Global site navigation
Local editions
If you have watched the movies and television series of the 1980s, you have probably noticed the common faces of talented black actors. Because of their impressive skills, these actors earned numerous roles and were household names. So, who are these black actors from the 80s, and where are they?
Black actors from the 80s captured the attention of numerous movie lovers because of their awesome roles in various movies and TV series. They attracted an incredible following and made a fortune from their career.
Where are popular black actors from the 80s? The film industry has never lacked stars. Actors with impressive talents have stood out and won many movie lovers' hearts. According to Entoin, these are some of the best black actors from the 1980s.
Denzel Washington is an actor, producer, and director. He is the most famous black guy from the 80s in the film industry. Some of his most notable films include Glory, Remember the Titans, Philadelphia, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Fences.
Read also
The cast of The Ex-Wife: Who are the stars in real life?
Denzel started his acting career in 1975. He has won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, and one Tony Award. He is still active in acting and lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife, Pauletta Washington.
Morgan Freeman is an actor, director, and narrator. She was born and raised in the United States. He started his career in 1964, and he’s still in the industry. He has done several movies in the entertainment industry.
Some of his amazing works include Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby, and Invictus. His work in theatrical productions bagged him three Obie Awards, which is one of the most prestigious honours in theatre.
Daniel Glover is one of the most famous black heartthrobs of the 80s. He was born in San Francisco, California, in the United States. He gained massive recognition for his performance as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series.
Read also
Family Affair TV show cast then and now: Where are they?
Glover remains active in the entertainment industry. He has acted in Predator 2, Jumanji: The Next Level, The Color Purple, and Beyond the Lights.
Laurence Fishburne is one of the most famous black male actors. He was born on July 30th, 1961, in the United States. He started his acting career in 1972 and has remained active ever since.
He has been nominated for several awards, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Having been in the industry for almost more than forty years now, his achievements are uncountable.
Wesley Trent Snipes is a well-known American actor and film producer. He was featured in several movies, including Blade, Passenger 57, White Men Can’t Jump, and Demolition Man. He started his career in 1985, and he is still active.
The late 90s was a pivotal period in his career. He has run into trouble with the law involving taxes, but the legacy he created for actors and filmmakers still has an impact today.
Read also
Rudy Pankow’s movies and TV shows after “Outer Banks” role
Forest Steven Whitaker is an actor, producer, director, and activist. He started his career in 1981, and he remains active. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. He gained fame early in his career in the 1980s.
Whitaker has also been inspiring a lot of humans outside the film or television industry. He is also an activist. He is one of the most creative people in the entertainment industry.
Charles Stanley Dutton is an American retired actor and director. He is best known for his roles in the television series Roc and the television film The Piano Lesson. He was active in the industry between 1984 and 2015.
Since retiring from the industry, Charles has kept his life away from the limelight. Therefore, it is impossible to tell where he is and what he is doing now.
Read also
Uber Eats actors and actresses commercials and other TV roles
Eddy Murphy is an actor, singer, comedian, and producer. He has been active since 1976 and made his name in the 80's. He rose to prominence through the comedy show Saturday Night Live, and he is known for his great sense of humour.
Eddy is still actively acting. He focuses primarily on themes touching on African-American culture, race relations, and pop culture.
William Henry Cosby Jr, popularly known as Billy Cosby, is a comedian, actor, and media personality. He has made significant contributions to American and African-American culture. He was the first African American to get an Emmy Award for acting.
Bill Cosby was released from prison in 2021 after a court overturned his 2018 conviction for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman. He is eyeing a return to performing in 2023.
Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most famous African-American actors. He is easily recognised by many movie viewers because of his ingenuity in acting. He has appeared in several films, including Coming to America, Goodfellas, Patriot Games, Juice, and True Romance.
Read also
List of 10 actors that are 5’8 tall and are based in Hollywood
Samwel started acting in 1972, but his career peaked during the 80s. He has won and been nominated for several prestigious awards.
Martin Lawrence is an American comedian and actor. He came to fame during the 1980s. He is known for his roles in the Bad Boys trilogy, Martin, Def Comedy Jam, Big Momma's House, Open Season, and What's Happening Now!!.
Martin remains active in the industry. He has also done singing and released an album. Unfortunately, his profession has not been without a challenge. He has been arrested three times or more for being aggressive in public.
Emmanuel Lewis was born March 9th, 1971, in Brooklyn, New York. He was one of the famous black kid actors from the 80s. He is best known for playing the title character in the 1980s television sitcom Webster.
Emmanuel was active in the entertainment industry between 1980 and 2013. During that period, he was featured in several movies and television series. Currently, he isn't actively acting. Instead, he divides his time between houses in Atlanta and L.A.
Read also
Famous celebrities that are 5’4″ to inspire your dressing
Keith David is an actor, producer, and voice artist. He has been in the industry since 1977 and is still actively acting. He rose to prominence after playing the role of club patron in Disco Godfather.
His notable works are The Thing, They Live, Dead Presidents, and Armageddon. He is also a voice actor with vast knowledge and experience.
Don Hotel has been featured in Rwanda, Reign Over Me, Brooklyn’s Finest, Traffic, The Family Man, Captain Marvel, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. He has won and received nominations for several awards.
Don started acting in 1984 and has remained active. He has acted in several movies and made a name in the entertainment industry.
Mario Van Peebles is a Mexican-born American film director and actor. He is best known for directing and starring in New Jack City. He began his profession in 1981 and is still active.
Read also
Bret Michaels’ family: Parents, siblings, wife, and children
His skills are outstanding and grab the audience on a different level. He has directed famous movies, including Jump Street 21, Zero Hour, Gang in Blue, and All things fall apart.
James Earl Jones is a renowned American actor. He has been described as one of America's most distinguished and versatile actors. He is one of the most famous black male celebrities from the 80s.
Throughout his career, James has contributed to many films and TV series. He has also voiced for a lot of animations. He is still active in the entertainment industry.
Paul Edward Winfield was an American stage, movie, and television series actor. He earned an Academy Award through the film Sounder and was nominated for an Emmy Award. His acting career started in the year 1967, and his career peaked in the 80s.
Read also
20 naturally blonde male celebrities that you need to know
Unfortunately, Paul died on March 7th, 2004. However, his legacy in the entertainment industry lives on. He is remembered for his impressive roles in Death Before Dishonor and The Serpent and the Rainbow.
Richard Pryor Jr. was born on April 10th, 1962, in Peoria, Illinois, United States. He is an actor and writer known for The Color Purple, Silent Bark and Figure. He is the son of Richard Pryor.
Richard also began a singing career by performing gospel songs. Unfortunately, he has kept his life out of the limelight. Therefore, it is impossible to tell where he is now.
Delroy George Lindo is an English-American actor. He is the recipient of such accolades as an NAACP Image Award and a Satellite Award. He started acting in 1975 and is still active to date.
Read also
10 popular black actors from the 60s and 70s: Where are they now?
Delroy has acted in movies such as Ransom and several Tv series, including Beauty and the Beast and A Man Called Hawk.
Gregory Oliver Hines was an American dancer, actor, choreographer, and singer. He is best recognised for his roles in the films Wolfen, The Cotton Club White Nights, and Running Scared. He was a nominee for the Daytime Emmy Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Tony Award.
Hines died of liver cancer on August 9, 2003, en route to the hospital from his home in Los Angeles. He is still remembered as one of the best black actors of the 1980s.
These are some of the best black actors from the 80s. Interestingly, most of them are still active in the entertainment industry. Some retired and are living private lives, while some died. However, their legacy lives on.
Read also
10 famous bald black actors that you should watch in 2023
Tuko.co.ke also shared a list of the 20 most famous Australian actresses in Hollywood. Australia has a pool of famous actresses. However, to make it in Hollywood, one has to be competitive and skilled. This article the most famous Australian actresses in Hollywood to watch in 2023.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Recommended for you
Check more articles for you
