List of Black Actors Oscar Winners: The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies in the entertainment industry. Winning an Oscar is the highest honor for actors and filmmakers, and is a testament to their talent and dedication to their craft. Over the years, many black actors have made history by winning an Oscar, breaking barriers and challenging the industry’s lack of diversity. In this article, we will explore the winners of the Best Black Actor Oscar and the notable performances that earned them this coveted award. We’ll also examine the impact of their triumphs and the progress still to be made toward a more inclusive and diverse film industry. Here is a list of famous black actors who win an Oscar.
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Black actors will win an Oscar
Over the years, the Oscars have been praised and criticized for their lack of diversity in nominations and winners. The history of the Academy Awards shows a significant underrepresentation of black actors, actresses and filmmakers. The prestigious Academy Awards were not awarded to a person of color until 1939. Let’s take a look at the best black actors to win the Academy Award.
Hattie McDaniel – Best Supporting Actress for “Gone with the Wind” (1939)
Source: Quora
Hattie McDaniel made history by becoming the first black person to win an Oscar. McDaniel played the role of a slave in the Oscar-winning epic film “Gone with the Wind.”
Sidney Poitier – Best Actor for “Lilies of the Field” (1963)
Source: Pinterest
Sidney Poitier, who played Homer Smith in 1963’s Lillies of the Field, won an Oscar for his role. Poitier won the prestigious “Best Actor” award, becoming the first black actor to win in the category. After McDaniel, Poitier was the second black actor to win an Academy Award.
Louis Gossett Jr. – Best Supporting Actor for “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982)
Source: Twitter
Louis Gossett Jr, who played the role of the drill sergeant in the film “An Officer and a Gentleman”, won Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards for his performance. He is the third black entertainer to win an Oscar and the first black actor to win the award in the respective category.
Denzel Washington – Best Supporting Actor for “Glory” (1989) and Best Actor for “Training Day” (2001)
Source: Oscars Wiki
Denzel Washington has won the Academy Awards twice. He has also been nominated nine times for the Oscars.
Halle Berry – Best Actress for “The Monster’s Ball” (2001)
Source: E! Online
Halle Berry played the role of Leticia Musgrove and won an Academy Award for the 2001 film The Monster’s Ball. She is the first black actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress and she called it heartbreaking in her acceptance speech.
Jamie Fox – Best Actor for “Ray” (2004)
Source: Purebreak
Jamie Fox played legendary rhythm and blues (R&B) singer Ray Charles in the 2004 musical biography “Ray.”
Morgan Freeman – Best Supporting Actor for “Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
Source: Oscars.org
Renowned actor Morgan Freeman won his first Oscar for his role in the 2004 film “Million Dollar Baby.” Before winning, he had been nominated three times for the Oscars.
Forest Whitaker – Best Actor for “The Last King of Scotland” (2006)
Source: Oscars Wiki
Forest Whitaker won the Oscar for Best Actor for his perfect portrayal of the eccentric Ugandan president, Idi Amin.
Jennifer Hudson – Best Supporting Actress for “Dreamgirls” (2006)
Source: PopSugar
Jennifer Hudson won an Academy Award for playing Effie White in the Broadway musical.
Mo’Nique – Best Supporting Actress for “Precious” (2009)
Source: People
Mo’Nique played the fantastic role of an abusive mother. She won an Oscar for her role.
Octavia Spencer – Best Supporting Actress for “The Help” (2011)
Source: Alamy
Octavia Spencer won an Oscar for the film “The Help.” She received a standing ovation for her role in the film.
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Lupita Nyong’o – Best Supporting Actress for “12 Years a Slave” (2013)
Source: Los Angeles Times
Lupita Nyong’o won her first Oscar for the film “12 Years a Slave.” It was her first feature film and she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Viola Davis – Best Supporting Actress for “Fences” (2016)
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Viola Davis won her first Oscar for playing Rose, the wife of a garbage collector in 1950s America. The film was directed by Denzel Washington.
Mahershala Ali – Best Supporting Actor for “Moonlight” (2016) and “Green Book” (2018)
Source: SBnation
Mahershala Ali is a two-time Academy Award winner. He won his two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor for the films “Moonlight” and “Green Book.”
Regina King – Best Supporting Actress for “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)
Source: Newsweek
Regina King played the role of a mother who helps her daughter’s boyfriend, falsely accused of rape.
Daniel Kaluuya – Best Supporting Actor for “Judas and the Black Messiah” (2020)
Source: AP News
Daniel Kaluuya won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He is the first black British actor to win an Oscar.
Will Smith – Best Actor for “King Richard” (2021)
Source: ANI News
Will Smith won his first Oscar for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus Williams. Smith also made headlines for slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage over a joke.
Ariana DeBose – Best Supporting Actress for “West Side Story” (2021)
Source: Los Angeles Times
Ariana DeBose played the role of Anita in Steven Spielberg’s classic remake of “West Side Story.” She won an Academy Award for the role in 2022 and created history by becoming the first openly queer person of color to win the award. She is also the first Afro-Latina woman to win an Oscar.
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These actors have made significant contributions to the film industry and their Oscar wins have paved the way for greater diversity and representation in Hollywood. Let’s take a look at the 2023 Oscars to see which black actor takes the prestigious award.
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