Top 10 Best Black Actors

The Top Ten
1 Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director and narrator. He has appeared in a range of film genres portraying character roles and is particularly known for his distinctive deep voice. Freeman won an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor with Million Dollar Baby (2004),... read more

I'm reading a wonderful book set in the 1930s, and there's a great character named "Booley" who's a manager at a stable training thoroughbred race horses. He's in a position of being a manager over white workers who all respect him. He's the smartest, most well-read, funniest, and wisest man on the farm, and he's wiry and wonderful. I can only see Morgan Freeman in this role, as he has the kind of acting ego that becomes the character. He is probably my favorite American actor. I read the book in draft form, and it's called "The Field of Dead Horses" by Nick Allen Brown. It should be a movie!

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 and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day.

The Great Debaters, American Gangster, Déjà Vu, Inside Man, The Manchurian Candidate, Man on Fire, Out of Time, Antwone Fisher, John Q, Training Day, Remember the Titans, The Hurricane, The Bone Collector, The Siege, He Got Game, Fallen, The Preacher's Wife, Courage Under Fire, Devil in a Blue Dress, Crimson Tide, Philadelphia, The Pelican Brief, and even Much Ado About Nothing - the best, I think, is Malcolm X. Ricochet, Mo' Better Blues, Glory, The Mighty Quinn... plus some others which I haven't watched. Each performance is just as awesome as I would expect.

Dig this - the man is on a whole different level from these guys or any other actor, hands down!

3 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, Jurassic Park and his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino including Pulp Fiction, Jackie... read more

The only Hollywood actor alive to have confidently appeared in more movie roles than any other movie actor or actress alive. This man is truly a bridge between life and productivity in movie art.

His acting ability is brilliant, and when he speaks, it seems like poetry. Watch many of his movies, such as Snakes on a Plane, Pulp Fiction, The Negotiator, etc.

Samuel L. Jackson is simply incredible with his amazing performances in Pulp Fiction, The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained, Avengers, and many more.

4 Will Smith Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He is best known for his acting career overall. He has been in many popular movies, These include, but are not limited to, the Men in Black franchise, The Pursuit of Happyness,... read more

Will Smith is my man. He's so sexy, and I like him in the movies "Pursuit of Happiness" and "ALI". Denzel Washington is my idol when it comes to acting. He deserves his Oscars. I like him in "Philadelphia".

Morgan Freeman is a good example of "No small role for a Great Actor". Samuel L. Jackson is the perfect guy for either drama or action, very versatile. Sidney Poitier - this is the man that started it all. An Oscar winner, the first African-American who won the Oscar, my respect to him is 100%.

Forest Whitaker - of course, Forest is a fine actor of his time, really good when it comes to acting. Cuba Gooding Jr., who could forget Cuba? The guy who will take on anything in the name of Arts. Jamie Foxx, of course, the Oscar earner, is the best example of great and fine acting.

These are my best actors, in no particular order. They are all number one to me.

5 Laurence Fishburne Laurence John Fishburne III is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director.

Please watch "Hoodlum" and you'll agree he's such a great actor.

Great actor. Should be number 2 or 3 on the list, in my opinion.

I love his work. We need to see more of you on screen.

6 Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle is the most underestimated actor in Hollywood. His naturalness, versatility, intimacy, and power make him unforgettable. I hope he goes on to make many more movies.

Cheadle is cool and all-sided. Everything about him is so down-to-earth, and he speaks really intelligently. He's played everything from a Brooklyn gangster to a hotel owner in Rwanda.

He should be number one - such a versatile actor with perfect character portrayals in diverse dramas and comedies. Brilliant and very underrated.

7 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.

Really and truly an amazing actor. Give credit where credit is due. Hollywood doesn't appreciate true talent. Put him back on the silver screen.

Samuel Jackson was barely noticeable in Eddie's "Coming to America" movie. Eddie's been a top star longer than most of the top five actors on the list.

For God's sake, this is ridiculous. Eddie Murphy is amazing. He should be in the top 5!

8 James Earl Jones James Earl Jones is an American actor who in a career spanning more than 60 years has become known as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors and "one of the greatest actors in American history." Since his Broadway debut in 1957, Jones has won many awards, including a Tony Award and... read more

My number two... behind Morgan Freeman.

9 Sidney Poitier Sir Sidney Poitier was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, author, and diplomat. In 1964, Poitier became the first Bahamian and first black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field.

Sidney Poitier has class, and he is a marvelous actor. He should be number one. Morgan Freeman has class and is an amazing actor. In my mind, they are tied for first place. Laurence Fishburne and Samuel Jackson are both excellent, and in my book, they are tied for second place. I am white, but who cares! An actor is excellent because of the way he has honed his craft. I love and enjoy them all! Each has amazing skills. Sidney and Morgan have been around longer, so they are more experienced at their craft.

Sydney should be at number one. He is one of the pioneers of black actors. Not only was he the first to win an Oscar, but he also set a high standard in his body of work for those who followed him. I'm sorry, but in my opinion, he is the one to top and should be 'at' the top. I agree with the last comment about his great writings and character, which is unmatched in Hollywood in these times. He is only second or tied with Harry Belafonte.

10 Forest Whitaker Forest Steven Whitaker III is an American actor, producer and director who has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird, The Crying Game, Platoon, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, The Great Debaters, The Butler and Arrival.He has also appeared in blockbusters such... read more

This is one of the most underrated actors in the world. He can really get into a role. I would like to see him picked to play a top role in a movie. He can bring it.

He's just an amazing actor. After Vantage Point, Last King of Scotland, The Colour of Money, he is undoubtedly one of the best actors out there!

He doesn't get the attention he should. He is a great actor. Mr. Whitaker is right up there with Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.

The Contenders
11 Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop, known professionally by his stage name Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer, songwriter and comedian.

He is an amazing actor! Just watch Collateral or Django Unchained, and you will share my opinion. He should be at least tenth in my opinion.

Largely underrated. Anybody who has seen The Soloist or Django knows he is the best out of the last couple of years!

Jamie Foxx is truly a great actor. I would like to see more of him. Make a role for him. He is truly amazing.

12 Cuba Gooding Jr. Cuba Gooding Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his breakthrough role as Tre Styles in Boyz n the Hood, his role in Tuskegee Airmen, TheThe Tuskegee Airmen', 'his Academy Award–winning role as Rod Tidwell in Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire, his role in the epic Pearl Harbor as historical... read more

He not only plays diverse parts, but he also makes you believe them. I wish there were more clean-cut, wonderful actors like him. Thank him for giving me so many happy hours. When can we see more of his acting ability? He is in the top percentage of all actors.

Great guy. I hope he continues to be blessed and successful in all his endeavors. I love everything about this man.

I love everything he plays in and he can play different characters, not the same old thing all the time.

13 Danny Glover

This actor has GREAT range. Glad to see him near the top. Loved him in Grand Canyon, a gem of a movie.

Predator 2, the Lethal Weapon series, and Saw proved that he is the best.

Better with age. Excellent actor, easy on the eyes!

14 Idris Elba Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba OBE is an English actor, producer, musician and DJ known for playing drug trafficker Stringer Bell on the HBO series The Wire, DCI John Luther on the BBC One series Luther and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Idris Elba is one of the most outstanding actors to come along in quite some time. Check out BBC's "Luther" or "The Wire" sometime and see for yourself.

He is the man to come. Great to see a black Brit making it globally. He commands the screen in every scene he is in and is always wonderfully edgy.

Most commanding black actor since Denzel first burst onto the screen. 34th... Really?

15 Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, writer, and voice actor.

Talented comedian. His characters are funny and original. He should make a movie with all the "Martin" characters in it.

16 Chris Rock Christopher Julius Rock III is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. After working as a standup comic and appearing in small film roles, Rock came to wider prominence as a cast member of Saturday Night Live in the early 1990s.

Chris Rock is a fantastic actor. He has chivalry. Chivalry is not dead.

17 Michael Clarke Duncan Michael Clarke Duncan was an American actor, best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and various similar honors.
18 Kevin Hart Kevin Darnell Hart is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hart began his career by winning several amateur comedy competitions at clubs throughout New England, culminating in his first real break in 2000 when he was cast by Judd Apatow for... read more

He should be number one and deserves an award for his acting and movies.

Kevin is truly an amazing comedian and a good actor.

Kevin Hart, my man... He just got it all.

19 Mario Van Peebles
20 Dennis Haysbert
21 Ving Rhames

I think he is one of the greatest actors ever! He can be mean and ruthless, so much so that it makes you scared to leave your house because you forget it's a movie. He can also be the sweetest, fatherly type that just brings tears to your eyes. Now, here's my other reason: he is fine and sexy and can play that role in all the above movies. Therefore, he should without a doubt be ranked right up there with the best, not way down here. He is in my "top 10." Maybe people don't get the name with the actor, as it is kind of different!

He's one of the best black actors ever, not sure why he's down here on the list. I hope soon he will be up there with the other good ones.

22 Terry Crews Terry Alan Crews is an American actor and former American football player. He is known for playing Julius on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris and for his appearances in Old Spice commercials, as well as films such as Friday After Next, Idiocracy, White Chicks and The Expendables series.
23 Terrence Howard

He makes you believe in his character. He is intelligent as well as handsome. However, his heart is in his acting. Look at the movie August Rush. What a movie.

Definitely belongs on this list. Awesome job in August Rush and a great job in Iron Man. A truly profound actor.

I love him and like him a lot! Crazy for him.

24 Kevin Michael Richardson Kevin Michael Richardson is an American actor and voice actor who has portrayed a multitude of characters in various animated series and video games. He is known for his extremely deep voice and has been playing a wide variety of characters since the early 1990s, often villains. For voicing Joker in... read more
25 Wesley Snipes

Putting Wesley Snipes this far down on the list completely negates any credibility it has. Lol. I really honestly can't take it seriously. Chris Rock can't even be considered an actor, and if he was, there's no way he approaches Snipes as a better actor. The same with Mario Van Peebles - his acting is terrible, I mean pathetically bad.

I have no problem with Freeman and Denzel at the top, but Snipes should at least be No. 3, and honestly, I think he's as good as Denzel and probably better. He's got more versatility than Cuba. People forget all the great dramatic movies he was in. My personal favorite is Rising Sun with Sean Connery. Long story short, he's an amazing actor that doesn't get love from many because his personality is prickly, and he doesn't take the sidekick roles that black men always have to play, where they are helping the white main character.

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