The one name that stands out above all others amongst African-American actors, both for his immense talents and his pioneering legacy, is none other than Sidney Poitier. The list of his accomplishments are many, but none more so than the integrity and humanity he projected in his defining roles that broke down the colour barrier that had existed prior to his enormous success.
And there is no doubt that Mr. Poitier is one of the most successful actors ever, in no small part thanks to the year 1967, which saw him star in leading roles for 3 landmark movies; To Sir With Love, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, and In The Heat Of The Night. All three of these pictures dealt with various racial issues of the day, but with a unique and daring twist as they dealt with interracial relationships and attraction, and also a black character that was very strong, determined, and more intelligent than most of the whites around him (Heat).
Fortunately today, the idea of an attractive and intelligent African-American lead role is not rare or surprising...thanks to Sidney Poitier. Mega-stars such as Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith, or even Halle Berry, can all thank Sidney Poitier for opening doors of opportunity for all African-Americans, and not just actors.
Poitier directed the 1980 release Stir Crazy, which stood as the top grossing movie ever directed by an African-American for twenty years, and which starred one of the top comics of the time, Richard Pryor. Pryor was another personality whose appeal transcended all colours, and he starred in a number of top movies during his often tumultuous but highly successful career that included stand-up comedy, acting, and writing.
While Pryor's brand of humour was very raunchy and profanity laced, another black comedian with a sanitized, yet politically daring, comedic edge was making a name for himself on the stand-up circuit and late night shows. Bill Cosby was a frequent guest, and sometimes host, of the Tonight Show, which was ground-breaking for the time. This was followed in the '70's with a couple of television series, including the legendary Fat Albert cartoon series, and then in the '80's with his biggest success, The Cosby Show. This series was one of the biggest in television history, and opened the doors for a number of African-American TV shows to follow.
One of the biggest box office draws in recent times has been actor Denzel Washington. His career got off the ground with his first Academy Award win in 1989 for his heartfelt portrayal of an abused and tortured Union soldier who was a former slave in the film Glory , and he received a second Oscar in 2001 for his riveting performance as a corrupt cop in the film Training Day. There is no doubt that Washington would rank as one of the top actors of the last couple of decades, and he has also been instrumental in opening up doors of opportunity for African-American actors in the same way as his mentor, Sidney Poitier.
The one actor that has had an incredible string of box office success for over 13 years, is former rapper and TV star turned big-screen actor Will Smith. He is currently the biggest star in the entertainment industry, as he has had 8 films gross over $100 million in the U.S., with many of his films setting opening day or weekend records for box office receipts.
The one reality of the movie going public today is that talent and ability are the only factors that influence an actor's standing in the industry, and not skin colour. Actors such as Martin Lawrence, Ice Cube, and many of the before-mentioned stars have found that their fan base includes people of all colours and nationalities, and that they are idolized because of how they entertain us. And hopefully the success of these stars will continue to open doors of opportunity, while at the same time help to break down prejudices and stereotypes which hurt all of society, regardless of skin colour.