Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Biography
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, also known as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., Lew Alcindor, Lewis Alcindor, Lewis Ferdinand Alcindor, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, كريم عبدالجبار, and Fred, is a male actor born in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. His birthday is listed as April 17, 1947. He is known for acting with a total of 120 known credits on The Movie Database. He grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Harlem in a family of Trinidadian descent, was raised in the Catholic tradition, and is an only child. His exceptional height led him to play with the tallest kids from elementary school onward, and at fourteen years old, standing over two meters tall at six feet seven inches, he was able to dunk.
Career overview
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947, in New York City, grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Harlem. Raised in the Catholic tradition by a family of Trinidadian descent, he was an only child whose exceptional height marked him from an early age. By elementary school he played with the tallest children, and by fourteen he stood over two meters tall and was able to dunk. His adolescence included episodes of social confrontation and learning street basketball, which helped forge his competitive spirit. He distinguished himself early on at Power Memorial Academy.
As a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has accumulated 120 known credits in the field of acting according to records on The Movie Database. Throughout his career, he has been recognized under several alternative names, including Lew Alcindor, Lewis Alcindor, Lewis Ferdinand Alcindor, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Fred, and the Arabic script name كريم عبدالجبار.
Born in Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, Abdul-Jabbar maintains a public profile documenting his extensive acting involvement. His foundational years in New York City and his early athletic achievements at Power Memorial Academy preceded a career that spans numerous acting credits documented within film and television databases.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Jerry West: The Logo (2026) as Self
- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Los Anillos de Pau (2024)
- Night Court (2023)
- Bill Russell: Legend (2023) as Self - Basketball Hall of Fame
- The Iceman (2023) as Self
- Stand (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- The Luckiest Guy in the World (2023) as Self
- The Final Game of Death (2023) as Mantis
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022)
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- They Call Me Magic (2022) as Self
- Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers (2022) as Self
- Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War (2022) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War (2022) Executive Producer
- Muhammad Ali (2021) as Self
- A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks (2021) as Self
- Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America (2021) as Self
- DAVE (2020) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Dear... (2020) as Self
- John Bronco (2020) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Be Water (2020) as Self - Student / Friend
- Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution (2020) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort (2020) as Self - Co-Host
- Game of Death Redux (2019) as Mantis
- Basketball: A Love Story (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Basketball: A Love Story (2018) as Self
- Shut Up and Dribble (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- 1968 (2018) as Self
- Beat Shazam (2017) as Self
- The Jim Jefferies Show (2017) as Self
- Billions (2016) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- To Tell the Truth (2016) as Self - Panelist
- O.J.: Made in America (2016) as Self (archive footage)
- O.J.: Made in America (2016) as Self (archive footage)
- Fresh Off the Boat (2015) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Celebrity Family Feud (2015) as Self
- StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson (2015) as Self
- Kareem: Minority of One (2015) as Self
- Kobe Bryant's Muse (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- The Crazy Ones (2013) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) as Self
- Undefeated: The Roger Brown Story (2013) as Himself
- Good Mythical Morning (2012) as Self
- Guys with Kids (2012) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- New Girl (2011) as Himself
- On the Shoulders of Giants (2011) as Self - Narrator
- On the Shoulders of Giants (2011) Writer
- The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2009) as Self
- How Bruce Lee Changed the World (2009) as Self
- Kobe Doin' Work (2009) as Self
- The Black List: Volume One (2008) as Self
- The Big Bang Theory (2007) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- I Tried (2007) as Sin
- Weapons (2007) as P.J.
- Los Angeles Lakers: 1984-1985 NBA Champions Return To Glory (2007) as Himself
- Whitepaddy (2006) as Hank
- Identity (2006)
- The Colbert Report (2005) as Self
- The Colbert Report (2005) as Self (uncredited)
- Dancing with the Stars (2005) as Self - Contestant
- Veronica Mars (2004) Co-Producer
- Veronica Mars (2004) Writer
- The Celebrity Apprentice (2004)
- The Bachelorette (2003) as Self
- Scrubs (2001) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- The Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001)
- Reflections on 'the Little Dragon' (2001)
- Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000) as Self
- Bruce Lee in G.O.D. (2000) as Himself / Hakim
- BASEketball (1998) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- The GREATEST : Bruce Lee (1998) as Comentador
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Everybody Loves Raymond (1996) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Boston Common (1996) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996) as Self
- The Journey of the African-American Athlete (1996) as Self
- Forget Paris (1995) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Slam Dunk Ernest (1995) as Archangel
- A Night to Die For (1995) as Self
- Bully Smart for Kids (1995) as Self
- The Stand (1994) as Monster Shouter
- The Critic (1994) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice)
- D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- The Vernon Johns Story (1994) Producer
- Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon (1994) as Self
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self
- Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Matrix (1993)
- The Curse of the Dragon (1993) as Self
- Martin (1992) as Dr. Skyhook
- Good Sports (1991) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Philadelphia 76ers 1983 - That Championship Feeling (1991) as Self
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- All New Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers (1990) as Self (archive footage)
- The Simpsons (1989) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice)
- Troop Beverly Hills (1989) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Hoodwinked (1989) as Man at Sal's House
- Detroit Pistons: 1988-1989 NBA Champions - Motor City Madness (1989) as Self - Los Angeles Lakers
- Full House (1987)
- 21 Jump Street (1987) as Wesley Williams
- Bustin' Loose (1987)
- Los Angeles Lakers: '87 The Drive For Five (1987) as Himself
- Amen (1986)
- Ask Max (1986) as Himself
- Stingray (1985)
- Fletch (1985) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (1985) as Self
- Tales from the Darkside (1984) as The Djinn, Jan Bin Jan
- The Hero Who Couldn't Read (1984) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Airplane! (1980) as Roger Murdock
- The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- The Visitor (1979) as Basketball player (uncredited)
- Game of Death (1978) as Hakim
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978) as Mr. Wilkes
- Man from Atlantis (1977) as Thark
- The Game of Death (1974) as Hakim / Mantis
- Emergency! (1972)
- Mannix (1967)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self