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30 Famous Black Actors from the 70’s

The 1970s was an incredible turn of events in the history of global cinema that was marked by a cultural revolution that gave way to great diversity in the entertainment industry. The dynamic cultural shift saw the emergence of a new wave of talent and creativity in Hollywood. Among the luminaries who amazed the world with their fascinating skills, was a group of trailblazing black actors. The gifted individuals rose to international recognition in this era for their exceptional performances. During a time when the world tried to resolve issues of racial equity and civil rights, the silver screen became a canvas for black actors to demonstrate their incredible talents, resilience, and charisma.

Some of these incredible actors like Sidney Poitier and Richard Pryor are incredible actors who influenced the industry at the time. Their powerful performances resonated with audiences across the globe and this saw the rise of a legendary cohort of black actors who paved way for the future generations. From the iconic roles they played in the films to their enduring impact on social progress, these actors鈥� stories are a testimony to the power of talent and determination. In this article, we will embark on a journey through this transformative decade and explore some of the most iconic black actors who shaped the entertainment industry during the 1970s.

1. Sidney Poitier

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Sidney Poitier is a legendary black actor who made a significant contribution to the entertainment industry, especially in the 1970s. He was a Bahamian-American actor and producer who began his acting career in the early 1950s. He quickly gained a reputation for his fascinating talent and versatility in the entertainment industry. Sidney was one of the first black actors to break through racial barriers in Hollywood. He earned leading roles in major films including 鈥�Guess Who鈥檚 Coming to Dinner鈥� in 1967 and 鈥�Buck and the Preacher鈥� in 1972 among others. He showed his talent in the films and stamped his mark in the acting space. His success and influence in the 1970s helped to pave the way for other African Americans to rise and achieve their success.

2. Richard Pryor

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Richard Pryor is a name that comes to mind every time one talks about the entertainment industry during the 1970s. He was already an established actor by the 1970s and continued to make remarkable history. He is regarded as one of the most influential comedians of all time and the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. He was an award-winning actor having won a Primetime Emmy Award and the Grammy Awards five times. His success in the industry helped to pave the way for other upcoming African-American comedians and actors. He featured in films including Stir Crazy in 1980, Silver Streak in 1976, and Lady Sings the Blue in 1972 among others. His fascinating talent for storytelling and trenchant observations made him one of the greatest comedians of all time.

3. James Earl Jones

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Known for his deep and resonant voice, Jones was one distinguished and versatile black actor. He established a name for himself in the acting space for his fascinating performance on stage and screen. His incredible voice which he has used to great effect in his role in various films including Mufasa in Disney鈥檚 The Lion King and Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise among other movies. As an actor in the new film era in the 1970s, Jones鈥� contribution to the film industry cemented his legacy in history as one of the greatest actors of all time. Working alongside a new generation of actors in the twentieth century put Jones in the leading position where he nurtured several upcoming black actors.

4. Sammy Davis Jr

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Being a young actor in the early twentieth century was not something that many parents dared to let their children do, much less for a black family. However, Sammy Davis Jr. was the man who went against all odds to begin his acting career before turning five. Born in Harlem, New York City, Davis launched his career in the early 1930s and went on to become a superstar and mentor to the new generation of actors in the 1970s after his long career in the industry. He is remembered for his performance in Vaudeville theatre at a time when black actors had limited access to perform on big stages. His star began shining when he performed at a nightclub during the Academy Award ceremony. The actor featured in some of the best films post the silent era and into the 1970s including Ocean鈥檚 Eleven, Pepe, Convicts 4, Porgy and Bess, and other famous films. He received multiple awards and nominations including the Golden Globe nomination putting his name among the great black actors in the 1970s.

5. Laurence Fishburne

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When Laurence Fishburne made his acting debut in 1972 in the film If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Play the Band at eleven years old, everyone knew that he was destined to achieve big goals in the world. The performance in the film surpassed expectations earning him instant popularity in the industry. Being a courageous black man gave him the energy to push himself to achieve even bigger things. Despite the existence of racial discrimination, Fishburne cemented his name in the industry as one of the greats after being part of some interesting films in the twentieth century. Fishburne as Morpheus in the Matrix trilogy was a chance for him to showcase his acting prowess as he put his deep voice and commanding nature to perfect use. He has also been in films such as Boys n the Hood, Apocalypse Now, and the famous John Wick franchise alongside his co-star Keanu Reeves. He is one of the best black actors that has ever been in Hollywood history.

6. Harry Belafonte

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Harry Belafonte is a multitalented Hollywood superstar who is also one of the oldest black actors in the industry. Born in 1927, Belafonte began acting in his late twenties and quickly escalated his career to become a fan favorite on the silver screen. Apart from acting, he was also a singer, songwriter, and political activist who was a close ally to the late Martin Luther King Jr. He became the first black artist and actor to sell more than a million records across the world boosting his popularity in the Western world. His fame earned him invitations to be part of film projects such as Carmen Jones, Island in the Sun, and Bobby among other popular films in the twentieth century. As a black actor, Harry Belafonte cemented his name in the history of the great actors in history.

7. Morgan Freeman

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Growing up in a poor household made Morgan Freeman mature fast enough to provide for his family. He looked for different jobs where he worked as he studied. He later joined the armed forces because of the poor condition that his family were living in. Returning to the United States of America in 1959 after serving in the army gave him a head start to join Los Angeles City College where he graduated and immediately joined acting. Freeman鈥檚 first role in the film came in the 1964鈥檚 film The Pawnbroker where he got noticed by many producers for his powerful performances. His popularity in the 1970s after his first film earned him a role in the film Street Smart which earned him the first Academy Award nomination. Being in the generation of great actors, Freeman showed who is boss by earning four Oscar nominations alongside several other awards and nominations, making him one of the best to ever step into Hollywood.

8. Samuel L. Jackson

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The name Samuel L. Jackson rings in many people鈥檚 minds when talking about the greatest black film producers in the 1970s and beyond. Beginning his acting career in 1972, Jackson quickly became an icon in the film industry for his exceptional performances and for giving his life to the industry. He has been part of and led some of the biggest films in the past and present including the Star Wars trilogy, Rise of the Skywalker, Avengers franchise, The Hateful Eight, and Django Unchained among others. He has cemented his legacy in different film categories including action, drama, and science fiction. His bad-boy attitude in his first films earned him a place among some of the toughest characters on the screen. As an actor, Samuel L. Jackson has won uncountable accolades including the 2022 Honorary Academy Award.

9. Denzel Washington

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Denzel Washington is a name that has dominated the film industry since the 1970s to the present day after his debut in the film Wilma in 1977. The four-time Oscar-winning actor is not only the best black actor but one of the greatest of all time. He is also one of the actors to be nominated for a record eight times for the same award, as well as winning two Golden Globe awards among several other accolades. Washington starred in films such as A Soldier鈥檚 Story, Hard Lessons, Cry Freedom, and Glory among several other films. He has appeared in more than hundred and fifty films in his career making him one of the greatest black actors in the industry.

10. Pam Grier

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Pam Grier is remembered for her enormous contribution to the film industry to eradicate racial discrimination. She was part of the black actors featured in the series Blaxploitation aimed at tackling racial prejudice against the African-American community. She began her acting career after an invitation by David Baumgartner who spotted her in Colorado. After her debut in the film industry back in the 1950s, she appeared in several films in the 1970s including The Big Doll House, Foxy Brown, and Blacula where her popularity grew faster than other female actors in Hollywood. She also appeared in the 1997 film Jackie Brown which earned her several nominations and awards, cementing her legacy in the film industry as one of the best female actors.

11. Jim Brown

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Jim Brown is a man with a complicated history that has twists and turns, ranging from sports to acting. After growing up in a tough environment with his great-grandmother, Brown began his career as a professional football player. He played football for a decade cementing his legacy in the sport which earned him a place as the greatest professional football player ever in 2002, as per Sporting News. After his football career, Jim Brown made his acting debut in the 1964 film Rio Conchos earning him enormous popularity in the industry and many people wanted to sign him. He appeared in the Blaxploitation series in the 1970s in films such as Slaughter, Black Gunn, and others. His fight for human rights was evident on and off the screen making him one of the best black actors to ever exist.

12. Ben Vereen

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Ben Vereen was a superstar black actor in the 70s winning more awards than any other black actor in Hollywood. He is known for his role as Chicken George in the series Roots which was the beginning of his admirable career. At only twenty-one years old, Vereen was part of the film Sweet Charity which placed him at a better level to work alongside men like Sammy Davis Jr. Vereen is also famous for his role as Judas Iscariot in the 1971 film Jesus Christ the Superstar which made him well known around the world because of the big audience that the film received from people in different parts of the world. Although he had a troubled childhood, he grew into the film industry to win the Tony Award for the best actor in the musical film Pippin.

13. Sherman Hemsley

Sherman Hemsley is one of the most admired black actors from the 70s who was highly sought after by producers in Hollywood. He was born in 1938 in Philadelphia where he began his acting career at a young age. His interest in acting grew while he was a student and took part in several plays in school. He shortly joined the United States Air Force before coming back home and fully venturing into acting. His debut in the film came in the film Purlie at the end of the 1960s and was given a chance to play George Jefferson in 1971. Although he declined the role at first, he later accepted it two years later. He never knew that his role in the film would make him a globally recognized black actor in Hollywood. The Jefferson鈥檚 series was aired for more than a decade.

14. Carl Weathers

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Carl Weathers was a naturally gifted young boy who participated in almost every sport before fully venturing into acting. He was an athlete who did well in boxing, football, and gymnastics while in high school making him a popular figure in the school. He also played football in college before everything changed suddenly when he received an invitation to play a role in the 1973 film Magnum Force. Weathers was naturally talented because he impressed the directors and other actors on his film debut earning him a place among the hottest prospects in the industry. He would go on to appear in films such as Predator, Action Jackson, Street Justice, and many more. He received multiple nominations for his roles making him a successful black actor in Hollywood.

15. Billy Dee Williams

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Being multitalented was a gift that a few actors in Hollywood possessed and Billy Dee Williams was one of them. He was a talented actor and artist with a burning passion for painting and drawing. He attended a high school of music and art where he graduated at the top of his class earning a scholarship to attend the National Academy of Fine Arts and Design. His love for acting landed him a debut role in the film The Last Angry Man in 1959 and quickly became a famous actor in Hollywood. He appeared in several television shows and series during his career such as The Jefferson鈥檚, General Hospital, and Night Shift among others. Apart from winning awards in his painting career, Williams won several awards in the film industry becoming one of the most decorated black actors from the new film era.

16. Delroy Lindo

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When Delroy Lindo made his acting debut in the 1974 film Police Surgeon, people around him knew that he would become Europe鈥檚 best black actor in Hollywood. His career grew fast in the film industry, thanks to his powerful performances and ability to win people鈥檚 hearts. He rose to the ranks in the industry becoming a producer who would go on to nurture great talents in Britain. As an actor, Lindo was nominated several times and won the NAACP Image Award, and satellite award among other accolades for his role in films such as Da 5 Blood, Malcolm X, The Cider House Rules, and Gone in 60 Seconds among others films. He is one of Britain鈥檚 best black actors in history.

17. Dany Glover

Dany Glover is a man with many titles including acting, directing, and civil rights activism. While serving in the community as an administrator, he took acting classes to enhance his talent and finally ventured into the industry. He made his acting debut in the 1979 film B.J.and the Bear which was also his breakthrough role in the cinema. However, one of the best films he worked on was the Lethal Weapon franchise which sold more than any film he had ever worked on. Being a legend in the industry has landed Glover new roles in the modern film era including his role in Jumanji: The Next Level, Sorry to Bother You, Predator 2, and many more. He began his career in the 70s but continues to shine in the new era of film production.

18. Rupert Crosse

Even though Rupert Crosse succumbed to lung cancer at forty-five years old, his legacy has lived on for more than half a century. He began his acting career in 1958 when he made his debut in the film Shadows before catching the eyes of several producers around Hollywood. Crosse鈥檚 journey in Hollywood was short but impactful as he was on the frontline to fight against racism in the industry opening doors for black actors to venture into the big cinema industry. serving in the army contributed to his strong personality and powerful performances on screen in movies such as Too Late Blues, The Reivers, Ben Casey, and The Bill Cosby Cow only to mention a few. Rupert Crosse was also the first black actor to be nominated for the Best Actor in Supporting Role Academy Award.

19. Broke Peters

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Broke Peters was born in 1927 in New York City America to Senegalese parents. He realized his passion for music before he turned ten years old and spent a lot of time playing violin and practicing his vocals. His singing talent pushed him to take music classes to enhance his career and ended up landing a role in the 1954 film Carmon Jones which marked the beginning of a skyrocketing career. He was immediately signed to take part in some of the biggest films of the twentieth century including Porgy and Bess, Star Trek: Deep Space, and Lost in the Stars among other movies that are still famous today. Apart from active acting, Peters also used his unique voice to voice animated films such as Batman: The Animated Series only to mention a few. His enormous career earned him several accolades in the industry cementing his status as one of the greatest black actors in Hollywood.

20. Dennis Haysbert

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Dennis Haysbert was a unique person from childhood with an unquenchable passion for acting. After finishing high school, Haysbert earned a scholarship to join university but turned down the offer as he opted to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He did exceedingly well in his short course and quickly landed a role in the 1978 film Lou Grant at twenty-four years old. His performances in the film were so impressive because of his huge stature, deep voice, and leadership skills. He would later on become an important character in films such as Night Court Dallas, Lucifer, The Incredible Hulk, Magnum, and the famous Major League film which popularised his name across the world.

21. Nat King Cole

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Nathaniel Adams Coles popularly known as Nat King Cole was an American movie star, singer, and instrumentalist who thrived in the film industry in the twentieth century. Cole gained nationwide recognition for his jazz music and piano playing which attracted many film producers to sign him to their projects. Despite living at a time when racial segregation was the order of the day, Cole became the first black actor to host an American television show. People loved his music and even more people loved watching him perform on the silver screen. He is a notable figure in films such as his debut film Citizen Kane and others such as Cat Ballou, Watchmen, Night of the Quarter Moon, and others. His performances earned him a place in the Alabama Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and other individual accolades. He opened the door for black actors in the new film era in the 70s.

22. Keith David

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Keith David is the name that rings in the heads of everyone when talking about the best black actors in the history of Hollywood. He was born in New York City in 1956 and began acting at twenty-three when he made his film debut in the famous movie Disco Godfather before becoming a hot black actor that everyone wanted to work with. His strengths were his deep and captivating voice which earned him call-ups to participate in several animated films. He was also a key character in films like Pitch Black, Crash, Cloud Atlas, The King, They Live, Dead Presidents, and other popular movies and series in Hollywood. He received numerous nominations for his excellent performances and is remembered today as the trailblazer for black actors in Hollywood.

23. Joe Morton

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Joe Morton is a legend in the film industry who made black actors believe that they can achieve their goals if they work hard. He is a black actor born and raised in Harlem, New York City where he studied and began his acting career in 1970. His first role came in the movie Bracken鈥檚 World putting his name on the global map. He went on to receive the Tony Award nomination for his role in films such as Salvation, Raisin, and others. His memorable works in the cinema industry include the famous Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Of Mice and Man, Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice, and Justice League among other science fiction films. The number of awards he won during his career sums up his prominence in the film industry.

24. Yaphet Kotto

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Yaphet Kotto, born Frederick Samuel Kotto was a passionate actor when he was a teenager and took classes to sharpen his skills. He changed his name to reflect his father鈥檚 name and honored him for bringing him up. While working in the studio, Kotto had a chance to perform some Shakespeare plays and impressed the viewers. He later joined a team of actors in New York City where his career began on a high note. He took a role in films such as For Love and Honor, Hawaii-Five-0, Live and Let Die, and his debut film Nothing but a Man. The black actor received multiple accolades for his work in the industry.

25. Louis Gossett Jr.

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Louis Gossett Jr. is an American black actor who is celebrated today for winning multiple accolades in the industry during his career as an actor. His works include movie roles, stage performances, and television roles where he excelled as a black actor. People knew that Gossett had an exceptional talent when he first auditioned for the Broadway play Take a Giant Step and won his first trial. He went on to display his prowess on the screen in films such as The Zulu, The Zeyda, and The White DAWN among other roles. Winning an Oscar for his role in the film An Officer and A Gentleman was one of his biggest achievements. He is a pioneer for the black actors in Hollywood who are ambitious to become great.

26. Diana Ross

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Diana Ross was a unique movie star and singer whose career during the 1970s was at its peak earning her an Oscar nomination. She is remembered for her role in the film Lady Sings Blues which propelled her to the highest levels and recognition from big names in Hollywood. Although she focused most of her time and energy on singing, her contributions to the film industry cannot go unrecognized because she made black women believe that they could rise to the highest levels in the male-dominated industry. She remains a legend in the entertainment industry as one of the greatest female actors in history.

27. Michael Dorn

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Michael Dorn is not only an actor but also a professional pilot with a pilot license and several hours of flight experience. He was born in Lulling, Texas in the United States where he began his promising acting career. He is also a college graduate from Pasadena City College where he studied radio and television production. His passion for film production landed him roles in various projects including his famous role as Lt. Commander Wolf in the USS Starship Enterprise. He also appeared in other films earning him numerous accolades in Hollywood.

28. Giancarlo Esposito

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Giancarlo Esposito was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark where he began his surprisingly exceptional career. After making his debut in the film Guiding Light, he impressed his manager and received an invitation to perform in other films in Hollywood. He is known for his intense role as Gustavo Fring in the famous television series Breaking Bird where he gained global recognition and viewership. He is also the man behind the character Moff Gideon in the famous series The Mangalorean. To cement his name in the industry as one of the great black actors, Esposito won several awards and earned nominations for his good performances. Working alongside big names in the industry proved that he was an exceptional black actor.

29. Clarence Williams III

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William Clarence III made his acting debut in the 1959 film Pork Chop Hill before exploding to become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Being born into a family of artists made Williams a naturally talented actor. His grandparents were composers while his parents were musicians which made him develop an interest in art at a young age. However, he had to serve in the military before fully focusing on his film career. he appeared in several films during his time in Hollywood such as Half Baked, The Mod Squad, 52 Pick Up, Tales from the Hood, Hoodlum, and Life among many other movies, series, and television series. Winning awards and earning nominations became a routine for the acclaimed black actor who shone during the 70s and beyond.

30. Ernie Hudson

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Ernie Lee Hudson is an accomplished actor and a professional with a master’s in fine arts from Yale School of Drama. He is also an alumna of Wayne State University where he learned acting and writing skills making him one of the most equipped actors and directors in Hollywood. Many people remembered him as Winston Zeddemore, a character he played in the film Ghostbuster. His strong presence on stage has earned him multiple nominations and awards for being one of the best black actors in the film industry. He is also the man behind the success of films from the 70s and beyond such as The Crow, Oz, St Elsewhere, and Transformers: Prime among others. His debut was in the film Leadbelly in 1976 where his career started on a very high note.

The 1970s served as the new beginning in the film industry as the world ushered in a new era of evolution and inclusivity. Black actors took center stage to become the face of Hollywood by overcoming racial barriers and fighting social prejudice based on race. The new era saw an enormous increase in several black actors in the film industry where multitalented actors such as Sidney Poitier had the chance to showcase their talent on stage without fear of racial abuse and segregation. From the raw humor of Richard Pryor to the bold and powerful performances by Pam Grier in the Blaxploitation films, the black actors in the 70s brought changes in Hollywood to accommodate people of color. Even though technological advancement happened in the twenty-first century enhancing film production, it is the 1970s era that brought enormous changes in the industry with a string of talented black actors taking part in filmmaking.