Tyrese Gibson is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actor whose career has stretched from music and modeling into some of Hollywood's biggest action franchises. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he first became widely known through a Coca-Cola commercial before releasing his debut album in 1998.
His film career took off with John Singleton's Baby Boy, followed by major roles in 2 Fast 2 Furious and the Transformers films. He has also earned six Grammy nominations for his music.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Tyrese Darnell Gibson |
| Known As | Tyrese Gibson, Tyrese, Black-Ty |
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1978 |
| Age | 47 years old |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Actor |
| Music Genre | R&B |
| Years Active | 1994–present |
| Debut Album | Tyrese (1998) |
| Breakthrough Film | Baby Boy (2001) |
| Best-Known Role | Roman Pearce in the Fast & Furious franchise |
| Other Major Role | Robert Epps in the Transformers film series |
| Notable Albums | Tyrese, 2000 Watts, I Wanna Go There, Open Invitation, Black Rose |
| Group | TGT, with Tank and Ginuwine |
| Grammy Recognition | Six Grammy nominations |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Nationality | American |
| Net Worth | Exact current figure is not reliably publicly confirmed |
Early Life and Background
Tyrese Darnell Gibson was born on December 30, 1978, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Watts, an area of South Central Los Angeles, and developed an interest in performing at a young age.
His breakthrough came through a Coca-Cola advertising campaign in the 1990s. Gibson's performance of the company's "Always Coca-Cola" tagline brought him national attention and helped open doors in music, modeling and television.
Before establishing himself as a recording artist, Gibson also worked as a model and appeared on television. He eventually signed with RCA Records, setting the stage for his recording career.
Music Career and Achievements
Gibson released his self-titled debut album, Tyrese, in 1998. The record included "Sweet Lady," which became one of his signature songs and earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance.
He followed the debut with albums including 2000 Watts in 2001 and I Wanna Go There in 2002. "How You Gonna Act Like That" became one of his biggest hits and earned another Grammy nomination.
In 2006, Gibson experimented with hip-hop on Alter Ego, using the name Black-Ty. He returned to R&B with Open Invitation in 2011, which received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album.
Gibson later became part of the R&B supergroup TGT with Tank and Ginuwine. Their album Three Kings was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards. His album Black Rose, released in 2015, also became a major milestone in his recording career.
As of the Grammy's official artist listing, Gibson has received six Grammy nominations and no wins. His nominations span performances and songwriting, including "Sweet Lady," "How You Gonna Act Like That," Open Invitation, TGT's Three Kings, and "Shame."
Acting Career
Gibson made his feature-film breakthrough in John Singleton's 2001 drama Baby Boy, playing Joseph "Jody" Summers. The film established him as an actor beyond his music career.
His next major step came with 2 Fast 2 Furious in 2003, where he played Roman Pearce alongside Paul Walker. Universal's official materials identify Gibson as Roman, the former friend of Brian O'Conner who joins him on the Miami operation.
Roman became Gibson's most recognizable film role. He returned to the character throughout the Fast & Furious series, appearing in films including Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6, Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, F9: The Fast Saga and Fast X. Universal's official Fast X materials list Gibson among the film's principal cast.
Gibson also played Robert Epps in Michael Bay's Transformers films. His other acting credits include Four Brothers, Flight of the Phoenix, Ride Along 2 and Morbius.
The combination of music and acting has remained central to the Tyrese Gibson career. Rather than abandoning one field for the other, he has continued working across both entertainment industries.
Personal Life and Family
Gibson has two daughters. His eldest daughter, Shayla Somer Gibson, was born in 2007 during his marriage to Norma Mitchell. The couple divorced in 2009, and People reported that they were granted 50/50 custody of Shayla in 2017.
Gibson later married Samantha Lee Gibson in 2017. They welcomed a daughter, Soraya, in October 2018. The couple announced their divorce in December 2020.
Fatherhood has occasionally intersected with Gibson's professional life. In 2015, he and Shayla co-authored a six-book children's series, while he has also publicly celebrated milestones involving both daughters.
Net Worth
A precise, independently verified figure for Tyrese Gibson's current net worth is not publicly established. Numerous websites publish estimates, but those figures are not sufficiently documented to present as confirmed financial information.
For that reason, a specific dollar amount is omitted here rather than treating an online estimate as fact.
FAQs
How old is Tyrese Gibson?
Tyrese Gibson was born December 30, 1978. He is 47 years old as of August 2026.
What is Tyrese Gibson best known for?
He is best known as an R&B singer and for playing Roman Pearce in the Fast & Furious franchise. He is also known for his roles in Baby Boy and the Transformers films.
Is Tyrese Gibson a Grammy winner?
No. The Recording Academy lists six Grammy nominations for Gibson and zero wins.
How many children does Tyrese Gibson have?
Tyrese Gibson has two daughters, Shayla and Soraya.
What was Tyrese Gibson's first major movie?
His first major starring film role was in John Singleton's Baby Boy, released in 2001.
Conclusion
Tyrese Gibson has built a career across two demanding fields, first establishing himself as an R&B recording artist before becoming a familiar face in Hollywood. His music has earned six Grammy nominations, while his portrayal of Roman Pearce has made him a lasting part of the Fast & Furious franchise.