24 Black Actors In Their First Role Vs. Now Posted by Morgan Sloss Last Updated: February 29, 2024 24 Black Actors In Their First Role Vs. Now 1. Queen Latifah in her first role as Lashawn in Jungle Fever in 1991: 2. Eddie Murphy in his first role as Reggie Hammond in 48 Hrs. in 1982: 3. Raven-Symoné in her first role as Olivia Kendall in The Cosby Show from 1989–1992: 4. Viola Davis in her first role as a nurse in The Substance of Fire in 1996: 6. Idris Elba in one of his first roles as a pizza delivery man in Space Precinct in 1994: 7. Regina King in her first role as Brenda Jenkins in 227 from 1985–1990: 8. Samuel L. Jackson in one of his first roles in The Displaced Person in 1977: 9. Halle Berry in her first role as Emily Franklin in Living Dolls in 1989: 10. Denzel Washington as Robert Eldridge in Wilma in 1977: 11. Angela Bassett in her first role as Salina McCulla in Search for Tomorrow in 1985: 12. Zendaya in her first role as Rocky Blue in Shake It Up from 2010–2013: 13. Jamie Foxx in In Living Color from 1991–1994: 14. Lupita Nyong’o in her first role as F in East River in 2008: 15. Will Smith in his first role as Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990: 16. Octavia Spencer in her first role as Nurse Annette in A Time To Kill in 1996: 17. Don Cheadle in one of his first roles as Elliott Washburn in Hamburger Hill in 1987: 18. Tracee Ellis Ross in her first role as Kiki in Far Harbor in 1996: 19. Laurence Fishburne in one of his first roles as Josh Hall in One Life to Live from 1973–1976: 20. Keke Palmer in her first role as Gina’s niece in Barbershop 2 in 2004: 21. Mahershala Ali in his first role as Dr. Trey Sanders in Crossing Jordan from 2001–2002: 22. Whoopi Goldberg in one of her first roles as Celie in The Color Purple in 1985: 23. Tessa Thompson in her first role as Wilhelmina “Billie” Doucette in Cold Case in 2005: 24. And finally, Kerry Washington in her first role in ABC Afterschool Special in 1994: Black History Month is here! Join us from Feb. 1 to Feb. 29 (or all-year round) and support our content celebrating the culture. Source link
1. Queen Latifah in her first role as Lashawn in Jungle Fever in 1991: 2. Eddie Murphy in his first role as Reggie Hammond in 48 Hrs. in 1982: 3. Raven-Symoné in her first role as Olivia Kendall in The Cosby Show from 1989–1992: 4. Viola Davis in her first role as a nurse in The Substance of Fire in 1996: 6. Idris Elba in one of his first roles as a pizza delivery man in Space Precinct in 1994: 7. Regina King in her first role as Brenda Jenkins in 227 from 1985–1990: 8. Samuel L. Jackson in one of his first roles in The Displaced Person in 1977: 9. Halle Berry in her first role as Emily Franklin in Living Dolls in 1989: 10. Denzel Washington as Robert Eldridge in Wilma in 1977: 11. Angela Bassett in her first role as Salina McCulla in Search for Tomorrow in 1985: 12. Zendaya in her first role as Rocky Blue in Shake It Up from 2010–2013: 13. Jamie Foxx in In Living Color from 1991–1994: 14. Lupita Nyong’o in her first role as F in East River in 2008: 15. Will Smith in his first role as Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990: 16. Octavia Spencer in her first role as Nurse Annette in A Time To Kill in 1996: 17. Don Cheadle in one of his first roles as Elliott Washburn in Hamburger Hill in 1987: 18. Tracee Ellis Ross in her first role as Kiki in Far Harbor in 1996: 19. Laurence Fishburne in one of his first roles as Josh Hall in One Life to Live from 1973–1976: 20. Keke Palmer in her first role as Gina’s niece in Barbershop 2 in 2004: 21. Mahershala Ali in his first role as Dr. Trey Sanders in Crossing Jordan from 2001–2002: 22. Whoopi Goldberg in one of her first roles as Celie in The Color Purple in 1985: 23. Tessa Thompson in her first role as Wilhelmina “Billie” Doucette in Cold Case in 2005: 24. And finally, Kerry Washington in her first role in ABC Afterschool Special in 1994: Black History Month is here! Join us from Feb. 1 to Feb. 29 (or all-year round) and support our content celebrating the culture.
