List RulesVote up any great actor who is a person of color. Men only—there is a separate list for actresses.
With audiences pushing Hollywood towards increased diversity both on- and off-screen, now is the perfect time to celebrate the work of these famous people of color. The best non-white performers have made their mark across all genres. Some POC actors thrive in dramas while other great non-white actors specialize in comedies. Many of the greatest non-white actors have even been nominated for Academy Awards.
Who will you find on this list of the greatest non-white actors? Perhaps you'll vote Will Smith up to the very top. Since breaking into acting with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith has gone on to excel in dramatic parts. Denzel Washington specializes in instantly iconic performances, with starring roles in films including Glory, Training Day, and American Gangster. Sir Ben Kingsley, who is of Indian descent, won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1982 for his performance in Gandhi. Other great men featured on this top non-white actors list include Jackie Chan, Antonio Banderas, and Idris Elba.
Do you have a favorite non-white actor? Vote your picks for best performers up to the top of the list, and please add any notable stars who are missing. For favorite women in film and TV, check out this list of the best non-white actresses.
1
15911Chadwick Boseman
42, The Express2
21847Morgan Freeman
The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises3
19939Will Smith
Men in Black, Independence Day4
19642Samuel L. Jackson
The Avengers, Pulp Fiction5
16840Idris Elba
Thor, Thor: The Dark World6
16040Jackie Chan
Kung Fu Panda, Rush Hour7
17047Denzel Washington
Remember the Titans, Glory8
15843Michael B. Jordan
That Awkward Moment, Fruitvale Station9
12228Anthony Mackie
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Million Dollar Baby10
11122James Earl Jones
Star Wars, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back11
12129Don Cheadle
Iron Man 3, Iron Man 212
10427Dev Patel
Slumdog Millionaire, The Last Airbender13
7512John Boyega
Attack the Block, Junkhearts14
9831Eddie Murphy
Shrek, Mulan15
10436Forest Whitaker
Platoon, Fast Times at Ridgemont High16
7926Laurence Fishburne
The Matrix, Apocalypse Now17
7523Benicio del Toro
The Usual Suspects, Guardians of the Galaxy18
5913Daniel Kaluuya
Johnny English Reborn, Welcome to the Punch19
7629Bruce Lee
Enter the Dragon, Limitless20
6724Michael Clarke Duncan
The Green Mile, Sin City21
6624Antonio Banderas
Shrek 2, Philadelphia22
7233Sidney Poitier
In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner23
7233Jamie Foxx
Django Unchained, The Amazing Spider-Man 224
5317Ben Kingsley
Schindler's List, Iron Man 325
5925Chris Rock
Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back