Black Actors Who Became Popular Only Later in Life

Many performers toil in obscurity for decades before finding the role that catapults them to stardom. The entertainment industry often favors youth but these talented men proved that success has no expiration date. Their journeys involve years of theater work and small supporting roles before achieving household name status. This list celebrates the perseverance and enduring talent of Black male actors who bloomed later in their careers.

Samuel L. Jackson

This iconic actor worked in theater and small film roles for years while battling personal struggles. He finally achieved massive international fame in his mid-forties with his role in ‘Pulp Fiction’ by Quentin Tarantino. His commanding screen presence and distinct voice quickly made him one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood. He has since appeared in major franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and ‘Star Wars’. Jackson stands as the highest-grossing actor of all time due to his prolific work ethic.

Morgan Freeman

Freeman spent many years working in theater and on the children’s television show ‘The Electric Company’. He did not receive his first Academy Award nomination until age fifty for the film ‘Street Smart’. His career exploded shortly after with ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. He is now revered for his authoritative voice and dignified presence on screen. His late success proves that talent can outlast the initial struggles of the industry.

Danny Glover

Glover did not start acting professionally until he was nearly thirty years old. He worked in city administration before deciding to pursue his passion for the arts. His breakout came in his forties with the massive success of the ‘Lethal Weapon’ franchise alongside Mel Gibson. He also delivered powerful dramatic performances in ‘The Color Purple’ and ‘Places in the Heart’. His career has spanned decades with a mix of blockbuster action and serious social commentary.

Mahershala Ali

Ali worked steadily in television and film for years without becoming a household name. His career reached new heights in his forties with a breakout role in ‘House of Cards’. He made history by winning two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a span of three years. His performances in ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Green Book’ showcased his incredible range and emotional depth. He is now considered one of the most talented dramatic actors of his generation.

Sterling K. Brown

Brown spent over a decade working in theater and taking guest spots on various television shows. He achieved widespread recognition at age forty for his portrayal of Christopher Darden in ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson’. This success led to his lead role in the hit drama ‘This Is Us’ which garnered him multiple Emmy Awards. He has since transitioned successfully into major feature films like ‘Black Panther’. His intellectual approach to acting has made him a critic favorite.

Colman Domingo

Domingo was a respected stage actor and playwright long before he conquered Hollywood. He gained traction in his late forties with his role in the television series ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. His career surged in his fifties with an Emmy-winning role in ‘Euphoria’ and an Oscar nomination for ‘Rustin’. He is known for his incredible versatility and powerful theatrical presence. His recent rise highlights the value of experienced stage performers in film.

Michael Clarke Duncan

Duncan worked as a bodyguard for celebrities while trying to break into the acting world. He caught his big break in his forties with the film ‘The Green Mile’ alongside Tom Hanks. His imposing physical stature contrasted beautifully with his gentle demeanor in the role. The performance earned him an Academy Award nomination and launched a successful film career. He remained a beloved figure in action and comedy until his untimely passing.

Terry Crews

Crews played in the NFL for several years before retiring to pursue the entertainment industry. He started with security work and small bits before gaining attention in ‘Friday After Next’. His comedic timing in ‘White Chicks’ and ‘Everybody Hates Chris’ made him a star in his late thirties. He later found massive success as a main cast member of ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. His transition from athlete to beloved comedic actor is one of the most successful in Hollywood.

Giancarlo Esposito

Esposito has been acting since childhood and appeared in films like ‘Do the Right Thing’ in the eighties. However he reached a new level of global fame in his fifties as Gus Fring in ‘Breaking Bad’. His portrayal of the chillingly calm villain made him an instant icon in television history. He has since become the go-to actor for sophisticated antagonists in ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Boys’. His career resurgence demonstrates how one perfect role can redefine a legacy.

Billy Porter

Porter established himself as a powerhouse vocalist and stage actor on Broadway for many years. Mainstream television audiences finally embraced him when he starred in ‘Pose’ near his fiftieth birthday. His performance as Pray Tell earned him an Emmy Award and cemented his status as a leading man. He has also become a major fashion icon known for breaking boundaries on the red carpet. His journey emphasizes the importance of authenticity in achieving success.

Leslie David Baker

Baker worked as a teacher and in school administration before focusing entirely on acting. He achieved global recognition in his late forties as the grumpy salesman Stanley Hudson in ‘The Office’. His deadpan delivery and relatable frustration made him a fan favorite character for nine seasons. The show remains one of the most streamed series in the world which keeps his popularity high. He continues to appear in commercials and television guest spots.

Redd Foxx

Foxx was a successful stand-up comedian on the Chitlin’ Circuit for decades. He did not achieve mainstream television stardom until he was nearly fifty years old. The sitcom ‘Sanford and Son’ showcased his raspy voice and comedic genius to a national audience. He paved the way for future generations of Black comedians to transition into television. His legacy is defined by his timing and his ability to push boundaries.

Scatman Crothers

Crothers began his career as a musician and played drums and guitar in speakeasies. He transitioned into acting much later and found fame in his sixties with the sitcom ‘Chico and the Man’. He is also unforgettably known for his role as Dick Hallorann in the horror classic ‘The Shining’. His unique voice made him a staple in animated films like ‘The Aristocats’ and ‘Transformers’. He worked consistently in Hollywood until his death.

Bill Cobbs

Cobbs worked various blue-collar jobs and served in the Air Force before acting in his mid-thirties. He became one of the most recognizable character actors in the business with hundreds of credits. Younger audiences know him best from ‘Night at the Museum’ which he filmed in his seventies. His weathered face and wise demeanor often landed him roles as mentors or authority figures. He remained active in the industry well into his eighties.

Reg E. Cathey

Cathey was a trained actor with a deep and resonant voice that commanded attention. He gained significant praise for his work on ‘The Wire’ in his forties. His fame grew even further with his Emmy-winning role as Freddy in ‘House of Cards’ during his fifties. He brought a sense of dignity and gravitas to every character he inhabited. His late-career surge was a testament to his undeniable skill.

Wendell Pierce

Pierce worked steadily in film and theater before landing his defining role. He became widely known in his late thirties for playing Bunk Moreland in the acclaimed series ‘The Wire’. He continued his success with major roles in ‘Treme’ and the legal drama ‘Suits’. His portrayal of Willy Loman on the London stage further proved his dramatic range. He remains a highly respected figure in both television and theater.

Clarke Peters

Peters had a successful stage career in London and wrote hit musicals like ‘Five Guys Named Moe’. He achieved wider television fame in his fifties as the sophisticated detective Lester Freamon in ‘The Wire’. His calm intelligence on screen made him a standout in the ensemble cast. He has since appeared in major films like ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’. He continues to split his time between high-profile theater and screen projects.

Delroy Lindo

Lindo studied at the American Conservatory Theater and worked on stage before film. He gained critical attention in his forties through his collaborations with director Spike Lee. His roles in ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘Get Shorty’ established him as a powerful supporting actor. He received massive acclaim in his sixties for his lead performance in ‘Da 5 Bloods’. Critics praised his intensity and felt he was overlooked for major awards.

Ving Rhames

Rhames studied at Juilliard and worked in theater before entering film. He became a household name in his mid-thirties after his memorable role as Marsellus Wallace in ‘Pulp Fiction’. He solidified his action star status as Luther Stickell in the long-running ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise. His deep voice and physical presence allow him to play both intimidating and gentle characters. He won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Don King.

Dennis Haysbert

Haysbert appeared in various television shows during the eighties and nineties. He reached a massive audience in his late forties as President David Palmer in the series ’24’. His portrayal was so convincing that many believed it helped pave the way for a real Black president. He is also widely recognized as the spokesperson for Allstate Insurance. His authoritative voice conveys trust and leadership.

Ernie Hudson

Hudson had a recurring role on ‘St. Elsewhere’ before his biggest film hit. He gained cinematic immortality in his late thirties as Winston Zeddemore in ‘Ghostbusters’. While the role was supporting it gave him a permanent place in pop culture history. He found renewed critical success later in life with roles in ‘Oz’ and ‘Grace and Frankie’. He continues to reprise his Ghostbusters role in modern sequels.

Tony Todd

Todd studied at the Eugene O’Neill National Actors Theatre Institute. He became a horror icon in his late thirties with the release of ‘Candyman’ in the early nineties. His imposing height and deep voice made him perfect for the genre. He also had a significant recurring role in the ‘Star Trek’ franchise. He remained a favorite at conventions and in voice acting until his passing.

Charles S. Dutton

Dutton discovered his passion for drama while serving time in prison. He later attended the Yale School of Drama and started his career on Broadway. He became a television star in his forties with the sitcom ‘Roc’. He is also known for intense supporting roles in films like ‘Alien 3’ and ‘A Time to Kill’. His journey from incarceration to Hollywood success is truly inspiring.

Forest Whitaker

Whitaker had roles in his twenties but was often cast as a supporting character. He reached the pinnacle of his career in his mid-forties with ‘The Last King of Scotland’. His portrayal of Idi Amin earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He has since taken on major roles in ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Godfather of Harlem’. His unique acting style involves intense method preparation.

Jeffrey Wright

Wright has been a critic favorite since his breakout in ‘Basquiat’ during the nineties. However he achieved mainstream blockbuster fame in his fifties with franchises like ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Batman’. His role in the television series ‘Westworld’ brought him multiple Emmy nominations. He finally received his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for ‘American Fiction’ in his late fifties. He is known for his ability to disappear completely into his characters.

Djimon Hounsou

Hounsou experienced homelessness in Paris before being discovered as a model. He transitioned to acting and broke out in his thirties with Steven Spielberg’s ‘Amistad’. He earned Academy Award nominations for ‘In America’ and ‘Blood Diamond’ in his forties. His intense physical presence makes him a natural fit for action and historical epics. He continues to appear in major comic book films for both Marvel and DC.

Bernie Mac

Mac toiled on the comedy club circuit for years while driving a delivery truck. He gained national attention in his forties as part of ‘The Original Kings of Comedy’. This led to his own hit sitcom ‘The Bernie Mac Show’ which won him a Peabody Award. He became a movie star with ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ and ‘Transformers’ before his death. His comedy was defined by his fearlessness and unique voice.

Steve Harvey

Harvey worked in sales and insurance before trying stand-up comedy. He found massive success in his forties with ‘The Original Kings of Comedy’ and his own sitcom. He reinvented himself in his fifties as a premier television host and author. He currently dominates daytime TV with ‘Family Feud’ and his talk shows. His business acumen has made him a media mogul.

Cedric the Entertainer

Cedric worked as a claims adjuster before his comedy career took off. He became a star in his late thirties alongside Steve Harvey and Bernie Mac in the ‘Kings of Comedy’ tour. He found success in film with the ‘Barbershop’ franchise and voice work in ‘Madagascar’. He currently stars in the hit sitcom ‘The Neighborhood’ in his fifties. He is known for his versatility and mass appeal.

Keegan-Michael Key

Key spent years on the sketch comedy show ‘MADtv’ without reaching superstar status. He became a household name in his forties with the show ‘Key & Peele’. His comedic partnership with Jordan Peele produced viral sketches that defined a generation. He has since become a prolific voice actor and starred in the musical series ‘Schmigadoon!’. His high energy and character work are his trademarks.

Robert Guillaume

Guillaume spent many years in musical theater before transitioning to television. He became a breakout star in his fifties as the sophisticated butler Benson DuBois on ‘Soap’ and its spinoff ‘Benson’. He later won a Grammy for his voice work as Rafiki in ‘The Lion King’. His dignified comedic style broke barriers for Black actors in sitcoms. He continued working until his death in 2017.

Sherman Hemsley

Hemsley was a stage actor in New York before Norman Lear discovered him. He became a television icon in his late thirties as George Jefferson in ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons’. His energetic performance and strut became legendary in television history. The show ran for over a decade and made him a wealthy man. He remains one of the most memorable sitcom fathers of all time.

Meshach Taylor

Taylor had a long career in theater and small film roles in the seventies. He found his signature role in his forties as Anthony Bouvier in the sitcom ‘Designing Women’. His chemistry with the female cast earned him an Emmy nomination. He was also a memorable part of the eighties film ‘Mannequin’. He continued to act in television and host shows until his passing.

Garrett Morris

Morris was a trained singer and playwright before entering comedy. He was the oldest original cast member of ‘Saturday Night Live’ in his late thirties. He found a new wave of popularity later in life as a main cast member on ‘2 Broke Girls’. He appeared in the Marvel film ‘Ant-Man’ as a nod to his old SNL sketch. His longevity in the industry spans over five decades.

John Amos

Amos played professional football briefly before turning to acting and writing. He gained fame in his thirties as the father on ‘Good Times’ and the adult Kunta Kinte in ‘Roots’. He found a new audience in the eighties with the comedy ‘Coming to America’ and the action film ‘Die Hard 2’. He recently reprised his role in the ‘Coming to America’ sequel in his eighties. His strong paternal presence made him a television staple.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Gossett acted in the fifties and sixties but fame came slowly. He won an Emmy for ‘Roots’ and then an Oscar for ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ in his mid-forties. He was the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His tough drill sergeant role remains iconic in film history. He continued to work in major productions like ‘Watchmen’ until his death.

Glynn Turman

Turman was a child actor in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ but his career had quiet periods. He experienced a massive resurgence in his sixties and seventies with roles in ‘The Wire’ and ‘House of Lies’. He received critical acclaim for his performance in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’. He also guest-starred in ‘Queen Sugar’ and ‘Fargo’. He is currently considered one of the most respected elders in the acting community.

Joe Morton

Morton has worked consistently since the seventies in film and television. He gained a huge new fanbase in his sixties playing the father of Olivia Pope in ‘Scandal’. The role earned him an Emmy Award for Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He is also famous for his role as Miles Dyson in ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’. His intense monologues in ‘Scandal’ became a highlight of the series.

Courtney B. Vance

Vance was a celebrated stage actor with multiple Tony nominations early in his career. He achieved mainstream television fame in his fifties by playing Johnnie Cochran in ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson’. This performance won him an Emmy Award and universal acclaim. He previously starred in ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’ for several seasons. He continues to take on challenging roles in series like ‘Lovecraft Country’.

Andre Braugher

Braugher broke out in his thirties with the drama ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’. However he found a massive new audience in his fifties as Captain Holt in ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. His deadpan comedic delivery contrasted perfectly with the show’s chaotic energy. He received multiple Emmy nominations for the role. His ability to excel in both gritty drama and sitcoms was unmatched.

Brian Tyree Henry

Henry worked on Broadway in the musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ before television fame. He became a breakout star in his mid-thirties with the series ‘Atlanta’. This success led to roles in blockbusters like ‘Eternals’ and ‘Bullet Train’. He received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in ‘Causeway’. His rise has been rapid and covers multiple genres.

Lennie James

James was a working actor in the UK for many years before crossing the Atlantic. He became a global star in his forties as Morgan Jones in ‘The Walking Dead’. His character was so popular that he moved to the spinoff series ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. He also created and starred in the acclaimed British series ‘Save Me’. He is known for his intense emotional performances and skill with accents.

Mike Colter

Colter worked in various guest roles before landing a major recurring spot on ‘The Good Wife’. He became a superhero star at age forty when he was cast as the lead in ‘Luke Cage’. This role made him a central figure in the Marvel television universe. He later starred in the supernatural drama ‘Evil’ which gained a cult following. His imposing physique and charisma have made him a leading man to watch.

Clifton Powell

Powell has over one hundred credits to his name and is a staple of urban cinema. He gained significant recognition in his forties for his role as Pinky in ‘Next Friday’. His over-the-top comedic performance made him a fan favorite. He also delivered a chilling dramatic performance in the biopic ‘Ray’. He continues to work constantly in both television and independent film.

Tell us which of these actors is your favorite in the comments.