Vote + to improve this toplist's ranking
Report Abuse

Top 20 African-American Actors

32 items ranked

The greatest African-American actors of the 20th and 21st centuries!

Rated 85 points - posted 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 in category Movies.
Click on up and down arrows to affect item's ranking
Visit our Movies forum



1.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Denzel Washington Report Abuse
A highly critically acclaimed actor especially well known for his portrayals of historical figures, including Malcom X, Rubin Carter, and Frank Lucas. He received an Academy Award for his role in Training Day and holds the record for the most nominations for a person of African descent.
503 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 - 2 comments
Comments:
You must mention that Denzel has 2 Oscars, that's historic. (Glory)
Added 10 years ago by guest, 3 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking
You omitted some great actors. Paul Winfield one of the greatest black acors of all time., Mos Def (Something the Lord Made), and the often overlooked Andre Brauer,
Added 11 years ago by MissBunny, -3 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

2.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Sidney Poitier Report Abuse
The man who broke the acting racial barrier by being the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lillies of the Field. This achievement paved the way for everyone else on this list to become famous. He is considered one of the greatest male stars of all time, according to the American Film Institute.
475 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 - 2 comments
Comments:
Sidney Poitier is not African American. His parents are from the Bahamas and his ancestry is most likey Haitian before that.
Added 5 years ago by guest, 0 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking
Lillies of the Field Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? To Sir, With Love A Raisin in the Sun In the Heat of the Night Few other actors have elevated so many movies from food to great.
Added 7 years ago by guest, -3 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

3.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
James Earl Jones Report Abuse
The man who lent his voice to one of the greatest villains in movie history, Darth Vader, as well as Mufasa in the Lion King. His deep basso voice is instantly recognizable to all.
327 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

4.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Morgan Freeman Report Abuse
An actor with a superbly authoritative speaking voice well-suited for narration, a talent which he put to use in March of the Penguins. He has received many Academy Award nominations, including one for his role in the Shawshank Redemption, and finally received an actual award for his role in Million Dollar Baby. Also well known for his roles in the new Batman movie series and as God in Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty.
320 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

5.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Don Cheadle Report Abuse
261 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

6.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Samuel L. Jackson Report Abuse
256 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

7.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Lawrence Fishburne Report Abuse
237 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

8.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Forest Whitaker Report Abuse
234 points - added 14 years ago by guest -

9.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Ruby Dee Report Abuse
187 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 - 1 comment
Comments:
Ruby Dee is a female! Why is she on the list?
Added 6 years ago by Zachsdad, 2 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

10.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Bill Cosby Report Abuse
177 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 - 2 comments
Comments:
Point taken Accused not the same thing as guilty---that's law It's not as if he didn't do something.... Did Jackson did it? Do you know...?
Added 6 years ago by guest, 2 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking
You should take this man of the list. He was a funny actor, no doubt, but his actions in the past years have, for a lot of people, contaminated his portrail of family-man Dr. Cosby. Bill Cosby is horrible a man who has sexually assaulted women and I really hope that you will take this to mind.
Added 7 years ago by guest, 7 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

11.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Terrence Howard Report Abuse
175 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

12.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Eddie Murphy Report Abuse
156 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

13.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Lena Horne Report Abuse
131 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

14.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Cuba Gooding Jr. Report Abuse
130 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

15.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Richard Pryor Report Abuse
127 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

16.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Ossie Davis Report Abuse
126 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

17.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Hattie McDaniel Report Abuse
108 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

18.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Will Smith Report Abuse
107 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 - 2 comments
Comments:
not an oscar winner type of actor
Added 8 years ago by guest, 1 point Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking
honestly though he's hot
Added 10 years ago by guest, 0 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

19.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Mike Epps Report Abuse
97 points - added 14 years ago by guest -

20.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Harry Belafonte Report Abuse
82 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

21.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Halle Berry Report Abuse
The femme fatale of African American actresses, well known for her roles as Storm in the X-Men movies and her award-winning performance as Leticia Musgrove in Monster's Ball.
69 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

22.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Danny Glover Report Abuse
66 points - added 14 years ago by guest -

23.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Ving Rhames Report Abuse
40 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

24.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Avery Brooks Report Abuse
40 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 -

25.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Louis Gossett, Jr. Report Abuse
23 points - added 11 years ago by guest - 1 comment
Comments:
LOUIS GOSSETT,JR SHOULD BE IN THE TOP 5.
Added 10 years ago by guest, 3 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

26.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Chiwetel Ejiofor Report Abuse
19 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

27.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Bernie Mac Report Abuse
Sadly no longer with us
18 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

28.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Mos Def Report Abuse
14 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

29.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Angela Basset Report Abuse
13 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

30.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Lupita Nyong'o Report Abuse
10 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

31.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Paul rRobeson Report Abuse
10 points - added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11 - 2 comments
Comments:
For "earth too dear"
Added 6 years ago by guest, 1 point Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking
*Robeson
Added 14 years ago by ArtofWar11, -1 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

32.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Isaiah Washington Report Abuse
2 points - added 13 years ago by guest -
Similar Top lists
ShareRanks is about ranking things that are top, most, greatest, or even worst in all categories.
Use arrows to rank one item in Top 20 African-American Actors vs another.
Top 10 Top 20 African-American Actors are especially marked