Hollywood is a well-known large industry that employs many actors by appreciating their skills. At first, white performers predominated in this sector to a large extent. In the past, white performers dominated the silver screen while black actors were given supporting roles.
With blacks now being granted an equal position in society, there has been a significant development throughout time. Throughout time, the stereotypical American culture of whites controlling society transformed. White-collar employment allowed for the advancement of Whites in many spheres of society. This made it possible for black performers to break into Hollywood, which had previously been dominated by white actors.
And now, we’re going to talk about the top 10 well-known black actors who have achieved success in Hollywood as actors and who also enjoy a great deal of support from the public.
Also Read: 11 Bloxburg House Ideas for Your Next Mansion
List of the Top 10 Famous Black Actors 2022
Because of their incredible acting talents, these 10 black actors have made significant contributions to the theatre, television, and cinema industries.
Let’s now examine the 10 greatest black performers in history.
1. Denzel Washington
Famous Movies:
Antwone Fisher, The Book of Eli, Glory, Malcolm X, The Hurricane, Flight, The Equalizer
The winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award is the well-known American actor, director, and producer Denzel Washington. He has appeared in more than 50 movies and won several accolades, including Tony Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
Denzel Washington, who was born in the year 1954 in the city of New York, made his film debut in the year 1981 in the $9 million-grossing film Carbon Copy. After finishing his education, he earned his degree in journalism and drama from Fordham University in 1977. In well-known films like Glory, Training Day, Fences, The Hurricane, and Remember the Titans. He is probably now working on a few films that will be released this year.
2. Morgan Freeman
Famous Movies:
Shawshank Redemption, Glory, Million Dollar Baby, Driving Miss Daisy, Gone Baby Gone
Veteran American actor and filmmaker Morgan Freeman are renowned for his rich voice. Freeman performed a variety of characters in several films during the course of his 50-year career in the film business. He has received various honors, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, the Academy Award, and the Golden Globe Award.
Freeman, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1937, had an interest in acting as a young child. At the age of nine, he made his acting debut in a class play. With the Broadway production of Hello, Dolly in 1968, he made his professional acting debut. His roles in the Shakespearean tragedies Coriolanus and Julius Caesar earned him the Obie Award for Coriolanus.
The actor’s career took a turn when he appeared in the 1987 American picture Street Smart, which led to his nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. He won three Obie Awards, one of the highest accolades in theatre, for his work in theatrical performances.
3. Samuel L. Jackson
Famous Movies:
Pulp Fiction, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Incredibles
The next black actor on the list of the 20 most well-known black actors is Samuel L. Jackson. The 72-year-old actor, who is regarded as one of the most well-liked performers in American cinema, doesn’t require an introduction. He is the highest-earning actor of all time thanks to the almost $27 billion in total revenue from the films he featured in (excluding the cameo appearances).
Jackson, a talented actor who graced the silver screen in more than 150 movies, was born in December 1948 in Washington. Jackson, who made his acting debut in the 1972 film Together for Days, went on to perform in several well-known films, including Pulp Fiction, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Jurassic Park, and the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
4. Will Smith
Famous Movies:
The Pursuit of Happyness, Aladdin, Gemini Man, Men in Black, I Am Legend, and more
Another well-known black actor in Hollywood is Will Smith, who was born in 1968 in Pennsylvania, United States. Will Smith has received several honors, including four Grammy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and two Academy Award nominations.
Will Smith is a producer, singer, and lyricist in addition to being an actor. His flawless acting abilities helped him capture the hearts of millions of people.
5. Laurence Fishburne
Famous Movies:
The Matrix, Man of Steel, Mystic River, Mission: Impossible 3, Ant-Man And The Wasp
Another well-known black actor who was born in Augusta, Georgia, is Laurence John Fishburne III. He is also a dramatist, producer, screenwriter, and director of motion pictures. He has received a lot of honors.
He won a Tony Award in 1992 for “Best Featured Actor in a Play” for his work in Two Trains Running, and he won an Emmy for “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series” for his work in TriBeCa. One of his well-known roles is the one he played as Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy.
6. Forest Whitaker
Famous Movies:
The Butler, Black Panther, The Last King of Scotland, Taken 3, Rogue One.
Forest American actor, director, producer, and activist Steven Whitaker is well-known. Many accolades, including as the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, British Academy Film Award, and a few Screen Actors Guild Awards, have been bestowed upon him.
Whitaker was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2011 and later elevated to Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation. Whitaker is actively involved in humanitarian activities.
7. Mekhi Phifer
Famous Movies:
High School High, A Lesson Before Dying, 8 Mile, Honey, Dawn of the Dead, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.
The character of Dr. Greg Patt in the medical drama TV series “ER” was played by Mekhi Phifer, an American actor. He appeared in more than 40 films throughout the course of a career spanning more than two decades.
He won the Celebrity Poker Showdown Championship during the fourth season in 2004.
8. Chadwick Boseman
Famous Movies:
42, Marshall, 21 Bridges, The Express, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Chadwick The first black actor to feature in an MCU movie was an American actor named Aaron Boseman. Although having a brief career, he left a tremendous legacy in Hollywood.
At the age of 40, he received a colon cancer diagnosis in 2016. He kept working and contributed to a cancer charity. Due to his sickness, he passed away in 2020.
9. Eddie Murphy
Famous Movies:
Beverly Hills Cop, The Haunted Mansion, Tower Heist, Coming to America
In addition to being an American actor, Edward Regan Murphy also works as a comedian, writer, producer, and singer. He became well-known in his youth as a comedian. In Comedy Central’s list of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time, he was ranked number ten.
With the commercially successful 1982 picture 48 Hrs, he made his debut on the silver screen. For his work in the movie, he was also nominated for a Golden Globe.
10. Danny Glover
Famous Movies:
Lethal Weapon, Predator 2, Jumanji: The Next Level, The Color Purple, Beyond the Lights
Another well-known black actor was born in the United States in San Francisco, California: Daniel Lebern Glover. With his role as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon movie series, he received a lot of praise. Also, he actively backs several political initiatives.