Black History Month: Top African-Americans in Hollywood
These stars are leaving their mark on the film industry.
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Top African-Americans in Hollywood - In honor of Black History Month, we're taking a look at the most powerful African-Americans in Hollywood. From Will Smith's hugely diverse roles to Shonda Rhimes's primetime TV dominance, Black people continue to show that we mean business.
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Tyler Perry - Very few can compare to the first one on our list, Tyler Perry. As an actor, playwright, filmmaker and producer, Perry is breaking box office records with his gospel-themed films. He is also the first African-American to own a major film studio. (Photo: TDia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
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Will Smith - Rapper-turned-award-winning-actor Will Smith is Hollywood's top leading man. One of the film industry's most highly paid — and most pursued — actors, nearly all of Smith's films have grossed over $100 million. Set to add another smash to his résumé, Smith will play a sly conman in Focus. The movie will hit theaters on February 27, 2015.(Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)
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Kerry Washington - As one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood today, Kerry Washington is living the life. From movies to television, she can do it all. Most notably, she has starred as everyone's favorite fixer, Olivia Pope, on Scandal for three years now. Aside from delivering that now iconic lip quiver, Washington has starred in big screen blockbusters like Django Unchained, Peeples and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Viola Davis - Before becoming the sexy and scandalous attorney/professor, Annalise Keating, on How to Get Away With Murder, Viola Davis was already an acclaimed actress in Hollywood. The vet starred in several box office smashes like Traffic, Solaris and Ender's Game and even snagged an Oscar nomination for her leading role in 2010's The Help. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Ava DuVernay - Though active in filmmaking since 1999, Ava DuVernay first became a household name in 2014 after directing the historical period piece Selma. Her directing skills were so impressive that the film was nominated for Best Picture at the 2015 Oscars. Many felt, however, that she was slighted after being snubbed in the category for Best Director. Keeping the ball rolling, however, DuVernay is set to direct another major attraction based on the events of the 2005 tragedy hurricane Katrina.(Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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David Oyelowo - Portraying one of the most iconic activists in history isn't an easy task, but David Oyelowo was right on the money with this one. Playing the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Ava Duvernay-directed film Selma, the actor became Hollywood's newest "it" guy. However, before the critically acclaimed role, he starred in several high profile films inclusing Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Middle of Nowhere and The Butler.(Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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Don Cheadle - No one has a career catalog like this veteran. Beginning as far back as 1995, Don Cheadle has starred in some of Hollywood's most high profile and critically acclaimed films to date. With projects including Devil in a Blue Dress, Boogie Nights, Ocean's Eleven, The Rat Pack and Iron Man 3, among others, this actor's star knows no bounds. He even snagged an Oscar nomination for his role as Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina in the genocide drama Hotel Rwanda. All hail, Hollywood royalty.(Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for CalArts)
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Shonda Rhimes - Thursday nights are now an event thanks to this talented lady. Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder, is one of Hollywood's top runners to date. She writes, produces and directs, and does it all to perfection. Who needs Hollywood when you can have Shondaland?(Photo: Vivien Killilea/WireImage)
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Steve McQueen - This English director bolted to the front of Hollywood's radar following the release of 12 Years a Slave, which he directed and wrote. The historical drama sweeped during 2013's awards season, even snagging three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o) and Best Adapted Screenplay. The Best Picture win made McQueen the first even Black producer to receive the award and the first Black director to have directed a Best Picture winning film.(Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
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Idris Elba - There are very few actors who can go from hero to villain and maintain an air of belivability in both roles, but Idris Elba does it like a pro. The English actor's most critically acclaimed roles include playing the late Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Lnog Walk to Freedom, and leading roles in Thor: The Dark World, Pacific Rim and American Gangster. In 2011, Elba even won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his peformance in Luther.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
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Lee Daniels - Lee Daniels is the first Black and openly gay man to receive best picture and best director nominations, both for 2009's Precious. Most recently, Daniels's The Butler was a box office hit in 2013 and he is currently killing with the series Empire. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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Gina Prince-Bythewood - Bythewood is a veteran filmmaker with several critically acclaimed movies under her belt, including The Secret Life of Bees, Love and Basketball, Disappearing Acts, and, most recently, the Oscar nominated Beyond the Lights.(Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)
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Denzel Washington - Iconic actor and producer who became only the second African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor and the first black actor to win two Oscars for acting. Denzel is rumored to be teaming up with Will Smith for a drama about Hurricane Katrina, which will be directed by Ava DuVernay.(Photo: Kristy Sparow/WireImage)
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John Singleton - A renowned filmmaker most famous for his 1992 coming-of-age classic Boyz n the Hood, John Singleton also produced the critically acclaimed Hustle and Flow. Back in 2013, it was announced that Singleton was taking on the directing responsibilities of a new 2Pac biopic set to be released in the coming years.(Photo: Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
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Halle Berry - The Academy Award-winning actress is respected for both her acting skills and breathtaking beauty. In 2013, Halle had a huge hit with The Call, which also starred Morris Chestnut.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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Chris Rock - A comedian and social critic, Rock has been a success in television and film. Legendary for his stand up, he still sells out concert stadiums across the globe. Last year, he scored a big bit with the comedy Top Five.(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)