African American actors are making their debuts on the silver screen each and every month. These actors are playing diverse roles in a wide range of movies. There are comedies, dramas, action movies, and suspense movies with black actors. These films make for an enjoyable and inspiring experience for moviegoers of all ages.
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is one of the most famous black actors in the world. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman began acting at a very young age. He was inspired by actors like Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier. He first got his start in acting in the theater, when he was forced to take part in a school drama competition. This experience inspired him to become an actor and perform in plays.
Freeman got his start in a play based on a civil rights movement. He was a part of a starring role in the 1967 Broadway play “Hello, Dolly!” in which an all-black cast acted. Freeman married his wife, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, in 1967. The two went on to star together in “The Nigger Lovers.”
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington is one of the most talented and well-known black actors in Hollywood. A multi-award-winning actor, director, and producer, he has taken on some of the most challenging roles and portrayed them flawlessly. A native of Oakland, California, Washington studied journalism at Fordham University before enrolling in an acting program. After graduating, he received a full scholarship to the American Conservatory Theatre.
In the early ’90s, Denzel Washington starred in several movies, including Mo’ Better Blues, Mississippi Masala, and Training Day. He re-teamed with Spike Lee for the 1992 movie Malcolm X, which he starred in as Malcolm X. His powerful portrayal earned him an Academy Award nomination. Other notable films that he appeared in include Deja Vu, Philadelphia, and Man on Fire.
Miles Brown
Miles Brown is a talented American actor, singer, and dancer. He is a California native who gained fame on ABC’s Black-ish. He was also a finalist on Dancing With the Stars Juniors. In addition to acting, Miles Brown also sings and has released an album. He was born on December 28, 2004.
Miles Brown is best known for his role as Jack Johnson on the hit ABC comedy series Black-ish. He was a dancer from the age of three, and was influenced by the music of Michael Jackson and the Soul Train. He recently wrapped production on his next film, Emmett, a coming-of-age comedy directed by Bridge Stokes. Brown co-stars with Anthony Anderson, Rita Wilson, and Tracee Ellis-Ross. The film follows the story of a 12-year-old child prodigy who teams with a retired man to solve a crime.
Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Ribeiro, a famous black actor, has a complicated relationship with race. He is married to a white woman and has dealt with interracial relationships throughout his career. He describes himself as “a middle ground” between black and white people.
Ribeiro played Carlton Banks on the 90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” He has been open about his struggles with race and marriage. He says he is not accepted in the black community because he married a white woman. He also says he gets racial comments about his wife being white.
Sidney Poitier
Born prematurely, Sidney Poitier was an underweight child when he arrived in Miami. His parents had gone to deliver tomatoes to Florida and he was unable to attend school because of the lack of money. He spent most of his early years living on the remote island of Cat Island, a population of only 1,500 people. When he was 12 1/2 years old, he was sent to live with his older brother in the United States. As an understudy, he got a role under an elder actor in a local theater and became a star on Broadway.
He went on to perform in several films, including the 1959 Broadway revival of “A Raisin in the Sun.” He also starred in the 1961 adaptation of “Lily of the Field,” which was inspired by Lorraine Hansberry’s play.
Brian Tyree Henry
Brian Tyree Henry is one of the most popular and well-known actors in the United States and a celebrated member of the African-American community. He has acted in many movies and TV shows, including Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Atlanta. However, many of his fans are probably familiar with his role in the acclaimed movie The Woman in the Window. He has also been featured in several other successful productions, including the critically acclaimed film Widows.
Henry first made his name as an actor while attending college. After deciding that he wanted to pursue acting, he dropped his business studies and switched to a major in acting. He then went on to graduate from Yale School of Drama, where he received a Master’s degree in acting. He worked as a stage actor before making his debut on the big screen. He played the part of Tybalt in the 2007 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet alongside Oscar Isaac. His TV career began when he appeared in the hit TV show ‘Law and Order’, and he later landed a role in the hit series ‘The Good Wife’ (2009-2016).