Both her mother and father share the profession of teaching. Moreover, Zendaya went to elementary school where her mother spent two decades as an educator. She's often expressed the pivotal role her mother played at the start of her acting career. After eight years of marriage, Stoermer and Coleman separated in 2016.
Zendaya said as much in 2017. “My mom stayed in Oakland because she had two jobs: teaching and working at the California Shakespeare Theater at night,” she explained.
Zendaya grew as a performer in part at the nearby California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, California, where her mother worked a summer job as the house manager. Zendaya helped her seat patrons, sold fundraising tickets, and was finally inspired to pursue acting by the theatrical performances.
She went on to study at the Cal Shakes Conservatory Program in Orinda, California, and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California. While at the Oakland School for the Arts, Zendaya acted in many California stage productions, including at the Berkeley Playhouse and at Palo Alto's TheaterWorks.
Zendaya is the only biological child of her parents, but she has a total of five older half-siblings, including her oldest brother, Julien Coleman (who goes by the moniker “EZ”).
tina knowles's interview with zendaya and her mom claire
Why doesn't Zendaya have a last name?
When asked about the choice to drop her last name, the actress told Allure back in December 2016 that she simply liked the sound of the one-word stage name better. "I [dropped my last name because I] just thought it was cool, like Cher or Prince," she explained.
During her days as a student at the Oakland School for the Arts, Zendaya landed a number of roles in local theatrical productions, including for Cal Shakes. She also honed her craft at the American Conservatory Theater and Cal Shakes' Conservatory program. Zendaya had an interest in dance as well.
“I'm always in a high school somewhere,” the now 27-year-old actress told Vogue about earlier roles. “And, mind you, I never went to high school.” She called the move to more mature parts — like her upcoming tennis pro love triangle movie Challengers, which has a steamy second trailer — refreshing.
At the moment, according to the source, the couple is busy with their careers, so marriage is supposedly on the back burner. For Zendaya, her latest project, Challengers, is hitting theaters today, April 26, 2024, while Holland is starring in Romeo and Juliet on London's West End in May 2024.
Her full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, having been born the only child of Claire Marie Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu (who reclaimed his African name after he was born Samuel David Coleman). Her stage name, however, has only ever been just Zendaya.
According to the FauxMoi subreddit, Z's assistant Darnell also confirmed that she wasn't engaged during an Instagram Live. "No, absolutely not. No," he said while answering fans' questions about whether she was engaged. "Zendaya is not engaged, okay?
Wondering who's responsible for raising the multi-talented Zendaya? Meet the Emmy-winner's parents, mom Claire Stoermer and dad Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, who have been the Euphoria star's biggest supporters since she was born in Oakland, California on Sept. 1, 1996.
Zendaya is one of the most sought after actresses out there at the minute. From starting out her career on Disney, the 27-year-old has now become a household name, starring in TV shows such as Euphoria, films such as Spider-Man and Dune, and even performing at Coachella.
Zendaya has many exciting upcoming movies, but the roles in the films she's already starred in showcase the success and longevity of her career. Though best known for her work in the Max original series Euphoria, as Rue, she has quickly made headway into the film world in various genres.
Zendaya never went to high school herself. Her career took off when she was the 14-year-old star of Disney Channel's “Shake It Up,” which led into another Disney hit, “K.C. Undercover,” and then an entire acting career that had no time to slow down for a proper classroom education.
Zendaya's parents are Kazembe Ajamu Coleman and Claire Stoermer. Coleman, her father, has African-American roots, and Stoermer, her mother, has German and Scottish ancestry. Both her mother and father share the profession of teaching.
Alumna Claire Stoermer '87 is an excited mother! Her daughter Zendaya made it to the finale of Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday and finished 2nd. Awesome!
Zendaya broke out as a Disney Channel star when she was 14 years old. She's gone on to become a blockbuster star in franchises like "Spider-Man." The actress/singer/activist has released her own album, written a book, and made a clothing line.
Zendaya may have got her start on the Disney Channel, but the actress has since become an A-list star — so much so, she only needs to go by one name. Born Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman on September 1, 1996, the Euphoria star has mom Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman to thank for her unique moniker.
“I have my African first name, I have a middle name that is [my mom's] middle name, which is French, but we did it African spelling, so it's literally me in a name,” Zendaya explained n a PSA for non-profit organization Welcome US in 2015. “And then you have Stoermer, and then you have Coleman.
