The music and entertainment world is mourning the death of Harry Belafonte, the iconic singer and actor who left the world on April 25th at the age of 96. Also dubbed the ‘King of Calypso,’ Belafonte was an inspiration for many as his work made way for more African American artists.
On the personal front, the singer had three marriages in his life and became a father to four children. He is now survived by his third wife, four children, two step-children, and three step-grandchildren. Here is everything we know about Harry Belafonte’s children.
Adrienne Belafonte
Adrienne is the eldest daughter of Harry with his first wife Marguerite Byrd. She graduated from West Virginia State College with a bachelor’s degree in art before going for a Master’s in Art in Community Counseling.
For the past 25 years, Adrienne has headed a private counseling practice for children and families. Inspired by her father’s humanitarian work, she also works for the Anir Foundation as an executive director, along with her daughter, Rachel Blue Belafonte.
Established in 1997, the Anir Foundation works for uplifting socially weak people in Southern and Eastern Africa. In 2019, Adrienne served as West Virginia State College’s keynote speaker at an event commemorating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shari Belafonte
Shari is the second daughter of Harry and Marguerite. Born in 1954 in New York City, Shari attended Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She began her career as a model and soon ventured into acting, following the footsteps of her father.
She made her film debut in 1982 with If You Could See What I Hear and went on to star in Time Walker, Fire, Ice and Dynamite, Teacher of the Year, Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk, The Player, and Murder by Numbers.
Shari has also appeared on the television shows Family Feud, Diff’rent Strokes, Battle of the Network Stars, Beyond Reality, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, The District, Miami Medical, and General Hospital. She married her General Hospital co-star Sam Behrens in 1989.
David Belafonte
David is Harry Belafonte’s son with his second wife Julie Robinson. He also ventured into the entertainment industry and worked in a couple of series, including Timebomb and Across the Tracks. He also served as the president of the entertainment publishing company Belafonte Enterprises.
David worked as an executive on his father’s television special An Evening with Harry Belafonte & Friends which was aired in 1997. He tied the knot with model Malena Belafonte in 2000 and welcomed their daughter Serafina in 2003.
Gina Belafonte
Gina is Harry Belafonte and Julie Robinson’s daughter. Born in 1961, she made her acting debut in the early 1980s. She appeared as Carmela Pagan in The Commish and more recently in Courting Des Moines. She also worked with her father on six film productions.
Much like Harry, Gina is also an advocate of social justice. She works with Sankofa.org, an organization founded by her father that ‘educates, motivates, and activates artists and allies in service of grassroots movements and equitable change’. She is currently married to Scott McRay and is a mother to one daughter.
For more news and updates, keep watching this space.
