, and Bethann Hardison, a pioneering African-American runway model and advocate for diversity in the fashion industry.

Career

Hardison was a starring cast member on the sitcom A Different World as Dwayne Wayne, and a regular cast member of K.C. Undercover and the short-lived sitcoms Abby and Between Brothers. His career was managed predominantly by his mother, Bethann Hardison. He has also guest starred on several other sitcoms, including Living Single, Girlfriends, Under One Roof, The Boondocks (as himself), Greek, Parenthood, and on Everybody Hates Chris as the judge. His films include Escapee, Rappin', School Daze, Def by Temptation, Vampire in Brooklyn, 30 Years to Life, Made of Honor, The 6th Man, Drive, Renaissance Man, Panther, The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, Bratz, Biker Boyz, Who's Your Daddy?, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Blind Faith, Showtime, White Men Can't Jump, and B.C. Butcher. He appears in the 2013 PlayStation 3 video game Beyond: Two Souls as Cole Freeman, a doctor at the United States Department of Paranormal Activity. He appears as Edward "Big Eddy" Wallace on Season 3 of Euphoria.

Personal life

Hardison was married to American singer Chanté Moore from 1997 until 2000; they have a daughter. Hardison remains a close friend of actor Darryl Bell, who played his best friend Ron Johnson on A Different World; he made an appearance alongside Bell on FOX's Househusbands of Hollywood.

Cultural influence

Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran credit Hardison for making the name "Kadeem" familiar.

Hardison is the model for the title character Michael "The Cool" Young History in the inserts of the album The Cool by Lupe Fiasco.

Hardison was the subject of then-wife Chanté Moore's 1999 single "Chanté's Got a Man".

In a press conference following Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade wore flip-up sunglasses and said he was, "paying a little homage to Dwayne Wayne tonight", referencing Hardison's popular character from A Different World.

In Season 2, Episode 7 of Psych ("If You're So Smart, Then Why Are You Dead"), Gus references utilizing the "Kadeem Hardison method" to kiss a girl.

Hardison appears as the narrator on Add-2's 2019 album, Jim Crow: The Musical.