For many years, black actors, and other actors of color, did not have the same opportunity to play major roles that would have made them compete with their white counterparts in terms of commercial success and recognition. Regardless, legendary actors such as Sidney Potier, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Morgan Freeman have been able to receive the highest awards paving the way for the younger generation to make an impact, even more so with the recent calls for the diversity in Hollywood.
As a result, more than a few young black actors have picked up the slack and are currently making waves in the industry, with several of them on their way to legendary status.
10 famous black actors making waves
Michael B Jordan
Michael B. Jordan is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most famous black actors currently making waves in Hollywood. The California-born star, who began her career as a child model before moving into acting, first appeared in episodes of Cosby and The Sopranos in 1999, as well as in films. Black and White (1999) and Hardball (2001). The Newark Arts High School graduate gained exposure when he landed roles in The Wire (2002) as Wallace and then in All My Children (2003-2006) as Reggie Porter Montgomery.
The young actor continued to work throughout the years until he starred in Station Fruitvale (2013) where he put on a nominated NAACPPerformance picture. Jordan was later compared to a young Denzel, Washington, who had him listed as a star of the year by critics and magazines. In the years to come, Jordan received critical acclaim for his performances in the Rocky sequel. Creed (2015) as protagonist Adonis Creed, then as antagonist Erik Killmonger in Black Panther (2018).
Kevin Hart
Comedic rock star Kevin Hart needs nothingThe introduction of his exploits as both a comedian and actor has earned him numerous awards and a listing on Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2015. Some of his most popular works include Think Like a Man (2012), Real Hollywood Husbands (2013-present), Longer (2014), Ride Along 2 (2016), Central Intelligence (2016), and Jumanji : Welcome to the Jungle (2017).
The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native started his career as a comedian while working as a shoe salesman. Although things were difficult for him at first, he was booed off stage several times, but Hart quickly developed his own humorous style which appealed to him and led to him winning several amateur comedy contests. . After holding small gigs in his hometown, Hart was soon able to embark on a national tour as he also landed roles in films like Paper Soldiers (2002), Scary Movie 3 (2003), and Soul Plan (2004), the rest having become history.
Chadwick Boseman
Many people would argue that Chadwick Boseman was already making waves in Hollywood before signing on to portray the superhero character Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, most notably in Black Panther (2018). Boseman had previously garnered rave reviews for his roles in 42 (2013), Ride On (2014), and Marshall (2017), but it wasn’t until he appeared in the highest-grossing film in the United States in 2018 that he achieved undisputed worldwide recognition for his work.
The People’s Choice Movie star of 2018 began his career in 2003 on the All My Children series but left the role to pursue a writing and directing career. As the story goes, Boseman, who received his Bachelor of Fine Arts directing from Howard University, first studied acting to learn how to relate to actors as a director. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, so he returned to performing, a decision that turned out to be one of the best decisions he ever made.
Donald Glover
2017 seemed like the year Donald Glover got the recognition he deserved because everything he had to do was so fruitful. This highly talented artist, who has a career as a rapper, singer, DJ, comedian, writer, and director, won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his work on the FX drama series Atlanta. He was also included in the magazine’s 2017 list of the world’s 100 most influential people, which is a testament to his talent and the impact he had not only in Hollywood, but in the suburbs as well.
Glover, who attended and graduated from New York University’s Drama graduate, Tisch School of the Arts, began his entertainment career as a writer on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. After winning a Writers Guild of America award for his work in 2009, he joined a comedy sketch group and also started making music. What propelled him to national fame, however, was his role as Troy Barnes on the sitcom Community (2009-2014) after which he appeared in various other projects.
Omari Hardwick
Omari Hardwick, who will be popularly identified as the ghost of Starz Network’s Power, or Andre from BET Network’s Being Mary Jane, is another name to watch. The multi-BET Award-nominated actor earns inclusion in this list of famous black actors because of the impact his two roles in the aforementioned series have had in the black community.
Hardwick, who was born and raised in the US state of Georgia, started his career in 2004 after struggling to land a job for a few years. The University of Georgia graduate has since appeared in films and series like The Guardian (2006), For Girls of Color (2010), and Sorry to Bother You (2018).
John DavidWashington
John David Washington, the eldest child of legendary actor Denzel Washington and his wife, actress Pauletta Washington, are among the young black actors making waves in Hollywood. Washington, who pursued a career in American football before suffering an injury that left him deprived of the opportunity to become an actor, has spoken widely of his intention not to follow in his parents’ footsteps to earn a living in as an actor.. He said he pursued a sporting career with the goal of gaining some sort of independence where he would not be seen as the son of Denzel or Pauletta, but only John David Washington.
Around the age of nine, Washington starred in the Spike Lee-directed film Malcolm X (1992) which featured his father. After hanging up his boots, he landed the role of Ricky Jerret on the HBO comedy series Ballers (2015–present). Washington’s performance in Ballers was well received by critics and even earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination. It then propelled him into roles in BlacKkKlansman (2018), where he reunited with Spike Lee, Monsters and Men (2018), Monster (2018), and The Old Man and the Gun (2018).
Daniel Kaluuya
Daniel Kaluuya is another actor who has earned his place on the list of famous black actors thanks to his roles as W’Kabi in Black Panther (2018) but especially as Chris Washington in Get Out (2017), which earned him to be named best actor at the Oscars and at the Golden Globes.
Kaluuya’s journey to the lights of Hollywood began in London, where he was born and raised by Ugandan immigrant parents. At a very young age, Kaluuya started performing improvisational theatre. After joining and performing in a local theater for a number of years, he was cast as Posh Kenneth in Skins (2007-2009) which he also contributed as a writer. In the years to come, Kaluuya continued to perform in theaters but also acted in films like Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Sicario (2015).
John Boyega
A few people who didn’t follow the works of John Boyega might have been caught off guard when he was cast as the lead in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). The English actor, who had earned his stripes in classical theater before performing in remarkable performances Attacking the Block (2011) and Half a Yellow Sun (2013) proved that he was not above above his head, as his portrayal of FN-2187/Finn earned him the BAFTA Rising Star Award among other awards and nominations.
Boyega moved forward to reprise his role in later Star Wars franchise films and series and could eventually replace Daniel Craig as James Bond, a move that would cement his reputation as one of the finest black actors of his generation. .
Mahershala Ali
Following his standout performance as Richard Tyler in The 4400 (2004-2007) and his subsequent Oscar-winning role in Moonlight (2016), Mahershala Ali has become one of the hottest black actors in Hollywood. His reputation was bolstered by his roles in films and series like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Free State of Jones (2016), and House of Cards (2013-2016).
Ali, a Mass Communication graduate from St. Mary’s College of California (SMC), started acting after leaving college. He first apprenticed at the California Shakespeare Theater before enrolling in the graduate program in acting at New York University, where he earned a master’s degree in 2000.
Lil Rel Howery
Another comedian-turned-actor to make this list is Lil Rel Howery who is best known for his roles as Robert Carmichael in The Carmichael Show (2015-2017), as TSA Officer Rod Williams, Get Out (2017) , and as himself in the semi-biographical series Rel (2018–present).
Howery was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago. He began his career as a comedian in Chicago-area clubs before appearing on the reality television series Last Comic Standing in 2007. He soon began working as a writer, producer, and cast member. cast of the sketch series, Friends of the People (2014) as the rest became history.