Daniel Benjamin Bassett is known publicly because of his daughter, Angela Bassett. Beyond that connection, information about his life is limited and fragmented. He was not a public figure, and most records that mention him appear through family history rather than personal accounts.
Here’s what can be confirmed without filling gaps with speculation.
Daniel Benjamin Bassett’s Background
Daniel Benjamin Bassett was born on December 16, 1924, in North Carolina. His parents were Daniel Bassett Sr. and Brownie Bassett. He grew up with three siblings: Golden Florence Wall, Jethro Bassett, and Walter Bassett.
He died in October 1981 at the age of 56. At the time of his death, Angela Bassett was 23 years old and just beginning to build her adult life.
Some sources suggest he may have been involved in jazz music earlier in his life, but that detail has never been confirmed through reliable records.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1959, Daniel married Betty Jane Bassett in Forsyth, North Carolina. Betty Jane worked as a social worker and later became the primary parent to their children.
The marriage did not last. Daniel and Betty Jane separated when their daughters were still very young. Angela Bassett was around four years old at the time.
After the separation, Daniel was largely absent from his daughters’ lives. Betty Jane raised them in St. Petersburg, Florida, without his involvement. According to available accounts, Angela did not reconnect with her father until years later, during her grandmother’s funeral.
Angela Bassett’s Early Life
Angela Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in New York City. After her parents separated, she was raised primarily in Florida by her mother.
She attended Jordan Park Elementary School and later Boca Ciega High School, where she was active in debate and drama. Acting stood out early as something she took seriously, not casually.
After high school, Angela attended Yale University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies. While at Yale, she co-founded the Yale Black Drama Society and remained deeply involved in theater.
She later enrolled at the Yale School of Drama, continuing to train formally before entering the professional acting world.
Angela Bassett’s Career
Angela Bassett began her professional career in theater and made her film debut in F/X. Wider recognition followed in the early 1990s, culminating in her portrayal of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It.
That role earned her an Academy Award nomination and established her as a serious dramatic actor. From there, her career expanded across film and television.
Notable roles include Betty Shabazz in Malcolm X, Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story, and Queen Ramonda in Marvel’s Black Panther.
She has also appeared in television series such as American Horror Story, ER, and The Jacksons: An American Dream.
Personal Details About Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett is married to Courtney B. Vance. She is approximately 1.63 m tall and has an estimated net worth of around $25 million.
She has spoken extensively about her career, education, and creative process, but rarely about her father.
Where Daniel Benjamin Bassett Fits Into the Story
Very little is known about Daniel Benjamin Bassett beyond records and brief mentions. Angela Bassett has not shared personal memories of him publicly, and there are no interviews that add depth to his role in her life.
What remains clear is that Angela’s upbringing, education, and career were shaped primarily by her mother and her own discipline rather than her father’s presence.
Daniel Benjamin Bassett remains a peripheral figure in a much larger story, one defined by his daughter’s work rather than his own public legacy.
