African-American Actors No One Hates

There are countless Black leading men whose performances anchor blockbusters, elevate prestige dramas, and keep sitcoms and indies running strong. This list highlights American actors with recognizable roles, steady craft, and contributions that include producing, directing, or philanthropic work. You will see stars of major franchises, celebrated character actors, and versatile performers who move between film and TV with ease. Use it as a quick refresher on where you have seen them and the kinds of projects they help bring to life.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington is a two-time Academy Award winner with a career spanning decades of acclaimed roles. His filmography includes ‘Training Day’, ‘Malcolm X’, and ‘The Equalizer’. Washington has directed features adapted from August Wilson’s work and other stage material. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and continues to lead high profile films.

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman is known for his resonant narration and steady presence across genres. He starred in ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, ‘Million Dollar Baby’, and ‘Se7en’. Freeman co-founded Revelations Entertainment to produce films and documentaries. He has been honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award and Kennedy Center Honors.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has one of the most expansive resumes in modern film. He appears as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and delivered standout turns in ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Jackie Brown’. Jackson’s voice work includes animated features and video games. He is a long time collaborator with major directors and supports educational initiatives.

Will Smith

Will Smith moved from music and sitcom success to global box office stardom. His credits include ‘Men in Black’, ‘Independence Day’, and ‘King Richard’. Smith produces film and television through his company and develops streaming projects. He frequently backs stories that blend heart, humor, and spectacle.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx is an Academy Award winning actor and a Grammy winning recording artist. His roles include ‘Ray’, ‘Collateral’, and ‘Django Unchained’. Foxx also produces series and features for major platforms. He performs stand-up, records music, and takes on action, drama, and comedy.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy helped define modern screen comedy and transitioned into family hits and prestige roles. He headlined ‘Beverly Hills Cop’, ‘Coming to America’, and ‘Dreamgirls’. Murphy has voiced beloved animated characters and produced sequels and new franchises. He received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for contributions to entertainment.

Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali is a two-time Academy Award winner known for nuanced, grounded performances. His work includes ‘Moonlight’, ‘Green Book’, and a season lead in ‘True Detective’. Ali is attached to headline ‘Blade’ while maintaining dramatic roles in independent films. He records spoken word projects and supports arts education.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan broke through with ‘Fruitvale Station’ and leads the ‘Creed’ films. He appears in ‘Black Panther’ and continues to develop feature and series projects. Jordan directs and produces through Outlier Society, an early adopter of inclusion riders. He collaborates with HBCU programs and mentorship initiatives.

Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman portrayed cultural icons and heroes with lasting impact. His credits include ‘Black Panther’, ’42’, and ‘Get on Up’. Boseman trained at Howard University and supported its College of Fine Arts. His posthumous honors recognize his influence on audiences and the industry.

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle delivers precise performances across drama and satire. He starred in ‘Hotel Rwanda’ and ‘Traffic’ and appears as James Rhodes in Marvel films. Cheadle has directed and produced for film and television. He supports humanitarian causes and frequently develops ensemble projects.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker is an Academy Award winning actor noted for transformative roles. His work spans ‘The Last King of Scotland’, ‘Bird’, and ‘Arrival’. Whitaker founded the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative to support youth leadership. He balances franchise appearances with independent character studies.

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne brings gravitas to films and television alike. He appears in ‘The Matrix’ series, ‘John Wick’ entries, and ‘Black-ish’. Fishburne produces stage and screen projects and narrates documentaries. He has earned multiple Emmy and Tony recognitions during a long career.

Jeffrey Wright

Jeffrey Wright is known for meticulous character work across mediums. His credits include ‘Basquiat’, ‘American Fiction’, and ‘Westworld’. Wright appears in ‘James Bond’ and ‘The Batman’ franchises. He supports arts education and mentors emerging talent.

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo has built a versatile career in film, television, and theater. His performances include ‘Rustin’, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’, and ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. Domingo writes and directs for stage and screen and teaches master classes. He frequently develops stories centered on identity and community.

Lakeith Stanfield

Lakeith Stanfield is known for inventive, offbeat choices that stand out. His work includes ‘Sorry to Bother You’, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’, and ‘Atlanta’. Stanfield also records music and lends his voice to animation. He consistently mixes indie projects with studio releases.

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown earned major accolades for limited series and network drama work. He starred in ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson’ and ‘This Is Us’. Brown appears in features while producing and voicing animated projects. He supports university theater programs and industry fellowships.

Brian Tyree Henry

Brian Tyree Henry moves smoothly between comedy and drama. He broke through on ‘Atlanta’ and earned acclaim for ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and ‘Causeway’. Henry works in animation, action, and indie drama. He maintains strong ties to theater while expanding his filmography.

Aldis Hodge

Aldis Hodge progressed from child roles to leading performances. His credits include ‘Leverage’, ‘One Night in Miami’, and ‘Black Adam’. Hodge designs timepieces and supports STEM outreach programs. He collaborates frequently with his brother on creative projects.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II quickly moved into franchise and prestige territory. He appears in ‘Aquaman’, ‘Watchmen’, and ‘Candyman’. Abdul-Mateen trained in architecture before completing an MFA in acting. He splits time between action roles and character driven dramas.

Wendell Pierce

Wendell Pierce is a respected stage and screen veteran. He is known for ‘The Wire’, ‘Treme’, and ‘Jack Ryan’. Pierce is also a Tony winning producer for a Broadway revival. He invests in community development and regularly returns to theater.

John David Washington

John David Washington transitioned from professional football to acting. He starred in ‘BlacKkKlansman’, ‘Tenet’, and the series ‘Ballers’. Washington has appeared on Broadway and in independent films. He continues to take on action and dramatic leads.

Anthony Mackie

Anthony Mackie combines superhero leadership with grounded character work. He stars in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ and appears in ‘The Hurt Locker’. Mackie produces film and TV projects and supports New Orleans arts programs. He frequently alternates between franchise roles and indies.

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard built a career blending music-themed stories and dramas. His credits include ‘Hustle & Flow’, ‘Crash’, and the series ‘Empire’. Howard has produced and recorded music tied to his screen work. He remains a recognizable presence in film and television ensembles.

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is an Academy Award winning actor with memorable roles. He starred in ‘Jerry Maguire’, ‘Boyz n the Hood’, and ‘A Few Good Men’. Gooding has worked in television anthologies and stage productions. He continues to appear in film and streaming projects.

Keith David

Keith David is celebrated for his commanding voice and character roles. He appears in ‘Platoon’, ‘They Live’, and ‘The Thing’. David’s voice work spans animation, audiobooks, and games. He frequently portrays authority figures and mentors across genres.

Andre Braugher

Andre Braugher earned acclaim for intense drama and sharp comedy. He led ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ and co-starred in ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. Braugher’s stage background informed his television and film performances. He received multiple awards for television work during his career.

Carl Weathers

Carl Weathers brought athletic presence and charisma to action and television. He starred in ‘Rocky’ films, appeared in ‘Predator’, and acted in ‘The Mandalorian’. Weathers directed episodes for television while continuing to perform. He remained a popular figure at fan events and sports related programming.

Blair Underwood

Blair Underwood built a steady television and film presence. His roles include ‘L.A. Law’, ‘Quantico’, and ‘Just Cause’. Underwood directs and produces and supports literacy and health initiatives. He often portrays professionals and community leaders.

Omar Epps

Omar Epps moved from sports dramas to medical and crime series. His credits include ‘Love & Basketball’, ‘House’, and ‘Juice’. Epps publishes fiction and participates in mentorship programs. He continues to headline and guest star across networks and streaming.

Mekhi Phifer

Mekhi Phifer balanced early film leads with long running TV roles. He appears in ‘8 Mile’, ‘ER’, and the ‘Divergent’ series. Phifer participates in education and community outreach efforts. He remains active in genre films and procedural television.

Donald Glover

Donald Glover created and starred in ‘Atlanta’ while maintaining a music career as Childish Gambino. His film credits include ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ and ‘The Lion King’. Glover writes, directs, and produces across formats with frequent collaborators. He develops new series and specials for major platforms.

Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson is the longest serving cast member in ‘Saturday Night Live’ history. He began with ‘All That’ and ‘Kenan and Kel’ and expanded into prime time shows. Thompson produces comedy competitions and tours live events. He mentors young performers through workshops and reunions.

Keegan-Michael Key

Keegan-Michael Key co-created ‘Key and Peele’ and transitioned into film and voice roles. His credits include ‘Keanu’, ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’, and Broadway productions. Key hosts game and variety series and supports improv education. He frequently collaborates with writers rooms to develop sketch and scripted projects.

Lil Rel Howery

Lil Rel Howery parlayed stand-up success into scene stealing roles. He appeared in ‘Get Out’, ‘Free Guy’, and multiple sitcoms. Howery produces specials and supports emerging comics. He balances comedy leads with supporting turns in action and family films.

Trevante Rhodes

Trevante Rhodes earned widespread attention with a breakthrough performance in ‘Moonlight’. He has led action and drama projects on streaming platforms. Rhodes trains as an athlete and brings physicality to demanding roles. He continues to develop film and limited series work.

Common

Common expanded from music into acting and producing. His credits include ‘Selma’, ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’, and ‘Just Wright’. Common works on civic and education programs through his foundation. He collaborates on soundtracks and narrations tied to film projects.

Michael Kenneth Williams

Michael Kenneth Williams became known for complex, empathetic characters. He starred in ‘The Wire’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’, and ‘Lovecraft Country’. Williams supported youth programs in his hometown and produced documentaries. His work remains widely studied by actors and writers.

Wesley Snipes

Wely Snipes combined martial arts training with leading man presence. He headlined ‘Blade’, ‘White Men Can’t Jump’, and ‘New Jack City’. Snipes produced films and returned to franchise and comedy projects. He continues to appear in action and ensemble features.

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs moves between stage musicals, television drama, and film. His roles include ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’, ‘Private Practice’, and ‘All American’. Diggs has authored children’s books and supports arts education. He frequently returns to theater for concerts and revivals.

Michael Ealy

Michael Ealy is known for understated, charismatic performances. He appears in ‘Barbershop’, ‘Think Like a Man’, and ‘The Intruder’. Ealy alternates between thrillers, romantic dramas, and network series. He regularly joins ensemble casts that reach wide audiences.

Share your favorite performances from these actors in the comments and tell us who else should be on the list.