black actors

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Sidney Poitier, First Black Man to Win Best Actor Oscar, Dies
Sidney Poitier's
Cause of Death Revealed
UPDATED

Sidney Poitier's Cause of Death Revealed

'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' star died earlier this month at 94

(Newser) - Update: Sidney Poitier's death certificate reveals that the renowned actor died of heart failure. Alzheimer’s dementia and prostate cancer were also listed as underlying health issues, CNN reports. Our original story from Jan. 7 follows:

The Simpsons' Move to Diversify Makes Change for Harry Shearer

In show's push to diversify its voice cast, actor will no longer voice Black doctor Julius Hibbert

(Newser) - First Hank Azaria stepped back from voicing Indian and Black characters on The Simpsons. Now, Harry Shearer, 77, will do the same for another character on the animated Fox show: Dr. Julius Hibbert, a Black doctor who's been voiced by Shearer, a white actor, for more than 30 years....

Black Panther Star Chadwick Boseman Dead at 43
Black Panther Star Chadwick
Boseman Dead at 43
obituary

Black Panther Star Chadwick Boseman Dead at 43

Boseman, who also played Black icons Jackie Robinson, James Brown, died of colon cancer

(Newser) - Actor Chadwick Boseman, who played Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before finding fame as the regal "Black Panther" in the Marvel cinematic universe, died Friday of cancer, his representative said. He was 43. Boseman died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and...

A Hollywood First, Thanks to Get Out's Jordan Peele

First African-American writer-director whose debut movie hit $100M

(Newser) - Get Out is the fastest film in the Blumhouse movie production company's portfolio to reach $100 million, hitting that mark in just 16 days (the previous record-holder was Split in 19 days), Deadline notes. The movie's director, Jordan Peele, has also claimed a milestone, reports the Wrap...

White Actress Cast as African Queen—Again

Despite her 'full lips,' Angelina Jolie is no Cleopatra

(Newser) - Why is Angelina Jolie, a white woman, playing Cleopatra , an African queen? “Just when we thought there weren't enough leading roles for black women in Hollywood , they create one and give it to a white woman,” writes Shirea L. Carroll for Essence . “I don't care how full...

Minorities Finally Get Lead Roles in TV Dramas

This year's network pilots include four with non-white stars

(Newser) - The upcoming crop of pilots for network TV offers hope that the industry taboo against minority leads in dramas can finally be put to rest. Four of the most high-profile projects in the works feature non-white actors, notes the Hollywood Reporter , including Forest Whitaker in a spinoff of Criminal Minds...

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