Cornell Young Iv Wikipedia Biography: Wiki, Age, Career, Height, Weight, Girlfriend, Net Worth & More

Cornell Young IV is an American actor whose rise from college football fields to Netflix stardom reads like the plot of a feel-good sports drama. Best known as Shaquille Johnson — the star quarterback of Hillman College — in Netflix’s revival of “A Different World,” Cornell has gone from playing high school football in Missouri to becoming one of the most talked-about young faces on television in 2026. His journey is anything but conventional: a football player who stumbled into theater almost by accident, fell in love with acting, and is now carrying one of the most beloved sitcom legacies on television.

The Netflix revival of “A Different World,” which premiered on 24 September 2026, brought the classic Hillman College story to a new generation, and Cornell’s portrayal of Shaquille Johnson — the son of original-series favourite Ron Johnson — quickly made him a breakout star. Within weeks of the show’s debut, he had climbed to No. 2 on IMDb’s STARmeter chart, a remarkable leap for an actor who only recently began his television career. The show has already been renewed for a second season, cementing his place at the heart of one of streaming’s hottest new hits.

In this full biography we cover everything publicly known about Cornell Young IV: his age, his St. Louis roots, his football background, his acting career, his dating life, and his estimated net worth. Where facts have not been publicly disclosed — such as his exact date of birth, height, weight, net worth and relationship status — we say so openly rather than guessing.

Cornell Young Iv Wikipedia Wiki and Biography

Full Name	Cornell Young IV
Date of Birth	Not publicly disclosed (estimated birth year ~1999–2000)
Age (as of October 2026)	26 years old
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Not publicly disclosed
Zodiac Sign	Not publicly disclosed (date of birth undisclosed)
Profession	Actor
Years Active	2020s–present
Relationship Status	Not publicly confirmed (no confirmed current girlfriend)

Cornell Young IV was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. His exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed, but with his reported age given as 26 in October 2026, his birth year can be estimated at around 1999 or 2000. He grew up in a family environment he has described as full of older relatives — he has spoken warmly about being raised around his grandmother and older family members, an upbringing he credits with shaping his outlook on life and relationships. Away from the cameras, he keeps his private life notably guarded, which is why so little is publicly documented about his personal details.

Cornell Young Iv Height and Weight

Height	Not publicly documented
Weight	Not publicly documented
Hair Colour	Black
Eye Colour	Dark brown

Cornell Young IV’s exact height and weight have not been publicly documented, and we do not publish estimated or guessed measurements. Given his background as a high school and college football player — he played running back, wide receiver and cornerback at Kirkwood High School in Missouri — he is visibly athletic in build, which served him well when he stepped into the role of Hillman College’s star quarterback. Beyond that, no official figures are available.

Cornell Young Iv Career

Profession	Actor
Career Start	2020s (first television role in Netflix’s “Forever”)
Known For	Shaquille Johnson in Netflix’s “A Different World” revival; Netflix’s “Forever”
Key Milestones	Missouri Class 6A State Championship with Kirkwood High School; collegiate football while studying marketing; first TV role in “Forever”; breakout as Shaquille Johnson in “A Different World” (premiered 24 September 2026); No. 2 on IMDb’s STARmeter; season 2 renewal

Cornell’s athletic career came first. At Kirkwood High School in Missouri he played multiple positions — running back, wide receiver and cornerback — and helped his team win a Missouri Class 6A State Championship. He continued playing football at the collegiate level while studying marketing, seemingly set on a path far removed from acting. Theater found him almost by accident during college, and the pull was immediate: he has described himself as a “real-life Troy Bolton,” the High School Musical character who leaves football practice to run to rehearsals. Cornell would finish football practice and head straight to theater rehearsals, with his football friends turning up to watch his plays — living out the exact conflict made famous by the film.

That accidental discovery turned into a calling. Cornell’s first television role came in Netflix’s series “Forever,” where he began learning the craft of screen acting and navigating the transition from athlete to performer. He has discussed that transition in interviews on Netflix’s Tudum platform and across the show’s press tour, speaking candidly about the leap from the football field to a film set and what it took to earn his place in front of the camera.

The role that changed everything arrived with Netflix’s revival of “A Different World,” which premiered on 24 September 2026. Cornell was cast as Shaquille Johnson, Hillman College’s star quarterback — and, in a nod to the original series, the son of Ron Johnson, one of the beloved characters from the classic show. It was casting that felt tailor-made: an actor with genuine football pedigree playing the most athletic character on campus. His performance, equal parts charm and confidence, quickly became one of the breakout elements of the revival.

The momentum since has been extraordinary. Cornell reached No. 2 on IMDb’s STARmeter chart in the wake of the show’s success — one of the clearest industry signals of a genuine breakout — and Netflix moved quickly to renew “A Different World” for a second season. With the revival established as a hit and his character positioned at its center, Cornell Young IV has moved from promising newcomer to one of the most closely watched young actors in television.

Cornell Young Iv Net Worth

Net Worth	Not publicly documented (no reliable estimate available)
Income Sources	Acting roles (Netflix’s “Forever” and “A Different World”); press and promotional appearances

Cornell Young IV’s net worth has not been publicly documented, and no reliable estimated figure exists in any reputable source. We will not invent a number. What can be said is that his income comes primarily from his acting work — his early role in Netflix’s “Forever” and, most significantly, his breakout starring turn in the “A Different World” revival, which has been renewed for a second season. As with any young actor early in a breakthrough, his earning trajectory is only just beginning.

10 Interesting Facts About Cornell Young Iv

He was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and is 26 years old as of October 2026 — though his exact date of birth has never been publicly disclosed.
At Kirkwood High School in Missouri he played three football positions — running back, wide receiver and cornerback — and helped the team win a Missouri Class 6A State Championship.
He played football at the collegiate level while studying marketing before acting entered his life.
He discovered theater almost by accident in college and calls himself a “real-life Troy Bolton,” leaving football practice to run to rehearsals while his football friends came to watch his plays.
His first television role was in Netflix’s “Forever,” before his breakout in “A Different World.”
In Netflix’s “A Different World” revival (premiered 24 September 2026), he plays Shaquille Johnson — Hillman College’s star quarterback and the son of original-series character Ron Johnson.
He climbed to No. 2 on IMDb’s STARmeter chart following the success of “A Different World.”
“A Different World” has been renewed for a second season, keeping him at the center of one of Netflix’s hottest new shows.
In October 2026 interviews on “The Shop” alongside co-stars Cree Summer and Darryl M. Bell, he said he prefers dating older women, valuing maturity, communication and real-life experience — and that the women he has dated have generally been older than him, influenced by growing up around his grandmother and older relatives.
He should not be confused with Roynell Young, the 1980s Philadelphia Eagles football player, or Connell Young, the Western Carolina running back — they are entirely different people.

Conclusion

Cornell Young IV’s story is still in its opening chapters, but they are remarkable ones: a St. Louis football player who wandered into a college theater by accident and emerged, just a few years later, as the star quarterback of Hillman College in one of Netflix’s most successful revivals. At 26, with a STARmeter surge, a season 2 renewal and a character audiences have embraced, he has the foundation of a lasting career. If the next chapters match the opening, Cornell Young IV is a name television will be saying for a long time.

Cornell Young Iv FAQs

How old is Cornell Young Iv?
He is 26 years old as of October 2026. His exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed, though his birth year is estimated at around 1999–2000.

Who does Cornell Young Iv play in A Different World?
He plays Shaquille Johnson, Hillman College’s star quarterback and the son of original-series character Ron Johnson, in Netflix’s “A Different World” revival, which premiered on 24 September 2026.

Where is Cornell Young Iv from?
He was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Did Cornell Young Iv play football?
Yes — he played running back, wide receiver and cornerback at Kirkwood High School in Missouri, helping the team to a Missouri Class 6A State Championship, and played football at the collegiate level while studying marketing.

What was Cornell Young Iv’s first TV role?
His first television role was in Netflix’s series “Forever,” before his breakout in “A Different World.”

What is Cornell Young Iv’s height and weight?
His exact height and weight have not been publicly documented.

Does Cornell Young Iv have a girlfriend?
No confirmed current girlfriend has been publicly named. In October 2026 interviews on “The Shop,” he said he prefers dating older women, valuing maturity, communication and real-life experience.

What is Cornell Young Iv’s net worth?
His net worth has not been publicly documented, and no reliable estimate exists. We do not publish invented figures.

Why is Cornell Young Iv called a real-life Troy Bolton?
Because, like the High School Musical character, he would leave football practice to go to theater rehearsals in college — and his football friends came to watch his plays.

Is Cornell Young Iv related to Roynell Young or Connell Young?
No. Roynell Young (1980s Philadelphia Eagles player) and Connell Young (Western Carolina running back) are entirely different people.

Last Updated: October 2026 | Fact-checked by the Xposed editorial team.