Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross is an evergreen American ex-fashion model, television personality, producer and most reputably, an actress. 

Early Accomplishments

Her showbiz career started out through modelling in her pre-teens up until her early 20s. In that time, she worked with several celebrity photographers such as Herb Ritts. 

After auditioning and failing to land a role in a Spike Lee movie, she changed her major at Brown to theatre art. 

She then worked as a fashion editor for Mirabella and landed her debut screen role in 1996 with Far Harbour.

Best Known For

Tracee first hit major mainstream fame with her protagonist role in 172 episodes of the 2000 TV sitcom sensation Girlfriends that aired for 8 years. 

She again found major success in 2014 with fan favorite family sitcom Black-ish.

Other notable works of hers include playing Dr. Reed in 2011 series Reed Between the Lines and in 2007 film Daddy’s Little Girls.

Sexual Orientation

Tracee is straight and has been in dating relationships only a few times in her life. 

The most renowned of these was back in 2011 when she dated Bu Thiam (Akon’s younger brother) for 2 years. 

Although unconfirmed, she had a short-lived affair with Chris Webber in 2007. 

Other men she has been linked with are DeRay Davis, Nas, and Henry Simmons.

Family

She and her sister, Chudney are daughters of Robert Ellis Silberstein and musical icon Diana Ross. From her mother, she has half-siblings Evan Ross, Rhonda Ross and Ross Naess. 

She is also a half-sister to Hazel and Sherry Gordy and a niece to Arthur Ross.

Religion 

While she has Baptist and Jewish parents, Tracee has followed in her father’s Ashkenazi-Jewish heritage.

Worth To Know

She grew up in Switzerland, Paris and New York.

She does not consume coffee, sugar or chocolate.

By way of Evan, she is Ashlee Simpson’s sister-in-law. Hence, she is related to Jessica Simpson.