Cornell Young IV age is 26 years old as of September 25, 2026, with his birthday listed as February 14, 2000. The actor is receiving increased attention after making his series-regular debut as Shaquille Johnson in Netflix’s new A Different World sequel, which premiered on September 24, 2026.
Young IV has quickly become one of the newer faces attracting attention from viewers discovering the next generation of Hillman College students. His age is especially relevant because his latest role puts him in a college setting while he is several years older than the character he portrays.
The Missouri-born actor also has a background that closely connects with his A Different World character. Before establishing himself professionally as an actor, he played football at the high school and college levels.
How Old Is Cornell Young IV?
Cornell Young IV is 26 years old in 2026. His listed date of birth is February 14, 2000, making him an Aquarius.
His birthday means he turned 26 in February 2026. He will turn 27 on February 14, 2027.
Here is the basic age information currently associated with the actor:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Cornell Young IV |
| Age in 2026 | 26 |
| Date of birth | February 14, 2000 |
| Birthplace | Missouri, United States |
| Current profession | Actor |
| Known for | A Different World, Forever, Beyond the Gates |
| Latest major role | Shaquille Johnson |
The February 14, 2000 birth date is publicly listed by celebrity biography databases. Current entertainment coverage also describes Young IV as 26 in connection with his breakout role in A Different World.
When Is Cornell Young IV’s Birthday?
Cornell Young IV’s birthday is February 14.
Because his birthday occurred earlier in 2026, he is currently 26 years old. His next birthday will take place on February 14, 2027, when he will turn 27.
His February birthday also places him under the Aquarius zodiac sign.
While many celebrity profiles provide only an age, the available biographical information for Young IV provides a specific February 14, 2000 birth date. That makes it possible to calculate his current age accurately for September 2026.
Where Was Cornell Young IV Born?
Young IV was born and raised in Missouri. Recent coverage surrounding his role in A Different World identifies St. Louis as his hometown.
His Missouri background is also reflected in his college football records. McKendree University listed him as a freshman football player from Kirkwood, Missouri, in its 2018 roster.
That athletic history has become an interesting part of his public biography because football is also central to his latest television character.
Cornell Young IV’s Football Background
Before acting became his primary career, Young IV had a substantial connection to football.
He attended Kirkwood High School in Missouri and played football there. His college career continued after high school, giving him firsthand experience with the athletic environment that plays an important role in his current television work.
McKendree University’s 2018 football roster lists Young IV as a freshman from Kirkwood, Missouri. The roster identifies him as a wide receiver and lists him at 6 feet 3 inches and 190 pounds.
His high school football experience included multiple positions. Recent entertainment coverage has described him as having played running back, wide receiver and cornerback.
That experience provides a direct connection to Shaquille Johnson, the character he plays in Netflix’s A Different World sequel.
How Old Was Cornell Young IV When He Started Acting?
Young IV entered professional screen acting relatively recently compared with many actors who begin working as children or teenagers.
His first television credits arrived in 2025. He appeared in Beyond the Gates before taking on a role in Netflix’s Forever.
That means he was approximately 25 when his professional screen career became visible to a wider audience.
His transition from athletics to entertainment also shaped the path toward his current role. His college years included both football and an interest in theater, giving him experience in two areas that eventually came together in his acting career.
Cornell Young IV in Forever
One of Young IV’s early recognizable roles came in Netflix’s 2025 drama series Forever.
He played Todd in the series, which is based on Judy Blume’s novel. The role gave the actor an early opportunity to appear on Netflix before his much larger role in A Different World.
His Forever credit is significant when looking at the timeline of his career because it came shortly before his rise as Shaquille Johnson.
Young IV was 25 when Forever premiered in May 2025. He subsequently continued building his acting résumé with additional television and film work.
Cornell Young IV in Beyond the Gates
Young IV also appeared in the CBS daytime drama Beyond the Gates in 2025.
His appearance came during the early stage of his acting career. The role helped establish screen credits before he moved into larger projects.
Taken together, Beyond the Gates and Forever represent some of his earliest professional television work.
His career moved quickly afterward, eventually leading to his role in Netflix’s continuation of A Different World.
Cornell Young IV’s Role in A Different World
The biggest current development in Young IV’s career is his role as Shaquille Johnson in Netflix’s A Different World sequel.
The new series premiered on Netflix on September 24, 2026. It introduces a new group of students at the fictional Hillman College while continuing the world established by the original series.
Young IV plays Shaquille, a highly regarded football player who chooses to attend an HBCU. The character also has an important connection to the original show because Shaquille is the son of Ron Johnson, played by Darryl M. Bell.
Netflix’s official character information describes Shaquille as a talented quarterback whose decision to attend an HBCU is connected to a promise he made to his late mother.
The character is also connected to Deborah Wayne, played by Maleah Joi Moon. Deborah is the daughter of original characters Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert.
Why Cornell Young IV’s Age Gets Attention
The question of how old Young IV is has become increasingly common as viewers discover the actor through A Different World.
At 26, he is older than the college student he portrays. That is not unusual for television, where adult actors frequently play characters who are several years younger.
The age difference is also noticeable because Young IV brings genuine football experience to a role centered on an elite college athlete.
His real-life background therefore overlaps with Shaquille’s fictional identity in a particularly direct way.
Cornell Young IV and His Real-Life College Experience
Young IV’s college experience also gives him a connection to the setting of A Different World.
McKendree University records show that he joined the school’s football program as a freshman in 2018. The university listed him as a wide receiver and recorded Kirkwood High School as his previous school.
Recent interviews and entertainment profiles have also highlighted his involvement with theater during college.
That combination of football and theater became an important part of his development. It gave him experience both on the athletic field and in performance settings before acting became his professional focus.
Cornell Young IV’s Acting Career Timeline
Young IV’s professional career can be summarized through several recent milestones:
- 2018: He was listed as a freshman football player at McKendree University.
- 2025: He appeared in Beyond the Gates.
- 2025: He played Todd in Netflix’s Forever.
- 2026: He appeared in Doing Life.
- September 2026: He became part of the principal cast of Netflix’s A Different World sequel.
- September 24, 2026: A Different World premiered on Netflix.
This timeline shows how quickly his acting career has developed.
The actor moved from early television appearances to a major Netflix ensemble role within roughly two years.
How Old Is Cornell Young IV in A Different World?
Cornell Young IV is 26 years old during the first season of A Different World.
His character, Shaquille Johnson, is a college student at Hillman College. The series focuses on a new generation of students as they experience college life, relationships, family expectations and personal ambitions.
Although Young IV is 26 in real life, Shaquille’s age is presented through the character’s college-student role rather than as a direct reflection of the actor’s actual age.
The distinction is important when searching for information about the actor because online discussions can sometimes mix an actor’s biography with the age of the character he plays.
What Is Cornell Young IV Doing Now?
As of September 25, 2026, Young IV is promoting and appearing in A Different World following its Netflix premiere.
The series is his most prominent television role to date. Netflix lists him among the new principal cast members alongside Maleah Joi Moon, Alijah Kai, Jordan Aaron Hall, Kennedi Reece and Chibuikem Uche.
Young IV’s character also has connections to returning members of the original cast, including Darryl M. Bell.
His latest role places him at the center of a major franchise continuation while building on his previous television appearances.
Cornell Young IV Age: Key Facts at a Glance
For readers searching specifically for his current age, the most important facts are straightforward:
- Cornell Young IV is 26 years old as of September 25, 2026.
- His publicly listed birthday is February 14, 2000.
- He was born and raised in Missouri.
- He attended Kirkwood High School.
- He played college football at McKendree University.
- His early screen credits include Beyond the Gates and Forever.
- He plays Shaquille Johnson in Netflix’s A Different World.
- A Different World premiered on Netflix on September 24, 2026.
These details explain why searches for his age have increased alongside the release of his newest series.
Cornell Young IV’s Age and Career in 2026
At 26, Young IV is entering a significant new stage of his entertainment career.
His path is notable because he did not begin with a long list of childhood acting credits. Instead, his professional screen career developed after years connected to football and performance.
His current role in A Different World brings those experiences together. Shaquille is a college football star, while Young IV has firsthand experience playing college football.
The Netflix series has therefore given him a character that connects closely with an important part of his own background.
For anyone searching for Cornell Young IV age, the current answer is 26. His February 14, 2000 birthday places him at that age throughout the remainder of 2026, with his 27th birthday scheduled for February 14, 2027.
Young IV’s career is still relatively young, but his latest Netflix role has significantly expanded his visibility. With A Different World now streaming, more viewers are getting to know the actor behind Shaquille Johnson.
Have more details about Cornell Young IV’s age or career caught your attention? Share your thoughts and stay updated as his acting journey continues.