All You Ever Needed to Know About Viola Davis’s Family
If you’re a fan of Viola Davis (aged 58), it’s not enough simply to enjoy her gripping performances in some of Hollywood’s most captivating dramas, you also want to know all about Viola Davi’s family. The Academy Award-winning actress has indeed carved out a landmark career in the industry, but she also leads an intimate and fascinating life off-screen.
Meet Viola Davis’ Diverse Family
Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States. She was the second youngest child in her family, consisting of four sisters and one brother. Mary Alice Logan and Dan Davis, both farmers, raised Davis and her siblings.
Davis spent her childhood in a one-room apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, having moved there when she was just two months old. Living in challenging circumstances, her family often faced poverty and hunger. Her father earned a living grooming horses, while her mother worked as a housekeeper and factory worker.
Davis has three elder sisters – Deloris Davis Grant, Dianne Davis-Wright, and Anita Davis, in addition to a younger sister, Danielle Davis. Deloris, an English and drama teacher at Central Falls High School, boasts a BA in English, a Master of Arts and Teaching degree from RIC, and an honorary doctorate in education. Her birthday falls on September 27. Dianne Davis-Wright, born on July 17th, works as an analyst in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is married to Arthur Wright Jr.
Viola’s third elder sister, Anita, lives a life away from the public eye, and there is scant information regarding her. Meanwhile, Danielle Davis is the youngest in the Davis family. However, Viola often keeps the particulars of her siblings out of her public discussion and interviews, and hence, their personal lives remain mostly undisclosed.
Davis often credits her humble beginnings and her parents’ challenging life as the foundational experience that shaped her conviction and passion for acting.
Julius Tennon: Viola’s Actor Husband
Viola Davis considered herself fortunate to have found her dream man in fellow actor Julius Tennon (age 69). They first crossed paths in 1999 on the set of City of Angels, developing an instant connection.
To the star of How to Get Away with Murder, Tennon was precisely what she had prayed for. In a subsequent conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Davis conveyed that before she met Tennon, she had prayed for a man embodying certain qualities.
She had prayed for a companion who perhaps was an actor who comprehended the artistic community. Davis recalled asking God for a man who attended church and cherished God, just three weeks before encountering Tennon, a major star from Dazed & Confused.
She made a pact with God that if he gave her such a man, she herself would commit to attending church regularly. Her prayers resembled as if she was writing a letter.
In 2003, Davis and Tennon got hitched, and by 2011, they had adopted a daughter named Genesis. In addition to this, Davis is also a stepmother to two of Tennon’s children from his previous relationships.
The couple prefers to keep their life private, but they have revealed a few significant relationship events on social media over time. In June 2023, they celebrated their 20th anniversary together, and Davis commemorated the occasion with a touching social media post about Tennon.
Viola Davis’ Journey To Adopting a Child
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon share one child together. Their daughter, Genesis Tennon, is the heart and soul of their family and the apple of their eyes.
Genesis came into the world on July 10, 2010, and was lovingly adopted by Davis and Julius in October 2011. Davis first announced her intentions to adopt during the premiere of her film, The Help that same year.
At the ELLE Women in Hollywood event in October, Octavia Spencer, a dear friend and colleague of Davis, revealed that Davis had just become a mother “about two days ago.” Davis confirmed the reports shortly after, revealing that she and her husband had taken home a newborn girl named Genesis just days prior.
By December 2020, Davis shared that Genesis aspired to follow in her mother’s acting footsteps. Davis also jokingly recalled telling her that she needs to also remember to attend school and, eventually, learn to live independently and manage her own finances.
At a young age, Genesis began transitioning these dreams into reality as she started her acting career with a role in The Angry Birds Movie 2 in 2019, providing the voice for the character hatchling Vivi. Similarly, Gal Gadot’s daughter, Alma Versano and Nicole Kidman’s daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith, also played roles in the same vein.
Viola Davis’ $25 Million Fortune
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Viola Davis’ wealth to be around $25 million. Her net worth is primarily acquired through her illustrious acting career across film, TV, and theater, featuring in critically acclaimed movies like “The Help,” “Doubt,” “Fences,” and “Widows”; along with her high-paying role in the TV show “How to Get Away with Murder,” which netted her $250,000 per episode.
Davis has also increased her earnings by utilizing her talent as a producer under her production company, JuVee Productions, and by endorsing different brands, including Vaseline and L’Oreal. In summary, Davis’ estimated net worth reflects her diverse and fruitful professional journey within the entertainment field.
If you want to delve deeper into Viola Davis’s life story, don’t miss the opportunity to explore her memoir, Finding Me, on Blinkist. You can enjoy this captivating book with a free 7-day trial.
Finding Me
- 23 min reading time
- audio version available
