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15 Black Actors Who Changed Hollywood

there is no doubt that black actors have made enormous contributions to the film production industry making it one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and Hollywood has been at the forefront in terms of growth. History has recorded some of the most talented, influential, and powerful black actors who transformed Hollywood to become a modern industry where talents continue to be nurtured. These incredible movie stars from minority groups have shattered the barriers of social prejudice and stereotypes to rise to the highest levels in the film industry. They have written new scripts which many people never imagined by winning against all odds.

Whether we are talking about Sydney Poitier who shocked the world when he became the first black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor or the modern-day Denzel Washington who has risen from a small family to become a legend in the film industry. Black actors have infiltrated every category in the film industry including action, comedy, drama, and science fiction, and have shown the world that race is not a barrier for one to become their best version. The twenty-first-century comedians such as Kevin Hart have become the face of the comedy world, appreciated by people from all corners of the world. Delving into a list of the top black actors in Hollywood helps us appreciate the contribution made by these actors in the industry.

The following are some of the fifteen black men and women who changed Hollywood:

1. Denzel Washington

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Denzel Washington is a legend in the film industry and a respectable man in Hollywood and across the world. He is a man with many titles including actor, director, and movie producer who has taken Hollywood to a whole new level with his exceptional talent. His career spanning more than four decades has been enough time to make a difference in the world.

He is known for taking the lead roles in films such as Macbeth, The Equalizer, The Book of Eli, and The Magnificent Seven among other movies that made waves around the world. As an actor, Washington received several individual accolades for his incredible performances throughout his career, including the Best Actor Oscar on three occasions and the Best Actor Golden Globe. His achievements have not been matched for years making him one of the greatest of all time.

Denzel Washington is also a philanthropist and human rights activist whose contribution to Hollywood has seen the number of black actors increase over the years. He deserves all the credit for his enormous talent and contribution.

2. Josephine Baker

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Josephine Baker was an American Hollywood trailblazer who not only broke the stereotype by becoming the first black actor but also actively fought social prejudice and segregation against black people and women. Baker had a beautiful voice, and powerful singing that would make crowds stand during her performances. despite women having little access to the movie industry to showcase their talents, Baker鈥檚 stunning sex appeal and charm helped her break the barriers to become the first successful woman in the film industry during the silent age.

When she toured America in the 1950s, Baker made history by refusing her performing venues to segregate the audience. She was the firm鈥檚 woman to let audiences of every race and color watch her performances. She was also bold enough to expose hotels that denied her access to perform, leading to reduced racial discrimination in the country by a huge margin.

Baker won several individual awards as an actor and was a strong supporter of NAACP who was also the only woman to make a speech at Martin Luther King Jr鈥檚 march.

3. Paul Robeson

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Paul Robeson was not only a trailblazer in Hollywood but also a change-maker who affected the entire film industry and the country to enhance equality and fight racial discrimination. Paul was one of the first black students to be admitted to Rutgers University before venturing into film production in the 1920s.

Robeson showed his acting prowess on stage with his powerful singing skills, narration, and oratory skills. He became a star in film production in Europe before traveling to the United States after the First World War began.

While in America, Robeson became the first black man to play one of Shakespeare鈥檚 works, Othello making him a popular figure in the country in a short time. However, the powerful actor refused a chance to take his career in Hollywood because he did not like the roles he was given, ultimately opting to become a political activist. However, it is his refusal to join Hollywood and exposing hotels and organizations that denied him chances to act that transformed Hollywood leading to the addition of black actors.

4. Hattie McDaniel

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Hattie McDaniel鈥檚 journey to become an accomplished singer, songwriter, and actress was met with several obstacles that would make an ordinary person quit. Being born from slave parents placed her at the lowest level in society as she was looked down upon by both the whites and fellow blacks who criticized her for perpetuating racial stereotypes.

McDaniel鈥檚 breakout movie Gone with the Wind in 1939 was both a success and a pain as she faced the toughest time in her life. While the premier went on in Atlanta, the movie star did not have access to attend because it was a place for whites only. Racism drove her to push for equality when she became the first black woman to win the Academy Award.

Breaking through in Hollywood helped open avenues for more black actors during the twentieth century making her one of the legends in the industry.

5. Eddie 鈥淩ochester鈥� Anderson

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Eddie Anderson鈥檚 talent showed when he was still a little child when he began singing and dancing which would eventually make him one of the richest and most influential men on earth. He began his career by appearing on the famous The Jack Benny Program on radio and quickly became a highly sought actor in Europe and America in the 1930s.

By the end of the 1940s, Anderson was the highest-paid black actor in the United States of America making him the wealthiest black man in the country. He quickly took roles in some of the best films such as You Can鈥檛 Take It with You, Gone with the Wind, and Cabin in the Sky among others. His roles in the film won him several awards despite social prejudice which he learned to overcome through performances. His breakthrough in the film industry was an eye-opener to many black actors.

6. Sidney Poitier

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Sidney Poitier was a game-changer wherever he went and everything he touched flourished including his outstanding film career. The handsome and charismatic actor gained popularity quickly while playing daring roles in the films. As a way of fighting racial prejudice on the careen, Poitier took roles that directly attacked racism at a time when many people considered avoiding the topic.

Some of the films in which he played major roles include No Way Out, The Blackboard Jungle, Porgy Bess, and Lillies of the Field which won him the Best Actor Oscar award and Golden Globe Award which made him the first black man to win both awards.

Poitier was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II as well as by President Barack Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He made Hollywood an open venture where anybody can make a difference regardless of their background.

7. Morgan Freeman

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Morgan Freeman has proved to the entire world that racial background is not a barrier for one to rise to the top as the best actor in Hollywood. He was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee in the United States of America where he began his promising acting career in 1964, at twenty-seven years. Although many might think that he began his career at a late age, Freeman has been acting for almost six decades now.

Some of his notable films include Shaw Redemption, and The Kominsky Method just to mention a few. He has won several individual awards including the Best Supporting Actor in his film Million Dollar Baby, Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Driving Miss Daisy and he was also awarded with the Cecil B. DeMille award.

As an actor and human rights activist, Freeman is easy to recognize because of his deep voice and oratory skills. His breakthrough in Hollywood has opened doors for many black actors to prove themselves in the industry.

8. Samuel L Jackson

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Samuel L Jackson is possibly the most successful actor of his generation having been at the peak of his career since the 1990s. He has been part of more than a hundred and fifty films in his career, which has placed him in the hottest category as the highest-grossing actor in history with his films having more than thirty billion dollars across the world.

Some of his works include Django Unchained, Do the Right Thing, Coming to America, and his recent role in the Avengers franchise as the leader of the vigilante group. As an actor, Jackson has earned several personal accolades to become one of the most decorated black actors in history.

9. Chadwick Boseman

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Even though Chadwick Boseman died aged forty-three, his legacy still lives on as his films are among the most successful in the world to date. His flying career in the film industry began when he graduated from Howard University as one of the best students. His debut role was in the 2005 film Deep Azure which helped him win the Jeff Award. However, that was just the beginning for the black and famous actor.

In 2010, Boseman was part of the series Person Unknown which helped him gain popularity and attention across the globe. He was handed the role of the main character in the famous Marvel Studios superhero film The Black Panther. Although he also appeared in several other films such as Marshall, 42, and Get on Up among others, it was his role in Black Panther that put his name above several famous actors in the world.

Boseman won several individual accolades including the BET Award, MTV Movie and TV Awards, and the Screen Actors Guide Award among others. His success made black actors believe that they could take huge roles in Hollywood and showcase their best talents.

10. Idris Elba

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Idris Elba is an English actor who was recognized by the Queen of England with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his role in the film industry. He became the first black actor to receive the accolade in recent years. he began his acting career in 1994 and has gone on to win the hearts of millions of audiences across the world, with many people considering him the most handsome man on the planet at some point.

Elba has been part of some incredible films such as Avengers: End Game, American Gangster, and Pacific Rim among others. He brings power and charisma to the film with his deep and authoritative voice making him an admirable character on and off the screen. His performances have earned him several accolades throughout his career making him one of the most accomplished black actors in history.

11. Will Smith

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Will Smith gained popularity when he appeared in the television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which earned him the nickname the Fresh Prince. The American actor began his acting career in the 1980s and still takes a big role in films today.

Smith is one of the highest-paid black actors in the world for being part of films such as Bad Boys I and II, Independence Day, Ali, and Enemy of the State among several other films featuring his son Jaden Smith. His roles in the films have earned him several awards making him one of the most decorated actors in the twenty-first century.

12. Forest Whitaker

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After making his debut in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Forest Whitaker鈥檚 career in the film industry took off at a fast speed. He quickly received invitations to be part of several projects and he chose to star in films such as Platoon, Bird, and The Butler among others. As an actor, Whitaker has bagged countless awards in the industry, earning him a fortune to become one of the wealthiest men on the planet.

13. Eddie Murphy

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Although Eddie Murphy began his career as a standup comedian, he quickly transitioned to acting where he took a role in some of the most famous films in the world. However, his contribution to the comedy category does not go unrecognized as he is ranked as one of the greatest standup comedians of all time.

Murphy has featured in films such as 48 Hours, Trading Places, and Beverly Hills Cop among other films. he became a legend in Hollywood after his roles in the films that earned him accolades including the Grammy award, primetime Emmy award, and critics鈥� awards which he won a record seven times. His accomplishments put him at the top level as one of the greatest black actors in history who helped erase racial prejudice in the industry.

14. Dwayne Johnson

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Dwayne 鈥淭he Rock鈥� Johnson is one of the most accomplished black actors in the history of film production. He began his career as a wrestler and became one of the greatest wrestlers of all time before venturing into acting. As an actor, Dwayne Johnson has bagged himself several awards for being part of the bestselling films in the world.

He was part of films such as Tooth Fairy, Jungle Cruise, and Central Intelligence alongside Kevin Hart among several other films including the First and Furious franchise. His actions on and off the screen has earned him popularity making him one of the most followed actor on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. His hard work and dedication have made him the best actor in Hollywood.

15. Jamie Foxx

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Jamie Foxx is one of the most successful black actors in Hollywood for his role in several best films in history. He began his career in comedy shows including the television show In Living Color before he had his television sitcom which ran for five years.

Foxx played his first best role in the film Ray as Ray Charles which placed him, on the global map as one of the best actors in the world. He quickly became part of several films in Hollywood including Django Unchained as the main character, Dreamgirls, Annie, and Baby Driver among several other films. He also received several awards for his incredible performances in these films.

Counting the number of times that black actors have made contributions in Hollywood may take forever. however, it is paramount to recognize these men and women who stood tall and conquered social prejudice to become some of the most popular people in the world while making Hollywood a better place for people of all races. Black actors such as Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington who embraced courage and ventured into the film industry wholeheartedly have paved the way for actors across the world to showcase their skills and talent in Hollywood. These trailblazers were strong enough to withstand rejections and discouragement from people around them and never gave up.

Today there are millions of black actors and actors from other different minority groups around the world in Hollywood who have their pioneers to thank for what they are enjoying today. Black actors proved to the world that talent does not choose race or color, and neither does success discriminate against race. As we celebrate these people鈥檚 contributions, we are reminded to continue with the journey that they began to fight for equality in Hollywood and any other place in the world. Most importantly, we should keep their legacy going by ensuring that talents are developed regardless of where they come from.