Black Actors

Recently a friend of mine asked if I was planning on seeing the new Karate Kid movie. Without hesitation I replied, "Absolutely not." Apparently he thought differently of the 80's remake because he said, "Really? Jaden Smith has star written all over him."

After hearing this ridiculous claim I confidently stated that Jaden Smith would never, at any point in his life, be a top five black actor.

Who then, you ask, are the current top 5 black actors going?

1.) Denzel Washington-



55 years old, 5-time Oscar nominee (2 wins)
Best films- Glory (1989), The Pelican Brief (1993), Philadelphia (1993), He Got Game (1998), Training Day (2001), Man on Fire (2004), Inside Man (2006)

What have you done for me lately? The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (2009), The Book of Eli (2010)

Synopsis- Even though he hasn't been nominated for an Oscar since 2001, Denzel is still THE preeminant black actor out there. He's a box office juggernaut that is easily one of the top 5 actors, of any race, going. I've said it before and I'll say it again, outside of Fallen (1998) Denzel hasn't been in a bad movie.

2.) Morgan Freeman-



73 years old, 5-time Oscar nominee (1 win)
Best films-Driving Miss Daisy (1989), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Kiss the Girls (1997), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Gone Baby Gone (2007), The Bucket List (2007), The Dark Knight (2008)

What have you done for me lately? Invictus (2009)

Synopsis- He's getting up there in age, but Morgan Freeman can still churn 'em out with the best of them. He's evolved into the ideal supporting actor (The Dark Knight), but he can still play the leading role successfully as well (The Bucket List). Not to mention the fact that he has one of the best and most recognizable voices in all of Hollywood.


3.) Jamie Foxx -



42 years old, 2-time Oscar nominee (1 win)
Best films- Any Given Sunday (1999), Collateral (2004), Ray (2004), The Kingdom (2007)

What have you done for me lately? The Soloist (2009), Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Synopsis- Why do I get the feeling that Jamie Foxx has yet to peak as an actor? Maybe I'm being fooled by what a cool guy he is, but Foxx seems to get better with each role. The only thing keeping him from entering that Denzel level where if he plays a cop, government agent, etc. it's a must see is Miami Vice (2006).

4.) Will Smith-



41 years old, 2-time Oscar nominee
Best films- Independence Day (1996), Men in Black (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), Hitch (2005), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

What have you done for me lately? Seven Pounds (2008), Hancock (2008)

Synopsis- The Fresh Prince of Bel Air still puts the asses in the seats (and that's really all that matters), but I feel like he hasn't evolved as an actor. It's almost like he got comfortable playing the lead in action movies and chose not to stray too far away from that wheelhouse. Just look at his resume from the 2000's (I Am Legend, Hancock, I, Robot).

5.) Don Cheadle-



45 years old, 1-time Oscar nominee
Best films- Ocean's 11 (2001), Crash (2004), Hotel Rwanda (2004)

What have you done for me lately? Traitor (2008), Brooklyn Finest (2009)

Synopsis- I don't exactly know why, but I like Don Cheadle. He still seems like he's more of a supporting actor, so his being in this top 5 might come as a bit of surprise, but there's no questioning his talent.


Best of the rest (in no particular order)- Djimon Hounsou, Samuel L. Jackson, Forest Whitaker, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Terrence Howard, and Laurence Fishburne.

With Will Smith as the youngest member of my list, did I jump the gun when I said that his son Jaden would never achieve top 5 status?