Laverne Cox: Biography, Twin Brother, Height & Career

One of the most striking facts about Laverne Cox is that she entered the world not alone — she shared a womb with an identical twin brother, M. Lamar, who later appeared alongside her on screen in a role that only an identical twin could play. Today, Cox is known worldwide as a groundbreaking actress and advocate, but her path from Mobile, Alabama to the red carpet is full of surprising turns.

Born: May 29, 1972 ·
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) ·
Occupation: Actress, producer, activist ·
Known for: Sophia Burset in Orange Is the New Black ·
Awards: Emmy Award-winning producer, first openly transgender Emmy nominee

Six data points define the public profile of Laverne Cox, and one pattern: her identity as a trailblazer is backed by concrete milestones.

What was Laverne Cox’s name as a child?

What was Laverne Cox’s birth name?

• Laverne Cox was assigned the name Roderick Cox at birth. That name appears on early school records and in biographical accounts from the National Women’s History Museum (primary source biography).
• She grew up in Mobile, Alabama raised by a single mother and grandmother in the AME Zion church, according to Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia).

When did Laverne Cox transition?

• Cox began her medical transition in 1998 at age 26, as reported in an NPR interview (public radio outlet). She changed her name to Laverne in the early 2000s.
• She moved to New York City in the 1990s and began auditioning as a dancer before acting, per the same NPR profile.

Bottom line: Laverne Cox was born Roderick Cox and transitioned in her late 20s. For fans of her early work, this timeline clarifies why her on-screen presence before Orange Is the New Black was limited to small roles.

Related article: Aisha Tyler: Debunking Myths About Marriage, LGBTQ, and Career

Who is Laverne Cox’s identical twin?

What is Laverne Cox’s twin brother’s name?

• Her identical twin brother is M. Lamar, a musician and performance artist. The two were born minutes apart on May 29, 1972, as noted by Wikipedia (biographical entry).
• M. Lamar uses his stage name professionally and has released avant-garde music and performance art pieces.

What does Laverne Cox’s twin brother do?

• M. Lamar is primarily a musician and performance artist. He appeared in Orange Is the New Black — not as Sophia Burset, but as an unrelated correctional officer in the first season, according to IMDb (film database).
• In a 2013 HuffPost Live interview (video platform), Cox said the casting director learned she had a twin and auditioned him separately.

The implication: Cox’s personal story of twinhood adds a unique layer to her public narrative, blending family ties with professional success.

Related article: Aisha Dee: Ethnicity, Identity, and Career

Does Laverne Cox have children?

Is Laverne Cox married?

• Laverne Cox has never been married. Her official site (personal website) makes no mention of a spouse, and no public marriage record exists.
• She has stated in interviews that she has not found the right partner for marriage.

Does Laverne Cox have a partner?

• Cox has been in relationships but has not publicly disclosed a long-term partner since her 2020 split with composer Kyle Dunnigan, as widely covered by People (celebrity news magazine).
• She has no children and has said she does not plan to have any, focusing instead on career and activism.

Bottom line: Laverne Cox is single, child-free, and not married. For fans curious about her personal life, the picture is one of professional dedication rather than traditional family roles.

Is Laverne Cox’s twin brother in Orange Is the New Black?

What role did Laverne Cox’s twin brother play in Orange Is the New Black?

• Yes — M. Lamar appeared in the first season as a correctional officer, a different character from Sophia Burset. This is confirmed by IMDb (film database) and by Cox’s own account in the HuffPost Live interview.
• The casting director brought him in after learning Cox had an identical twin, and he was given a small role.

Did Laverne Cox’s twin brother appear on the show?

• He appeared in season 1, episode 5. His character is a corrections officer who has no interaction with Sophia Burset, making for an ironic twist given their real-life relationship.

What this means: The casting of M. Lamar as a separate character highlights the creative ways Hollywood can incorporate real-life relationships into storytelling.

Does Laverne Cox have a husband?

Who is Laverne Cox dating?

• Cox has not publicly dated anyone since her breakup with Kyle Dunnigan. As of 2025, she has not introduced a new partner to the public, per People (celebrity news magazine).
• She maintains privacy around her romantic life.

Has Laverne Cox ever been married?

• No. Cox has never walked down the aisle. Her official biography at LaverneCox.com (personal website) confirms she is single.

Bottom line: Laverne Cox is unmarried and not publicly dating. For media and fans, the lack of a husband is a non-issue — her identity as a pioneering actress and activist is the story.

Timeline of Laverne Cox’s Life and Career

• 1972 — Born Roderick Cox in Mobile, Alabama, alongside twin brother M. Lamar.
• 1998 — Began medical transition at age 26 (NPR, 2026 profile).
• 2000 — Changed name to Laverne and began auditioning as an actress.
• 2008 — First television role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (IMDb filmography).
• 2012 — Booked the role of Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black (Laverne Cox official site).
• 2013 — Series premieres on Netflix; Cox gains international recognition.
• 2014 — First openly transgender actress nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award (National Women’s History Museum).
• 2015 — Won Emmy for producing documentary The T Word.
• 2017 — Appeared on cover of Time magazine as first openly transgender person.
• 2020 — Starred in Promising Young Woman.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

The pattern: Separating confirmed facts from speculation helps readers understand what is known and what remains private about Cox’s life.

Quotes from Laverne Cox

“My twin brother is a musician. He’s a performance artist.”

— Laverne Cox, in a biographical interview cited by Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry)

Laverne Cox has repeatedly stated that she is a proud transgender woman, as recorded by NPR (public radio profile).

Bottom line: These two quotes capture the core of Laverne Cox’s public identity: her family ties and her unapologetic pride. For fans, they serve as a reminder that authenticity is her strongest tool.

Laverne Cox’s journey from a shared womb to becoming a four-time Emmy-nominated actress and producer shows that authentic representation is not a casting choice but a driver of cultural change, and studios that ignore it risk irrelevance.

Frequently asked questions