List of black Academy Award winners and nominees

This list of Black Academy Award winners and nominees is current as of the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony held on February 27, 2011.

Contents

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Year Name Film Role Status Milestone
1958 Sidney Poitier The Defiant Ones Noah Cullen Nominated First black actor to be nominated for Best Actor.
1963 Lilies of the Field Homer Smith Won First black actor to win Best Actor;
First black actor to receive two acting nominations (Best Actor);
Youngest black actor to win Best Actor (age 37).
1970 James Earl Jones The Great White Hope Jack Jefferson Nominated
1972 Paul Winfield Sounder Nathan Lee Morgan Nominated First film to feature black nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress.
1986 Dexter Gordon Round Midnight Dale Turner Nominated
1989 Morgan Freeman Driving Miss Daisy Hoke Colburn Nominated
1992 Denzel Washington Malcolm X Malcolm X Nominated
1993 Laurence Fishburne What's Love Got to Do with It Ike Turner Nominated Second film to feature black nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress.
1994 Morgan Freeman The Shawshank Redemption Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding Nominated
1999 Denzel Washington The Hurricane Rubin Carter Nominated
2001 Training Day Alonzo Harris Won First black actor to receive five acting nominations overall;
First black actor to receive three Best Actor nominations;
Second black actor to win Best Actor;
First time that multiple black actors received Best Actor nominations;
Oldest black actor to win Best Actor (age 47);
First black actor to win two acting awards.
Will Smith Ali Muhammad Ali Nominated First male hip hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award;
First time that multiple black actors received Best Actor nominations.
2004 Jamie Foxx Ray Ray Charles Won First black actor to receive two acting nominations in the same year;
First black actor to win for a musical.
Don Cheadle Hotel Rwanda Paul Rusesabagina Nominated
2005 Terrence Howard Hustle & Flow DJay Nominated
2006 Forest Whitaker The Last King of Scotland Idi Amin Won
Will Smith The Pursuit of Happyness Chris Gardner Nominated
2009 Morgan Freeman Invictus Nelson Mandela Nominated Freeman ties with Denzel Washington as the most nominated black actor (5 nominations) & most nominations in this category (3 nominations).

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Year Name Film Role Status Milestone
1954 Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Carmen Jones Nominated First black actress to be nominated for Best Actress.
1972 Diana Ross Lady Sings the Blues Billie Holiday Nominated First black actress to receive an Academy Award nomination for a debut film performance;
First time that multiple black actresses received Best Actress nominations.
Cicely Tyson Sounder Rebecca Morgan Nominated First film to feature black nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress;
First time that multiple black actresses received Best Actress nominations.
1974 Diahann Carroll Claudine Claudine Nominated
1985 Whoopi Goldberg The Color Purple Celie Johnson Nominated First time that multiple black actresses received nominations for the same film.
1993 Angela Bassett What's Love Got to Do with It Tina Turner Nominated Second film to feature black nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress.
2001 Halle Berry Monster's Ball Leticia Musgrove Won First black actress to win Best Actress.
2009 Gabourey Sidibe Precious Claireece Precious Jones Nominated Youngest black actress to be nominated in this category;
Second film to feature black nominees for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress;
Second black actress to receive a lead Academy Award nomination for a debut film performance.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Year Name Film Role Status Milestone
1969 Rupert Crosse The Reivers Ned Nominated First Black Actor to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor
1981 Howard Rollins Ragtime Coalhouse Walker Jr. Nominated
1982 Louis Gossett, Jr. An Officer and a Gentleman Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley Won First black actor to win Best Supporting Actor.
1984 Adolph Caesar A Soldier's Story Sgt. Waters Nominated
1987 Morgan Freeman Street Smart Fast Black Nominated First time that multiple black actors received Best Supporting Actor nominations.
Denzel Washington Cry Freedom Steve Biko Nominated
1989 Glory Pvt. Trip Won First black actor to receive two Best Supporting Actor nominations.
1992 Jaye Davidson The Crying Game Dil Nominated First black actor to receive an Academy Award nomination for a debut film performance. Also the first Black British actor to receive an Academy Award nomination.
1994 Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction Jules Winnfield Nominated
1996 Cuba Gooding, Jr. Jerry Maguire Rod Tidwell Won Youngest black male actor to win an Academy Award (age 29).
1999 Michael Clarke Duncan The Green Mile John Coffey Nominated
2003 Djimon Hounsou In America Mateo Nominated First black actor born outside the United States (specifically in Benin) to receive an Academy Award nomination.
2004 Morgan Freeman Million Dollar Baby Eddie 'Scrap-Iron' Dupris Won Oldest black actor to win an Academy Award (age 67).
Jamie Foxx Collateral Max Nominated First black actor to receive two acting nominations in the same year.
2006 Djimon Hounsou Blood Diamond Solomon Vandy Nominated
Eddie Murphy Dreamgirls James 'Thunder' Early Nominated First film to feature black nominees for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Year Name Film Role Status Milestone
1939 Hattie McDaniel Gone with the Wind Mammy Won First black person (male or female) to win an Academy Award;
First black person (male or female) to be nominated for Best Acting;
First black actress to win Best Supporting Actress;
Oldest black actress to win an Academy Award (age 44).
1949 Ethel Waters Pinky Pinky's Granny Nominated Second black person to be nominated for an Academy Award.
1959 Juanita Moore Imitation of Life Annie Johnson Nominated
1967 Beah Richards Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Mrs. Prentice Nominated
1983 Alfre Woodard Cross Creek Geechee Nominated
1985 Margaret Avery The Color Purple Shug Avery Nominated First time that multiple black actresses received Best Supporting Actress nominations;
First time that multiple black actresses received nominations for the same film.
Oprah Winfrey Sofia Nominated
1990 Whoopi Goldberg Ghost Oda Mae Brown Won First black actress to receive two acting nominations overall;
Second Black Actress to win Best Supporting Actress.
1996 Marianne Jean-Baptiste Secrets & Lies Hortense Cumberbatch Nominated First British black actress to receive an Academy Award nomination. Also the first black person (male or female) born outside the United States to receive an Academy Award nomination in an acting category.
2002 Queen Latifah Chicago Matron Mama Morton Nominated First female hip hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award.
2004 Sophie Okonedo Hotel Rwanda Tatiana Rusesabagina Nominated Second British black actress to receive an Academy Award nomination.
2006 Jennifer Hudson Dreamgirls Effie White Won First black actor (male or female) to win an Academy Award for a debut film performance;
Youngest black actress to win or be nominated for Best Supporting Actress;
Youngest black actor (male or female) to win an Academy Award (age 25);
First film to feature black nominees for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress;
First Black Actress to win an Academy Award for a musical film.
2007 Ruby Dee American Gangster Mama Lucas Nominated Oldest black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award (age 83).
2008 Viola Davis Doubt Mrs. Miller Nominated Second time two black women were nominated in the same category.
Taraji P. Henson The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Queenie Nominated
2009 Mo'Nique Precious Mary Lee Johnston Won Second film to feature black nominees for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

Best Cinematography

Academy Award for Best Cinematography
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1998 Remi Adefarasin Elizabeth Nominated First black person to be nominated for Best Cinematography.

Best Costume Design

Academy Award for Best Costume Design
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1983 Joe I. Tompkins Cross Creek Nominated First black person (male or female) to be nominated for Best Costume Design.
1989 Harlem Nights Nominated
1992 Ruth E. Carter Malcolm X Nominated First black woman to be nominated for Best Costume Design.
1997 Amistad Nominated
2004 Sharen Davis Ray Nominated
2006 Dreamgirls Nominated

Best Director

Academy Award for Best Director
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1991 John Singleton Boyz n the Hood Nominated First black person to be nominated for Best Director; youngest person ever nominated in this category (age 23).
2009 Lee Daniels Precious Nominated Second black person to earn a Best Director nomination. Daniels, also becomes the first black director to earn a Best Picture nomination.

Best Documentary Feature

Academy Award for Documentary Feature
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1990 Yvonne Smith(producer) Adam Clayton Powell Nominated Shared with Richard Kilberg;
First black producer to be nominated for Best Documentary Feature.
1997 Spike Lee(director)
Samuel D. Pollard(producer)		 4 Little Girls Nominated First black director to be nominated for Best Documentary Feature.
2004 Karolyn Ali(producer) Tupac: Resurrection Nominated

Best Documentary Short Subject

Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject
Year Name Film Status Milestone
2000 Leelai Demoz On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom Nominated Shared nomination with Eric Simonson;
First black person to be nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject.
2009 Roger Ross Williams Music by Prudence Won Shared nomination with Elinor Burkett;
First black person to win Best Documentary Short Subject.

Best Editing

Academy Award for Film Editing
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1969 Hugh A. Robertson Midnight Cowboy Nominated First black person to be nominated for Best Editing.

Best Original Score

Academy Award for Original Music Score
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1961 Duke Ellington Paris Blues Nominated First black person to be nominated for Best Original Score.
1967 Quincy Jones In Cold Blood Nominated
1971 Isaac Hayes Shaft Nominated
1978 Quincy Jones The Wiz Nominated First black person to be nominated in the Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score (which is different from Best Original Score category).
1984 Prince Purple Rain Won First black winner of Best Original Song Score (which is different from Best Original Score category); this category was retired afterwards.
1985 Quincy Jones
Andrae Crouch
Caiphus Semenya		 The Color Purple Nominated Shared nomination with 9 other composers.
1986 Herbie Hancock Round Midnight Won First black winner of Best Original Score.
1987 Jonas Gwangwa Cry Freedom Nominated Shared nomination with white composer George Fenton.

Best Original Song

Academy Award for Best Original Song
Year Name Film Song Status Milestone
1967 Quincy Jones
Bob Russell		 Banning "The Eyes of Love" Nominated First black people to be nominated for Best Original Song.
1968 For Love of Ivy "For Love of Ivy" Nominated First black people to be nominated twice for Best Original Song.
1971 Isaac Hayes Shaft "Theme from Shaft" Won First black winner for Best Original Song;
First black winner for any award other than in the acting categories.
1981 Lionel Richie Endless Love "Endless Love" Nominated
1983 Irene Cara Flashdance "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" Won First black woman to win a non-acting Academy Award;
Shared nomination with composer Giorgio Moroder and co-lyricist Keith Forsey.
1984 Stevie Wonder The Woman in Red "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Won
1984 Ray Parker, Jr. Ghostbusters "Ghostbusters" Nominated
1985 Lionel Richie White Nights "Say You, Say Me" Won
1985 Quincy Jones
Lionel Richie
Rod Temperton		 The Color Purple "Miss Celie's Blues" Nominated
1987 Jonas Gwangwa Cry Freedom "Cry Freedom" Nominated Shared nomination with white composer George Fenton.
1988 Lamont Dozier Buster "Two Hearts" Nominated Shared nomination with Phil Collins.
1993 Jimmy Jam
Terry Lewis
Janet Jackson		 Poetic Justice "Again" Nominated
1994 James Ingram Beethoven's 2nd "The Day I Fall In Love" Nominated Shared nomination with Carole Bayer Sager and Cliff Magness.
1995 Junior "Look What Love Has Done" Nominated Shared nomination with Carole Bayer Sager, James Newton Howard and Patty Smyth.
2005 Jordan Houston
Cedric Coleman
Paul Beauregard		 Hustle & Flow "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" Won First rap group to win an Academy Award.
2006 Siedah Garrett Dreamgirls "Love You I Do" Nominated Shared nomination with white composer Henry Krieger.
2007 Jamal Joseph
Charles Mack
Tevin Thomas		 August Rush "Raise It Up" Nominated

Best Picture

Academy Award for Best Picture
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1985 Quincy Jones The Color Purple Nominated First black producer whose film was nominated for Best Picture.
2009 Lee Daniels Precious Nominated First black director whose film was nominated for Best Picture.
Broderick Johnson The Blind Side Nominated First time a film by two black producers was nominated for Best Picture.

Best Short Film (Live Action)

Academy Award for Live Action Short Film
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1991 David Massey Last Breeze of Summer Nominated First black person (male or female) to be nominated for Short Film (Live Action).
1995 Dianne Houston Tuesday Morning Ride Nominated First black female to be nominated for Short Film (Live Action).

Best Sound Mixing

Academy Award for Sound
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1978 Willie D. Burton The Buddy Holly Story Nominated First black person to be nominated for Best Sound.
1980 Altered States Nominated
1983 WarGames Nominated
1988 Bird Won First black person to win Best Sound.
1989 Russell Williams Glory Won Second black person to win Best Sound.
1990 Dances with Wolves Won First black Person to win multiple Academy Awards in any category.
1994 Willie D. Burton The Shawshank Redemption Nominated
1999 The Green Mile Nominated
2006 Dreamgirls Won First black person to be nominated and to win in recently renamed "Sound Mixing" category.

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay
Year Name Film Adapted From Status Milestone
1972 Lonne Elder Sounder Sounder
by William H. Armstrong		 Nominated First black nominee for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).
1984 Charles Fuller A Soldier's Story A Soldier's Play
by Charles Fuller		 Nominated
2009 Geoffrey Fletcher Precious Push
by Sapphire		 Won First black person to win a screenplay Academy Award.

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay
Year Name Film Status Milestone
1972 Suzanne de Passe Lady Sings the Blues Nominated Shared nomination with co-writers Chris Clark and Terence McCloy;
First black nominee for Best Writing (Original Screenplay);
First black female nominated for screen-writing.
1989 Spike Lee Do the Right Thing Nominated First black male to be nominated for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
1991 John Singleton Boyz n the Hood Nominated

Special Awards

Special Awards
Year Name Award
1948 James Baskett Academy Special Award, for his characterization of Uncle Remus in Song of the South.
1995 Quincy Jones Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
2002 Sidney Poitier Academy Honorary Award, "for his extraordinary performances and unique presence on the screen and for representing the industry with dignity, style and intelligence".

See also

Film portal
Academy Award portal

References

General
Specific