black western movie actors, actresses.
by road-traveled | created - 26 Mar 2017 | updated - 19 Oct 2020 | PublicBorn 1866 - 1960.
1. James Edwards
Actor | The Killing
Pioneering actor who was among Hollywood's first - years ahead of Sidney Poitier - to crush the Stepin Fetchit stereotype of black males as shiftless illiterates. Although in some pictures Edwards would portray subservient characters (e.g. "General" George C. Scott's valet in Patton (1970)), he ...
Ned Green, Seven Angry Men (1955). 1955.
15 westerns, 55-68.
1918 - 1970, 51.
2. Maidie Norman
Actress | What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Maidie Norman was born Maidie Ruth Gamble on October 16, 1912, in Villa Rica, Georgia, to Louis and Lila Gamble. She received a B.A. from Bennett College in 1934 and a master's degree from Columbia University three years later. She also attended the Actors Lab in Hollywood from 1946 to 1949.
Norman ...
Vera, Speckle Bird (1963). 1963.
12 westerns, 55-77.
1912 - 1998, 85.
3. Moses Gunn
Actor | Shaft
Moses Gunn was born on October 2, 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for Shaft (1971), Rollerball (1975) and Heartbreak Ridge (1986). He was married to Gwendolyn Mumma Landes. He died on December 16, 1993 in Guilford, Connecticut, USA.
Jebediah Nightlinger, The Long Rider (1974). 1974.
58 westerns, 71-83.
1929 - 1993, 64.
4. Woody Strode
Actor | Spartacus
An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. He became part of Hollywood lore after meeting director John Ford and becoming a part of the Ford "family," appearing in four Ford motion pictures. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with ...
Josh, The Gambler from Natchez (1954). 1954.
Tego, The Savage (1960). 1960.
Jake, The Professionals (1966). 1966. #4 credit.
33 westerns, 54-95.
1914 - 1994, 80.
5. Louise Beavers
Actress | Imitation of Life
1930s and 1940s film actress Louise Beavers was merely one of a dominant gallery of plus-sized and plus-talented African-American character actresses forced to endure blatant, discouraging and demeaning stereotypes during Depression-era and WWII Hollywood.
It wasn't until Louise's triumphant role in ...
Auntie Jenny, Sundown Trail (1931). 1931.
Auntie Nellie, The Younger Brothers (1954). 1934.
18 westerns, 31-60.
1902 - 1962, 60.
6. Theresa Harris
Actress | I Walked with a Zombie
Theresa Harris appeared with more stars of the Golden Era of Hollywood than anyone else. She sang, she danced, she appeared in movies and TV. She graced the screen with her magnetic presence and most times stole scenes from the top stars of the day every chance she got and made a lot of dull films ...
Josephine, Buck Benny Rides Again (1940). 1940.
Therese, Al Jennings of Oklahoma (1951). 1951.
5 westerns, 34-57.
1911 - 1985, 73.
7. Marietta Canty
Actress | Rebel Without a Cause
Marietta Canty was born on September 30, 1905 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. She was an actress, known for Rebel Without a Cause (1955), The Heavenly Body (1944) and The Lady Is Willing (1942). She died on July 9, 1986 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
Daisy, Belle Le Grand (1951), 1951.
Idabelle, The Spoilers (1942). 1942.
5 westerns, 40-51.
1905 - 1986, 80.
8. Ruby Dandridge
Actress | Beulah
Ruby Dandridge was born on March 3, 1900 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. She was an actress, known for Beulah (1950), Cabin in the Sky (1943) and Gallant Lady (1942). She was married to Cyril Dandridge. She died on October 17, 1987 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Devoria, Home in Oklahoma (1946). 1946.
6 westerns, 44-59.
1900 - 1987, 87.
9. Carmen Hayward
Actress | Hope 4 Dating in LA
Carmen Hayward was born in Los Angeles to Ann Frazier, a licensed vocational nurse and Joseph Hayward, a plasterer from Louisiana. Her parents broke up, and at five she moved with her mother and younger sister to Louisville, Ky., her mother's hometown, where she enjoyed the support of a huge ...
Clara Mae, Boss Nigger (1974). 1975.
1952 --
10. Vanessa Bell Calloway
Actress | Coming to America
Vanessa Bell Calloway was born on March 20, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Coming to America (1988), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) and Daylight (1996). She has been married to Tony Calloway since September 3, 1988. They have two children.
Abby Holsopple, The Cherokee Kid (1996). 1996.
1957 --.
11. Starletta DuPois
Actress | The Notebook
A gifted veteran character actress, Starletta DuPois has breathed life into a bevy of unforgettable roles both onstage and onscreen. Starletta is recognized from her roles in many cult classics including Friday After Next with Ice Cube and Mike Epps, Big Momma's House with Martin Lawrence, and ...
Thelma Washington, The Dream Day (1982). 1982.
1941 --
12. Donzaleigh Abernathy
Actress | Any Day Now
Donzaleigh Abernathy won the Tanne Foundation 2012 Artist Award for her work as an actress and for her script, "Birmingham Sunday." She starred for four years in over 60 Episodes as a Series Regular on Lifetime Television's critically acclaimed dramatic series, "Any Day Now." She received ...
Effie Petit, Lone Justice 2 (1995). 1995.
1957 --
13. Esther Rolle
Actress | Driving Miss Daisy
Best known for the role of Florida Evans on the 1970s sitcoms Maude (1972) and Good Times (1974), African-American actress Esther Rolle proved to be as spirited and iron-willed off-camera as well. The gap-toothed actress with the gravelly voice was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, the 10th child of ...
Clara Brown, Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West (1995).
1920 - 1998, 78.
14. Lillian Yarbo
Actress | You Can't Take It with You
The 'Real' Billie
Lillian--aka "Billie"--Yarbo. A forgotten name, to be sure (at least ever since the 1949 release of Look for the Silver Lining (1949), featuring Yarbo's final onscreen appearance, uncredited as were the great majority, in a career spanning not quite 15 years), yet the face that ...
Clara, Destry Rides Again (1939). 1939.
Mandy, The Great Man's Lady (1941). 1942.
6 westerns, 39-45.
1905 - 1996, 91.
15. Butterfly McQueen
Actress | Gone with the Wind
Thelma McQueen attended public school in Augusta, Georgia and graduated from high school in Long Island, New York. She studied dance with Katherine Dunham, Geoffrey Holder, and Janet Collins. She danced with the Venezuela Jones Negro Youth Group. The "Butterfly" stage name, which does describe her ...
Vashti, Duel in the Sun (1946). 1946.
Flaxen's maid, Flame of Barbary Coast (1945). 1945.
1911 - 1995, 84.
16. Dorothy Dandridge
Actress | Carmen Jones
Dorothy Jean Dandridge was born on November 9, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Ruby Dandridge (née Ruby Jean Butler), an entertainer, and Cyril H. Dandridge, a cabinet maker and minister. Under the prodding of her mother, Dorothy and her sister Vivian Dandridge began performing publicly, usually in ...
Felice, Lady from Louisiana (1941). 1941.
Dancer, Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942). 1942.
1922 - 1965, 42.
17. Etta McDaniel
Actress | The Great Man's Lady
Etta McDaniel was born on December 1, 1890 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. She was an actress, known for The Great Man's Lady (1941), What a Man! (1944) and The Pittsburgh Kid (1941). She died on January 13, 1946 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Mandy Johnson, The Glory Trail (1936). 1936. Credited.
Clementine, Smoking Guns (1934). 1934. Credited.
8 westerns, 34-42.
1890 - 1957, 55.
18. Della Reese
Actress | Touched by an Angel
Della began singing in her hometown of Detroit when she was 6 years old. As a teenager, she toured with gospel great Mahalia Jackson and, at the age of 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to take gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. She was a vocalist with the ...
Stagecoach Sally, Born to Hang (1990). 1990
1931 - 2017, 86.
19. Nina Mae McKinney
Actress | Hallelujah
Nina Mae McKinney is known as the seductress "Chick" from Hallelujah (1929), the first all-black, all-sound musical. Even though she was acknowledged as a great actress, singer and dancer by audiences in the U.S. and Europe, today she is mostly forgotten. She certainly had the looks, enthusiasm, ...
Theresa, Copper Canyon (1950). 1950.
Dancer, The Lonely Trail (1936). 1936.
1912 - 1967, 54.
20. Hattie McDaniel
Actress | Gone with the Wind
After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in Judge Priest (1934) and becoming pronounced in Alice Adams (1935). In this one, directed by George ...
4 westerns, 32-41.
Callie, They Died with Their Boots On (1941). 1941.
1895 - 1952, 57.
21. Lorraine Toussaint
Actress | Hudson Hawk
SAG Award and Critics Choice Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Lorraine Toussaint shocked audiences on the smash hit Netflix original series "Orange is the New Black" as the viciously seductive inmate Vee. Toussaint's thrilling performance has won her glowing reviews from ...
Mama Turner, The Cherokee Kid (1996). 1996.
1960--. Trinidad and Tobago.
22. Pam Grier
Actress | Jackie Brown
Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, NC, one of four children of Gwendolyn Sylvia (Samuels), a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier Jr., an Air Force mechanic. Pam has been a major African-American star from the early 1970s. Her career started in 1971, when Roger Corman of New World Pictures launched ...
Phoebe, Posse (1993). 1993.
1949 --
23. Paulene Myers
Actress | My Cousin Vinny
Paulene Myers was born on November 9, 1913 in Ocilla, Georgia, USA. She was an actress, known for My Cousin Vinny (1992), The Sting (1973) and Playhouse 90 (1956). She died on December 8, 1996 in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Lulu, The General's Disgrace (1957).
4 westerns.
1913 - 1996, 83.
24. Vivian Bonnell
Actress | Ghost
Vivian Bonnell was born on May 23, 1924 in Antigua, British West Indies. She was an actress, known for Ghost (1990), Summer School (1987) and Teachers (1984). She was married to Austin Stoker. She died on November 18, 2003 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
The Return of Desperado (1988). 1988.
1924 - 2003, 79.
25. Lynn Hamilton
Actress | Sanford and Son
A veteran actress, Lynn, a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, made her film debut in Shadows (1958) directed by John Cassavetes. She may be best known for her role as "Donna Harris", a licensed practical nurse and girlfriend of Fred Sanford on Sanford and Son (1972), from 1972-77. Hamilton also had...
Mother Tabitha, The Sisters (1969).
Sarah, Buck and the Preacher (1972).
1930 --
26. Cicely Tyson
Actress | The Help
Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City, where she was raised by her devoutly religious parents, who had come from the Caribbean island of Nevis. Her mother Theodosia was a domestic worker and her her father William was a carpenter and painter. Tyson was discovered by a fashion editor at ...
Rachel Biggs, The Scavengers (1970), 1970.
Princess Lucenda, A Bride for Obie Brown (1970). 1970.
1924 --
27. Ruby Dee
Actress | American Gangster
Ruby Dee was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist. She is best known for originating the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun (1961).
She also starred in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Cat People (1982), ...
Ruth, Buck and the Preacher (1972). 1972.
28. Diahann Carroll
Actress | Julia
One of television's premier African-American series stars, elegant actress, singer and recording artist Diahann Carroll was born Carol Diann (or Diahann) Johnson on July 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York. The first child of John Johnson, a subway conductor, and Mabel Faulk Johnson, a nurse; music ...
Ida Grayson, Wild Horses (1994). 1994.
10 westerns, 94-95.
1935 --
29. Juanita Moore
Actress | Imitation of Life
African American actress Juanita Moore entered films in the early 1950s, a time in which few black people were given an opportunity to act in major studio films. Fortunately Moore's roles began improving as Hollywood developed a social consciousness toward the end of the decade. In 1959 she ...
Thomasine & Bushrod (1974). 1974
The Gambler from Natchez (1954). 1954.
7 westerns, 41-74.
1914 - 2014, 99.
30. Ella Fitzgerald
Soundtrack | Sphere
On Saturday, June 15th, 1996, an era in jazz singing came to an end, with the death of Ella Fitzgerald at her home in California. She was the last of four great female jazz singers (including Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae) who defined one of the most prolific eras in jazz vocal ...
Ruby, Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942). 1942. Songs.
1917 - 1996, 79.
31. Linda Hopkins
Actress | Leprechaun 2
Linda Hopkins was born on December 14, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She was an actress, known for Leprechaun 2 (1994), Great Performances (1971) and The Kitchen (2019). She died on April 10, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Blues singer, Honkytonk Man (1982). 1982.
1924 - 2017, 92.
32. Virginia Capers
Actress | Howard the Duck
With plenty of heart and soul, singer/actress Virginia Capers served up loads of music in an entertainment career that spanned several decades. The benevolent, plus-sized talent was born Eliza Virginia Capers on September 22, 1925, in South Carolina and attended Howard University in Washington, D.C...
Effie, Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971). 1971.
Ada, Odds for Big Red (1961). 1961.
10 westerns, 61-71.
1925 - 2004, 78.
33. Lena Horne
Soundtrack | Cabin in the Sky
Lena Calhoun Horne was born June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. In her biography she stated that, on the day she was born, her father was in the midst of a card game trying to get money to pay the hospital costs. Her parents divorced while she was still a toddler. Her mother left later in order ...
Claire Quintana, Death of a Gunfighter (1969). 1969
1917 - 2010, 92.
34. Brock Peters
Actor | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Born of African and West Indian ancestry on July 2, 1927 in New York City, Brock Peters set his sights on a show business career early on, at age ten. A product of NYC's famed Music and Arts High School, Peters initially fielded more odd jobs than acting jobs as he worked his way up from Harlem ...
Lemuel Stove, The Homecoming of Lemuel Stove (1965). 1965
Pompey, Pompey (1964). 1964
19 westerns, 64-89.
1927 - 2005, 78.
35. Otis Young
Actor | The Last Detail
Otis Young was born on July 4, 1932 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. He was an actor, known for The Last Detail (1973), The Clones (1973) and The Capture of Bigfoot (1979). He was married to Cara Croninger and Barbara Young. He died on October 11, 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Adam, The Wolf Man (1967). 1967.
29 westerns, 67-69.
1932 - 2001, 69.
36. Charles R. Moore
Actor | Sullivan's Travels
Charles R. Moore was born on April 23, 1893 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Sullivan's Travels (1941), The Little Foxes (1941) and The Palm Beach Story (1942). He died on July 20, 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
T-Bone, Kansas Cyclone (1941). 1941. Credited.
Skeeter, Southward Ho! (1939). 1939. Credited.
Carolina Moon (1940). 1940.
Desert Bandit (1941). 1941.
Jesse James at Bay (1941). 1941.
Sunset Serenade (1942). 1942.
1893 - 1947, 54.
37. Bill Walker
Actor | Big Jake
Bill Walker was born on July 1, 1896 in Pendleton, Indiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Big Jake (1971), Tick, Tick, Tick (1970) and Boy Who Caught a Crook (1961). He was married to Peggy Cartwright. He died on January 27, 1992 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
William, Rebel City (1953). 1953.
Jackson, Ride a Crooked Trail (1958). 1958.
Mr. Horner, Readin', Ritin', and Revolt (1970). 1970.
59 westerns, 48-75.
1896 - 1992, 95.
38. Sam McDaniel
Actor | The Great Lie
Sam McDaniel was born on January 28, 1886 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Great Lie (1941), I Was Framed (1942) and Captains Courageous (1937). He died on September 24, 1962 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Whistlin' Zeke, The Vanishing Frontier (1932). 1932.
Toby, Silver Queen (1942). 1942.
23 westerns, 32-58.
1886 - 1962, 76.
39. Napoleon Whiting
Actor | Giant
Napoleon Whiting was born on September 21, 1910 in Canton, Mississippi, USA. He was an actor, known for Giant (1956), Farewell, My Lovely (1975) and Every Girl Should Have One (1978). He died on October 22, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Bert, He Was Only Seven (1972)., 1972.
48 westerns, 56-72.
1910 - 1984, 74.
40. Juano Hernandez
Actor | Kiss Me Deadly
He was the son of a Puerto Rican seaman. He was self-educated and spent much of his childhood in Brazil singing on the streets to raise money for food. He became an actor after having been a circus performer, radio actor, and vaudeville performer. He worked in the chorus of the 1927 stage ...
Uncle Famous Prill, Stars in My Crown (1950). 1950.
Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore, Sergeant Rutledge (1960). 1960.
1901 - 1970, 68. Puerto Rico.
41. Darby Jones
Actor | I Walked with a Zombie
Darby Jones was born on February 21, 1910 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Safari (1940) and Tarzan Escapes (1936). He died on November 30, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
California (1947). 1947.
Wells Fargo (1937). 1937.
42. Willie Best
Actor | The Hidden Hand
One of the hard-working, unappreciated African-American actors of Hollywood's "Golden Era" who produced good work with what he was given. He starred alongside some of film's great comedians including the Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, Laurel and Hardy and three films with Shirley Temple. Best is ...
Jonah, West of the Pecos (1934). 1934.
13 westerns, 34-51.
1916 - 1962, 45.
43. George Reed
Actor | Huckleberry Finn
George Reed was born on November 27, 1866 in Macon, Georgia, USA. He was an actor, known for Huckleberry Finn (1920), The River of Romance (1929) and Going Places (1938). He was married to Julia Ridley. He died on November 6, 1952 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Japonica Jones, The Last Trail (1933) 1933.
George Romain, The Vagabond Trail (1924). 1924.
17 westerns, 20-47.
1866 - 1952, 85.
44. Everett Brown
Actor | Gone with the Wind
Everett Brown was born on January 1, 1902 in Smith County, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Gone with the Wind (1939), Danger Island (1931) and Tim Tyler's Luck (1937). He died on October 14, 1953 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Man with watches, The Texans (1938). 1938.
3 westerns, 36-39.
1902 - 1953, 51.
45. John Larkin
Actor | The Wet Parade
John Larkin was born on November 25, 1877 in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for The Wet Parade (1932), Sporting Blood (1931) and The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936). He died on March 18, 1936 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Operator 13 (1934). 1934.
1877 - 1936, 58.
46. Bernie Hamilton
Actor | Bucktown
Bernie Hamilton was born on June 12, 1928 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Bucktown (1975), The Young One (1960) and Starsky and Hutch (1975). He was married to Maxine King. He died on December 30, 2008 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Ollie Whippet, Heller (1968). 1968.
10 westerns, 66-73.
1928 - 2008, 80.
47. Stepin Fetchit
Actor | Judge Priest
Stepin Fetchit remains one of the most controversial movie actors in American history. While he was undoubtedly one of the most talented physical comedians ever to do his schtick on the Big Screen, achieving the rare status of being a character actor/supporting player who actually achieved ...
Bend of the River (1952). 1952.
The Sun Shines Bright (1953). 1953.
Wild Horse (1931). 1931.
1902 - 1985, 83.
48. Richard Roundtree
Actor | Shaft
Richard Roundtree shot to fame as the ultra-hip, flamboyantly-dressed -- not to mention charismatic-- private eye John Shaft. The film Shaft (1971) spawned a genre, two sequels and a series. It made Roundtree a household name, and, for a while, one of the hottest box-office stars in Hollywood. As ...
Charley-One-Eye (1973). 1973.
24 westerns, 73-12.
1942 --
49. Harrison Page
Actor | Lionheart
Harrison Page was born on August 27, 1941 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor, known for Lionheart (1990), Sledge Hammer! (1986) and Quantum Leap (1989). He has been married to Giles, Christina since September 17, 2013. They have one child.
Jesse, The Wish (1969). 1969.
Pete, The Garments of Rage (1974). 1974.
Mead, Blast from the Past (2003). 2003.
1941 --
50. Julius Tennon
Actor | The Woman King
Julius Tennon is an accomplished film, television, and theatre producer and actor with over thirty years of experience. A native of Austin, Texas, he began as both a thespian and a star linebacker. Julius was offered a full football scholarship to the University of Tulsa, where he became the very ...
Frog Lip, The Plains (1989). 1989.
11 westerns, 86-97.
1953 --
51. Eric Laneuville
Director | I'll Fly Away
Eric Laneuville was born on July 14, 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is a director and actor, known for I'll Fly Away (1991), Lost (2004) and The Omega Man (1971).
Eddie Joe (1972). 1972.
1952 --
52. Adolph Caesar
Actor | The Color Purple
Born in the Harlem section of New York City, joined the Navy, then studied drama at New York University; was an announcer for then joined the Negro Ensemble Co. in 1970 for such productions as "The River Niger", "Square Root of the Soul" and "The Brownsville Raid"; worked with repertory groups such...
Vidoq, The Night of the Gruesome Games (1968). 1968.
1933 -1986, 52.
53. Tony Brubaker
Stunts | Planet of the Apes
Tony Brubaker is known for Planet of the Apes (2001), They Live (1988) and Escape from New York (1981).
Tex, Special Witness (1999). 1999.
Stunts, There Was a Crooked Man... (1970). 1971.
23 westerns, 70-13.
54. Ivan Dixon
Actor | A Raisin in the Sun
Ivan Dixon was a handsome, mustachioed African-American actor and director who carried a strong, serious nature about his solid frame. He initially earned attention in groundbreaking stage and film work with pronounced themes of social and racial relevance. He would become better known, however, ...
15 westerns, 61-82.
Jamie Davis, Among the Missing (1962). 1962.
1931 - 2008, 76.
55. Louis Gossett Jr.
Actor | An Officer and a Gentleman
Louis Gossett Jr. was one of the most respected and beloved actors on stage, screen and television and is also an accomplished writer, producer and director. Off-screen, he was a social activist, educator, and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. He was the first African-American to ...
Jason O'Rourke, Sidekicks (1974). 1974
15 westerns, 71- 95
Born 1936 --
56. Bob Minor
Actor | Commando
Big, brawny and imposing actor and stuntman Bob Minor was born on January 1st in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama. The 6' 2" onetime champion bodybuilder (he's a former Mr. Los Angeles bodybuilding title holder) made his debut as a stuntman doubling for James Iglehart in Russ Meyer's delightfully ...
Walbash, The Ghost Dance (1988). 1988.
9 westerns, 72-97.
1944 --
57. Jim Brown
Actor | Mars Attacks!
Often mentioned as the greatest player in NFL history, this ruggedly handsome African American fullback for the Cleveland Browns first appeared on movie screens in the western Rio Conchos (1964), followed by a strong supporting role as convict commando "Jefferson" in the terrific WWII action film ...
Luke, El Condor (1970). 1970.
Sgt. Ben Franklyn, Rio Conchos (1964). 1964.
5 westerns, 64-77.
1936 --
58. Georg Stanford Brown
Actor | Stir Crazy
Georg Stanford Brown was born on June 24, 1943 in Havana, Cuba. He is an actor and director, known for Stir Crazy (1980), Roots (1977) and Bullitt (1968). He was previously married to Tyne Daly.
Obie Brown, A Bride for Obie Brown (1970). 1970
Sur la piste des bisons (1997). 1997.
16 westerns, 70-97.
1943 -- Cuba.
59. Yaphet Kotto
Actor | Alien
Physically imposing, intense Yaphet Kotto was one of the few actors of his generation to succeed in breaking racial stereotypes in Hollywood. He was born in Harlem, New York, the son of Gladys, a nurse and army officer, and Abraham Kotto, a businessman-turned-construction worker. His father was a ...
Lobo Brown, The Iron Box (1966). 1966.
Sgt. Major Creason, The Buffalo Soldiers (1968). 1968.
18 westerns, 63-87.
1939 --
60. Percy Rodrigues
Actor | Star Trek
A symbol of intelligence, leadership and moral strength in his various 1960s and 1970s roles, African-Canadian actor Percy Rodrigues rose in Hollywood stature during the late 1960s following a couple of earlier Broadway appearances. The serenely handsome, distinguished-looking actor also became ...
Brutus, The Night of the Poisonous Posey (1966). 1966.
7 westerns, 66-71.
1918 - 2007, 89. Canada. California.
61. Charles S. Dutton
Actor | Gothika
Charles S. Dutton was born on January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien³ (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). He was previously married to Debbi Morgan.
Josiah, True Women (1997). 1997.
8 westerns, 97-14.
Born 1951 --
62. Herb Jeffries
Actor | The Bronze Buckaroo
This velvet-toned jazz baritone and sometime actor was (and perhaps still is) virtually unknown to white audiences. Yet, back in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Herb Jeffries was very big...in black-cast films. Today he is respected and remembered as a pioneer who broke down rusted-shut racial ...
The Cherokee Kid (1996). 1996.
Jeff Kincaid, Harlem on the Prairie (1937). 1937.
8 westerns, 37-96.
1913 - 2014, 100.
63. Robert DoQui
Actor | RoboCop 3
Excellent, prolific and versatile character actor Robert DoQui was born in 1934 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He attended Langston University on a music scholarship and was a member of the popular singing group, "The Langstonaires". Following a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force, DoQui went to New ...
Tom, Onatha (1966), 1966.
16 westerns, 66-79.
1934 - 2008, 73.
64. Hal Williams
Actor | Guess Who
A veteran professional actor who has co-starred as a television series regular in NINE, prime time, HIT series, and has established himself solidly in both the areas of comedy and drama. Hal's latest projects include Disney Family Channel's Snow 2: Brain Freeze (2008) and Hallmark's Generation Gap ...
Caleb Brown, The Well (1973). 1973.
7 westerns, 73-96.
1938 --
65. Blu Mankuma
Actor | 2012
A native of Seattle, Washington, Mankuma made Vancouver his home during the turbulent years of the Vietnam war. This unique actor with an easy grace on film despite his commanding six foot, 230 lb. girth, quickly established a following among producers and directors, building an impressive resume ...
Everett, The Resurrection of Joe Wheeler (1998). 1998.
11 westerns, 86-10.
Born 1948.
66. Scatman Crothers
Actor | The Shining
Scatman Crothers was born Benjamin Sherman Crothers on May 23, 1910 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Songwriter ("Dearest One"), actor, composer, singer, comedian, and guitarist who, after high school, appeared in nightclubs, hotels, and films, and on television. He made many records, including his own ...
Cicero, The Quarantine (1957). 1957.
Moses, The Shootist (1976). 1976.
13 westerns, 57-80.
1910 - 1986, 76.
67. Cleavon Little
Actor | Blazing Saddles
Versatile, charismatic actor Cleavon Little was born on June 1, 1939, in Oklahoma but grew up in California and attended San Diego College. He earned a scholarship to Juilliard and moved to New York, then trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and was soon appearing off-Broadway. ...
Blazing Saddles (1974). 1974.
1939 - 1992, 53.
68. Rex Ingram
Actor | God's Little Acre
A Corsicana native, Rex (Clifford) Ingram was the son of Mack and Mamie Ingram. He graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in medicine before launching a brilliant acting career which spanned 50 years. Ingram made his screen debut during the silent era in Tarzan of the Apes (1918). He ...
Nelson Walker, Escort West (1959). 1958.
Alex Booth, Client: McQueen (1959). 1959.
10 westerns, 58-69.
1895 - 1969, 73.
69. Howard E. Rollins Jr.
Actor | Ragtime
Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. His first break into acting came when a ...
Bannister Sparks, Until the Fat Lady Sings (1985). 1985.
7 westerns, 1985.
1950 - 1996, 46.
70. Robert Guillaume
Actor | Benson
Robert Peter Williams Guillaume was an actor from St. Louis, Missouri who was known for playing Rafiki from The Lion King, Benson DuBois from Soap and Benson, and Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls. He had five children from two marriages. He passed away in October 24, 2017 due to prostate cancer ...
Mossburger, Episode #1.1 (1995). 1995. 68 years old.
1927 - 2017, 89.
71. Clarence Muse
Actor | Shadow of a Doubt
Clarence Muse was born on October 14, 1889 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA as Clarence Edouard Muse. He was an actor, known for Shadow of a Doubt (1943) and The Black Stallion (1979). He was married to Irene Ena Kellman, Willabelle Burch West and Ophelia Belle Labertier. He died on October 13, 1979 in ...
Jehu, Apache Drums (1951). 1951.
Curfew, The Fighting Sheriff (1931). 1931.
16 westerns, 31-72.
1889 - 1979, 89.
72. Danny Glover
Actor | Lethal Weapon
Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 35 years.
Glover was born in San Francisco, California, to Carrie (Hunley) and James Glover, postal workers who were also active in civil rights. Glover trained at the Black ...
Joshua Deets, The Plains (1989). 1989.
18 Westerns, 85-16 +.
1946 --
73. Sidney Poitier
Actor | In the Heat of the Night
Sidney Poitier was a native of Cat Island, Bahamas, although born, two months prematurely, in Miami during a visit by his parents, Evelyn (Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Sidney had little formal ...
Buck, Buck and the Preacher (1972). 1972.
5 westerns, 66-95.
1927 --
74. Paul Winfield
Actor | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Signifying intelligence, eloquence, versatility and quiet intensity, one of the more important, critically acclaimed black actors to gain a Hollywood foothold in the 1970s was Paul Winfield. He was born in 1939 in Dallas, Texas, where he lived in his early years before moving with his family to Los...
Bart, Bread on the Desert (1968). 1968.
Graham Jessup, Sea of Enemies (1969). 1969.
8 westerns, 68-98.
1939 - 2004, 64.
75. Sammy Davis Jr.
Actor | The Cannonball Run
Sammy Davis Jr. was often billed as the "greatest living entertainer in the world".
He was born in Harlem, Manhattan, the son of dancer Elvera Davis (née Sanchez) and vaudeville star Sammy Davis Sr.. His father was African-American and his mother was of Cuban and African-American ancestry. Davis Jr....
Cpl. Smith, Mission (1959). 1959.
Willie Shay, Blue Boss and Willie Shay (1961). 1961.
Ezekiel Smith, The Trackers (1971). 1971.
Story, producer, The Trackers (1971). 1971.
16 westerns, 59-75.
1925 - 1990, 64.
76. Tony Burton
Actor | Assault on Precinct 13
Tony Burton, who is famous for playing the corner man in six "Rocky" movies, was himself, in real life, a professional heavyweight boxer. Boxing in such avenues as Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and Hollywood, California, the 6 feet 200 pound Burton knocked-out among others, Bob Smith and Denny Chaney....
Arthur, Faith, Hope and Clarity: Part 2 (1982). 1982.
8 westerns, 77-98.
1937 - 2016, 78.
77. David Gulpilil
Actor | Rabbit-Proof Fence
David Gulpilil is a legendary Yolngu actor, a First Nations person of Northern Australia, born around 1953. The local missionaries gave him his birthdate of July 1, 1953, just as they gave him his Christian name David, although he admits he liked that name from the start. His last name, Gulpilil, ...
Jacko, The Proposition (2005). 2005.
Billy, Mad Dog Morgan (1976). 1976.
Manulpuy, The Savage Land (1995). 1995.
5 westerns, 76-05.
Born 1953 --
78. Antonio Fargas
Actor | Foxy Brown
A tall, lanky and twinkle-eyed African-American actor with wonderful onscreen charisma, Antonio Fargas has been appearing on stage and screen for nearly 60 years as of 2021. His film debut was in Shirley Clarke's The Cool World (1963), a gritty, uncompromising tale about African-American youth ...
Lightfoot Legrand, Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West (2014).
79. Fred Williamson
Actor | From Dusk Till Dawn
Former Oakland Raiders/Kansas City Chiefs football star who rose to prominence as one of the first African-American male action stars of the "blaxploitation" genre of the early 1970s, who has since gone on to a long and illustrious career as an actor, director, writer, and producer! Burly, yet ...
Boss *beep* Boss Nigger (1974). 1975.
6 westerns, 72-76.
Born 1938.
80. Rafer Johnson
Actor | Licence to Kill
A distinguished American athlete and occasional actor with many other strings to his bow, Rafer Johnson was a UCLA basketball star who went on to become Pan American decathlon champion in 1955, a two time decathlon silver medallist at the Melbourne Olympics (despite injuries) and winner of gold ...
Rawls, My Name Is Rawls (1965). 1965.
4 westerns, 60-70.
1935 -
81. Roger E. Mosley
Actor | Magnum, P.I.
Roger E. Mosley was born on December 18, 1938 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Magnum, P.I. (1980), A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) and Terminal Island (1973). He was married to Antoinette 'Toni' Laudermilk and Saundra J Locke. He died on August 7, ...
Isaac, The Runaway (1978). 1978.
6 westerns.
1938 -
82. Roy Glenn
Actor | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Roy Glenn was born on June 3, 1914 in Pittsburg, Kansas, USA. He was an actor, known for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and Lydia Bailey (1952). He was married to Pauline (Lilla) Fractious. He died on March 12, 1971 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Army Sergeant, Vapor Lock (1957). 1957. Credited.
Lonzo, Noose at Noon (1958). 1958. Credited.
Cook, The Lusty Men (1952). 1952.
25 westerns, 52-71.
1914 - 1971, 56.
83. Clarence Williams III
Actor | The General's Daughter
Born on August 21, 1939, the son of a displaced musician, Harlem-born actor Clarence Williams III was raised by his musical grandparents, the legendary jazz and boogie-woogie composer/pianist Clarence Williams, who wrote such classics as "T'Aint Nobody's Business If I Do" and "Baby, Won't You ...
Deputy Sheriff Virgil,
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991). 1991.
Deputy Commissioner Luther Dobbs,
Mr. Justice (1997). 1997.
1939 --
84. Ernie Hudson
Actor | Ghostbusters
As a child growing up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Ernie Hudson wrote short stories, poems and songs, always thinking that his words might one day come to life on stage. After a short stint in the Marine Corps, he moved to Detroit where he became the resident playwright at Concept East, the oldest ...
William Thomas, Chicago (1981).
6 westerns, 81-12.
1945 --
85. Glynn Turman
Actor | Super 8
New York City-bred actor Glynn Russell Turman, born on January 31, 1947, who enjoyed his first taste of success as a young teenager, originating the role of "Travis Younger" on Broadway in Lorraine Hansberry's landmark play "A Raisin in the Sun" in 1959 opposite Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia ...
Nate Person, The Longhorns (1978). 1978.
12 westerns, 74-99.
Born 1947 -
86. Raymond St. Jacques
Actor | They Live
Tall (6'3"), imposing actor Raymond St. Jacques, who appeared as both hero and villain in hundreds of roles, was born James Arthur Johnson in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1930, but he and younger sister Barbara were raised in Depression-era New Haven after their parents' divorce. He started writing ...
Simon Blake, The Testing Post (1965). 1965.
20 westerns, 65-77.
1930 - 1990, 60.
87. Roosevelt Grier
Soundtrack | Half Nelson
Former star player with the Los Angeles Rams during the 1960s, this impressively built African-American athlete broke into acting via appearances in TV shows including The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964), The Wild Wild West (1965) and I Dream of Jeannie (1965).
Grier received positive reviews for his ...
Morgan, The Desperate Mission (1969). 1969.
Gabe Cooper, A Very Small Rifle (1969). 1969.
20 westerns, 68-70.
1932 --
88. Blue Washington
Actor | Black Magic
Blue Washington was born on February 12, 1898 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Black Magic (1929), Parade of the West (1930) and Ransom (1928). He was married to Marion Lenán. He died on September 15, 1970 in Lancaster, California, USA.
Blue, The Phantom City (1928). 1928. Credited.
14 westerns, 19-36.
1898 -1970, 72.
89. Clifton Powell
Actor | Ray
Clifton Powell a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He is an actor and producer, known for the films Ray, Selma Lord Selma, Dead Presidents, and Menace 2 Society, and the TV series The Family Business, Sacrifice, and Saints & Sinners. Clifton has two children, Maya and Clifton Jr...
James Jackson, Thunderhawk (2000). 2000.
5 westerns, 97-13.
1956 --
90. Jester Hairston
Actor | The Alamo
Composer, songwriter, conductor, singer, and actor Jester Hairston was educated at Tufts University, Juilliard, and the University of the Pacific (hon. Mus.D.). He acted on radio and television besides on film, and played Leroy on the "Amos 'n Andy" radio series for 15 years. He directed the ...
Wellington, Professor Lute Bone (1956). 1956.
Carl, Gypsy Colt (1954). 1954.
Choral Director, Red River (1948). 1948.
21 westerns, 46-72.
1901 - 2000, 98.
91. John Amos
Actor | Coming to America
A native of New Jersey and son of a mechanic, African-American John Amos has relied on his imposing build, eruptive nature and strong, forceful looks to obtain acting jobs, and a serious desire for better roles to earn a satisfying place in the annals of film and TV. He has found it a constant ...
Mr. Mack, Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988). 1988.
1939 --
92. Mantan Moreland
Actor | Charlie Chan in the Secret Service
Although his bulgy-eyed brand of humor was once popular and considered funny, "second banana" character actor Mantan Moreland, who maintained a steadfast career playing cocky but jittery characters in late 1930s and early 1940s comedy, would later be ostracized for it. The talented funnyman, who ...
Napoleon, Mystery of the River Boat (1944). 1944.
8 westerns, 37-66.
1902 - 1973, 71.
93. Matthew 'Stymie' Beard
Actor | Dogs Is Dogs
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard was born on January 1, 1925 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Dogs Is Dogs (1931), Love Business (1931) and Free Wheeling (1932). He was married to Annie. He died on January 8, 1981 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Mose, The Return of Frank James (1940). 1940. Credited.
Jimmy Thompson, Two-Gun Man from Harlem (1938). 1938. Credited.
4 westerns, 38-53.
1925 - 1981, 56.
94. Victor Love
Actor | Red All Over
Victor Love was born on August 4, 1957 in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Red All Over (2015), Red Band Society (2014) and Lusty Crest (2020).
The Return of Desperado (1988). 1988.
1957 --
95. Spencer Williams
Actor | Juke Joint
American actor, writer, director, and producer whose early pioneering work in African-American or "race" films was eclipsed in fame by his role as one of the title characters in the equally pioneering1950s sitcom The Amos 'n Andy Show (1951). A native of Vidalia, Louisiana, Williams broke into the ...
Doc Clayburn, Harlem on the Prairie (1937). 1937.
4 westerns, 37-39.
1893 - 1969, 76.
96. Billy Dee Williams
Actor | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Billy Dee Williams was born William December Williams on April 6, 1937 in New York City. Billy Dee has notched up an impressive array of film and television appearances over the past 50+ years. He is easily best known to international film audiences as the roguish Lando Calrissian in the last two ...
The Return of Desperado (1988). 1988.
O Western Wind: Part 1 (1994). 1994.
Down Come Rain: Part 2 (1994). 1994.
1937 --
97. Richard Pryor
Actor | Superman III
Highly influential, and always controversial, African-American actor/comedian who was equally well known for his colorful language during his live comedy shows, as for his fast paced life, multiple marriages and battles with drug addiction. He has been acknowledged by many modern comic artist's as ...
The Night of the Eccentrics (1966). 1966.
Adiós Amigo (1975). 1976.
Blazing Saddles (1974). 1974.
98. Ossie Davis
Actor | Do the Right Thing
Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). He was married to Ruby Dee. He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
Jed Hooker, Sam Whiskey (1969). 1969.
Sam Davis, The Wish (1969). 1969.
1917 - 2005, 87.
99. James Earl Jones
Actor | Rogue One
Widely regarded as the one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native USA and internationally, James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. At an early age, he started to take dramatic lessons to calm himself down. It appeared to work as he has since starred ...
100. Harry Belafonte
Actor | Bobby
Harold George Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927 in New York City. He was educated at the New York Dramatic Workshop. He grew up in Jamaica, British West Indies, and did folk-singing in nightclubs and theaters, and on television and records. His debut was at the Village Vanguard in New York. Also,...
Buck and the Preacher (1972). 1972.
1927 --
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