Black Men and The Oscars: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

For today’s installment of #28in28 for film, we focus on the men that have been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Louis Gossett Jr. was the first African American actor to win this award in 1982. However, there were two men that garnered nominations prior to this.

Here are the full list of nominees for the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

1969 – Rupert Crosse for The Reivers

1981 – Howard Rollins for Ragtime

1982 – Louis Gossett, Jr. for An Office and a Gentleman – WON

1984 – Adolph Caesar for A Soldier’s Story

1987 – This was the first time multiple African American actors received Best Support Actor nominations.

Morgan Freeman for Street Smart

Denzel Washington for Cry Freedom

1989 – Denzel Washington for Glory – WON. Washington was the first African American actor to receive two Best Supporting Actor nominations.

1992 – Jaye Davidson for The Crying Game. He was the first black actor to receive a a nomination for a debut film performance. He was also the first black British actor to receive an Academy Award nomination.

1994 – Samuel L. Jackson for Pulp Fiction

1996 – Cuba Gooding, Jr. for Jerry Maguire – WON. He was the youngest African American male actor to win an Academy Award at age 29.

1999 – Michael Clarke Duncan for The Green Mile.

2003 – Djimon Hounsou for In America. He was the first black African born actor to receive a nomination.

2004 – Morgan Freeman for Million Dollar Baby – WON. He was the oldest African American actor to win an Academy Award at 67.

2004 – Jamie Foxx for Collateral. He was the first African American actor to receive two acting nominations in the same year. He won for Best Actor in a leading role for Ray.

2006 – Djimon Hounsou for Blood Diamond

2006 – Eddie Murphy for Dreamgirls. Dreamgirls was the first film to feature African American nominees for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Jennifer Hudson won in the latter category.

2013 – Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips

Though this year there are no black men nominated in this category, some great films are recognized in this year’s Oscars. I’ll be watching on February 22nd, I hope you all will as well.

Author
Recent Posts

Natalya

Natalya is an Account Manager by day and an editor and author's assistant to passionate creatives by night. When she is not adding to her enormous book collection or stationery supply, she is catching up on her favorite television shows.

Natalya is the author of All The Things I Never Said, a soul-stirring collection of short stories, prose and love letters for the soulful wanderers, the brokenhearted and the hopeless romantics.

You can follow her rantings and occasional sparks of brilliance on Twitter @NatalyaMuncuff.