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The Top 10 Best Black Actors of All Time, Ranked

by Jarrod Saunders
May 12, 2025
in Celebrities, Trending
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Top 10 Best Black Actors of All Time

Image Credit: Lifestyle Fortress

These are the greatest Black actors in film history. The list includes legendary icons like Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington, as well as rising stars like Michael B. Jordan. Each actor has delivered unforgettable performances across a body of work that spans a spectrum of genres and generations. The names on this list are a mix of Oscar winners and multi-talented entertainers, with only the most deserving individuals having made the cut. These are the top 10 best Black actors of all time.

1. Denzel Washington

Denzel-Washington-best-actor-of-all-time
Image Credit: Fortress of Solitude

Denzel Washington is one of the most esteemed and successful Black actors ever. His career across film and plays has lasted over four decades. With James Earl Jones, it was the voice. With Washington, it’s the presence. And almost always, it’s the performance. Training Day, Malcolm X, and Fences are some of his best work.

2. Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier
Image Credit: Twitter

When discussing the finest Black actors, it’s impossible not to bring up Sidney Poitier—the very first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Actor and an actual pathfinder within Hollywood. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 94, but before his departure, Poitier left a mark on the film industry that feels as fresh today as it did in his heyday. With a series of striking performances that left audiences and critics absolutely breathless, Poitier collected several awards and distinctions.

3. Will Smith

Will Smith 90s action star
Image Credit: IMDB

In recent years, controversy may have come knocking on the doors of Hollywood’s most bankable Black actor, but there is really no denying the long-running success and undeniable versatility of Will Smith. From The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to blockbuster hits like Men in Black, The Pursuit of Happyness, and I Am Legend, Smith has proven his range time and again—earning four Grammys and an Oscar along the way. Despite the infamous Oscar slap, his legacy as a bankable star and cultural icon remains intact.

4. Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx
Image Credit: IMDB

Jamie Foxx is a multi-talented actor, singer, and comedian who took home an Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe for his powerful performance as Ray Charles in Ray (2004). He’s also known for standout parts in Django Unchained, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. He’s made a name for himself as one of the best actors of all time.

5. Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker
Image Credit: Facebook

Acclaimed actor Forest Whitaker has earned a career filled with major honors and awards for performances in a range of celebrated and popular films, including Bird, Black Panther, and Rogue One. He won an Oscar for playing dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland. Whitaker is more than an actor, however—he is a humanitarian. He serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO and is the CEO of the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative.

6. Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman
Image Credit: IMDB

Iconic for both his voice and on-screen presence, Morgan Freeman has had a 50-year career filled with award-winning performances. From Street Smart and Driving Miss Daisy to The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby, and Invictus, he has earned multiple stars on the Walk of Fame, not to mention quite a few Oscar and Golden Globe nods.

7. Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson
Image Credit: Pinterest

Samuel L. Jackson, the actor with the third-highest grossing of all time, is known for playing Nick Fury in the MCU. He has appeared in 11 films as Fury and in only one film as a character with a similar name (Howard Stark). Fury is one of Jackson’s most iconic roles. He also has a number of other well-known roles, including Pulp Fiction, Jurassic Park, Unbreakable, and Coming to America. Moreover, he has worked with several amazing directors and in ”The Incredibles,” he voiced one of the funniest characters, Frozone.

8. Laurence Fishburne

Most-Popular-And-Best-Black-Actors-Of-All-Time-1
Image Credit: IMDB

Laurence Fishburne has three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award for his role in Two Trains Running (1992). He’s famous for acting in films like The Matrix and John Wick, but he made history as the first African American man to play Othello in a Shakespearean adaptation. Beyond just acting, he has also produced, written, and directed the film Once in the Life (2000).

9. Michael B. Jordan

Michael-B.-Jordan
Image Credit: Facebook

At 35, Michael B. Jordan has already made a significant mark as both an actor and producer. Known for his standout roles in Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for producing Fahrenheit 451 (2018). Jordan’s career began in 1998 with The Wire, and he later gained recognition for roles in Chronicle (2012), Fantastic Four (2015), and Just Mercy (2019), earning accolades like being named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2020.

10. Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick-Boseman
Image Credit: Facebook

Chadwick Boseman had a remarkable two-decade career, with his most iconic role as T’Challa/Black Panther in the MCU from 2016 to 2019. He made history as the first Black actor to headline an MCU film, earning an NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Black Panther (2018). After being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, his final film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), earned him two Oscar and Golden Globe nominations before his tragic passing at 43. See more amazing actors on the full list: Fortress of Solitude or see more amazing actors lists on Lifestyle Fortress.

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Jarrod Saunders

Jarrod Saunders

Living in Cape Town, South Africa, Jarrod Saunders (the founder of Fortress of Solitude) is a multi-talented professional with a wealth of experience in various creative fields, including filmmaking, graphic design, web design, sound engineering and copywriting. As an award-winning creative director, Jarrod Saunders has established himself as a respected voice in the world of pop culture, with expertise in film, television, video games, and comics.
Beginning his writing career as a film and gaming critic for Vision Magazine in 2007, Jarrod has gone on to write for and establish multiple entertainment sites, including Sneaker Fortress, 23 Jumpman Street and Lifestyle Fortress. Along the way he has secured interviews with famous actors, game developers and industry professionals from around the globe. He also regularly contributes to MyFaith Magazine writing articles for the kid's section.
As someone who watches over 500 movies a year and over 20 years of experience in media, Jarrod understands trends and has worked alongside industry professionals to create award winning content – including directing, writing and editing a feature film on Showmax (The Lifesaver) and South Africa’s first deaf film (Home).
Outside of work, Jarrod enjoys time with his family, shopping for the latest sneakers (with a personal collection stacked with over 100 pairs), and serving in his local church (where is ordained as a deacon).
Expertise: Filmmaking, Entertainment Journalism, SEO, Web Development
Past Titles: Senior Content Creator @ CV Africa
Current Title: Editor in Chief @ Fortress Entertainment
Connect: jarrodsaunders@fortressza.com

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