Profile Text
Cannon in 2014, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Nicholas Scott Cannon
Place of Birth: San Diego, California, United States
Date of Birth: October 8, 1980
Ethnicity: African-American, as well as 1/32 Mexican
Nick Cannon is an American rapper, actor, comedian, television and radio host, and producer. His roles include the films Whatever It Takes , Men in Black II , Drumline (2002), Love Don’t Cost a Thing , Garfield: The Movie , Shall We Dance? (2004), Underclassman , Roll Bounce , The Adventures of Brer Rabbit , Even Money , Monster House , Bobby (2006), Goal II: Living the Dream , American Son , Day of the Dead (2008), Ball Don’t Lie , The Killing Room , School Dance (2014), Chi-Raq , King of the Dancehall , She Ball , and The Misfits (2021); the shows Kenan & Kel , All That , Taina , Up All Night , and Brooklyn Nine-Nine ; the made-for-tv movies Rags (2012) and Drumline: A New Beat ; and the music videos for “Miss You,” “Laundromat,” “Ignition (Remix),” “Disco Inferno,” “Bye Bye,” “I Stay in Love,” “Up Out My Face,” and “When Christmas Comes.” He has created and hosted the shows The Nick Cannon Show , which he co-composed the theme for; Wild ‘n Out , Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz , which he also directed; and Incredible Crew . He has also been a host of MTV Spring Break , 106 & Park Top 10 Live , America’s Got Talent , The Nightlife , Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon , Lip Sync Battle Shorties , The Masked Singer , and Beat Shazam . He was a member of rap group Da G4 Dope Bomb Squad.
Nick is the son of Beth, an accountant, and James Cannon, a motivational televangelist. He was raised in Lincoln Park’s Bay Vista Housing Projects, in Southeast San Diego. Nick has had twelve children: two with his former wife, singer and actress Mariah Carey ; three with beauty pageant winner and model Brittany Bell, who was Miss Guam 2014; three with DJ Abby De La Rosa; two with model Alyssa Scott; a son with model and real estate agent Bre Tiesi; and a daughter with model LaNisha Cole.
Nick’s paternal grandfather was James Earnest Cannon (the son of Esau Cannon and Emanuelette/Emanueletta Corine Lytle). Esau was the son of Daniel/Dan Cannon and Cora M. Witherspoon. Emanuelette was the daughter of Emanuel/Emmanuel C. Lytle and Rosa/Rosie Cornelius White.
Nick’s paternal grandmother was Marie Antoinette Scott (the daughter of Walter Lewis Scott and Wyomia Logan). Marie Antoinette was born in California. Walter was the son of John Scott and Frances Blanco. Frances’ father, Lewis/Louis Blanco, was Mexican, and her mother, Gemuta “Jennie” Boxtell, was a black woman from Arkansas. Nick’s great-grandmother Wyomia was the daughter of Jake Logan and Georgia Williams.
Nick’s maternal grandfather was named Melvin Nelord Hackett (the son of Audrey Mears). Melvin was born in Maryland. Audrey was the daughter of William B. Mears and Annie Beatrice Revelle/Revell.
Nick’s maternal grandmother was Elaine Marcia Long (the daughter of John Wesley Long and Ruth Louise Jenkins). Elaine was born in California. John Wesley was the son of James Erskine Long and Selina Sephus Gay. Ruth was the daughter of Lewis Jenkins and Irene Cook.
Nick has stated that one of his maternal great-grandfathers was a Sephardi Jewish rabbi (who presumably married a Jewish woman). These claims are unlikely.
Sources: Genealogy of Nick Cannon (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Marriage record of Nick’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Daniel/Dan Cannon and Cora M. Witherspoon – https://www.familysearch.org https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Nick’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Emanuel/Emmanuel C. Lytle and Rosa/Rosie Cornelius White – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Nick’s maternal great-great-grandparents, William B. Mears and Annie Beatrice Revelle/Revell – https://www.familysearch.org