This is a list of Black creatives who have been nominated for a Tony Award for outstanding achievement in theater.
While some American people of African ancestry prefer "Black," and others prefer "African American"; "African American" is considered a less appropriate umbrella term for people of African ancestry worldwide because it obscures other ethnicities or national origins. Thus, "Black" is a more inclusive umbrella term.
Facts and figures [ ]
Multiple nominations [ ]
As of 2021 ceremony:
George C. Wolfe – 24
Audra McDonald – 9
August Wilson – 9
Paul Tazewell – 7
Harold Wheeler – 7
Lloyd Richards – 6
Gregory Hines – 5
Donald McKayle – 5
Stephen Byrd – 4
Savion Glover – 4
David Alan Grier – 4
Allen Lee Hughes – 4
Alia Jones – 4
Bill T. Jones – 4
James Earl Jones – 4
Brian Stokes Mitchell ��� 4
Mbongeni Ngema – 4
Condola Rashad – 4
Ron Simons – 4
Stew – 4
Hilton Battle – 3
Vinnette Carroll – 3
Viola Davis – 3
André De Shields – 3
Brandon Victor Dixon – 3
Micki Grant – 3
Joshua Henry – 3
Geoffrey Holder – 3
Toni-Leslie James – 3
LaChanze – 3
Kenny Leon – 3
Henry LeTang – 3
Tonya Pinkins – 3
Gilbert Price – 3
Melvin Van Peebles – 3
Courtney B. Vance – 3
Daryl Waters – 3
Mary Alice – 2
Dede Ayite – 2
Debbie Allen – 2
Gretha Boston – 2
Charles Brown – 2
Cleavant Derricks – 2
Ann Duquesnay – 2
Charles S. Dutton – 2
George Faison – 2
Laurence Fishburne – 2
K. Todd Freeman – 2
Whoopi Goldberg – 2
Luther Henderson – 2
Linda Hopkins – 2
Ernestine Jackson – 2
Quincy Jones – 2
John Kani – 2
Eartha Kitt – 2
John Legend – 2
Adriane Lenox – 2
Claudia McNeil – 2
S. Epatha Merkerson – 2
Patina Miller – 2
Zakes Mokae – 2
Brian Moreland - 2
Sahr Ngaujah – 2
Winston Ntshona – 2
Sophie Okonedo – 2
Jeremy Pope – 2
Josephine Premice – 2
Phylicia Rashad – 2
Vivian Reed – 2
Roger Robinson – 2
Anika Noni Rose – 2
Diana Sands – 2
Ruben Santiago-Hudson – 2
Anna Deavere Smith – 2
Ron Taylor – 2
Lynne Thigpen – 2
Tamara Tunie – 2
Leslie Uggams – 2
Ben Vereen – 2
Adrienne Warren – 2
Denzel Washington – 2
Lillias White – 2
Dick Anthony Williams – 2
Billy Wilson – 2
Oprah Winfrey – 2
Jeffrey Wright – 2
Samuel E. Wright – 2
Multiple wins [ ]
As of 2017 ceremony:
Audra McDonald – 6
George C. Wolfe – 5
Hinton Battle – 3
James Earl Jones – 3
Ron Simons – 3
Viola Davis – 2
Geoffrey Holder – 2
Bill T. Jones – 2
Book of a Musical [ ]
Choreography [ ]
Costume Design [ ]
Costume Design of a Musical [ ]
Costume Design of a Play [ ]
Direction of a Musical [ ]
Direction of a Play [ ]
Lighting Design [ ]
Lighting Design in a Play [ ]
Musical [ ]
Tony Award for Best Musical
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1975
(as producer)
The Wiz
Won
1996
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk
Nominated
2000
The Wild Party
Nominated
2002
Whoopi Goldberg (as producer)
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Won
2004
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Caroline, or Change
Nominated
2006
Oprah Winfrey (as producer) , Quincy Jones (as producer)
The Color Purple
Nominated
2007
Tamara Tunie (as producer)
Spring Awakening
Won
2010
Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter (as producer) , Will Smith (as producer) , Jada Pinkett Smith (as producer)
Fela!
Nominated
2011
Whoopi Goldberg (as producer)
Sister Act
Nominated
2014
Wynton Marsalis (as producer)
After Midnight
Nominated
Ron Simons (as producer)
A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Won
2019
Ron Simons (as producer) , Stephen Byrd (as producer) , Alia Jones (as producer)
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations
Nominated
2020
Tina Turner (as producer)
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
Nominated
Orchestrations [ ]
Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre [ ]
Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1972
Melvin Van Peebles
Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death
Nominated
1973
Micki Grant
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
Nominated
1975
Charlie Smalls
The Wiz
Won
1976
Scott Joplin
Treemonisha
Nominated
1978
Micki Grant
Working
Nominated
1979
Eubie Blake , Noble Sissle , Andy Razaf , F. E. Miller , and Jim Europe
Eubie!
Nominated
1988
Mbongeni Ngema and Hugh Masekela
Sarafina!
Nominated
1992
Luther Henderson , Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly's Last Jam
Nominated
1996
Ann Duquesnay , Reg E. Gaines, Zane Mark, Daryl Waters, George C. Wolfe
Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk
Nominated
2006
Stephen Bray , Brenda Russell
The Color Purple
Nominated
2008
Stew
Passing Strange
Nominated
2010
Branford Marsalis
Fences
Nominated
2018
Yolanda Adams , John Legend , T.I. , Domani & Lil' C
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Nominated
2020
Jason Michael Webb
The Rose Tattoo
Nominated
Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical [ ]
Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play [ ]
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1962
Godfrey M. Cambridge
Purlie Victorious
Nominated
1965
Clarence Williams III
Slow Dance on the Killing Ground
Nominated
1974
Douglas Turner Ward
The River Niger
Nominated
Dick Anthony Williams
What the Wine-Sellers Buy
Nominated
1975
Black Picture Show
Nominated
1978
Morgan Freeman
The Mighty Gents
Nominated
1980
Earle Hyman
The Lady from Dubuque
Nominated
1982
Zakes Mokae
Master Harold...and the Boys
Won
1985
Charles S. Dutton
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Nominated
1987
Frankie R. Faison
Fences
Nominated
Courtney B. Vance
Nominated
1988
Delroy Lindo
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Nominated
1992
Laurence Fishburne
Two Trains Running
Won
Roscoe Lee Browne
Nominated
1993
Zakes Mokae
The Song of Jacob Zulu
Nominated
1994
Jeffrey Wright
Angels in America: Perestroika
Won
1996
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Seven Guitars
Won
Roger Robinson
Nominated
2001
Charles Brown
King Hedley II
Nominated
2003
Thomas Jefferson Byrd
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Nominated
Daniel Sunjata
Take Me Out
Nominated
2007
Anthony Chisholm
Radio Golf
Nominated
John Earl Jelks
Nominated
2009
Roger Robinson
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Won
2010
David Alan Grier
Race
Nominated
Stephen McKinley Henderson
Fences
Nominated
Jon Michael Hill
Superior Donuts
Nominated
2013
Courtney B. Vance
Lucky Guy
Won
2015
K. Todd Freeman
Airline Highway
Nominated
2017
John Douglas Thompson
August Wilson's Jitney
Nominated
2018
Brian Tyree Henry
Lobby Hero
Nominated
2020
Ato Blankson-Wood
Slave Play
Nominated
David Alan Grier
A Soldier's Play
Won
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical [ ]
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1965
Sammy Davis
Golden Boy
Nominated
1968
Robert Hooks
Hallelujah, Baby!
Nominated
1970
Cleavon Little
Purlie
Won
1972
Clifton Davis
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Nominated
1973
Brock Peters
Lost in the Stars
Nominated
Ben Vereen
Pippin
Won
1974
Joe Morton
Raisin
Nominated
1977
Robert Guillaume
Guys and Dolls
Nominated
1978
Gilbert Price
Timbuktu!
Nominated
1980
Gregory Hines
Comin' Uptown
Nominated
1981
Sophisticated Ladies
Nominated
1982
Ben Harney
Dreamgirls
Won
1983
Al Green
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God
Nominated
Michael V. Smartt
Porgy and Bess
Nominated
1986
Cleavant Derricks
Big Deal
Nominated
Maurice Hines
Uptown...It's Hot!
Nominated
1992
Gregory Hines
Jelly's Last Jam
Won
1996
Savion Glover
Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk
Nominated
1998
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Ragtime
Nominated
2000
Kiss Me, Kate
Won
2003
Man of La Mancha
Nominated
2008
Stew
Passing Strange
Nominated
2010
Sahr Ngaujah
Fela!
Nominated
2011
Joshua Henry
The Scottsboro Boys
Nominated
2012
Norm Lewis
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Nominated
2013
Billy Porter
Kinky Boots
Won
2016
Leslie Odom, Jr.
Hamilton
Won
2018
Joshua Henry
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Nominated
2019
Derrick Baskin
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations
Nominated
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play [ ]
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1960
Sidney Poitier
A Raisin in the Sun
Nominated
1969
James Earl Jones
The Great White Hope
Won
1975
John Kani and Winston Ntshona
Sizwe Banzi is Dead / The Island
Won
1976
Moses Gunn
The Poison Tree
Nominated
1980
Charles Brown
Home
Nominated
1984
Calvin Levels
Open Admissions
Nominated
1987
James Earl Jones
Fences
Won
1990
Charles S. Dutton
The Piano Lesson
Nominated
1991
Courtney B. Vance
Six Degrees of Separation
Nominated
1993
K. Todd Freeman
The Song of Jacob Zulu
Nominated
2001
Brian Stokes Mitchell
King Hedley II
Nominated
2002
Jeffrey Wright
Topdog/Underdog
Nominated
2005
James Earl Jones
On Golden Pond
Nominated
2008
Laurence Fishburne
Thurgood
Nominated
2010
Denzel Washington
Fences
Won
2012
James Earl Jones
Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Nominated
2017
Corey Hawkins
John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation
Nominated
2018
Denzel Washington
Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh
Nominated
2019
Jeremy Pope
Choir Boy
Nominated
2020
Blair Underwood
A Soldier's Play
Nominated
Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical [ ]
Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play [ ]
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
Milestone
1964
Diana Sands
Blues for Mister Charlie
Nominated
1973
Maya Angelou
Look Away
Nominated
1974
Roxie Roker
The River Niger
Nominated
1977
Trazana Beverley
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf
Won
1978
Starletta DuPois
The Mighty Gents
Nominated
1985
Theresa Merritt
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Nominated
1987
Mary Alice
Fences
Won
1988
L. Scott Caldwell
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Won
Kimberleigh Aarn
Nominated
Kimberly Scott
Nominated
1990
S. Epatha Merkerson
The Piano Lesson
Nominated
1992
Two Trains Running
Nominated
1996
Audra McDonald
Master Class
Won
With this win, first African-American to win in both musical and play categories.
Viola Davis
Seven Guitars
Nominated
Michele Shay
Nominated
1997
Lynne Thigpen
An American Daughter
Won
2001
Viola Davis
King Hedley II
Won
2004
Audra McDonald
A Raisin in the Sun
Won
With this win first African American to win 4 Tonys.
With this win, first African-American to win twice in this category
Sanaa Lathan
Nominated
2005
Adriane Lenox
Doubt
Won
2012
Condola Rashad
Stick Fly
Nominated
2013
Shalita Grant
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Nominated
Condola Rashad
The Trip to Bountiful
Nominated
2014
Sophie Okonedo
A Raisin in the Sun
Won
Anika Noni Rose
Nominated
2016
Eclipsed
Nominated
Saycon Sengbloh
Nominated
2017
Condola Rashad
A Doll's House, Part 2
Nominated
Michelle Wilson
Sweat
Nominated
2018
Noma Dumezweni
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Nominated
2020
Chalia La Tour
Slave Play
Nominated
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical [ ]
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
Milestone
1958
Lena Horne
Jamaica
Nominated
1962
Diahann Carroll
No Strings
Won
First African-American winner in a lead role.
1964
Carol Channing
Hello, Dolly!
Won
Channing is German-American and African-American.
1968
Leslie Uggams
Hallelujah, Baby!
Won
1972
Jonelle Allen
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Nominated
1974
Virginia Capers
Raisin
Won
1975
Lola Falana
Doctor Jazz
Nominated
1976
Vivian Reed
Bubbling Brown Sugar
Nominated
1977
Clamma Dale
Porgy and Bess
Nominated
Ernestine Jackson
Guys and Dolls
Nominated
1978
Eartha Kitt
Timbuktu!
Nominated
1982
Jennifer Holliday
Dreamgirls
Won
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Nominated
1983
Lonette McKee
Show Boat
Nominated
1984
Rhetta Hughes
Amen Corner
Nominated
1986
Debbie Allen
Sweet Charity
Nominated
1989
Ruth Brown
Black and Blue
Won
Linda Hopkins
Nominated
1997
Pamela Isaacs
The Life
Nominated
Tonya Pinkins
Play On!
Nominated
2000
Heather Headley
Aida
Won
Audra McDonald
Marie Christine
Nominated
2002
Vanessa L. Williams
Into the Woods
Nominated
2004
Tonya Pinkins
Caroline, or Change
Nominated
2006
LaChanze
The Color Purple
Won
2007
Audra McDonald
110 in the Shade
Nominated
2010
Montego Glover
Memphis
Nominated
2011
Patina Miller
Sister Act
Nominated
2012
Audra McDonald
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Won
With this win, first African-American to win 5 Tonys.
2013
Patina Miller
Pippin
Won
Valisia LeKae
Motown: The Musical
Nominated
2016
Cynthia Erivo
The Color Purple
Won
2017
Denée Benton
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Nominated
2018
Hailey Kilgore
Once on This Island
Nominated
LaChanze
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Nominated
2020
Adrienne Warren
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
Won
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play [ ]
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1960
Claudia McNeil
A Raisin in the Sun
Nominated
1963
Tiger Tiger Burning Bright
Nominated
1965
Beah Richards
The Amen Corner
Nominated
Diana Sands
The Owl and the Pussycat
Nominated
1994
Anna Deavere Smith
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992
Nominated
1995
Mary Alice
Having Our Say
Nominated
2001
Leslie Uggams
King Hedley II
Nominated
2004
Phylicia Rashād
A Raisin in the Sun
Won
2005
Gem of the Ocean
Nominated
2008
S. Epatha Merkerson
Come Back, Little Sheba
Nominated
2010
Viola Davis
Fences
Won
2013
Cicely Tyson
The Trip to Bountiful
Won
2014
LaTanya Richardson Jackson
A Raisin in the Sun
Nominated
Audra McDonald
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Won
2016
Lupita Nyong'o
Eclipsed
Nominated
Sophie Okonedo
Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Nominated
2018
Condola Rashad
Saint Joan
Nominated
Lauren Ridloff
Children of a Lesser God
Nominated
2020
Joaquina Kalukango
Slave Play
Nominated
Audra McDonald
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Nominated
Play [ ]
Tony Award for Best Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1960
Lorraine Hansberry (as playwright)
A Raisin in the Sun
Nominated
1974
Joseph A. Walker (as playwright)
The River Niger
Won
1975
John Kani and Winston Ntshona (as playwright)
Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island
Nominated
1976
Leslie Lee (as playwright)
The First Breeze of Summer
Nominated
1977
Ntozake Shange (as playwright)
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf
Nominated
1980
Samm-Art Williams (as playwright)
Home
Nominated
1985
August Wilson (as playwright)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Nominated
1987
Fences
Won
1988
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Nominated
1990
August Wilson (as playwright) , Lloyd Richards (as producer)
The Piano Lesson
Nominated
1992
August Wilson (as playwright)
Two Trains Running
Nominated
1993
Tug Yourgrau (as playwright)
The Song of Jacob Zulu
Nominated
1994
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Angels in America: Perestroika
Won
Anna Deavere Smith (as playwright) , George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992
Nominated
1995
Camille Cosby (as producer)
Having Our Say
Nominated
1996
August Wilson (as playwright)
Seven Guitars
Nominated
1998
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Golden Child
Nominated
2000
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan
Nominated
2001
August Wilson (as playwright)
King Hedley II
Nominated
2002
Suzan-Lori Parks (as playwright) , George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Topdog/Underdog
Nominated
2003
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Take Me Out
Won
2005
August Wilson (as playwright)
Gem of the Ocean
Nominated
2007
August Wilson (as playwright) , Tamara Tunie (as producer)
Radio Golf
Nominated
2013
Ron Simons (as producer)
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Won
2016
Danai Gurira (as playwright) , Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) , Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer) , Alani LaLa Anthony (as producer)
Eclipsed
Nominated
2017
Lynn Nottage (as playwright)
Sweat
Nominated
2019
Tarell Alvin McCraney (as playwright)
Choir Boy
Nominated
2020
Jeremy O. Harris (as playwright and producer)
Slave Play
Nominated
Brian Moreland (as producer)
Sea Wall/A Life
Nominated
The Sound Inside
Nominated
Regional Theatre Tony Award [ ]
Revival of a Musical [ ]
Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
2014
Brandon Victor Dixon (as producer) ,
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Won
2016
Oprah Winfrey (as producer) , Quincy Jones (as producer)
The Color Purple
Won
Revival of a Play [ ]
Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
2004
Susan Batson (as producer)
A Raisin in the Sun
Nominated
2013
Kevin Liles (as producer) , Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) , Alia M. Jones (as producer)
The Trip to Bountiful
Nominated
2017
Mike Jackson (as producer) , John Legend (as producer) , Ron Simons (as producer)
August Wilson's Jitney
Won
2018
Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) , Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer)
Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh
Nominated
2020
Charles Fuller (as playwright)
A Soldier's Play
Won
Special Theatrical Event [ ]
Special Tony Awards [ ]
Special Tony Award
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1968
Pearl Bailey
Won
1977
Diana Ross
Won
1981
Lena Horne
Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music
Won
2006
Sarah Jones
Bridge & Tunnel
Won
2017
James Earl Jones
Won
2019
Harold Wheeler
Won
Jason Michael Webb
Choir Boy
Won
2020
Irene Gandy
Won
Beverly Jenkins
Won
The Broadway Advocacy Coalition
Won
References [ ]
Tony Awards
Play Musical Special (non-competitive) Retired Ceremonies