Hollywood is filled with actors looking to make it big. Not all of them do. Most will never reach the heights of success reserved for the few. It’s a special privilege to make it in Hollywood. Sometimes, the road to the top is more challenging for black actors who battled discrimination and a lack of opportunity. In celebration of Hollywood’s many excellent black actors, here is a list of some of the best male actors in the business.
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1. Denzel Washington
Washington is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors with a phenomenal four-decade career. He made his television debut in 1977, starring in The Wilma Rudolph Story and was cast in his first film role in 1980, appearing in the comedy-drama Carbon Copy.
The Equalizer star won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the war film Glory (1989) as Private Silas Trip. He went on to win multiple awards, with his incredible list of accolades testifying to his immense talents.
His other famous appearances are as freedom fighter Steve Biko in Cry Freedom (1987), dirty cop Alonzo Harris in Training Day (2001), Malcolm X (1992), Bleek Gilliam in the musical Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Flight (2012), and Fences (2016).
The actor is one of the most respected in Hollywood. Washington can cross genres from drama to action, proving his versatility and undeniable talent. He has opened many doors for the current generation of young black actors.
2. Sidney Poitier
Before stars like Denzel, there was Sidney Poitier. In 1964, he was the first black man to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in Lilies of the Field.
As one of the last significant stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood Cinema, he was granted knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974, received an Honorary Academy Award for his outstanding accomplishments as an actor, and also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2009. His most recent achievements saw him claim the BAFTA Fellowship for outstanding lifetime achievement in film in 2016.
With an impressive track record, the actor is among the most popular in Hollywood and a role model for many. He saw roles in Shoot to Kill (1988), Blackboard Jungle (1955), Ghost Dad (1990), and The Last Brickmaker in America (2001). And these are only a sneak peek into his lengthy acting career.
3. Will Smith
Although his career as an actor has quietened down, Smith is one of the biggest stars ever in Hollywood. Starting in the 80s as an MC for his friend DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith eventually landed the lead as a fictionalized version of himself in the classic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Soon, Will appeared in hit films like Independence Day (1996) and Men in Black (1997). The actor dominated the box office and the music charts in the mid to late nineties, with his Men in Black single scoring a Grammy Award.
Lately, Smith is more known for his relationship exploits with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and the Oscar slap he gave Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. It is easy to forget that Smith was a megastar with some of his most memorable performances in the Men in Black trilogy, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Hitch (2005), I Am Legend (2007), Suicide Squad (2016) and an Academy Award-winning portrayal for Best Actor in King Richard (2021) where he starred as Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard Williams.
4. Jamie Foxx
Before becoming a big Hollywood star, Jamie Foxx was a recurring cast member on the hilarious comedy sketch show In Living Color. Foxx was a rising star alongside Jim Carrey and quickly showed his talents as a comedian and actor.
Professionally known as Jamie Foxx (his birth name being Eric Marlon Bishop), the actor, singer and comedian has already won the BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe Award, Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and the Academy Award all for one singular film. Arguably, his most famous film, Foxx, portrayed Ray Charles in the biographical film Ray (2004). He was also nominated for numerous awards within the same year.
Other recognizable roles he has played include the main character in Django Unchained (2012), Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2021), and then saw him make his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as he reprised his role as Electro in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). The star also has a career as a successful musician, having produced four albums and won awards, which include a Grammy Award.
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5. Forest Whitaker
At age 61, this actor received numerous accolades for his impressive big-screen performances, such as two Screen Actors Guild Awards, an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Forest’s first notable film was in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).
The skilled actor was also in other acclaimed films like Platoon (1986), Bloodsport (1988), Panic Room (2002), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), and Black Panther (2018) alongside the late Chadwick Boseman, where he gave an impressive performance as Zuri.
Whitaker’s talents were finally utilized to their full extent when he portrayed Ugandan Military leader Idi Amin in 2006’s The Last King of Scotland. Forest won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance and proved he was one of the best actors of his generation.
Furthermore, Whitaker is more than just your average actor, having been formally admitted to UNESCO as a Goodwill Ambassador. He is now the CEO of a non-profit outreach program called the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WDPI). With an active role in humanitarian work, Whitaker deserves his place on this list, as he uses his fame to make a change.
6. Morgan Freeman
This actor, director, and narrator, best known for his deep voice, has seen a five-decade-long career. His acting career began in theatre at school when he starred in plays before ultimately studying the arts in Los Angeles. He then won his first Obie Award for his role in Coriolanus, a Shakespearean play.
His debut was in the 1987 classic Street Smart, earning him his first Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor. After that, he saw a period where he starred alongside Clint Eastwood in multiple films before receiving another Academy Award Nomination for his memorable role as Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding in Shawshank Redemption (1994). Freeman even starred as Nelson Mandela in the movie Invictus (2009).
He also received awards for roles in Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Driving Miss Daisy (1989). He won a Golden Globe Award for the latter film, although the star has five nominations for the award under his belt. In addition, Freeman founded his own production company, Revelations Entertainment, and was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012 for his contributions to the film industry.
7. Samuel L. Jackson
As the third highest-grossing actor of all time, Samuel L. Jackson saw his first Academy Honorary Award in 2022 from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His most recognizable character to date is Nick Fury, in the MCU.
He also guest-starred in the Agents of SHIELD television series. Some of his other works include Coming to America (1988), Jurassic Park (1993), Unbreakable (2000), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and Kong: Skull Island (2017). Jackson also offered his voice to the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars film in 2008 and then the game of the same name in 2011. He also voiced Frozone in The Incredibles (2004) and the sequel in 2018.
Jackson also collaborated with some of the biggest names in the film industry, such as Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee.
His breakout role was in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), earning the star his first BAFTA Award and a nomination for an Academy Award. And for anime fans, it is worth mentioning that he voiced the main character in Afro Samurai (2017), and although not considered an anime, Gin Rummy in The Boondocks. Also, he voiced a character in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Officer Frank Tenpenny), so it begs the question of where this man has yet to be.
8. Chadwick Boseman
Although the actor only made it to 43, he still had an impressive two-decade-long career. His most recognizable role is as Marvel comic book superhero T’Challa/Black Panther in the MCU between 2016 and 2019. The character received their film Black Panther (2018), and this dubbed Boseman as the first black actor to headline an MCU film. This film won him the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in Motion Picture and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 and saw his final film in 2020 as Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom before he ultimately passed away. This film gained the late actor two nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In addition, the film received critical acclaim, which seems a fitting end to his acting career.
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9. Idris Elba
The first English actor on this list, Idrissa Akuna Elba, was born in London, England, in 1972 and saw a productive career in acting and as a producer. He also had his share in the music industry as a rapper, singer, and disc jockey. Elba is among the few actors who saw roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Heimdall and Bloodsport within the DC Extended Universe. He has also voiced multiple characters in animated films such as Fluke in Finding Dory (2016), Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), Chief Bogo in Zootopia (2016), and Shere Khan in the CGI-live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book (2016).
The films he has starred in have grossed over $9 billion at the global box office; he has also seen roles in Obsessed (2009), Prometheus (2012), Pacific Rim (2013), Molly’s Game (2017), and Beasts of No Nation (2015) for which he earned nominations for both a BAFTA and Golden Globe Award. And as a fun fact, Elba’s stage name as a disc jockey is DJ Big Driis.
10. Laurence Fishburne
At age 61, Laurence Fishburne already has three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, which he won starring in Two Trains Running (1992). As a producer, writer, and director, Fishburne can also be accredited for his work in Once in the Life (2000), a crime film written, directed, and starring the star. Although the film did not receive high ratings on IMBD or a high score on Rotten Tomatoes, this is still quite an impressive feat.
While some of his more famous roles find him in films such as The Matrix series (1999 – 2003) and the John Wick films (2017 – now), he became the first African American actor to appear on stage in Oliver Parker’s Shakespearean adaptation as Othello. Furthermore, he saw minor roles in prominent films such as the critically acclaimed The Colour Purple (1985) featuring Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover. He also saw roles in popular television series such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Black-ish.
11. Michael B. Jordan
One of the younger actors on this list at age 35, Michael B. Jordan, has a surprisingly long career. As a producer, Jordan received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie nomination for his film Fahrenheit 451 (2018).
As an actor, he saw roles in four movies written and directed by Ryan Coogler, all of which are his most notable performances. The films include Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed (2015), Black Panther (2018), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). He reprised his role as Creed in 2018 and then his role as Killmonger in 2021 for Marvel’s What If…? Animated series.
Acting since 1998, Jordan saw his breakout role in a television series called The Wire (2002), in which he played a character called Wallace for the show’s first season. Other lesser-known films he has starred in include Chronicle (2012), Red Tails (2012), Fantastic Four (2015), and Just Mercy in 2019. By 2020, Time Magazine dubbed the star a member of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Another magazine awarded the star with the title of Sexiest Man Alive, and then the New York Times listed him as 15th on a list of the 21st Century’s 25 Greatest Actors. Even more impressively, he is the co-owner of AFC Bournemouth, an English Premier League football team.
12. Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. was born in New York; the actor saw his breakthrough role in Boyz n the Hood in 1991, which follows the life of Tre Styles (played by Gooding Jr.) as he is sent to live with his father in a neighbourhood where gangs are rampant.
The film was written and directed by John Singleton, who based it on his own life, and the rap song by Ice Cube and Eazy-E of the same name. He went on to win his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the 1996 film directed by Cameron Crowe called Jerry Maguire.
The actor saw more prominent roles in films such as Pearl Harbour (2001), directed by Michael Bay, in which he played the role of Doris Miller. The film sported an A-list cast as he starred alongside Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin, and Kate Beckinsale in a World War II epic that focuses on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941.
He then received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. In addition, he was nominated for his portrayal of O. J. Simpson in the drama series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
Another achievement the actor has under his belt is the Public Leadership in Neurology Award for his part in raising awareness of the most common demyelinating disease known as Multiple Sclerosis.
He also helped raise awareness for juvenile asthma management by starring in an online video game called The Quest for The Code that focuses solely on this. While these are impressive achievements for the actor to have under his belt, it is still worth mentioning that he has faced legal issues on charges of sexual abuse and misconduct, some of which include kissing a waitress in the mouth without her consent. The actor escaped jail time, but these charges affected Cuba’s career. Time will tell if the actor can re-establish himself as a respected actor again.
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13. Eddie Murphy
Eddie was one of the first black Hollywood superstars. The actor and comedian blazed a trail in the 80s and 90s, starting out doing stand-up comedy and appearing as a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live between 1980-1984. His first feature film debut was alongside Nick Nolte in 48Hrs (1982). The actor eventually became Hollywood’s biggest star of the 80s for portraying Axel Foley in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise.
Murphy’s live-action career would decline in the late 90s, but the actor continued to find success doing voice acting, with his most famous voice performance as Donkey in the Shrek films. 2019 saw Eddie’s career revitalized when he appeared in the critically acclaimed Netflix release Dolomite Is My Name, where he starred as filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore.
14. James Earl Jones
An acting list would only be complete with the legendary James Earl Jones. One of acting’s most distinguished and versatile performers, Jones has appeared in many films, from his iconic voice roles in Star Wars as the menacing Darth Vader and Mufasa in The Lion King to playing Thulsa Doom alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Barbarian.
In 1970, Jones was only the second-ever black actor nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor when he starred as troubled boxer Jack Johnson in The Great White Hope. Besides acting for film, Jones was an accomplished theatre performer and, in the 1960s, was one of the era’s best Shakespearean actors for his performances in Othello, The Merchant of Venice, Coriolanus, and The Winter’s Tale, to name a few.
15. Mahershala Ali
One of the most acclaimed black actors in the modern era, Ali’s breakthrough role was as Richard Tyler on the sci-fi series The 4400 (2004). His first standout feature film role was in David Fincher’s fantasy drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Ali continued to gain attention, and his star rose higher in Hollywood after he appeared with Jennifer Lawrence in Hunger Games: Mockingjay (2014) starring as Colonel Boggs.
Ali’s portrayal of drug dealer Juan in 2016’s Moonlight was praised by critics, winning him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. With an Academy Award in his satchel, Ali was hot property, and his next famous role was in HBO’s anthology series True Detective (2019), where Ali played detective Wayne Hays. Ali’s most significant performance will be his starring role in Marvel’s 2025 Blade reboot. Ali is set to play Blade, a day-walking vampire made famous by Wesley Snipes in the original Blade trilogy.
16. Don Cheadle
Before becoming the famous superhero War Machine in the MCU, Don Cheadle was the star of multiple film and television roles. One of his best performances was as Paul Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda (2004), for which Cheadle received an Academy Award nomination. In the 80s and 90s, Don also appeared in many television shows, such as the musical drama Fame, Hill Street Blues, Picket Fences and the Golden Girls spinoff The Golden Palace.
Cheadle has come a long way from his minor roles in 80’s television series like Fame and Hill Street Blues. Cheadle showed his talents could span multiple genres with his performances in Hotel Rwanda and Steven Soderbergh’s heist films Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen. His most significant role to date is when the actor landed the coveted role of War Machine alongside Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 2.
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17. Harry Belafonte
Legendary singer and actor Harry Belafonte recently passed at the age of 96. The multi-talented artist started as a singer and recording artist. His 1956 Calypso album was the first million-seller by a single recording artist and introduced calypso music to a broader American audience.
Belafonte soon starred in films such as Carmen Jones (1954), Island in the Sun (1957), Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), Buck and the Preacher (1972), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). He made his final feature film appearance in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman (2018). Belafonte was a central figure in the Civil Rights Movement and was a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr.
18. Keith David
Keith David is one of those actors with a face everyone knows but can’t place his name. The actor has a lengthy acting resume, and his deep, gravel voice is an unmissable aspect of his character. The actor has appeared in many film, television and theatre roles.
Some of his notable appearances are in 1982’s The Thing, Platoon (1986), They Live (1988), Dead Presidents (1995), Armageddon (1998), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Pitch Black (2000), Barbershop (2002), Crash (2004) and in Jordan Peele’s Nope (2022).
With his commanding voice, David has appeared in numerous voice-acting roles for animated features like Goliath in the children’s series Gargoyles; he also voiced Lemuel Kane in the adult animated series Archer. David also does video game voiceovers, with a notable feature as Decker in the role-playing game Fallout. David does not usually star as a leading man and is not as famous as other actors, but he is a highly talented actor who deserves far more recognition.
19. Wesley Snipes
Before the IRS hounded and jailed Snipes for tax evasion, the actor was a big name in Hollywood for his roles in the Blade franchise and many other notable appearances. A versatile actor, Snipes has enjoyed a career that spans action, thrillers, and dramas.
Snipes started his film and television journey in 1984 when he appeared in the soap opera All My Children. In 1986, the actor starred in a string of sports comedies and dramas, beginning with Wildcats, which saw Snipes team up with Woody Harrelson for the first time. 1986 also saw the actor appear as a young boxer in Streets of Gold. One of Snipe’s breakthrough roles was in 1989’s Major League, another sports comedy.
Snipes moved seamlessly from comedy to neo-noir crime drama in 1990s, King of New York, where he appeared as detective Thomas Flanigan. One of Snipes’ most famous roles is Sidney “Syd” Deane in White Men Can’t Jump, another sports comedy where the actor appeared alongside Woody Harrelson once again.
Snipes also secured his reputation as an action star in films like Passenger 57 and famously as deranged psycho villain Simon Pheonix in 1993’s Demolition Man, where he appeared alongside Sandra Bullock and Sylvester Stallone.
Wesley’s career peaked with Blade. Unfortunately, tax evasion charges hamper his career. Snipes starred in a few direct-to-video releases and seemed unable to land the leading roles he was accustomed to. The actor is returning, alongside Eddie Murphy, in Dolemite is My Name and Coming To America 2.
20. Richard Pryor
Jerry Seinfeld called Richard Pryor the Picasso of comedy. Pryor influenced most stand-up artists today, including Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Loius CK, Kevin Hart and Dave Chappel. Pryor was a groundbreaking entertainer who became a star in stand-up, film and television. He made his film debut in 1967’s Busy Body but starred in a dramatic role in Lady Sings the Blues alongside Diana Ross. Pryor also co-wrote the comedy classic Blazing Saddles, and in the 70s and 80s, his performances alongside Gene Wilder in Stir Crazy, Silver Streak, and See No Evil Hear No Evil made him a household name.
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21. Danny Glover
Action icon Danny Glover is famous for performing alongside Mel Gibson as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon franchise. The actor made his feature debut in 1979’s Escape From Alcatraz and has appeared in other notable films like Predator 2 and The Color Purple. Glover’s most recent memorable appearance was in 2019′ Jumanji: The Next Level, where the actor traded his action and drama skills for a comedic role.
22. Giancarlo Esposito
Esposito’s career took a long, slow path to stardom. Esposito appeared in minor roles for years, as in 1983’s hit comedy Trading Places, which starred Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy. The actor slowly moved to more prominent roles in smaller films like 1988’s Spike Lee musical comedy School Daze. Esposito’s breakthrough came when he portrayed drug kingpin Gus Fring in the AMC smash series Breaking Bad.
Esposito rose to prominence after his acclaimed role in the series when he appeared in other popular series, The Mandalorian and The Boys. The actor has been starring in many feature films, and his career is moving at full steam with his next big appearance in the highly anticipated Francis Ford Coppola film Metropolis.
TL;DR
- Hollywood can be a tough place to make it as an actor.
- Many talented actors never make it big; only a select few can reach the top and achieve fame and fortune.
- Many black actors have made successful careers in Hollywood despite discrimination and lack of opportunities.