Who was the first black man to star in a TV show?

Answer 1

One of the earliest was Paul Robeson, who starred in the movie version of "The Emperor Jones" in 1933. Unfortunately, Hollywood was de facto segregated, with black actors only getting very limited roles at that time. There was a parallel black cinema, and one of its stars during this period of time was Herb Jeffries (sometimes spelled Herb Jeffrey), the first black singing cowboy, who starred in "The Bronze Buckaroo" and several other films of the 1930s.

Answer 2

The First African-American male star of a network television show was Nat King Cole, in The Nat King Cole Show (1956). However, the First African-American star of a network television drama is Bill Cosby in I Spy (1965)

Answer 3

THE FIRST black actor to be contracted as a regular was on The Brighter Day, Rex Ingram as Dr. Victor Graham was cast in July of 1962.

The next actor to be contracted on a soap was on Another World. Micki Grant as Peggy Harris Nolan began in 1965, followed by Lon Sutton as her husband, Dick Nolan in 1966.

In 1966 on The Guiding Light, James Earl Jones & Cicely Tyson were cast, then later that year replaced by Bill Dee Williams & Ruby Dee as Dr. Jim Frazier and Martha Frazier.

Although Al Freeman was on Edge of Night in 1967, he was not on contract.

Early in 1968, Darlene Cotten as Rita Bond, Lincoln Kilpatrick as Joe Bond and Beverly Todd as Monica Nelson were all cast on Love of Life. In 1969, Ja'net DuBois and Irene Cara were added as Loretta & Daisy Allen.

Ellen Holly began as Carla on One Life to Live in October 1968.

Answer 4

While not literally THE first black female in a TV show, that information has been lost to television history, the first black female to star in a lead non-stereotypical role on TV was Diahann Carroll who starred in Julia. It aired for three seasons from 08|17|1968 to 03|23|1971.

Answer 5

First African-American cast member of a daytime soap Opera: Micki Grant who played Peggy Nolan Harris on Another World until 1972.