History of Laverne Cox in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

Laverne Cox is a trailblazing American actress and LGBTQ+ advocate, best known for her groundbreaking role as Sophia Burset in the hit Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. Her performance made her the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category. Beyond her successful acting career, Cox is a prominent speaker and documentary producer, dedicated to raising awareness about transgender issues, combating systemic discrimination, and promoting intersectional equality. By utilizing her platform to share her personal experiences, she has become a central figure in modern civil rights movements, challenging societal norms and fostering greater visibility and acceptance for the transgender community in mainstream media and beyond.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

May 29, 1972: Birth of Laverne Cox

On May 29, 1972, Laverne Cox, the future American actress and prominent LGBTQ advocate, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1990: Angela Morley Emmy Nomination

In 1990, composer Angela Morley received an Emmy Award nomination, a milestone that stood as a reference point for transgender representation in awards history until Laverne Cox's 2014 nomination.

1993: Synthia China Blast Criminal Conviction

In 1993, an individual named Synthia China Blast committed the rape and murder of a 13-year-old child, a fact that later became the subject of public controversy involving Laverne Cox in 2014.

2009: GLAAD Media Award Acceptance

In 2009, Laverne Cox accepted the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program on behalf of the show I Want to Work for Diddy, delivering a widely praised and poignant speech about the necessity of sharing diverse personal stories.

2013: Role in Orange is the New Black

In 2013, Laverne Cox began her recurring role as Sophia Burset, a trans woman incarcerated for credit-card fraud, in the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, which served as a significant platform for her to advocate for transgender rights.

January 2014: Appearance on Katie Couric's show

In January 2014, Laverne Cox and Carmen Carrera appeared on the television program Katie, hosted by Katie Couric. During the interview, Couric used problematic terminology to refer to transgender individuals and asked intrusive questions regarding the guests' surgical histories, which Cox addressed during the broadcast.

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April 2014: Receiving the GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award

In April 2014, Laverne Cox was honored by GLAAD with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award in recognition of her dedicated advocacy work on behalf of the transgender community.

June 9, 2014: Laverne Cox Becomes First Transgender Person on Time Cover

On June 9, 2014, Laverne Cox made history by becoming the first transgender person to be featured on the cover of Time magazine. The cover featured an article titled "The Transgender Tipping Point," written by Katy Steinmetz, which examined the cultural movement for transgender rights.

June 2014: Historic Time Magazine Cover Appearance

In June 2014, Laverne Cox achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first openly transgender person to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.

October 2014: Essence Magazine Cover Feature

In October 2014, Laverne Cox was featured on the cover of Essence magazine alongside fellow actresses Alfre Woodard, Nicole Beharie, and Danai Gurira.

October 17, 2014: Premiere of Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word

On October 17, 2014, the documentary titled Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, which was executive-produced and narrated by Laverne Cox, made its simultaneous premiere on the television networks MTV and Logo.

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2014: Historic Emmy Nomination and Music Video Appearance

In 2014, Laverne Cox achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first openly transgender person to receive a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in an acting category for her performance as Sophia Burset in Orange Is the New Black. During the same year, she also made an appearance in the music video for John Legend's song 'You & I (Nobody in the World)'.

2014: Advocacy Against 'Manifesting Prostitution' Law and Sylvia Rivera Law Project Video

In 2014, Laverne Cox engaged in activism against a Phoenix law targeting transgender women and also participated in a video for the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. She later retracted her support for a featured inmate, Synthia China Blast, upon learning of Blast's past criminal convictions for rape and murder in 2014.

2014: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination

In 2014, Laverne Cox made history by becoming the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her performance as Sophia Burset on the series Orange Is the New Black.

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June 11, 2015: Entertainment Weekly Cover Feature

On June 11, 2015, Laverne Cox was featured as the cover subject for the "totally not-straight issue" of Entertainment Weekly. This edition was notable for being the magazine's first issue in 15 years to focus entirely on LGBTQ+ entertainment.

2015: Allure 'Nudes' Issue Appearance

During 2015, Laverne Cox participated in the annual 'Nudes' issue of Allure magazine, where she posed nude and became the first transgender actress to be featured in this manner for the publication.

2015: Daytime Emmy Award Win

In 2015, Laverne Cox became the first transgender woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award, receiving the honor in the Outstanding Special Class Special category for her work as executive producer on the project Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word.

2015: Daytime Emmy Award Win for The T Word

In 2015, Laverne Cox made history as the first transgender woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Special Class Special for her role as Executive Producer on the documentary 'Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word'. Additionally, the documentary itself became the first trans-focused film to receive a Daytime Emmy.

May 2016: Honorary Doctorate from The New School

In May 2016, Laverne Cox was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from The New School in New York City to recognize her significant contributions and progressive advocacy in the global fight for gender equality.

June 2016: Human Rights Campaign Orlando Tribute Video

In June 2016, Laverne Cox participated in a tribute video produced by the Human Rights Campaign to honor the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, where she joined other public figures in sharing the personal stories of those who lost their lives.

2016: 2016–17 Television Season

During the 2016–17 television season, the series Doubt was launched, eventually becoming the first show of that specific season to face official cancellation by CBS.

2017: Doubt Series Regular Role

In 2017, Laverne Cox achieved a historic milestone as the first transgender person to portray a transgender series regular character on U.S. broadcast television, appearing as Cameron Wirth on the CBS show Doubt.

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2017: Role in Doubt and Series Cancellation

In 2017, Laverne Cox debuted in her role as attorney Cameron Wirth on the CBS series Doubt; however, the show faced cancellation that same year due to low ratings, with CBS later scheduling the remaining episodes for a summer run.

2017: Collaboration on Time Marches Forward & So Do We and Ivy Park Campaign

In 2017, Laverne Cox participated in two significant projects: she narrated the video "Time Marches Forward & So Do We," which documented transgender history and resistance in collaboration with the ACLU and several artists, and she also served as one of the four faces of the Ivy Park clothing line's fall campaign.

2017: Primetime Emmy Nomination for Orange Is the New Black

In 2017, Laverne Cox received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in the show Orange Is the New Black.

February 2018: Cosmopolitan South Africa Cover Feature

In February 2018, Laverne Cox reached another significant career milestone by appearing as the first transgender person on the cover of a Cosmopolitan magazine, specifically the South African edition.

February 2019: Laverne Cox Headlines 11 Honoré Show

In February 2019, Laverne Cox served as the headliner for the 11 Honoré runway presentation during New York Fashion Week, showcasing the luxury e-retailer's focus on designer fashion for plus-sized individuals.

June 17, 2019: Appearance in You Need to Calm Down music video

On June 17, 2019, Laverne Cox made a notable cameo appearance in the music video for Taylor Swift's song "You Need to Calm Down."

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September 2019: Advocacy at the 2019 Emmy Awards

In September 2019, Laverne Cox attended the Emmy Awards alongside ACLU attorney Chase Strangio, utilizing the red carpet to raise awareness for the U.S. Supreme Court case R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by carrying a custom rainbow clutch highlighting the legal battle concerning Aimee Stephens.

September 2019: Cover Appearance on British Vogue

In September 2019, Laverne Cox made history as the first transgender woman to be featured on the cover of British Vogue, appearing as one of fifteen women selected by guest editor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

January 27, 2020: Premiere of Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen

On January 27, 2020, the documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, which was executive produced by Laverne Cox, officially premiered on the Netflix streaming platform.

May 2021: Appointment as Host of Live from the Red Carpet

In May 2021, E! announced that Laverne Cox was selected to host the network's flagship program, Live from the Red Carpet, taking over the role from Giuliana Rancic.

December 2021: Casting in The Uglies

In December 2021, it was announced that Laverne Cox was cast in the Netflix dystopian fantasy film titled The Uglies, which is directed by McG and based on the novel by Scott Westerfeld.

January 2022: Commencement of Hosting Duties

Starting in January 2022, Laverne Cox officially began her tenure as the host of the program Live from the Red Carpet.

2024: Competition on The Masked Singer

In 2024, Laverne Cox appeared on season twelve of the television series The Masked Singer, competing while disguised as the "Chess Piece" character. During her run, comedian Nikki Glaser, who had previously appeared as "Snowstorm" in season eight, acted as her Mask Ambassador. Cox was ultimately eliminated from the competition during the show's themed "Barbie Night" in 2024.

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April 2025: Hosting Billboard's Women in Music

In April 2025, Laverne Cox served as the host for the prestigious Billboard Women in Music event, an annual ceremony that honors influential female artists, executives, and producers in the music industry.

June 2025: WorldPride DC Grand Marshal

In June 2025, Laverne Cox served as a grand marshal for the WorldPride DC event, sharing the honor with Reneé Rapp.

November 2025: Announcement of Memoir Transcendent

In November 2025, Laverne Cox officially announced that she would be releasing her upcoming memoir, titled Transcendent.

June 2026: Economic Impact of DEI Policy Changes

In a June 2026 interview, Laverne Cox revealed that she experienced a 90% decline in her total income over the preceding two years, citing the impact of Trump administration policies targeting DEI initiatives and gender-related advocacy on her public speaking and brand ambassador career.