Top Ten Best Black Actors and Actresses

1. Morgan Freeman

   

   Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director, and narrator recognized for his authoritative voice and commanding screen presence. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby (2004) and received Oscar nominations for Street Smart (1987), Driving Miss... read more

   My top Black actors happen to be Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, and Sidney Poitier from the 1950s through the 1970s. Sidney was the very first Black man who broke barriers on television programs and in movies. I also have to place James Earl Jones, Danny Glover, and Samuel L. Jackson on my top Black actors list.

   This guy is such an amazing actor. He has a velvet voice and depth of soul. He has the great taste to work with the likes of Tim Robbins and Robert Redford. I am so grateful for him in each and every film, especially Shawshank Redemption.

2. Denzel Washington

   

   Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received three Golden Globe Awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film Glory (1989) and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day (2001... read more

   I agree, Sidney Poitier should be #1, Denzel Washington #2, and Morgan Freeman #3. There are other great actors, but they do not have the all-in-one qualities that make these actors special. They each have their own special pizzazz about them.

   What is there to say? Hollywood has said it all!

   Denzel can do anything. For example, politically or as a criminal athlete. I have respect for him.

3. Will Smith

   

   Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, producer, and rapper.

   He is best known for his acting career, including roles in the Men in Black franchise, The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Hitch, Ali, and Bad Boys. He is widely regarded as one of the most... read more

   Even though he is rarely in anything worthwhile, he is almost always the best part of his films.

   Best actor in general! Men In Black, I Am Legend, I Robot, and many more hit movies! He should be #1!

   I loved him in The Pursuit of Happyness!

4. Samuel L. Jackson

   

   Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor and film producer. He achieved prominence and critical acclaim in the early 1990s with films such as Jungle Fever, Patriot Games, Amos & Andrew, True Romance, and Jurassic Park. He is also known for his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, including... read more

   Sidney Poitier is undoubtedly the best Black actor that ever lived.

5. Halle Berry

   

   Halle Maria Berry is an American actress. She won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the romantic drama Monster's Ball. As of 2018, she remains the only Black woman to have won the Best Actress Oscar.

   Absolutely stunning. I love watching her movies. She is in the upper crust!

   Love her! Her movies are great, like The Call, X-Men, Monster's Ball, etc.

   She is always beautiful and adventurous.

6. Octavia Spencer

   

   Octavia Lenora Spencer is an American actress and author. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Minny Jackson in the 2011 film The Help. For that role, she won several major awards, including the Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting... read more

   I love you so much! I loved you as Dab-Dab in Dolittle!

7. Viola Davis

   

   Viola Davis is an American actress and producer. After graduating from the Juilliard School in 1993, Davis began her career on stage and won an Obie Award in 1999 for her performance as Ruby McCollum in Everybody's Ruby. She later became the first African-American to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting... read more

   She is beautiful and a great actress. She is versatile and believable. It's a pleasure to watch her art.

   In my opinion, she is the best current Black actress. She is so talented and steals the show in everything she is in.

   Viola is a no-nonsense actor. I just love watching her, especially in Law Abiding Citizen. She was great, and so was Denzel.

8. Zoe Saldana

   

   Zoë Yadira Saldaña Nazario (born June 19, 1978) is an American actress and dancer. Following her performances with the theater group Faces, Saldaña made her screen debut in a 1999 episode of Law & Order. She gained recognition for her roles in major franchises such as Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy... read more

   Probably the hottest actress on the entire list, on top of being amazingly talented and likable.

9. James Earl Jones

   

   James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 - September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for both his film roles and his work in the theater. He was one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985, and received the... read more

   Mufasa and Darth Vader will forever be my favorite performances of his.

10. Zendaya

    

    Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman is an American actress, singer, and producer. She began her career as a child model and backup dancer before gaining recognition for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up.... read more

    So glad she didn't go down the same dark path as Bella Thorne.

    Zendaya is an amazing woman who is very real and down to earth. She is almost always smiling and is a very charismatic person.

    Some of the more famous movies she has been in are:

    The Greatest Showman (Anne Wheeler, trapeze artist)

    Spider-Man Homecoming and Spider-Man Far From Home (MJ)

    Zendaya is the best!

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Woody Strode

    
12. ?

    Mantan Moreland

The Contenders

13. Eddie Murphy

    

    Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, and producer. Murphy was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984. He gained fame through hit films such as Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and The Nutty Professor, and has received numerous awards... read more

    Get real, people! He's funny! Daddy Day Care is one of his best films, along with Mulan!

    Legend. Full stop. Number 1.

14. Gabourey Sidibe

    

    Gabourey Sidibe is an American actress who made her acting debut in the 2009 film Precious, a role that brought her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She later appeared in films such as Tower Heist and Grimsby. Sidibe has also had notable roles in television series including Empire... read more

15. Angela Bassett

    

    Angela Evelyn Bassett is an American actress and activist. She is best known for her biographical film roles, particularly her portrayal of Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic What's Love Got to Do with It. For that performance, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won the Golden... read more

    Whether it is a big screen epic like Marvel's Black Panther or a smaller, simpler kiddie flick like Disney's Meet the Robinsons, Angela Bassett is excellent in everything she's in!

    If Disney, for whatever reason, decided to make a live-action remake of The Fox and the Hound, she would be the perfect choice for Big Mama the owl.

16. Laurence Fishburne

    

    Laurence John Fishburne III is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director. He has appeared in numerous films and television series. Some of his most famous roles include Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy and Earl Pops Johnson in the TV show Black-ish.

    What if I told you that this guy is probably ranked a little too low here?

17. Lupita Nyong'o

    

    Lupita Amondi Nyong'o is a Mexican-Kenyan actress and filmmaker. She gained international recognition for her Oscar-winning performance in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013). Nyong'o has also appeared in blockbuster films such as Black Panther and Us.

    Hey Disney, if you're reading this, please start working on the next version of Spaceship Earth so this amazing actress can finally replace Judi Dench as the narrator!

    I sincerely hope she is chosen to narrate the next version of Spaceship Earth at Disney World after Dame Judi Dench steps down.

    Greatest Black actress of her generation.

18. Whoopi Goldberg

    

    Caryn Elaine Johnson, known professionally by her stage name Whoopi Goldberg, is an American actress, comedian, and television host. She is one of the few entertainers to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Goldberg is also a long-time co-host on the daytime talk show The View.

    Whoopi is one of the best of our time. Her movies are excellent, never a boring moment. She is also one of the top ten comedians. Whoopi can sing too. She is an authentic triple threat. She is the most underrated of our generation. Come on, movie creators, cast Whoopi more often. We need to see her more, please.

    She is the best in the world!

19. Kerry Washington

    

    Kerry Marisa Washington (born January 31, 1977) is an American actress. She has received several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and two Tony Awards.

    She was included in Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world... read more

    Just can't get enough of her heavenly beauty!

20. Sidney Poitier

    

    Sir Sidney Poitier was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, author, and diplomat. In 1964, he became the first Bahamian and first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field. He also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for the same performance.

    One of my favorite actors, and I love the way he conveys his emotions through his eyes.

    Sidney Poitier being at 23 is an absolute travesty. This icon deserves to be at the top of the list.

    May this king forever rest in power.

21. Jamie Foxx

    

    Eric Marlon Bishop, known professionally by his stage name Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and comedian. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 film Ray. Foxx has also released several R&B albums and has hosted the game show Beat Shazam... read more

    Way better than the very overrated Will Smith. He should be either #1 or #2 behind Denzel. He always puts forth effort in his films.

    He can play anybody, from Ray Charles to Django!

22. Tyler Perry

    

    Tyler Perry (born September 13, 1969) is an American actor, playwright, producer, and filmmaker. In 2011, Forbes named him the highest-paid man in entertainment, with earnings of $130 million between May 2010 and May 2011. He is best known for creating and performing the character Madea, a tough elderly... read more

23. Pam Grier

    

    Pamela Suzette Grier is an American actress. She became known in the early 1970s for starring in a string of women-in-prison and blaxploitation films such as The Big Bird Cage, Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Sheba, Baby. Grier is considered a pioneering figure in African-American cinema and has received critical... read more

24. Forest Whitaker

    

    Forest Steven Whitaker III is an American actor, producer, and director. He has gained recognition for his deep commitment to character development in films such as Bird, The Crying Game, Platoon, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, The Great Debaters, The Butler, and Arrival.... read more

    An underrated actor, he was breathtaking in The Last King of Scotland. He deservedly won the Oscar, even with Leo DiCaprio competing with him, which shows just how good he is.

25. John Boyega

    

    His acting was one of my favorite things about the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

26. Queen Latifah

    

    Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, model, television producer, record producer, comedian, and talk show host. She released her debut album All Hail the Queen in 1989. Latifah has also earned critical acclaim for... read more

27. Dwayne Johnson

    

    Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor, producer, and semi-retired professional wrestler. He gained fame in WWE during the late 1990s and early 2000s before transitioning to a successful Hollywood career, starring in films such as The Fast... read more

    He should replace Will Smith as the Genie.