‘Empire’s Derek Luke Raises Son in an Interracial Marriage with Sophia Adella - Inside Their Family

Derek Luke and his wife Sophia Adella Luke proved that love has no color or race. They've been together for 24 years, and their love for their child and their religion are the keys to a successful, long-lasting marriage.

Even after more than two decades of marriage, the actor Derek Luke and his wife Sophia Adella Luke still have to talk about interracial relationships and why he decided to marry someone outside his race.

MEET ACTOR DEREK LUKE

Luke is best known for his role as Malcolm Devoe on the TV series "Empire." But the actor started his career before his debut in the show in 2015. In 2009, in the film "Notorious," Luke played P. Diddy, and in the same year, he was cast for the NBC drama series "Trauma."

Two years later, he was Gabe Jones on "Captain America: The First Avenger," and in 2013, he played "Gregory" in three episodes in the FX series, "The Americans."

Besides his famous role in "Empire," Luke is also remembered for his remarkable on-screen debut performance in Denzel Washington's 2002 project, "Antwone Fisher."

The role earned him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Actor, BET Award for the same category, and more. The actor's latest project is on the Netflix teen drama series "13 Reasons Why," portraying Kevin Porter.

THE LUKE FAMILY

The 48-year-old actor is happily married to Sophia Adella Luke. She's a singer and actress known for starring in the films "Spartan" (2004), "Knock Out" (2000), and "Lying in Wait" (2001). In 2007, the couple welcomed their son, Paxton, who is constantly on his proud parents' social media accounts.

The couple met a few years before "Antwone Fisher," and it has been 20+ years of their "honeymoon period" since then, as Sophia shared on her Instagram.

The couple often gushes about their love for each other and their son on their social media accounts. They have a solid marriage and are supportive of each other.

When Luke's name was announced as the best male actor for "Antwone Fisher" during the Independent Spirit Award in 2003, he picked his wife by the hand and took her with him to the stage to receive his award.

He first thanked God, and he thanked his wife "as the spirit who kept him there." He continued to say that he could only accept the award because it belonged to her. Luke handed the prize to Sophia, and she burst into tears.

Despite their solid and happy marriage, Sophia and Luke have faced prejudice and had to deal with "haters," especially on their Instagram. The "Empire" actor was able to brush some comments aside and ignore others, but as a matter of fact, he can only take it for so long.

INTERRACIAL LOVE? YES, PLEASE

In 2015, after reading several inadequate comments about his wife being Hispanic, Luke decided to stand up for his beloved long-time partner and went on a rant to defend her:

“I never usually entertain the opinions of others because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But we’re in the year of 2015 & when should it be a ‘problem’ to date outside your race? Why is that an issue AGAIN?”

But the story doesn't stop on social media, and it isn't only the fans who bugged him out with "interracial marriage" matters. A few years before his rant, a reporter asked Luke about a supposed friend's statement about him.

The "friend" is the author of the book "Hiding the Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry--from Music to Hollywood," a controversial and provocative memoir about black gay men who hide their sexuality to make it in the entertainment industry.

Luke was mentioned in the book, but the actor denied any connection with the author, Terrance Dean. Her second question was about interracial dating, and Sophia asked him to tell the reporter what God told him.

The actor explained that his mother raised him and taught him to look for a woman who had a purpose and loved God.

Luke explained to the reporter that Sophia was the first woman he's dated out of his race, and when he wondered why that was, he said God told him "it was the first time he dated someone who loved Him."

In a recent interview on a Christian YouTube channel, the couple talked about their relationship with God and Christianity. Sophia revealed her tough upbringing back in California and her decision to embrace her love for religion in 1996.