<Table> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> Best Actor in a Leading Role </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Film </Th> <Th> Role </Th> <Th> Status </Th> <Th> Milestone </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> Sidney Poitier </Td> <Td> The Defiant Ones </Td> <Td> Noah Cullen </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First African - American actor to be nominated for Best Actor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1963 </Td> <Td> Lilies of the Field </Td> <Td> Homer Smith </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> First black man to win an Oscar . First African - American actor to win Best Actor . First Bahamian to win Best Actor . First African - American actor to receive two acting nominations ( Best Actor ) . Youngest African - American actor to win Best Actor ( age 37 ) . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> James Earl Jones </Td> <Td> The Great White Hope </Td> <Td> Jack Jefferson </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1972 </Td> <Td> Paul Winfield </Td> <Td> Sounder </Td> <Td> Nathan Lee Morgan </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First film to feature African - American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Dexter Gordon </Td> <Td> Round Midnight </Td> <Td> Dale Turner </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First jazz musician to be nominated for Best Actor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1989 </Td> <Td> Morgan Freeman </Td> <Td> Driving Miss Daisy </Td> <Td> Hoke Colburn </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1992 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> Malcolm X </Td> <Td> Malcolm X </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td> Laurence Fishburne </Td> <Td> What 's Love Got to Do with It </Td> <Td> Ike Turner </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> Second film to feature African - American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Morgan Freeman </Td> <Td> The Shawshank Redemption </Td> <Td> Ellis Boyd ' Red ' Redding </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> The Hurricane </Td> <Td> Rubin Carter </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> Training Day </Td> <Td> Alonzo Harris </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> Second African - American actor to receive the award for Best Actor . First time two African - American performers won in leading role Oscars in the same year ( Halle Berry , Monster 's Ball ) . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Will Smith </Td> <Td> Ali </Td> <Td> Muhammad Ali </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First time multiple African - American actors received Best Actor nominations . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Jamie Foxx </Td> <Td> Ray </Td> <Td> Ray Charles </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> First African - American actor to receive two acting nominations in the same year . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Don Cheadle </Td> <Td> Hotel Rwanda </Td> <Td> Paul Rusesabagina </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> Terrence Howard </Td> <Td> Hustle & Flow </Td> <Td> DJay </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Forest Whitaker </Td> <Td> The Last King of Scotland </Td> <Td> Idi Amin </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Will Smith </Td> <Td> The Pursuit of Happyness </Td> <Td> Chris Gardner </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> Morgan Freeman </Td> <Td> Invictus </Td> <Td> Nelson Mandela </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> Flight </Td> <Td> William `` Whip '' Whitaker </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Chiwetel Ejiofor </Td> <Td> 12 Years a Slave </Td> <Td> Solomon Northup </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First black British actor to be nominated for Best Actor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> Fences </Td> <Td> Troy Maxson </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> Roman J. Israel , Esq . </Td> <Td> Roman J. Israel </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington has the most nominations for an African - American Actor : Best Actor ( 6 nominations ) and Best Supporting Actor ( 2 nominations ) . First African - American actor to be nominated two years in a row </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Daniel Kaluuya </Td> <Td> Get Out </Td> <Td> Chris Washington </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> Second black British actor to be nominated for Best Actor </Td> </Tr> </Table>
<Table> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> Best Actor in a Leading Role </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Film </Th> <Th> Role </Th> <Th> Status </Th> <Th> Milestone </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> Sidney Poitier </Td> <Td> The Defiant Ones </Td> <Td> Noah Cullen </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First African - American actor to be nominated for Best Actor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1963 </Td> <Td> Lilies of the Field </Td> <Td> Homer Smith </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> First black man to win an Oscar . First African - American actor to win Best Actor . First Bahamian to win Best Actor . First African - American actor to receive two acting nominations ( Best Actor ) . Youngest African - American actor to win Best Actor ( age 37 ) . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> James Earl Jones </Td> <Td> The Great White Hope </Td> <Td> Jack Jefferson </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1972 </Td> <Td> Paul Winfield </Td> <Td> Sounder </Td> <Td> Nathan Lee Morgan </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First film to feature African - American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Dexter Gordon </Td> <Td> Round Midnight </Td> <Td> Dale Turner </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First jazz musician to be nominated for Best Actor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1989 </Td> <Td> Morgan Freeman </Td> <Td> Driving Miss Daisy </Td> <Td> Hoke Colburn </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1992 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> Malcolm X </Td> <Td> Malcolm X </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td> Laurence Fishburne </Td> <Td> What 's Love Got to Do with It </Td> <Td> Ike Turner </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> Second film to feature African - American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Morgan Freeman </Td> <Td> The Shawshank Redemption </Td> <Td> Ellis Boyd ' Red ' Redding </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> The Hurricane </Td> <Td> Rubin Carter </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> Training Day </Td> <Td> Alonzo Harris </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> Second African - American actor to receive the award for Best Actor . First time two African - American performers won in leading role Oscars in the same year ( Halle Berry , Monster 's Ball ) . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Will Smith </Td> <Td> Ali </Td> <Td> Muhammad Ali </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First time multiple African - American actors received Best Actor nominations . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Jamie Foxx </Td> <Td> Ray </Td> <Td> Ray Charles </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> First African - American actor to receive two acting nominations in the same year . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Don Cheadle </Td> <Td> Hotel Rwanda </Td> <Td> Paul Rusesabagina </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> Terrence Howard </Td> <Td> Hustle & Flow </Td> <Td> DJay </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Forest Whitaker </Td> <Td> The Last King of Scotland </Td> <Td> Idi Amin </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Will Smith </Td> <Td> The Pursuit of Happyness </Td> <Td> Chris Gardner </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> Morgan Freeman </Td> <Td> Invictus </Td> <Td> Nelson Mandela </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> Flight </Td> <Td> William `` Whip '' Whitaker </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Chiwetel Ejiofor </Td> <Td> 12 Years a Slave </Td> <Td> Solomon Northup </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> First black British actor to be nominated for Best Actor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington </Td> <Td> Fences </Td> <Td> Troy Maxson </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> Roman J. Israel , Esq . </Td> <Td> Roman J. Israel </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> Denzel Washington has the most nominations for an African - American Actor : Best Actor ( 6 nominations ) and Best Supporting Actor ( 2 nominations ) . First African - American actor to be nominated two years in a row </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Daniel Kaluuya </Td> <Td> Get Out </Td> <Td> Chris Washington </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> Second black British actor to be nominated for Best Actor </Td> </Tr> </Table>
who was the first black male to win an oscar
who was the first black male to win an oscar
Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier