Who are some popular black actors?

As of 2015, popular black actors include Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Lawrence Fishburne and Will Smith. Eddie Murphy, a popular comedic actor, and Don Cheadle, known for his dramatic roles, are also popular.

One of Freeman's first big breaks came in 1971 with his role on "The Electric Company." The educational children's show also featured Gene Wilder, Rita Moreno and Bill Cosby. Freeman went on to star in popular films such as "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Million Dollar Baby." Cheadle got his start on 1980s television shows such as "Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law" before staring in "Boogie Nights," "Hotel Rwanda" and other popular films.