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20 Famous Black Actor Oscar Winners

Oscar is also known as Academic Award. The award is presented once a year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for recognition of the best actors. The awarding of the Oscar takes place in Los Angeles California in either late February or early March since 1929.

In this article, we have showcased 20 famous black actors who have won Oscar awards over the years. Journey with us as we discuss these lucky winners of the Oscars in detail, when they won, and the work they have done in the Hollywood industry.

1. Sidney Poitier

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Sidney Poitier was a famous black actor born in 1927 and died in 2002. He was born in the city of Miami when his family visited, giving him American Citizenship. Sidney’s family lives in the Bahamas his birth in Miami was a coincidence.

The actor was the first Bahamian as well as the first Black actor to Win the Academy Award for Best Actor in back 1964 for a leading role in Lilies of the Field film.

2. Hattie McDaniel

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Hattie McDaniel was the daughter of Henry McDaniel and Susan Holbert, a gospel music singer. Initially, she focused on her music career, and in 1932 she starred in her first film The Golden West in a maid’s role.

McDaniel won an Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress in Gone with the Wind film where she starred as Mammy in 1939.

3. Forest Whitaker

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Forest Whitaker was born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas, U.S. He is a black American actor who has featured in many notable films such as Good Morning, Bird, Phenomenon, The Crying Game, etc.

He is among the lucky black actors who have won Oscar Awards. In 2006, Forest won Oscar Award for Best Actor for his role in The Last King of Scotland film. Forest has been active in his career from 1981 to date.

4. Mo’Nique

Mo’Nique is one of the black famous actresses who have won an Oscar award. Apart from acting, she is as well a stand-up comedian. The stand-up comedy made her gain fame after featuring as a member of The Queens of Comedy in 2000.

The actress won several accolades such as Oscar Awards, Golden Globe Awards, etc. Mo’Nique won Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2009 after playing in the film known as Precious. She became the 4^th African-American woman to win this award.

5. Octavia Spencer

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Octavia Spencer is a black American Actress born in 1970, in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. Spencer was the first black actress to be nominated for two consecutive Oscars.

Octavia was the winner of the Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2011 after featuring in The Help film which made her gain fame worldwide.

6. Denzel Washington

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Denzel Washington is a black American actor famously known for his acting skill. He is as well a director and producer. Denzel started his acting career in theatre.

He gained fame after starring in St Elsewhere a drama series acted in 1982 to 1988 and A Soldier’s Story a war film in 1989. In 2001, he won Academy Award for Best Actor in Training Day film. He as well won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Glory film in 1989.

7. Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson is as well known by her nickname J. Hud and was born in Chicago in 1981. Apart from being an actor, she is as well a talk show host and producer. In the records, she was the second African-American woman to win all four major American entertainment awards including Oscar, Tony, Grammy, and Emmy.

Hudson won the Oscar award for Best Supporting Actress after featuring in Dreamgirls musical drama film and she became the youngest African – American to win the award.

8. Daniel Kaluuya

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Daniel Kaluuya was born on February 24, 1989, and is a British actor. He started acting when he was still a teenager in improvisational theatre. He became famous after acting in the Get Out film.

In 2021, he starred in a film known as Judas and the Black Messiah which earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was the 7^th youngest Academy Award winner For Best Supporting Actor at the age of 32 years old.

9. Will Smith

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Will Smith was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. He has been active in his career from 1985 to date. Apart from being an actor, he is as well a rapper. Some of the films that made him notable include Bad Boys, Men in Black, etc.

In 2021, he starred in a film known as King Richard which won him an Oscar Award for Best Actor. Other awards he has won include Golden Globe Award and BAFTA Award among others.

10. Ariana DeBose

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Ariana DeBose is a black American actress as well as a singer. She was named among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2022.

She has starred in many films such as Company, West Side Story, Seaside, etc. She became famous worldwide after starring in West Side Story film as Anita and it won her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

11. Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali is a Black American actor born on February 16, 1974, in Oakland, California, U.S. He was one of the lucky actors in 2019 to be named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a drug dealer in Moonlight drama film in 2016 and his role in Green Book film in 2018.

12. Viola Davis

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Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, U.S. She is the only African-American to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting. She has featured in many films such as Doubt, Get On Up, and Widows.

Viola Davis was a Winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for her role in Fences film. Other awards she has won include Golden Globes Awards and British Academy Film Awards among others.

13. Lupita Nyong’o

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Lupita Nyong’o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress born to Kenyan politician Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. She received accolades such as Academy Awards among others.

Lupita has played in many films such as East River, Non-Stop, Black Panther, Little Monsters, and Us. After featuring in a film known as 12 Years a Slave, she was awarded Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and she became the 6^th black actress to win the award.

14. Halle Berry

Halle Berry was born on August 14, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. She is one of the most famous black actresses who have won an Academy Award. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress as a struggling widow in Monster’s Ball drama film.

Berry was the first Africa America to win this Academy Award. In the 2000s, Berry established herself as one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood.

15. Jamie Foxx

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Jamie Foxx was born in 1967 and is an American actor and singer. His official name is Eric Marlon Bishop but is famously known by his professional name Jamie Foxx.

Jamie became popularly known after featuring in a comedy show known as In Living Color. He was the winner of the 2004 Academy Award for Best Actor in Ray film. Jamie was as well nominated as Best Supporting Actor in 2004 for his role in Collateral film.

16. Whoopi Goldberg

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Caryn Elaine Johnson famously known by her professional name Whoopi Goldberg is an American Actor born on November 13, 1955. She began her acting career in 1983 on stage with her one-woman show that was known as Spook Show and later transferred to Broadway and changed the name to Whoopi Goldberg. It operated from 1984 to 1985.

In 1990, Whoopi Goldberg won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ghost Film. Other films that Whooping starred in include Sister Act in 1992, and Jumpin’ Jack Flash in 1986.

17. Paul Winfield

Paul Winfield was the son of Lois Beatrice Edwards and was raised by a single mother till when he was eight, Clarence Winfield became his stepfather. He was active in his career from 1965 to 2004.

He was nominated in 1973 for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Sounder Film of 1972.

18. Regina King

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Regina King is one of the famous black American actors. She has starred in many successful films such as Friday, The Boondocks, and Southland. Regina became popularly known after featuring in the 227 series which aired from 1985-1990.

In 2018, Regina won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in If Beale Street Could Talk film. Regina was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.

19. Cuba Gooding Jr

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Cuba Gooding Jr is the son of Shirley Sullivan (mother) and Cuba Gooding Sr (father). He comes from a family of 4 children namely Thomas, Omar, April, and him.

Cuba is a black American Actor and he is an Oscar winner. He received Academy Award in 1996 after featuring in Jerry Maguire for Best Supporting Actor. Some of the other awards he won include an Emmy nomination and Screen Actors Guild Award.

20. Morgan Freeman

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Morgan Freeman is one of the black Actors who has won Oscar awards. He was born on June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Morgan is famously known for his deep voice which make him a star in film.

He was awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 for his performance in the Million Dollar Baby drama film. Apart from the Academy Award, he received other accolades such as Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award.